HIST*2250 - Environment and History
Course Description
An introduction to the field of environmental history - its nature and uses. This course provides a historical perspective to environmental issues. It examines the causes and impact of human-induced modification of the natural world in selected areas of the globe, the evolution of attitudes and ideas about the natural world over time and the growth of conservation/environmental issues and movements.
Note: This course can be taken individually or as a part of a certificate program.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course, the learner should be able to:
- Describe a broad view of North American environmental history;
- Explain thematic interpretations of that history by way of various concepts and the tension between them, including: anthropocene, agency, power, nature and wilderness, progress and improvement, agrarian myth, pollution, exponential growth theory, environmental justice, and eco-terrorism;
- Communicate research findings and syntheses of assigned reading to peers;
- Write short pieces on topics relevant to you;
- Conduct secondary and primary source research using online archives and libraries;
- Explain the power and limits of human agency with respect to the environment and the forces of nature;
- Explain changes over time with respect to human interaction with the planet, as well as the human perceptions of and depictions of that interaction; and
- Observe and analyze contemporary events and questions about human interaction with the planet and nonhuman species.
Course Topics
- Colonial North America and the Columbian Exchange
- Planting, Harvesting, and the Market
- Colonization, Science, and Industrialization
- Preservation, Conservation, and the West
- Consumers and “Nature”
- Dust Bowl: Industrial Agriculture, Capitalism and Hubris
- The Good Life
- The Urban Environment
- Pollution and Environmental Justice
- Case Study: Katrina
Additional Requirements
Prerequisite(s): 2.00 credits
Assessment
| Assessment Item | Weight |
| Week 1 Webquest & Discussion | 5% |
| Discussions #1 & #2 (2 x 15%) | 30% |
| Primary Source Presentation | 15% |
| Short Essay | 20% |
| Take-Home Final Exam | 30% |
| Total | 100% |
Applies Towards the Following Certificates
- Certificate in Environmental Citizenship : Electives
Technical Requirements
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*Course details are subject to change.