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Course Information:

Meeting Place:  204 Kethley Hall

Meeting Times:  Mondays, 6:00–9:00 pm

Instructor Information:

Instructor: Dr. Alan Barton

Office: 201F Kethley

Telephone: (662) 846-4097

E-mail: abarton@deltastate.edu

Webpage:  http://ntweb.deltastate.edu/vp_academic/abarton/

Office Hours:
 

The instructor holds regular office hours at the following times:

    Monday 11:00 – 11:30 am; 2:00 – 6:00 pm

    Tuesday 3:00 – 5:00 pm
    Wednesday 11:00 – 11:30 am; 2:00 – 4:00 pm
    Thursday 3:00 – 4:00 pm
 

If you cannot make one of these times, contact the professor to set up an appointment.
 

Course Webpage:

Additional materials and updated course information can be found on the course webpage:

    http://ntweb.deltastate.edu/vp_academic/abarton/SOC421, Fa 04/SOC421Syllabus.htm

Course Overview:

This course provides a practical, policy-oriented review of the concept of sustainable development.  While the concept of sustainability has a long history in resource management, the notion that development must be sustainable rose to international prominence in the 1980s, received substantial attention and interest in the 1990s, and continues to shape international policy today.  We will study the evolution of the concept of sustainable development, focusing primarily on three conferences sponsored by the United Nations in 1972, 1992 and 2002.  We will consider the products of these conferences critically and practically to assess the viability of the concept of sustainable development in the local, national and international arenas.

This is the core course in the Sustainable Development track for Community Development M.S. students.  It is a concentration course for undergraduate students majoring in sociology or social sciences, and is an elective for undergraduate and graduate students studying social science education.

Prerequisites:  SOC 101 or permission of instructor.

Readings:

Books:

World Commission on Environment and Development. 1987. Our Common Future. Oxford University Press, New York.

Bruno, Kenny & Joshua Karliner. 2002. earthsummit.biz: The Corporate Takeover of Sustainable Development. Oakland, CA: Food First Books.

The books are available at the university bookstore.  You should purchase both books or otherwise arrange to complete the reading assignments from these books.
 

Articles and Reports:

Bonnett, Michael. 1999. Education for Sustainable Development: A Coherent Philosophy for Environmental Education? Cambridge Journal of Education 29(3):313-324.  Available from the DSU Library's Full-Text Electronic Journals.

Boston, Tim. 1999. Exploring Anti-Environmentalism in the Context of Sustainability. Electronic Green Journal, December. Available from the DSU Library's Full-Text Electronic Journals.

Buvinić, Mayra. 1999. Promoting Gender Equality. International Social Science Journal 51(162):567-574. Available from the DSU Library's Full-Text Electronic Journals.

Cernea, Michael M. 1993. The Sociologist's Approach to Sustainable Development. Finance & Development 30(4):11-13.  Available from the DSU Library's Full-Text Electronic Journals.

Falvey, L. 2003. Agri-history and Sustainable Agriculture: A Consideration of Technology and Ancient Wisdom. Asian Agri-History 7(4):279-294.  Available from the Agri-History website.
 

Hopkins, Charles A. and Rosalyn McKeown. 1999. Education for Sustainable Development. Forum for Applied Research and Public Policy 14(4):25–29.

McKeown, Rosalyn and Charles Hopkins. 2003. EE ≠ ESD: Defusing the Worry. Environmental Education Research 9(1):117-128.  Available from the DSU Library's Full-Text Electronic Journals.

Munasinghe, Mohan. 1993. The Economist's Approach to Sustainable Development. Finance & Development 30(4):16-19.  Available from the DSU Library's Full-Text Electronic Journals.

Nelson, Robert H. 1996. The Future of the National Forests. Society 34(1):92-98. Available from the DSU Library's Full-Text Electronic Journals.

Olson, Molly Harriss. 1996. Charting a Course for Sustainability. Environment 38(4):10-15, 30-36. Available from the DSU Library's Full-Text Electronic Journals.

Palmer, A.R. 1999. Ecological Footprints: Evaluating Sustainability. Environmental Geosciences 6(4):200-204. Available from the DSU Library's Full-Text Electronic Journals.

Pauly, Daniel, Villy Christensen, Sylvie Guenette, Tony J. Pitcher, U. Rashid Sumails, Carl J. Walters, R. Watson and Dirk Zeller. 2002. Towards Sustainability in World Fisheries. Nature 418(6898):689-695.  Available from the DSU Library's Full-Text Electronic Journals.

