Sociology of the Environment (SOCY2020)

Course overview

Focuses on the ways people in developed and developing nations identify and define environmental issues. It discusses the types of social action that are occurring in an effort to address the problems of environmental degradation. Topics include: the 'Green Revolution' in developing nations, environmental discourses, 'green' production, the environmental movement, the role of technology, and the prospects for ecologically sustainable development.

Mainstream sociological thinking has historically - until quite recently - remained silent about humans’ interdependencies, dependencies, and relations with nature. This is despite the growing body of evidence that links environmental problems and “the global environmental crisis" with “society”. Quite simply, the way societies organise have a profound impact upon the environment. Similarly, addressing environmental problems - climate change, waste and the urgent need for a just energy transition, amongst a host of other issues we will grapple with throughout this course - will require social (including cultural, political and economic) changes. As Extinction Rebellion https://rebellion.global/ School Strike for Climate (https://www.schoolstrike4climate.com/) and many other global and local environmental movements remind us; our very survival as a species may be tied to addressing the fundamental environmental challenges of our time. Similarly, critical Indigenous studies - and alongside the broad Indigenous rights and sovereignty movements - challenge us to understand the ways in which colonialism and its continuities are a core driver of environmental problems, and how grappling with settler colonial and colonial power relations will be vital in attending to contemporary environmental issues.

Environmental sociology has a key role to play in both understanding where we are at in terms of this historical juncture, and in supporting ethical and just responsive pathways.

Environmental sociologists are interested in examining the ways that complex social - as well as political, cultural and economic - processes define, create and even threaten the physical environment. They give particular consideration to the ways in which “nature” is conceived, to how environmental issues are identified, and how different social actors construct and reconstruct these issues. Environmental sociologists also draw attention, and assist us to understand, why some issues are given greater prominence than others. Quite simply, how does power - across local, national and global scales - shape understandings of, and responses to, the environmental challenges we face? Environmental sociologists investigate relationships between environmental issues and social problems, as well as political ideologies, and social movements, and how these relate to the way we conceptualise “nature” and the physical environment.

This semester, SOCY2020 will be structured around two main themes. First, you will be introduced to some of the main theoretical and conceptual tools of environmental sociology that can be applied to the analysis of a wide range of environmental problems and solutions. Second, you will have the opportunity to investigate a number of contemporary issuesﾠwhere society and environment intersect – such as bush fires, mining and resource extractivism,ﾠrenewable energy and a just energy transition, to name just a few.

Sociology of the Environment also has a particular focus on the importance of academic activist praxis; that is, the way research in this field can contribute to social change that supports positive environmental change. Here, the sociology of social movements, and the politics of hope, have an important place.

This course will be delivered in internal mode only.ﾠ

Acknowledgement:ﾠThe University of Queensland sits on unceded territories of First Nations Australians. We acknowledge this Country, and alongside all Country in this continent now known as Australia, which has been cared for and protected by the longest living culture on earth. In this course, we will have the opportunity to learn from Indigenous Knowledge holders, we will engage with critical Indigenous studies and Indigenous perspectives. We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander elders, leaders and custodians of this place, and Indigenous students in this course.ﾠ

Course contact

Course staff

Timetable

The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.

Additional timetable information

Teaching staff do not have access to the timetabling system to help with class allocation. Therefore, should you need help with your timetable and/or allocation of classes, please ensure you email the School of Social Science Administration Team at student.socsci@uq.edu.au from your UQ student email account with the following details: full name, student ID, and course code. 

Aims and outcomes

Sociology of the Environment will introduce you to the sub-discipline of environmental sociology, taking in key theoretical and methodological approaches, and applying these to make sense of some of the most pressing local, national and international environmental issues of our time, including climate change, coal mining and coal seam gas, urban development, food sovereignty and green consumption; and their intersection with earth rights, human rights and Indigenous rights. By the end of the course you should have new knowledge related to:

• the relationships between human societies and the natural environment;
• diverse knowledges - including Indigenous and local ecological knowledges - in understanding the environment;ﾠ
• interconnections between the environment and human rights, including Indigenous rights;ﾠ
• the social and institutional factors that contribute to the construction, framing and contestation of environmental issues;
• the value of theoretical debates in environmental sociology, and their role in understanding contemporary environmental issues;
• an understanding of some of the causes of current environmental issues and problems; and
• diverse strategies for affecting positive social and environmental change, and the role of research in this agenda.

