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Climate Change and Environmental Sociology
Climate Change and Environmental Sociology
April 7, 2023

The climate crisis is a major contemporary problem that affects all of us. Some of us are teaching in places seeing direct impacts via more extreme "natural" disasters. While others may be located in places where the impacts are less direct or obvious. Regardless, sociology instructors should strive to incorporate climate change and environmental sociology more directly in our instruction. In the Climate Change and Environmental Sociology resource collection, you will find teaching modules, assignment instructions, and a syllabus to help you add sociological insight to the climate crisis. 

A neighborhood reduced to ash after a wildfire
Ellen Meiser
Sociology of Disaster Syllabus
February 29, 2024
Subject Area(s):
Other
Resource Type(s):
Syllabus
Class Level(s):
College 300, College 400
Class Size(s):
Any
Abstract:

This syllabus was created for a 17-week long 300-level online, asynchronous Sociology of Disasters course. Inspired by the syllabi of Dr. Lori Peek (Colorado State University), Dr. Lee M. Miller (Sam Houston State University), and Dr. Monika Myers’ syllabus...

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pollution on a beach
Zach Rubin
Ecotours: A Tour Through Disaster
June 25, 2021
Subject Area(s):
Environmental Sociology
Resource Type(s):
Assessment, Essay
Class Level(s):
Any Level
Class Size(s):
Any
Abstract:
Following the reading an article by Bauer and Kalz, students are assigned to create a"tour" of a local environmental hazard or concern. This could be a site of pollution, a site of potential natural hazard, or some combination of both. Whichever it is, the objective...
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Danielle MacCartney
Comparative Social Problems Paper
May 19, 2021
Subject Area(s):
Introduction to Sociology/Social Problems
Resource Type(s):
Assignment
Class Level(s):
College 200
Class Size(s):
Medium
Abstract:
This comparative social problems paper allows students to demonstrate their understanding of social problems by comparing the same social problem in the U.S. and one other country. In three stages (proposal, first draft, and final draft), students explain how the...
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Shiv Issar
Environmental Sociology (300-level)
November 20, 2020
Subject Area(s):
Environmental Sociology
Resource Type(s):
Assessment, Assignment, Essay, Syllabus, Website
Class Level(s):
College 300
Class Size(s):
Small
Abstract:
Why is it necessary to study Environmental Sociology? - The world is still experiencing the shock of the Coronavirus Pandemic, and is expected to see its various socioeconomic and psychosocial effects manifest over the next few years. Moreover, in the light of other...
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Corrie Grosse, Erica Morrell
Climate Justice / Climate Strikes Teaching Module
February 12, 2020
Subject Area(s):
Environmental Sociology
Resource Type(s):
Assessment, Assignment, Class Activity, Lecture, PowerPoint, Video, Website
Class Level(s):
Any Level
Class Size(s):
Any
Abstract:
Students around the world are leading climate strikes every Friday to call attention to and mobilize greater action to limit climate crisis and the harm it poses to all beings, especially already vulnerable, marginalized human communities. These strikes occasionally...
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Amanda Jayne Miller
Fake News: Media Representations of "Truth"
December 14, 2017
Subject Area(s):
Communication and Information Technologies
Resource Type(s):
Class Activity
Class Level(s):
Any Level
Class Size(s):
Medium
Abstract:
Since the 2016 election, calls of "fake news" have been abundant. At times, this literally does refer to fabricated stories. However, "fake news" might also refer to stories in which some relevant information is omitted or highlighted in order to give the story a...
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Nik Janos
Using infographics to learn and communicate about global problems
June 2, 2017
Subject Area(s):
Development
Resource Type(s):
Assignment
Class Level(s):
College 300
Class Size(s):
Medium
Abstract:
Research papers have long been a staple of upper division sociology courses; however, this assignment combines sociological research with the creation and dissemination of a sociological infographic. An infographic is generally defined as data visualization with an...
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Scott G McNall, Andrew Szasz
Teaching the Sociology of Climate Change
May 13, 2014
Subject Area(s):
Environmental Sociology
Resource Type(s):
Essay
Class Level(s):
College 100
Class Size(s):
Any
Abstract:
Pedagogical Essay Resource: The goal of this article is to provide guidance to those introductory sociology and social problems instructors who want to introduce the subject of the sociology of climate change into one week of an existing quarter or semester class. We...
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