Pigozzi, Mary Joy. 2003. UNESCO and the International Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (2005-2015). UNESCO International Science, Technology and Environmental Education Newsletter 28(1/2):1-6.  Available from the DSU Library's Full-Text Electronic Journals.

Rees, Colin. 1993. The Ecologist's Approach to Sustainable Development. Finance & Development 30(4):14-15.  Available from the DSU Library's Full-Text Electronic Journals.

Singh, Naresh and Jonathan Gilman. 1999. Making Livelihoods More Sustainable. International Social Science Journal 51(162):539-545. Available from the DSU Library's Full-Text Electronic Journals.

Smith, Fred L., Jr. 1994. Sustainable Development - A Free-Market Perspective. Boston College Environmental Affairs Law Review 21(2):297-308.  Available from the DSU Library's Full-Text Electronic Journals.

United Nations Conference on Environment & Development. 1992. Agenda 21 and the Rio Agreements.  Available from the UNCED website.

United Nations Environment Programme. 1972. Report of the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment. Available on the UNEP website.

United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). 1999. The Day of 6 Billion website.  Read sections under "Fast Facts" and "The Issues" links.

United Nations World Summit on Sustainable Development. 2002. Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development. Available on the WSSP website.

The Course Outline below lists the reading assignments for each class meeting; you should do the assigned reading BEFORE the class meeting for which it is assigned.

Click here for tips on studying the readings for this course.

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Course Objectives:

Once you successfully complete this course, you will be able to:

(1)  Define the concept of sustainable development from a variety of perspectives.

(2)  Explain how the idea of sustainability and development have changed through history, and how policy has evolved in line with these changing conceptions.

(3)  Discuss United Nations efforts to structure and implement sustainable development internationally and locally.
 

(4)  Apply sustainable development policy statements to current environmental and development issues, and analyze the effects of these policies.

(5)  Critically examine current trends in sustainable development, and relate these to theories of globalization.

These objectives contribute to overall course goals:

(1)  Developing critical thinking skills.  The class discussions, readings, writing assignments and exams are designed to encourage you to develop and use higher-order thinking skills, including analytical, synthetic and applied thinking.  Click here for more information on thinking critically.

(2)  Understanding the social structures and processes that condition our lives.  A basic goal of all sociology courses is to help you understand the nature and workings of these social structures, and how they open opportunities and impose constraints on individuals operating within these structures.  C. Wright Mills called this using your "sociological imagination;" activities in this course are designed to encourage you to use your sociological imagination.  Click here for more information on the sociological imagination.

Course Organization and Approach:

This course uses a participatory, learner-centered, adult education approach.  An adult education approach recognizes that you are responsible for your own learning.  The professor can only provide opportunities to learn, but cannot force you to learn.  You are expected to work hard in this course, meaning that for every hour of class time, you should spend two to three hours outside of class preparing by doing readings, assignments, studying for quizzes and exams, and thinking about the course material.

You are expected to take responsibility for the success of the course, that is, you should take an active interest not just in the course material, but in the course itself, making it a success for all participants.  Factors such as interest, motivation, creativity, and initiative are important elements in evaluating your performance and assigning a grade.

Assignments and Grading: 

 
There are a total of 100 points available for the semester.  Your final score is simply the sum of all points earned over the semester.  If you accumulate 90 or more points over the course of the semester, you will get an “A” in the course.  If you accumulate 80 to 89 points, you will get a “B,” for 70 to 79 points you will get a “C,” and for 60 to 69 points will get a “D.”  If you get less than 60 points, your final grade will be an “F.”  Note that you start with zero and earn points; you do not start with 100 and lose points.

If you comply with all course requirements and submit all of the assignments satisfactorily and on time, you can expect a “C” in this course.  To receive a higher grade, you must demonstrate a superior grasp of course material and an ability to apply the material in productive ways.  It is also helpful to show an interest in the course material and in learning, and an achievement-based orientation.

This table summarizes points for each assignment, detailed below.

