SYD4510-20Fall 0W60

SYD4510-0W60 ● SOCIOLOGY ● UCF ● FALL 2020

 

Instructor: H. Sam Park, Ph.D. | GTA: Justen Rosenberg (Email on Canvas)

Office: Howard Phillips 403N | Office Phone: 407-823-5083 | E-mail: hyung.park@ucf.edu | Office Hours: Online (email, phone, or Zoom)

  

 

A. COURSE INTRODUCTION

 

1. Course Description

This course is designed to promote the students’ understandings of the theories, research, and facts that involve the relationship between society and the environment. In an attempt to understand environmental connections in various social phenomena, the course emphasizes the roles of social institutions such as the economy, politics, and the media, as well as the practices of individual social actors. Following the textbooks, the course highlights three central themes in environmental sociology: sustainability, justice, and ecological beauty. Major topics to be covered include consumption, production, population, public health, risk, mobilization, and governance. The essential components to be completed for credit are discussions, quizzes, and essays.

• Learning Outcomes

  • Students will be able to discuss major environmental problems based on solid theoretical and empirical grounds

  • Students will be able to pursue independent academic inquiry into the environmental problems of their own interest.

 

2. Required Textbooks*

• Bell, Michael Mayfield and Loka L. Ashwood (“BA” below). 2015. An Invitation to Environmental Sociology (5^th edition). Sage. ISBN: 978-1-4522-7579-6.

• Gould, Kenneth A. and Tammy L. Lewis (“GL” below). 2014. Twenty Lessons in Environmental Sociology (2^nd edition). Oxford. ISBN: 978-0199325924.

• (Optional) Carolan, Michael (“MC” below). 2016. Society and the Environment: Pragmatic Solutions to Ecological Issues(2^nd). Routledge. ISBN: 978-0813350004.

 

*Students must obtain the required textbooks by the first week of the semester. Additional readings and media contents will be posted to supplement the course materials.

 

3. Webcourses@UCF

All course materials will be posted on Webcourses@UCF including announcements, syllabus, lecture slides, discussions, (lab) assignments, web links, project resources, exams, and scores, if applicable. It is strongly suggested that students visit webcourses on a daily basis to access these course materials. The students will NOT be excused for NOT having access to webcourses for any period of the semester. The IT resources that may help students include UCFMobile, UCF Apps, Dropbox, and Google Drive.

 

B. COURSE REQUIREMENTS (107 PTS)

Below are the categories in which the students are expected to build credit for the final grades:

1. Academic Activity 1 Pts

2. Syllabus Quiz 1 Pts

3. Group Discussions 10 Pts (2 x 5 Pts)

4. Exams 95 Pts (Quizzes 50 Pts = 5 x 10 Pts; Essays 45 Pts = 3 x 15 Pts)

Grade	F	D-	D	D+	C-	C	C+	B-	B	B+	A-	A
%	≤ 59	60-62	63-66	67-69	70-72	73-76	77-79	80-82	83-86	87-89	90-92	93-100

• Final percentages will be rounded up - e.g., 59.4 ≅ 59 (F) and 59.5 ≅ 60 (D-). There is NO extra credit offered.

 

1. Academic Activity (1 Pts)

Per federal regulation, students must engage in an academic activity or have confirmed attendance in a course in order to receive the earliest financial aid disbursement for that course. By completing this Academic Activity (D0. ACADEMIC ACTIVITY - Introduce Yourself (1 Pt.), the students who are eligible to receive a financial aid will be qualified for the earliest financial aid disbursement. The activity is due Friday of the first week and will continue to remain open. Later completions will be accepted but will result in later financial aid disbursements.

 

2. Syllabus Quiz (1 Pts)

Students are expected to familiarize themselves with the course syllabus in the first week. By taking the Syllabus Quiz (Q0. TAKE – Syllabus Quiz (1 Pt.), students will obtain essential knowledge of the syllabus including abbreviations, requirements, deadlines, and policies, which will help them navigate through the course. This quiz is due 11:59pm, Friday of the first week.

