The subject of Environment, Politics and Society brings together contents from various disciplines: Sociology, Anthropology, History, Political Science, among others. It also has some contents related to the areas of Economics and Law, which constitute the core of other subjects included in the degree, such as Applied Economics and Environmental Administration and Legislation.
The purpose of the subject is for students to learn to think about environmental issues as social and political problems: caused by social activities, perceived and defined through social processes, and also ignored, addressed or resolved through social and political processes.
Precisely one of the important elements that distinguish a Graduate in Environmental Sciences from those of other related disciplines is the inclusion in their training of subjects in the area of ¿¿Social Sciences (Economics, Sociology, Law). They provide a much more integrated vision of environmental problems and their possible solutions, taking into account not only the chemical, physical, biological or ecological dimension of environmental problems, but their incardination with the social dynamics that generate them, and must be taken into account to design effective remedies. This knowledge will be a competitive advantage of these graduates for occupations related to environmental education, consulting, public management, and in general all activities that go beyond the direct operation of material processes on the environment and include some element of intervention on social behaviors.
Course competences | |
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Code | Description |
CB01 | Prove that they have acquired and understood knowledge in a subject area that derives from general secondary education and is appropriate to a level based on advanced course books, and includes updated and cutting-edge aspects of their field of knowledge. |
CB02 | Apply their knowledge to their job or vocation in a professional manner and show that they have the competences to construct and justify arguments and solve problems within their subject area. |
CB03 | Be able to gather and process relevant information (usually within their subject area) to give opinions, including reflections on relevant social, scientific or ethical issues. |
CB04 | Transmit information, ideas, problems and solutions for both specialist and non-specialist audiences. |
CB05 | Have developed the necessary learning abilities to carry on studying autonomously |
E01 | Ability to understand and apply basic knowledge. |
E02 | Capacity for multidisciplinary consideration of an environmental problem |
E04 | Ability to integrate experimental evidence found in field and/or laboratory studies with theoretical knowledge. |
E05 | Capacity for qualitative data interpretation |
E07 | Capacity to plan, manage and conserve natural resources |
E08 | Ability to value goods, services and natural resources economically |
E13 | Ability to handle software. |
E28 | Energy management and optimization capacity |
G02 | Knowledge of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT). |
G03 | Good oral and written communication |
Course learning outcomes | |
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Description | |
To know the basic rules of the political decision-making processes on environmental issues in the Spanish political system. | |
Understand the difficulties and limitations of the media in dealing with environmental problems. | |
Understand the premises, consequences, strengths and weaknesses of proposals for action and resolution of environmental problems. | |
Describe and analyse the structure of the social situation that gives rise to an environmental problem (actors involved, interests, arrangements, strategies). | |
Analyze the role of scientists in the debate on environmental problems. | |
To interpret qualitatively and quantitatively public opinion studies on environmental problems. | |
Understand the different opportunities and strategies for participating in and influencing the political decisions of social movements and other stakeholders. | |
Additional outcomes | |
Not established. |
Training Activity | Methodology | Related Competences (only degrees before RD 822/2021) | ECTS | Hours | As | Com | Description | |
