SD3S114 - Society and the Environment 01 Sep 2024 - 31 Aug 2030 | Version 0

Associated Module Information

Module Code: SD3S114
Module Title: Society and the Environment
Faculty: Faculty of Business and Creative Industries
Faculty Group: Leadership and Public Services
Faculty Sub Group: Leadership and Public Services
Module Leader: Wendy Booth
Module Team: David Phillips,
First Intended Intake: SEP 2024 Final Year of Intake: 2029
Date Closed:
Credit Value: 20 Credit Level: 6
Language: English
Percentage of Module Taught in Welsh: 0
Equivalent Module:
HECOS codes: 100628 - social theory
HECOS Code Weighting: 100

Document Version Information

Version 0
Valid From 01 Sep 2024
Valid To 31 Aug 2030

Module Aims

his aim of this module is to explore relationships between human societies and the physical environments that they inhabit, including by combining both theoretical and empirical perspectives.  

The objectives of this module are:  

  • Describe and analyse key contemporary issues/problems and the emerging policy landscape.  

  • Explore issues such as climate change, food and energy systems, consumerism and bio-diversity loss.  

  • Examine the conceptual frameworks and tools which inform and underpin policy development (e.g. Sustainable Development, Eco-systems Goods and Services, Ecological Footprinting and the Anthropocene) 

  • Consider policy development, including in Wales  

Content Summary

As one of the first countries on the planet to commit itself to sustainable development, there will be an inevitable focus on the specific development of policy in Wales. However, these developments will be explored within the context of both international policy development and more locally rooted responses developed by activists within the third sector 

For the first formative assessment the students will be required to complete their own personal ecological footprint (this will then be analysed for the summative assessment). For the second formative assessment the students will be required to identify a particular policy or area of policy relating to sustainable development. They will then analyse this for their summative assessment.

Learning and Teaching Methods

Activity Type Hours
Lecture 20
Demonstration/Conference 20
Independent Study 88
Directed Study (Including online independent learning) 72
Total Hours Selected 200

Learning Outcomes

# Learning Outcome
LO1 Analyse and discuss key concepts in social theory of the environment
LO2 Evaluate how environmental challenges arise and are responded to in contemporary society

Module Requisites

N/A

Assessment Criteria

Assessment Category Assessment Type Description Duration Word Count Weight (%) Best of? Pass Mark
Asynchronous Assessment Report 1 Complete a personal ecological footprint and report on it 0 1500 40 No 40
Asynchronous Assessment Essay 1 Evaluate a policy or policy context 0 2500 60 No 40

Assessment Matrix

Assessment Type Learning Outcomes
LO1 LO2
Report 1
Essay 1

Reading List

Aiello, E. Donovan, C. Duque, E. Fabrizio, S. Flecha, R. Holm, P. & Reale, E. (2021). Effective strategies that enhance the social impact of social sciences and humanities research. Evidence & Policy, 17(1), 131-146. 

Barry, J (2006) “Environment and Social Theory”, Routledge 

Dunlap, R. E., & Catton, W. R. (2022). Toward an ecological sociology: The development, current status, and probable future of environmental sociology. In Ecology, World Resources and the Quality of Social Life (pp. 11-31). Routledge. 

Fitzpatrick, T (2011) “Understanding the Environment and Social Policy”, Policy Press 

Lockie, S. (2015). What is environmental sociology?. Environmental Sociology, 1(3), 139-142. 

Key Journals: 
Environment and Planning 
Sustainable Development