AANK13513U The Anthropology of the Environment, advanced course: Disasters, Risk and Resilience

Volume 2014/2015
Content

The relationship between humans and their environment has a long history as a topic of interest in anthropology. From natural resource management to environmental activism, risk or climate change, anthropological studies provide valuable insights into the way the environment is experienced within a social world. In the past few decades, natural disasters have become an increasingly popular topic of study within environmental anthropology both from a theoretical and applied perspective.

This course will begin with an introduction to the fundamental concepts of environmental anthropology before following on with a more specialised focus on the anthropology of disasters. Global case studies will be analysed to engage with the varying anthropological theories and concepts related to disaster situations, and to understand the current issues and debates within the anthropology of disasters.

Learning Outcome

By the end of this course students will be able to:

  • Identify and formulate central anthropological questions related to the environment and disasters.
  • Critically discuss concepts, theories and central debates related to these subjects.
  • Apply relevant theories and concepts in the analysis of selected case studies

500 pages mandatory literature + 200 pages of literature chosen by students.

Mandatory literature will be available on Absalon.

This course is a specialized course for MSc-students enrolled at the Dept. of Anthropology, University of Copenhagen. Erasmus/exchange- , credit- an Open University students who have a bachelor degree which consists of a minimum of one and a half years (90 ECTS) of anthropological subjects, including introduction to history of anthropological theory and methodology in Anthropology may also apply. Documentation is required.
This course will involve a mix of lectures, discussions, group work, student presentations and library based research.
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Exam
  • 80
  • Exercises
  • 14
  • Lectures
  • 14
  • Preparation
  • 102
  • Total
  • 210
Credit
10 ECTS
Type of assessment
Portfolio
Obligatory portfolio assignments: The course lecturer determines the number and length of portfolio assignments. A minimum of 75% thereof will be assessed as the exam. At the end of the course, the lecturer will announce upon which portfolio assignments the assessment will be based.
Exam registration requirements
The student must participate actively in class, through for example class presentations, in order to be eligible to take the course exam. The course lecturer stipulates the specific requirements for active class participation.
Aid
All aids allowed
Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
No external censorship
There is appointed a second internal assessor to assist with the assessment when the first assessor finds this necessary.
Criteria for exam assesment

See description of aims

Credit
7,5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Portfolio
Obligatory portfolio assignments: The course lecturer determines the number and length of portfolio assignments. A minimum of 75% thereof will be assessed as the exam. At the end of the course, the lecturer will announce upon which portfolio assignments the assessment will be based.
Exam registration requirements
The student must participate actively in class, through for example class presentations, in order to be eligible to take the course exam. The course lecturer stipulates the specific requirements for active class participation.
Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
No external censorship
There is appointed a second internal assessor to assist with the assessment when the first assessor finds this necessary.
Criteria for exam assesment

See description of aims