 

3. Group Discussions (10 Pts)

Students will participate in two group discussions on Webcourses. For full credit, students must post their original response to the discussion prompt AND comment on their peers’ posts throughout the discussion period. To support the posts, students must use the concepts and approaches learned from the lectures and course materials, not speculations or personal beliefs.

 

4. Exams (95 Pts)

Students will complete five quizzes and three essays throughout the semester.

• Quizzes (5 x 10 Pts): Students must use a computer with a reliable Internet connection when they take the quizzes. Students will be given 20 minutes on each quiz. Because students take the quizzes at different time points, there are several restrictions on the format of the quizzes: NO collaboration is allowed. Only one attempt is allowed in each quiz and the students’ own responses and the correct answers will NOT be provided. However, students are welcome to inquire about how they did after each quiz is completed.

• Essays (3 x 15 Pts): Students will write three analytical essays (length: 1,000-1,200 words) based on their understandings of the covered materials. They will have a full week to complete and submit each essay. Late essays are only accepted for two days with a 10% point deduction per day. All submissions must reflect the students’ own effort. The students involved in plagiarism will receive a zero score on the given exam and be subject to disciplinary action specified below under Course Policy – 1. Academic Integrity.

 

In case of emergency, students must notify the instructor BEFORE a required component (e.g., exam) is administered and submit valid documents for the excuse (e.g., hospital admission records, police arrest records) within three days of the due date. Failing to do so will result in a zero score for the missed component.

 

C. SCHEDULE (subject to change)

Date	Topic	Issue
8/24 - 9/4	PART 0. INTRODUCTION BA 1. Environmental Problems and Society (Bell & Ashwood) -  GL 0. An Introduction to Environmental Sociology (Gould & Lewis) PART I. THE MATERIAL BA 2. Consumption and Materialism > GROUP DISCUSSION 1 (9/2 WED - 9/11 FRI)	Themes       Consumption
9/7 - 9/18	> QUIZ 1: BA 1 & 2 AND GL 0: INTRODUCTION (DUE: 9/11 FRI) BA 3. Money and Markets -  GL 4. Labor Productivity and the Environment (A. Schnaiberg) BA 4. Technology and Science -  GL 7. Technological Change and the Environment (K. Gould)	Pollution (Energy & Waste MC 3*)   Transportation
9/21 - 9/25	> QUIZ 2: BA 3-4 AND GL 4 & 7 (DUE: 9/25 FRI) > ESSAY 1: BA 1-4 AND GL 0, 4, & 7 (DUE: 9/25 FRI)
9/28 -10/9	BA 5. Population (and Development) -   GL 8. Population, Demography, and the Environment (D. Bates) BA 6. Body and Justice > GROUP DISCUSSION 2 (10/7 WED - 10/16 FRI)	Food Insecurity   Health (Food Safety & CAFOs)
10/12 - 10/23	> QUIZ 3: BA 5-6 AND GL 8 (DUE: 10/16 FRI) PART II: THE IDEAL BA 7. The Ideology of Environmental Domination -   McCright and Dunlap. 2011. “The Politicization of Climate Change and Polarization in the American Public’s Views of Global Warming, 2001–2010.” BA 8. The Ideology of Environmental Concern -   GL 16. U.S. Environmental Movements (R. Brulle)	Climate Change 1     Biodiversity (MC 4*)
10/26 - 10/30	> QUIZ 4: BA 7-8, GL 16, AND MCCRIGHT & DUNLAP (2011) (DUE: 10/30 FRI) > ESSAY 2: BA 5-8, GL 8 & 16, AND MCCRIGHT & DUNLAP (2011) (DUE: 10/30 FRI)
11/2 - 11/13	BA 9. The Human Nature of Nature (pp.252-254; 258-260; 264-268) -   GL 6. The Science of Nature and the Nature of Science (R. York) BA 10. The Rationality of Risk (pp.283-285; 296-311)	Climate Change 2
11/16 - 11/27	PART III: THE PRACTICAL BA 12. Governing the Ecological Society -  GL 9. Energy, Society, and the Environment (S. Bell) BA 13. Living in the Ecological Society (pp.365-369; 375-382)	Energy Production
11/30 - 12/4	> QUIZ 5: BA 9-10, 12-13, AND GL 6 & 9 (DUE: 12/7 MON) > ESSAY 3: BA 9-10 & 12-13 AND GL 6 & 9 (DUE: 12/7 MON)
Academic Activity by Aug 28 (Fri) ● UCF Classes End: Dec 4 (Fri) ● Final Exam Period: Dec 7-12

