| Unit name | Society, Politics and Climate Change |
|---|---|
| Unit code | POLIM0055 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | M/7 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12) |
| Unit director | Dr. Flint |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
N/A |
| School/department | School of Sociology, Politics and International Studies |
| Faculty | Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
Why is this unit important?
While the science on climate change is largely settled, the politics surrounding climate change remains heavily contested. This unit highlights and engages with a range of key environmental concepts, issues and controversies in both the Global North and Global South, and encourages a critical awareness of the politics of climate change. The relationship between politics, international political economy, and international relations, will be assessed together with the role of the individual in preventing and mitigating climate change. Concepts and theories employed will include, amongst others: deep ecology; ecofeminism; ecoanarchism; post-colonial theory; sustainable development; 'weak' and 'strong' sustainability; environmental economics; steady state economics; de-growth approaches. Taken together, the disparate elements of unit will allow students to contemplate how the politics of climate change is unfolding and the likely associated implications for the planet.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study?
This unit is mandatory for students on the Society, Politics and Climate MSc, and forms part of the foundation for their programme.
An overview of content
The unit, in a very broad sense, covers the politics of climate change. It includes sessions on: political philosophy, environmental history, political economy, international relations, and pertinent case studies.
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit?
The unit will provide students with an understanding of the key historical, philosophical, and theoretical and conceptual underpinnings of climate change politics.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit students will be able to:
Students will learn primarily via student-led seminar engagement, usually including a mix of activities in pairs/small groups/larger groups and based around questions or ‘provocations’ designed in relation to the Essential Readings for weekly topics (often in the form of flipped classroom activities). Teaching will encompass both synchronous and asynchronous activities. The method of teaching outlined is specifically designed to allow development of a more critical/reflective/engaged mode of learning that is in line with a contemporary emphasis on (the benefits of) critical thinking.
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):
The formative assessment will permit students to consider their approach to the summative material, allowing for feedback and dialogue with the unit owner with respect to evidence, line of argument, style and content ILOs 1, 2 & 4.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
A 3,000 word essay covering the key themes of the unit – ILOs 1-4.
The essay is based on a single broad question that allows students to consider the unit as a whole (as opposed to a wider choice of questions, focused on specific weeks/themes).
When assessment does not go to plan'
You will normally complete reassessments in the same formats as those outlined above. You will be required to complete a different assessment question.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. POLIM0055).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The assessment methods listed in this unit specification are designed to enable students to demonstrate the named learning outcomes (LOs). Where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, schools will make reasonable adjustments to support a student to demonstrate the LO by an alternative method or with additional resources.
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
