This course will focus on sociological explanations of environmental issues. How environmental issues come to be defined as such is a key portion of the course. Important to this is the way in which a society defines and uses natural resources. Social values, norms and policies regarding the definition of private and public property rights of renewable and non-renewable resources will be studied in both historical and global context. An historical context will allow us to look at changes in norms, values and definitions. The global context will allow us to put both the historical and present trends into perspective.
Prerequisite: SOCI111/121