 

 D. COURSE POLICY

 

1. Academic Integrity

Students should familiarize themselves with UCF’s Rules of Conduct. According to Section 1, “Academic Misconduct,” students are prohibited from engaging in:

• Unauthorized assistance: Using or attempting to use unauthorized materials, information or study aids in any academic exercise unless specifically authorized by the instructor of record. The unauthorized possession of examination or course-related material also constitutes cheating.

• Communication to another through written, visual, electronic, or oral means: The presentation of material which has not been studied or learned, but rather was obtained through someone else’s efforts and used as part of an examination, course assignment, or project.

• Commercial Use of Academic Material: Selling of course material to another person, student, and/or uploading course material to a third-party vendor without authorization or without the express written permission of the university and the instructor. Course materials include but are not limited to class notes, Instructor’s PowerPoints, course syllabi, tests, quizzes, labs, instruction sheets, homework, study guides, handouts, etc.

• Falsifying or misrepresenting the student’s own academic work.

• Plagiarism: Using or appropriating another’s work without any indication of the source, thereby attempting to convey the impression that such work is the student’s own.

• Multiple Submissions: Submitting the same academic work for credit more than once without the express written permission of the instructor.

• Helping another violate academic behavior standards.

 

Students should also familiarize themselves with the procedures for academic misconduct in UCF’s student handbook, The Golden Rule. UCF faculty members have a responsibility for students’ education and the value of a UCF degree, and so seek to prevent unethical behavior and when necessary respond to academic misconduct. Penalties can include a failing grade in an assignment or in the course, suspension or expulsion from the university, and/or a “Z Designation” on a student’s official transcript indicating academic dishonesty, where the final grade for this course will be preceded by the letter Z.

 

For more information about Academic Integrity, please consult The Center for Academic Integrity.

 

2. Copyright

This course may contain copyright protected materials such as audio or video clips, images, text materials, etc. These items are being used with regard to the Fair Use doctrine in order to enhance the learning environment. Please do NOT copy, duplicate, download or distribute these items. The use of these materials is strictly reserved for this online classroom environment and your use only. All copyright materials are credited to the copyright holder. 

 

3. Third-Party Software And FERPA

During this course you might have the opportunity to use public online services and/or software applications sometimes called third-party software such as a blog or wiki. While some of these could be required assignments, you need not make any personally identifying information on a public site. Do NOT post or provide any private information about yourself or your classmates. Where appropriate you may use a pseudonym or nickname. Some written assignments posted publicly may require personal reflection/comments, but the assignments will NOT require you to disclose any personally identity-sensitive information. If you have any concerns about this, please contact your instructor.

 

4. Student Accessibility Services (SAS)

The University of Central Florida is committed to providing access and inclusion for all persons with disabilities. Students with disabilities who need disability-related access in this course should contact the professor as soon as possible. Students should also connect with Student Accessibility Services (SAS) <http://sas.sdes.ucf.edu/> (Ferrell Commons 185, sas@ucf.edu, phone 407-823-2371). Through Student Accessibility Services, a Course Accessibility Letter may be created and sent to professors, which informs faculty of potential access and accommodations that might be reasonable. Determining reasonable access and accommodations requires consideration of the course design, course learning objectives and the individual academic and course barriers experienced by the student.