Class Attendance (theory) [ON-SITE] | Lectures | CB01 CB02 CB03 CB04 CB05 E01 E02 E04 E05 E07 E08 E13 E28 G02 G03 | 1.12 | 28 | N | N | ||
Class Attendance (practical) [ON-SITE] | Combination of methods | CB01 CB02 CB03 CB04 CB05 E01 E02 E04 E05 E07 E08 E13 E28 G02 G03 | 1.12 | 28 | Y | N | In class discussion on texts, data and cases. This activity is assessable and NOT RECOVERABLE. | |
Study and Exam Preparation [OFF-SITE] | Self-study | CB01 CB02 CB03 CB04 CB05 E01 E02 E04 E05 E07 E08 E13 E28 G02 G03 | 2.48 | 62 | N | N | ||
Problem solving and/or case studies [ON-SITE] | Assessment tests | CB01 CB02 CB03 CB04 CB05 E01 E02 E04 E05 E07 E08 E13 E28 G02 G03 | 0.08 | 2 | Y | N | Practical exam, in class, to comment or discuss problems or cases similar to the ones examined in the practical classes | |
Final test [ON-SITE] | Assessment tests | CB01 CB02 CB03 CB04 CB05 E01 E02 E04 E05 E07 E08 E13 E28 G02 | 0.08 | 2 | Y | N | Test of theoretical knowledge | |
On-line debates and forums [OFF-SITE] | Online Forums | CB01 CB02 CB03 CB04 CB05 E01 E02 E04 E05 E07 E08 E13 E28 G02 G03 | 1.12 | 28 | Y | N | Online reading, annotation and commentary of texts and cases that will be discussed later in practical classes. This activity is assessable and NOT RECOVERABLE. | |
Total: | 6 | 150 | ||||||
Total credits of in-class work: 2.4 | Total class time hours: 60 | |||||||
Total credits of out of class work: 3.6 | Total hours of out of class work: 90 |
As: Assessable training activity Com: Training activity of compulsory overcoming (It will be essential to overcome both continuous and non-continuous assessment).
Evaluation System | Continuous assessment | Non-continuous evaluation * | Description |
Assessment of problem solving and/or case studies | 20.00% | 40.00% | There will be a practical test in the classroom, at the end of the quarter, in which problems or cases similar to those examined in the practical classes will be solved. |
Final test | 60.00% | 60.00% | There will be a final exam, of a theoretical nature, on the contents of the subject |
Other methods of assessment | 20.00% | 0.00% | Throughout the course, texts aimed at the preparation of practical classes should be read, commented and annotated online. These annotations will be used as a basis for discussion in practical classes. The evaluation will take into account the quantity and quality of the comments made online and in the class itself. This assessment is not recoverable, and the grading, whatever its level, is kept for the extraordinary call/resit exams. |
Total: | 100.00% | 100.00% |
Not related to the syllabus/contents | |
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Hours | hours |
Class Attendance (theory) [PRESENCIAL][Lectures] | 2 |
Study and Exam Preparation [AUTÓNOMA][Self-study] | 55 |
Problem solving and/or case studies [PRESENCIAL][Assessment tests] | 2 |
Final test [PRESENCIAL][Assessment tests] | 2 |
Unit 1 (de 4): Environmental problems as social problems | |
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Activities | Hours |
Class Attendance (theory) [PRESENCIAL][Lectures] | 5 |
Class Attendance (practical) [PRESENCIAL][Combination of methods] | 6 |
On-line debates and forums [AUTÓNOMA][Online Forums] | 6 |
Teaching period: September-October |
Unit 2 (de 4): Ideas about the Environment, Society and Economy | |
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Activities | Hours |
Class Attendance (theory) [PRESENCIAL][Lectures] | 6 |
Class Attendance (practical) [PRESENCIAL][Combination of methods] | 4 |
On-line debates and forums [AUTÓNOMA][Online Forums] | 4 |
Teaching period: October |
Unit 3 (de 4): Responses to environmental problems | |
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Activities | Hours |
Class Attendance (theory) [PRESENCIAL][Lectures] | 6 |
Class Attendance (practical) [PRESENCIAL][Combination of methods] | 8 |
On-line debates and forums [AUTÓNOMA][Online Forums] | 8 |
Teaching period: October-November |
Unit 4 (de 4): Agents participating in environmental policies | |
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Activities | Hours |
Class Attendance (theory) [PRESENCIAL][Lectures] | 12 |
Class Attendance (practical) [PRESENCIAL][Combination of methods] | 12 |
On-line debates and forums [AUTÓNOMA][Online Forums] | 12 |
Teaching period: November-December |
Global activity | |
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Activities | hours |