You should also have developed:

• the capacity for independent thinking, critical reflection and reasoned argument;
• the capacity to listen deeply and work carefully with others;ﾠ
• value of the contributions of diverse knowledges in shaping understandings of - and responses to - environmental challenges;ﾠ
• an ability to communicate ideas in a clear and effective fashion;ﾠ
• oral communication skills; andﾠ
• core academic skills including writing, referencing and logical argument.ﾠ

Learning outcomes

After successfully completing this course you should be able to:

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment details

in-class Quizzes (3 x 15% each)

• In-person

Mode

Written

Category

Examination, Quiz

Weight

45%

Due date

5/08/2025 - 28/10/2025

in-class quiz

Other conditions

Time limited, Secure.

See the conditions definitions

Learning outcomes

L01, L02, L03, L06, L07

Task description

Exam details

Submission guidelines

In-class quiz will be submitted to the lecturer before you leave the Seminar, in the selected 3 weeks.

Deferral or extension

You may be able to defer this exam.

The University recognises that on occasion a medical condition or other exceptional circumstances may impair your ability to attend an examination at the scheduled date and time. Depending on the circumstances, you may be eligible for a deferred examination, and be permitted to sit your in-class, mid-semester or end-of-semester examinations at a later scheduled time. For information on eligibility and application instructions, please view the following page on myUQ: Deferring an exam - my.UQ - University of Queensland 

Sociological analysis of an environmental film

Mode

Written

Category

Paper/ Report/ Annotation

Weight

25%

Due date

10/10/2025 2:00 pm

Learning outcomes

L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06

Task description

Submission guidelines

You must submit your assignment electronically by the due time, on the due date. 

Your assignment must be submitted via Turnitin on blackboard. To submit your assignment electronically log in to https://learn.uq.edu.au/ultra with your UQ username and password, then click on Course Code>>Assessment>>Assignments, and use the appropriate assignment submission link for each piece of assessment. No e-mailed submissions of assessments will be accepted. 

By uploading your assignment via Turnitin, you are certifying that the work you submit is your own work except where correctly attributed to another source. Do not submit your assignment if it contains any work that is not your own. 

You are required to retain proof of submission of your assessment. Your Digital Receipt is available for download from your Assignment Dashboard. If you cannot see your submission and download your digital receipt, your assessment has not been successfully submitted; please submit again.  

If you are experiencing technical difficulties with Blackboard, please contact the ITS Support Team. 

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

Please note that from Semester 2, 2025 the Assessment Procedure has changed. You must submit a request for an extension as soon as it becomes clear you need an extension. Your request should be submitted no later than the assessment item's due date and time. 

The request must be accompanied by supporting documentation corroborating the reason for the request. A list of acceptable reasons for an extension and the evidence you must provide can be found here. Your request may be refused if you do not meet the acceptable reasons for an extension. The student submitting the request is fully responsible for all supporting documentation that is provided with the request and should ensure all documents are authentic. 

Students who are registered with Student Support and Wellbeing Services may apply for an extension without providing documentation. This extension request must be the student’s first extension request for the assessment item. If you proceed with an extension request based on your SAP, you will be ineligible to use your discretionary extension for the same assessment item. In the School of Social Science, extensions on the basis of an approved Student Access Plan (SAP) can be approved for a maximum period of 7 calendar days. Subsequent extensions for a piece of assessment will require students to provide their SAP along with additional supporting documentation (e.g., a medical certificate or other supporting evidence listed on my.UQ). 

A student is eligible for a discretionary extension for one assessment task per semester for a duration of 2 calendar days or less. A discretionary extension may only be used on a student’s first extension request for an assessment task.  

A student may have a maximum of 3 extension requests approved for a single assessment task. If a third extension is necessary, you must submit an Assessment Management Plan in addition to your supporting documentation with your request. In exceptional circumstances, a fourth extension may be requested through the grievance and appeals process. 

Extension requests exceeding the maximum extension period stated for a piece of assessment will only be considered under exceptional circumstances (circumstances outside of your control) with additional supporting documentation.  

Late applications must include evidence of the reasons for the late request, detailing why you were unable to apply for an extension by the due date and time. The School of Social Science will not accept personal statements. 

Extension requests are processed and managed by the School of Social Science Administration Team. 

Extensions in your final semester of study could delay your graduation by up to one semester. 

Late submission

A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.

Work will not be accepted if it is more than one week (7 calendar days) late without prior approval. 

