Course Plan
SECTION I
Semeste V Class BA Elective (EPS/PSEng/PSEco)
r
Course SOC 541C Course title Social Ecology
Code
Hours 60 Hours per 4 (2 Sudipta + 2 Devaprasad)
week
Faculty Dr Sudipta Garai and Dr DevaPrasad Contact [email protected]
name details
[email protected]Class 1. Attendance will be taken within the first 10 mins of the class. Late coming is not
policies acceptable
and 2. Students cannot leave the classroom after attendance
guideline 3. Students will be responsible for ensuring that the classroom is ready for class (including
s the arrangement of the furniture, setting up of the projector, arrangements for speakers if
necessary)
4. Students will not be allowed to sit on the rear rows if there are empty seats in the rows
prior to them
5. Students will not be allowed to sleep in class. Please do not come for class if you are not
able to actively participate
6. Students are not encouraged to use their laptop computers in class
7. Mobile phone should be in silent mode/switched off unless required for in class activities,
no cellphones on the table unless you would like to have it confiscated
8. All discussion/doubts related to subject matter should be discussed during the working
hours. No personal messages will be entertained
9. Course details will be shared via LMS
10. Assignment submissions will have to be undertaken through LMS
Course This paper tries to introduce to the students the concept of ecology from a historical perspective and
Descripti the integral relationship between man, community and environment. The paper also tries to initiate
on discussions on the pertinent ecological issues, emerging concerns, environmental movements and
the reactions to them.
Course This course will provide
Objectiv ● an overview of ecology and ecological concerns
es ● helps to develop a perspective to understand the intrinsic relationship between man,
community and environment
● awareness/Sensitivity about the developmental consequences in the present world
Course Learning Outcomes: By the end of the course the student will be able to-
Outcome ● Critically analyse the knowledge and understanding of the concept Ecology and the various
s perspectives.
● Aware of the different environmental issues and levels of activism required for public policy.
SECTION II
Unit Unit details Week Hours Pedagogy Resource/ Reference details
number (starti per (teaching
ng week learning
and methods
end used)/
dates) activities
and or class
trips/ dates
for
assessment
Unit I Understanding nature, 11-06- 2 Dunlap, R.E., F H Buttel, Peter
Deva ecology and environment: 2019 Dickens & August Gijswijt.
Prasad Basic concepts – to 26- Lectures, (2017). Environmental
environment, Videos/,Disc
07-
ecosystem, ecology, levels ussions/Pre Sociology: Classical foundations,
of organization, food chain, 2019 Contemporary Insights. New Delhi:
sentations/
habitat, niche (generic, Case Studies
Rawat Publications.
specific), Biocentrism,
Anthropocentrism,
Environmentalism, Carrying
Capacity,
Ecological Footprint, Carbon
footprint, Water footprint,
Virtual water.
Historical development of
ecology: Ecology
(Alexander von Humboldt,
Haeckel,
Eugine Warming), Human
Ecology,Cultural Ecology,
Social Ecology (Murray
Bookchin), Deep Ecology,
Sociology of
Environment(Lewis
Mumford, William
Catton, Riley E Dunlap)
Waves of Environmentalism,
Environmentalism of the
Poor, Rachel Carson and
Silent Spring, emergence of
Greenpeace.
Perspectives on
environment: Marxist,
Techno -centrist and
Functional; Indian thought
Unit II Development Processes 6th 2 Lectures, Arnold, D and
Sudipta and Environment June, Videos/Ted RamchandraGuha
● Technology, 2019- Talks,Discus (eds.), (1999). Essays on
Industrialisation sions/Prese the Environmental
end
Commercialisation of ntations/Ca Nature, Culture,
agriculture week se Studies Imperialism: History of
● Urbanisation and of South Asia. Delhi: OUP.
globalisation July Dunlap, R.E., F H Buttel,
● Deforestation and Peter Dickens &
Ecological imbalance August Gijswijt.
(2017). Environmental
Sociology: Classical
foundations,
Contemporary
Insights. New Delhi:
Rawat Publications
Gadgil, M and
RamchandraGuha,
(1994). This fissured
Land: An Ecological
History of India.
Delhi: OUP.
Gadgil, M and
RamchandraGuha,
(1995). Ecology and
Equity: the Use and
Abuse of Nature in
Contemporary India.
Delhi: Penguin.
Guha, R. (2006). How much
should a person
consume?: Thinking
through the
environment. Delhi:
Permanent Black.
Unit III Environmental Issues 1st 2 Lectures, Guha, R. (2006). How much
Sudipta and Movements Augus Videos/Ted should a person
● Environment t- 4th Talks,Discus consume?: Thinking
Degradation and pollution sions/Prese through the
Octob
of Natural Resources ntations/Ca environment. Delhi:
● Tragedy of the er, se Studies Permanent Black.
Commons - 2019 Guha, R. (ed). (1998). Social
Encroachments over Ecology: Readings in
Common Property Sociology and
Resources Anthropology.
● Energy Crisis, London: OUP.
Global Warming Rangarajan, M. (2015).
● Environmental Nature and nation:
Consciousness and Essays on
Ecological Movements environmental
history. Ranikhet:
Permanent Black in
association with
Ashoka University.
Shiva,V. (2013). Making
peace with the earth:
Beyond resource, land
and food wars.