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Assignments, SOC 421:

All students taking the course for undergraduate (SOC 485) credit must complete the following assignments:

(1) Participation in Class Discussions (15 points)

• You are expected to do all of the assigned readings and attend all class sessions

• You are expected to engage in classroom discussions, reflecting on the topic and readings

• The quality of contributions to class discussions is more important than the quantity of contributions

• Participation in class discussions is not graded based on whether it is “right” or “wrong;” rather, you are expected to engage the material critically, and demonstrate an understanding and ability to apply the course material in productive ways

(2) Weekly Essays (40 points)

• You will prepare and submit eight two-page essays over the course of the semester
• Prior to each class session, a topical question pertaining to the videos and/or readings will be posted on the website; you may use this question as a guide the prepare the essay which is due at the next class session
• Twelve questions will be posted; you must submit essays in response to any eight of these
• The papers should be typed, 10 or 12 point font, 1 inch margins, double spaced
• Each essay is worth 5 points
• For out-of-class assignments, you are expected to do your own work – see the policy on plagiarism and cheating; this policy will be enforced with no exceptions

Additional Information:
 

• Click here for Soc 421 writing assignments

• Click here for tips on writing papers for this course

(3) Mid-term Exam (15 points)

• A take-home mid-term exam will be assigned at the mid-point of the semester
• The exam will require you to write one short (approximately 3 paragraphs) and one long (approximately 3 pages) essay
• The exam will be announced in class, and the questions will be posted on the website by Wednesday, October 20, due the following Monday, October 25

• The exam covers the material since the beginning of the course

Additional Information:
 

• Click here for the Soc 421 mid-term exam

(4) Final Exam (20 points)

• You MUST take the final exam, at a time to be arranged

• The final exam is comprehensive, and consists of twenty short answer (e.g. true-false, multiple choice, fill-in-the-blank, matching terms) questions and one essay question

(5) Discretionary (10 points)

   • The instructor will evaluate each student’s performance based on factors such as the motivation, interest, and improvement the student demonstrates

 
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Assignments, SOC/COD 521:

All students taking the course for graduate (SOC 585) credit must complete the following assignments:

(1) Participation in Class Discussions (15 points)

• You are expected to do all of the assigned readings and attend all class sessions

• You are expected to engage in classroom discussions, reflecting on the topic and readings

• The quality of contributions to class discussions is more important than the quantity of contributions

• Participation in class discussions is not graded based on whether it is “right” or “wrong;” rather, you are expected to engage the material critically, and demonstrate an understanding and ability to apply the course material in productive ways

(2) Weekly Essays (30 points)

• You will prepare and submit ten two-page essays over the course of the semester
• Prior to each class session, a topical question pertaining to the videos and/or readings will be posted on the website; you may use this question as a guide the prepare the essay which is due at the next class session
• Twelve questions will be posted; you must submit essays in response to any ten of these
• The papers should be typed, 10 or 12 point font, 1 inch margins, double spaced
• Each essay is worth 3 points
• For out-of-class assignments, you are expected to do your own work – see the policy on plagiarism and cheating; this policy will be enforced with no exceptions

Additional Information:

• Click here for Soc 521/COD 521 writing assignments
• Click here for tips on writing papers for this course

(3) Discussion Leader (20 points)

• You will lead class discussion on the readings one time during the semester
• The objective of each discussion is to assess the practical value of sustainable development as a strategy
• Begin by determining the social and policy importance of the assigned reading, then identify a documented current environmental issue to which you can apply the material in the reading; this may be through an article from a newspaper, news magazine, or reputable web site
• You should then facilitate a class discussion on the topic, encouraging participation by all members of the class; your responsibility is to get other students talking about the topic, mediate the contributions of other students to keep the discussion focused, and guide the discussion to ensure that the critical issues are covered

• In leading the discussion, you should prepare and give a short presentation on the week's readings, focusing on the social and policy dimensions; following this you should present the current topic, then lead the class in a discussion that illuminates the value (or lack of value) of the policy using the practical example

Additional Information:
 

• Click here for guidelines on leading a discussion

• Click here for a schedule of discussion leaders
 

(4) Research Paper (15 points)

• You will select topic that we study this semester (e.g. the Rio conference, the role of corporations in sustainable development), and prepare a 10-page essay based on your own research on the topic
• You should focus your paper so that it treats one aspect of your overall topic in depth, and highlights the policy dimensions of the topic

• The paper is due on Dec. 1, 2004

Additional Information:

• Click here for guidelines for writing the research paper
 

(5) Final Exam (10 points)

• You MUST take the final exam, at a time to be arranged
• The final exam is comprehensive, and consists of two short essay questions

(6) Discretionary (10 points)

• The instructor will evaluate your performance based on factors such as the motivation, interest, and improvement you demonstrate in the course

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Policies and Expectations:

(1) YOU are responsible for learning the course material and for your progress in the course

    • You are expected to attend class regularly.  An attendance sheet will be passed around at every class session.  Make sure you sign the attendance sheet at each class meeting – this will serve as the official record of attendance, and if your name is not on the sheet, you will not receive credit for attending on that date.

