Undergraduate Course: Sustainable Development 1a: Introducing Sustainable Development (SCIL08008)
Course Outline
| School | School of Social and Political Science |
College | College of Humanities and Social Science |
| Course type | Standard |
Availability | Available to all students |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 8 (Year 1 Undergraduate) |
Credits | 20 |
| Home subject area | Sociology |
Other subject area | None |
| Course website |
None |
Taught in Gaelic? | No |
| Course description | This course is the first year first semester course for the new MA in Sustainable Development, being set up and run through SPS. It is therefore intended to introduce students to the key issues and debates around principles, contexts and applications of sustainable development. The course will be taught by staff from across the University, and will thus be an interdisciplinary introduction to sustainable development: outlining the key contributions from different disciplines, the importance of thinking widely to understand and address the relevant issues, and the need to integrate different perspectives to achieve effective solutions.
The course will start from the principles and background to the development of the concept of 'sustainable development'. It will outline the context in which sustainable development has emerged, and the key challenges that society and the environment face (from the global to local levels). The positive benefits that development and advances in technology have brought (in terms of quality of life, healthcare and so on) will be emphasised, alongside the consequences of current living patterns. Students will be encouraged throughout to think critically about what sustainability means and how it can and should be applied, and the course includes consideration of how 'sustainable development' should be measured, assessed, and understood. Key issues and insights from politics, demography and population, economic sociology, and business studies will be drawn on and developed in relation to sustainable development. The course finishes by drawing out the implications and key learning points from the different disciplinary approaches, and provides a foundation on which students can build in further sustainable development courses.
The course will lead into the second semester core course for the MA Sustainable Development, Science and Society 1b: Nature and Environment (SCSU08004). |
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
Students MUST have passed:
|
Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
| Additional Costs | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| Displayed in Visiting Students Prospectus? | No |
Course Delivery Information
|
| Delivery period: 2011/12 Semester 1, Available to all students (SV1)
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WebCT enabled: Yes |
Quota: None |
| Location |
Activity |
Description |
Weeks |
Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
| Central | Lecture | Lecture | 1-11 | | 09:00 - 09:50 | | | | | Central | Lecture | Lecture | 1-11 | | | | | 09:00 - 09:50 |
| First Class |
Week 1, Tuesday, 09:00 - 09:50, Zone: Central. Lecture, Medical School, Teviot LT |
| Exam Information |
| Exam Diet |
Paper Name |
Hours:Minutes |
|
|
| Main Exam Diet S1 (December) | | 2:00 | | | | Resit Exam Diet (August) | | 2:00 | | |
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
Learning Outcomes
- Understanding of the history of the concept of $ùsustainable development&©, and the key principles upon which the concept is built.
- Understanding of the current global environmental context and key issues
- Critical appraisal of the ways in which sustainable development is assessed and measured
- Appreciation of the key insights and contributions from a range of disciplines towards understanding and achieving sustainable development
- Development of research and analytical and presentation skills, through guided research in preparation for assessment and tutorial presentations
|
Assessment Information
*Non-assessed, but compulsory, class work
*1500 word essay (40% of total mark)
*two hour examination (60% of total mark).
Students must pass the examination to pass the course. |
Special Arrangements
| None |
Additional Information
| Academic description |
Not entered |
| Syllabus |
Not entered |
| Transferable skills |
Not entered |
| Reading list |
Preliminary readings
Dresner, S. (2008) The Principles of Sustainability London: Earthscan.
Jackson, T. (2010) Prosperity Without Growth London: Earthscan.
Students will receive a course guide with extensive readings under each lecture theme. Electronic resources will be used where available.
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| Study Abroad |
Not entered |
| Study Pattern |
Not entered |
| Keywords | Sustainable Development |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Janette Webb
Tel: (0131 6)50 3987
Email: Jan.Webb@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Mr Ewen Miller
Tel: (0131 6)50 3925
Email: Ewen.Miller@ed.ac.uk |
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© Copyright 2011 The University of Edinburgh - 16 January 2012 6:46 am
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