Auckland Park, South
Africa: Jacana Media
Unit IV State and Environmental 5st 2 Lectures, Rangarajan, M. (2015). Nature and
Deva Preservation: History of augus Videos/,Disc nation: Essays on environmental
Prasad Environmental Protection in t to ussions/Pre
sentations/
history. Ranikhet:
India, 31 Permanent Black in association with
Case Studies
augus Ashoka University.
Environment Impact t
Assessment (EIA) – case
studies
Role of traditional systems
in Environmental
management- case studies
Interventions from civil
society –case studies
SECTION III
Assessment outline:
Assignment CIA I CIA II CIA III ESE Attendance Total
Percentage of 10 25 10 50 5 100
marks
Mapping: A template to map the Learning Outcomes of the course against the components of
assessment is given below:
Course Outcomes Components of assessment
CIA I CIA II CIA III ESE
CO 1
Understanding of
the concept of
social ecology
CO 2
Critically examine
the developmental
processes in
relation to the
environmental
condition
CO 3
Aware of the
different ecological
issues and levels
of activism
required for public
policy
CO 4
An understanding
of the
environmental
movements related
to energy
crisis/global
warming/ and its
influence in the
society
SECTION IV
Assessment Description:
CIA I: (Dr. Sudipta)
Group presentation on Case Studies on Development and its influence in our Environment
Assignment description:
This group assignment is a presentation that each group of 4-5 members will have to make on
the following areas:
● Choose any particular case study in reference to developmental crisis
● Elaborate about the case in details
● The current consequences or situation in reference to the case in the particular context
● Strategies adopted to deal with the crisis
● Students reflection and critical thoughts on the same
Presentation & Submission guidelines:
Presentations will start from 1st July 2019
● Submission on July 9, 2019
● Groups of 5 will be formed by the students and the presentations scheduled through a
drawing of lots
● Each group will have to identify and select a specific case study in consultation with the
teacher
● Case studies chosen should not be repeated by groups
● Any changes to the schedule will have to be made through a mutual swap between
groups
● Each group will have 20 minutes assigned for their presentation & 5 minutes for
discussions
● The presentation shall be a power point presentation with pictures in it
● This is a research presentation so references have to be included and mentioned either
separately after the presentation or during the presentation itself
● Exceeding time limit will result in a penalty of 1 mark per extra minute
● The class will have to assign two moderators/ timekeepers who will schedule all the
presentations in consultation with the faculty member and keep time
● All presentations should be set up and ready before the faculty member gets to class
Learning outcomes: By the end of this assignment, students will be able to:
● Demonstrate how the process of ‘development’ is understood sociologically
● Examine the contextualized Developmental processes and its influence on our society.
● Identify the crisis of a ‘modern day world
● Critically analyze the related programs and policies to overcome the problem/issue
Evaluation Rubric/s: (20 marks)
Contextualizing the case in the 0-5 marks on their ability to contextualize the chosen case in an the
present developmental paradigm sociological frameworks of ‘development’
Presentation Content 0-5 marks depending on how well the student has conceptualize the
chosen issue in the presentation
Critical & analytical thoughts in 0-5 marks depending on how well you present your critical reflection
relation to a relevant issue and the to analyze the influence/consequences in reference to the case
aspect of the societal influence chosen
Presentation of the case 0-5 marks each student to assess how well they know the case they
have chosen
(will be assessed individually)
CIA III (Dr.Devaprasad F)
Group presentation on “evolution of human society and environmental challenges.”
Assignment description:
This group assignment is a presentation that each group of 4-5 members will have to make on
the following areas:
● Choose any particular case to support the views
● Describe about the case
● Refer to the particular context
● Students reflections and critical thoughts
Presentation guidelines:
● Group presentation will start from August 15, 2019
● Groups of 5 will be formed by the students and the presentations scheduled through a
drawing of lots
● Each group will have to identify and select a specific case study in consultation with the
teacher
● Case studies chosen should not be repeated by groups
● Any changes to the schedule will have to be made through a mutual swap between
groups
● Each group will have 20 minutes assigned for their presentation & 5 minutes for
discussions
● The presentation shall be a power point presentation with pictures in it
● This is a research presentation so references have to be included and mentioned either
separately after the presentation or during the presentation itself
● Exceeding time limit will result in a penalty of 1 mark per extra minute
● The class will have to assign two moderators/ timekeepers who will schedule all the
presentations in consultation with the faculty member and keep time
● All presentations should be set up and ready before the faculty member gets to class
Learning outcomes: By the end of this assignment, students will be able to:
● Demonstrate how the process of ‘evolution throughs new challenges in society.
● Examine the through case citations.
● Identify the major challenges of a ‘modern day world
● Resilience to tackle the challenges
Evaluation Rubric/s: (20 marks)
Situate the societal evolution 0-5 marks on their ability to contextualise the chosen case in an the
sociological frameworks of ‘development’
Presentation Content 0-5 marks depending on how well the student has conceptualize the
chosen issue in the presentation
Critical & analytical thoughts in 0-5 marks depending on how well you present your critical reflection
relation to future challenges to analyze the influence/consequences in reference to the case
chosen
Presentation of the case 0-5 marks each student to assess how well they know the case they
(will be assessed individually) have chosen
