Climate, nature, environment: basic concepts and new trends
Course content
The course is an introduction to how anthropological analysis can contribute to an understanding of climate change, environmental justice and human perceptions of nature. Although anthropology primarily focuses on social relations, environmental anthropology has historically been preoccupied with the interaction between natural and social processes. Through a mix of theory and ethnographic examples from around the globe, the course introduces newer perspectives on climate change, nature and environment, environmental justice, multispecies relations, care, conflict and climate activism.
The course will include a one-day collective fieldwork near Copenhagen, collective writing and presentation of fieldwork findings, peer feedback, and a final essay based on fieldwork and theory.
The course is open to:
- Exchange and Guest students from abroad
- Credit students from Danish Universities
Full-degree students enrolled at the Faculty of Social Science, UCPH
- Master Programmes in Social Data Science
- Bachelor Programmes in Sociology
- Bachelor and Master Programmes in Psychology
- Master Programmes in Political Science and Social Science
Enrolled students register for the course through Self-Service. Please contact the study administration of the individual programs for questions regarding registration.
At the end of the course students must be able to:
Skills:
- be able to analyze concrete empirical examples of how climate
change, environmental problems and perceptions of nature are
distinct and yet connected; - be able to carry out a short collective anthropological
fieldwork with
teacher guidance.
Knowledge:
- demonstrate knowledge of new anthropological approaches and anthropological concepts about climate, environment and nature;
- demonstrate knowledge and understanding of central themes in environmental anthropology;
Competences:
- collaborate with other students, including giving and receiving feedback;
- theorize about the interaction between natural and social processes;
- apply the acquired analytical skills in connection with
empirical
examples.
The course consists of lectures, group work and joint discussions. Students’ participation is encouraged in order to create a dialogical learning space. One lecture is reserved for a one day fieldtrip and another for the presentation of findings and peer feedback.
Undergraduate and graduate students: 500 pages of required reading.
Teacher posts 100-200 pages of supplementary literature.
MA students must include 100 pages of supplementary literature in the exam, which the student selects.
Written feedback will be in the form of peer feedback.
When registered you will be signed up for exam.
- Full-degree students – sign up at Selfservice on KUnet
- Exchange and guest students from abroad – sign up through Mobility Online and Selfservice
- Credit students from Danish universities - sign up through this website.
The dates for the exams are found here Exams – Faculty of Social Sciences - University of Copenhagen (ku.dk)
Please note that it is your own responsibility to check for overlapping exam dates.
- ECTS
- 7,5 ECTS
- Type of assessment
-
Home assignment
- Type of assessment details
- Free written home assignment with examination prerequisites
The home assignment can be done in groups of up to 4 students. In group assignments, each student’s contribution must be clearly marked in the assignment. The length of the assignment must be a maximum of 10 pages for BA students and a maximum of 12 pages for MA students. For group submissions, an additional 3 pages per extra BA student and an additional 3 pages per extra MA student are allowed. For groups where BA and MA students are writing together, the page limit corresponds to that of MA students.
Students must indicate on the first page of the assignment whether they are BA or MA students. In the case of a group assignment, the individual student's contribution must be clearly marked in the assignment.
The number of standard pages is calculated according to the assumption that a standard page is defined as 2,400 keystrokes including spaces. Read further about Formal requirements for written assignments and exams in Curricula’s Common Part for the Faculty of Social Sciences. - Examination prerequisites
-
To be eligible for the exam, the student must have submitted and had approved 5-6 assignments during the course.
- Aid
- All aids allowed
Policy on the Use of Generative AI Software and Large Language Models in Exams
The Department of Anthropology allows the use of generative AI software and large language models (AI/LLMs), such as ChatGPT, in written exams, provided that the use of AI/LLMs is disclosed and specified (i.e., how it was used and for what purpose) in an appendix that does not count towards the page limit of the exam.
If AI/LLMs are used as source, the same requirements apply for using quotation marks and source referencing as with all other sources. Otherwise, it will be a case of plagiarism.
- Marking scale
- 7-point grading scale
- Censorship form
- No external censorship
- Re-exam
-
Free written home assignment with examination prerequisites
1st re-exam: An essay must be submitted. The new assignment must be submitted by the deadline for the re-exam. The examination prerequisites must be fulfilled before the re-examination can be conducted.
2nd re-exam: A new essay must be submitted. The new assignment must be submitted by the deadline for the re-exam. The examination prerequisites must be fulfilled before the re-examination can be conducted.
Criteria for exam assessment
See learning objectives
- Category
- Hours
- Lectures
- 42
- Preparation
- 100
- Exam
- 64
- English
- 206
Kursusinformation
- Language
- English
- Course number
- AANA18137U
- ECTS
- 7,5 ECTS
- Programme level
- Bachelor
Bachelor choiceFull Degree MasterFull Degree Master choice
- Duration
-
1 semester
- Placement
- Spring
- Studyboard
- Department of Anthropology, Study Council
Contracting department
- Department of Anthropology
- Department of Psychology
- Department of Political Science
- Social Data Science
- Department of Sociology
Contracting faculty
- Faculty of Social Sciences
Course Coordinator
- Inge-Merete Hougaard (3-6d716c446572786c7673326f7932686f)
Are you BA- or KA-student?
Courseinformation of students