Reflective Journal

Mode

Written

Category

Reflection

Weight

30%

Due date

28/10/2025 2:00 pm

Learning outcomes

L01, L03, L08

Task description

Submission guidelines

You must submit your assignment electronically by the due time, on the due date. 

Your assignment must be submitted via Turnitin on blackboard. To submit your assignment electronically log in to https://learn.uq.edu.au/ultra with your UQ username and password, then click on Course Code>>Assessment>>Assignments, and use the appropriate assignment submission link for each piece of assessment. No e-mailed submissions of assessments will be accepted. 

By uploading your assignment via Turnitin, you are certifying that the work you submit is your own work except where correctly attributed to another source. Do not submit your assignment if it contains any work that is not your own. 

You are required to retain proof of submission of your assessment. Your Digital Receipt is available for download from your Assignment Dashboard. If you cannot see your submission and download your digital receipt, your assessment has not been successfully submitted; please submit again.  

If you are experiencing technical difficulties with Blackboard, please contact the ITS Support Team. 

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.

Please note that from Semester 2, 2025 the Assessment Procedure has changed. You must submit a request for an extension as soon as it becomes clear you need an extension. Your request should be submitted no later than the assessment item's due date and time. 

The request must be accompanied by supporting documentation corroborating the reason for the request. A list of acceptable reasons for an extension and the evidence you must provide can be found here. Your request may be refused if you do not meet the acceptable reasons for an extension. The student submitting the request is fully responsible for all supporting documentation that is provided with the request and should ensure all documents are authentic. 

Students who are registered with Student Support and Wellbeing Services may apply for an extension without providing documentation. This extension request must be the student’s first extension request for the assessment item. If you proceed with an extension request based on your SAP, you will be ineligible to use your discretionary extension for the same assessment item. In the School of Social Science, extensions on the basis of an approved Student Access Plan (SAP) can be approved for a maximum period of 7 calendar days. Subsequent extensions for a piece of assessment will require students to provide their SAP along with additional supporting documentation (e.g., a medical certificate or other supporting evidence listed on my.UQ). 

A student is eligible for a discretionary extension for one assessment task per semester for a duration of 2 calendar days or less. A discretionary extension may only be used on a student’s first extension request for an assessment task.  

A student may have a maximum of 3 extension requests approved for a single assessment task. If a third extension is necessary, you must submit an Assessment Management Plan in addition to your supporting documentation with your request. In exceptional circumstances, a fourth extension may be requested through the grievance and appeals process. 

Extension requests exceeding the maximum extension period stated for a piece of assessment will only be considered under exceptional circumstances (circumstances outside of your control) with additional supporting documentation.  

Late applications must include evidence of the reasons for the late request, detailing why you were unable to apply for an extension by the due date and time. The School of Social Science will not accept personal statements. 

Extension requests are processed and managed by the School of Social Science Administration Team. 

Extensions in your final semester of study could delay your graduation by up to one semester. 

Late submission

A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.

Work will not be accepted if it is more than one week (7 calendar days) late without prior approval. 

Course grading

Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.

Supplementary assessment

Supplementary assessment is available for this course.

Supplementary assessment is an additional opportunity to demonstrate that the learning requirements for an eligible course have been satisfied and that the graduate attributes for the course have been attained. Supplementary assessment may only be granted where Supplementary Assessment – procedures allow. A passing grade of 4 (or P) is the highest grade that can be awarded in a course where supplementary assessment has been granted. For further information on supplementary assessment please see my.UQ. 

Additional assessment information

Academic Integrity: All students must complete the Academic Integrity Modules https://www.uq.edu.au/integrity/ 

School Guide for Written Assessments: School of Social Science Guide for Written Assessments 

Release of Marks: The marks and feedback for assessments will be released to students in a timely manner, prior to the due date of the next assessment piece for the course. This is with the exception of the final piece of assessment. The marks and feedback for the final assessment item will only be made available to the student on the Finalisation of Grades date at the end of semester.  

Assessment Re-mark: For information on requesting an assessment re-mark, please view the following page on my.UQ: https://my.uq.edu.au/querying-result  

Learning resources

You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.

Library resources

Find the required and recommended resources for this course on the UQ Library website.

Additional learning resources information

All material for this course is available on the course BlackBoard site and in the UQ library.ﾠ

Please be sure to check blackboard regularly throughout the semester for updates to the course.

Learning activities

The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.

Policies and procedures

University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:

• Student Code of Conduct Policy
• Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
• Assessment Procedure
• Examinations Procedure
• Reasonable Adjustments for Students Policy and Procedure

Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.