    • You are expected to complete all of the assignments and know all material presented during class sessions, whether you attended the class or not.  If you miss a class session, you should check with another student to see what you missed.

    • “I didn’t know” is NEVER a valid excuse.  If you don’t know something, it is your job to find out.

(2) Missed assignments CANNOT be made up

    • It is assumed that if you miss class or an assignment, you are making a choice that prioritizes other activities above the class.  For this reason, none of the assignments or coursework can be made up.

    • Assignments are due at the time specified; no late assignments will be accepted.

    • If you miss an exam or writing assignment, you will receive a grade of zero for that assignment.  You are not required to turn a writing assignment in every week, but cannot make up assignments if you do not turn in the required number by the end of the semester.

    • If you must miss a presentation or other in-class activity, it is up to you to arrange to trade with another student before the event.  Please notify the instructor of such changes.  Points will be deducted from your grade if you simply do not show up for a presentation.

(3) Illnesses and emergencies MUST be documented

    • If you must miss a class due to illness or another personal emergency, notify the instructor BEFORE the missed class period either by e-mail or telephone.

    • If you cannot notify the instructor in advance, bring a note from a doctor or other professional to the next class meeting.

    • Illnesses and emergencies pertain only to the student, not to the student’s family, friends or others.

    • If you must miss class for an official university activity, you should make arrangements with the instructor BEFORE the missed class.  Appropriate documentation is required.

    • Notified absences (i.e. you notify the instructor before the event) count as one-half absence.  Excused absences (i.e. you bring a note from a doctor or other professional) will not count against you for the first two; after that, each excused absence counts as one-half absence.

    • You are responsible for all material presented in the class, even during an excused absence.  You should get class notes from another student for all class sessions you miss.

    • It is in your interest to provide the instructor with written notification (e.g. note or e-mail) or documentation for any missed class.  It is risky to simply tell the instructor and expect him to remember.

(4) Class discussion is an important element in this course

    • The purpose of the discussion is to provide you with an opportunity to practice thinking skills in a safe environment.

    • In discussions, you are encouraged to explore ideas presented in the readings and lectures, to think about and apply concepts, and to develop arguments and evaluate evidence.

    • You must demonstrate appropriate respect the opinions and ideas of other students.  If you repeatedly show disrespect for other students, you will be asked to leave the classroom.

    • Class discussions are NOT a time to chat with other students about topics not related to the course.  Talking privately with other students while the rest of the class is trying to carry on a discussion is disruptive, bothersome, and disrespectful to other students and to the professor.  If you repeatedly talk out of turn, you will be asked to leave the classroom.

    • It is acceptable (and encouraged) to disagree with the perspectives of other students, but you should phrase this to show disagreement with the idea or opinion, not with the person presenting the idea or opinion.

    • Please make sure that all pagers, cell phones, etc. are turned off during class time.  If your phone or pager repeatedly interrupts class, you will be asked to leave the classroom.

    • Any work missed by a student that was asked to leave the classroom cannot be made up under any circumstances.

(5) You are expected to comply with all academic standards and ethics as defined in the DSU Bulletin and Handbook

    • You are expected to do their own work in this course.  Plagiarism and other forms of cheating will NOT be tolerated.

    • Click here if you are unsure what constitutes plagiarism.  The DSU Library's "Plagiarism Prevention: A Guide for Students" is also a good resource.  If it is still unclear, see the instructor.  IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO UNDERSTAND THESE GUIDELINES.  If at some point in the semester you are suspected of committing plagiarism, pleas of “I didn’t know what plagiarism was” will not be accepted.

    • The sanctions for plagiarism are outlined on the web page linked above.  Make sure you are aware of these BEFORE you submit any work in this class.

(6)  DO NOT bring cell phones or other portable communication devices to class during quizzes, exams, or in-class assignments.  If the instructor sees a cell phone or other device during a quiz, exam or in-class assignment, your work will be collected immediately and you will be asked to leave the classroom.

(7) Appropriate accommodations will be made for students with medical problems or diagnosed disabilities.  Have Dr. Richard Houston at the Reily Health Center (846-4690) contact the course instructor to make arrangements.