 

5. Deployed Active Duty Military Students

If you are a deployed active duty military student and feel that you may need a special accommodation due to that unique status, please contact your instructor to discuss your circumstances.

 

6. Make-Up Assignments for Authorized University Events or Co-curricular Activities

Students who represent the university in an authorized event or activity (for example, student-athletes) and who are unable to meet a course deadline due to a conflict with that event must provide the instructor with documentation in advance to arrange a make-up. No penalty will be applied.

 

7. Religious Observances

Students must notify their instructor in advance if they intend to miss class for a religious observance. If there is any assignment missed due to the religious observance, students must arrange a make-up. No penalty will be applied.

 

8. Campus Safety

Emergencies on campus are rare, but if one should arise during class, everyone needs to work together. Students should be aware of their surroundings and familiar with some basic safety and security concepts.

• In case of an emergency, dial 911 for assistance.

• Every UCF classroom contains an emergency procedure guide posted on a wall near the door. Students should make a note of the guide’s physical location and review the online version at http://emergency.ucf.edu/emergency_guide.html.

• Students should know the evacuation routes from each of their classrooms and have a plan for finding safety in case of an emergency.

• If there is a medical emergency during class, students may need to access a first-aid kit or AED (Automated External Defibrillator). To learn where those are located, see http://www.ehs.ucf.edu/workplacesafety.html (click on link from menu on left).

• To stay informed about emergency situations, students can sign up to receive UCF text alerts by going to ucf.edu and logging in. Click on “Student Self Service” located on the left side of the screen in the toolbar, scroll down to the blue “Personal Information” heading on the Student Center screen, click on “UCF Alert”, fill out the information, including e-mail address, cell phone number, and cell phone provider, click “Apply” to save the changes, and then click “OK.”

• Students with special needs related to emergency situations should speak with their instructors outside of class.

• To learn about how to manage an active-shooter situation on campus or elsewhere, consider viewing this video.

 

E. COVID-19-RELATED POLICY

 

1. University-Wide Face Covering Policy for Common Spaces and Face-to-Face Classes

To protect members of our community, everyone is required to wear a facial covering inside all common spaces including classrooms (https://policies.ucf.edu/documents/PolicyEmergencyCOVIDReturnPolicy.pdf. Students who choose not to wear facial coverings will be asked to leave the classroom by the instructor. If they refuse to leave the classroom or put on a facial covering, they may be considered disruptive (please see the Golden Rule for student behavior expectations). Faculty have the right to cancel class if the safety and well-being of class members are in jeopardy. Students will be responsible for the material that would have been covered in class as provided by the instructor.

 

2. Notifications in Case of Changes to Course Modality

Depending on the course of the pandemic during the semester, the university may make changes to the way classes are offered. If that happens, please look for announcements or messages in Webcourses@UCF or Knights email about changes specific to this course.

 

3. COVID-19 and Illness Notification

Students who believe they may have a COVID-19 diagnosis should contact UCF Student Health Services (407-823-2509) so proper contact tracing procedures can take place.

Students should not come to campus if they are ill, are experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19, have tested positive for COVID, or if anyone living in their residence has tested positive or is sick with COVID-19 symptoms. CDC guidance for COVID-19 symptoms is located here: (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html)

Students should contact their instructor(s) as soon as possible if they miss class for any illness reason to discuss reasonable adjustments that might need to be made. When possible, students should contact their instructor(s) before missing class.

 

4. In Case of Faculty Illness

If the instructor falls ill during the semester, there may be changes to this course, including having a backup instructor take over the course. Please look for announcements or mail in Webcourses@UCF or Knights email for any alterations to this course.

 

5. Course Accessibility and Disability COVID-19 Supplemental Statement

Accommodations may need to be added or adjusted should this course shift from an on-campus to a remote format. Students with disabilities should speak with their instructor and should contact sas@ucf.edu to discuss specific accommodations for this or other courses.