Undergraduate Course: Values and the Environment (GEGR10079)
Course Outline
| School | School of Geosciences |
College | College of Science and Engineering |
| Course type | Standard |
Availability | Available to all students |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 3 Undergraduate) |
Credits | 20 |
| Home subject area | Geography |
Other subject area | None |
| Course website |
None |
Taught in Gaelic? | No |
| Course description | This course examines issues related to two important modes of human valuing of nature, the ethical and the aesthetic. The first part of the course covers key concepts and theories in environmental ethics including (normally): anthropocentrism and nonanthropocentrism; animal ethics; Leopold's land ethic; deep ecology; and recent attempts to develop an urban environmental ethic. In the second part, we examine aesthetic and landscape values in our engagement with wild nature, rural environments and other cultural landscapes. The course concludes with a look at conflicts between aesthetic, ethical and other values as they arise in environmental conservation and policy, including cases of ecological restoration. Case studies are used throughout the course to reflect on how values are embodied in practice. |
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
|
Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
| Additional Costs | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| Displayed in Visiting Students Prospectus? | Yes |
Course Delivery Information
|
| Delivery period: 2011/12 Semester 1, Available to all students (SV1)
|
WebCT enabled: Yes |
Quota: 25 |
| Location |
Activity |
Description |
Weeks |
Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
| Central | Lecture | | 1-11 | | 11:10 - 13:00 | | | |
| First Class |
Week 1, Tuesday, 11:10 - 13:00, Zone: Central. Lecture Theatre 2.13, Geography, Drummond Street |
| Exam Information |
| Exam Diet |
Paper Name |
Hours:Minutes |
|
|
| Main Exam Diet S1 (December) | Values and the Environment | 2:00 | | |
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
A detailed, critical understanding environmental ethics and the key concepts and theories
An understanding of how aesthetic value relates to a range of environments, from the wild to the urban
An understanding of the role of values in engagement with a range of environments and the conflicts that arise between values in conservation and policy-making
Expression of the student&©s own critical thinking on environmental values in discussion and in writing, a thinking which will be informed by recent, relevant developments
The group discussions/ tutorials will give students the opportunity to demonstrate some originality and creativity in dealing with professional level issues and allow them to practise critically identifying and analysing complex problems. |
Assessment Information
Class assessment: As outlined in course handbook
Degree assessment: One 2,000 word essay (40%)
One two hour examination (2 questions) (60%)
|
Special Arrangements
| None |
Additional Information
| Academic description |
Not entered |
| Syllabus |
Not entered |
| Transferable skills |
Not entered |
| Reading list |
Not entered |
| Study Abroad |
Not entered |
| Study Pattern |
Not entered |
| Keywords | GEGR10079 |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr William Ginn
Tel:
Email: wginn@exseed.ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Mrs Catherine Campbell
Tel: (0131 6)50 9847
Email: cathy.campbell@ed.ac.uk |
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© Copyright 2011 The University of Edinburgh - 16 January 2012 6:09 am
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