AANB05082U Anthropology and the Environment

Volume 2015/2016
Content

The course aims at introducing the specific anthropological contribution to the study of pressing environmental issues.

The main objective is to explore the interface between nature and society. Even though anthropology has mainly focused on social life and social relationships, it has also made a significant contribution to analyzing the entanglement of natural and social processes. With the current emphasis on climate change and environmental challenges of many other kinds, such analysis is ever more pressing.

Through the presentation of ethnographic cases, and by allowing ample time for discussion of various analytical and theoretical viewpoints, the ambition is to show how it is no longer possible to think of ‘nature’ as something beyond social life.

Learning Outcome

At the end of the course, students will be able to:

- Identify central themes in environmental anthropology;

- Analyse concrete cases of environmental change;

- Theorize the intertwinement of natural and social processes;

- Reflect on the methodological implications of this intertwinement;

- Apply the acquired analytical skills on new empirical cases

BSc-, Credit-, Open Education and all international students: 500 pages obligatory literature.
MSc students: 500 pages obligatory literature + 200 pages of literature chosen by students

Literature chosen by students must be relevant to the course’s subject matter.

Course literature will be available in Absalon on the course website

Academic qualifications
This course is a specialized course. Students who have completed a minimum 90 ECTS of anthropological subjects can apply. Documentation is required.
Classes, presentations of ethnographic cases, theoretical discussions
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Exam
  • 35
  • Exercises
  • 10
  • Lectures
  • 23
  • Preparation
  • 133
  • Seminar
  • 5
  • Total
  • 206
Credit
7,5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Written assignment
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.
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.
Re-exam

1. re-exam:

A new essay with a revised problem statement must be submitted at the announced date. The students are automatically registered for the 1. re-exam. Please note that the re-exam is an essay even for courses, where the ordinary exam is a portfolio exam.

2. re-exam:

A new essay with a revised problem statement must be submitted at the announced date next semester. The students must sign up for the 2. re-exam.

Criteria for exam assesment

See learning outcome