Course Information

Course Description

This course offers an interdisciplinary study of selected global environmental issues (e.g., environmental justice and urbanization, biodiversity loss, consumption and sustainability, treatment of animals, etc). It places special emphasis on philosophical methods, examining their distinctive contributions to understanding and addressing these challenges, by comparing and contrasting them with the methods and findings of the social, biological, and environmental sciences.

Required Texts

This is an OER (Open Educational Resource), ZTC (Zero Textbook Cost) course. All required readings for this course are either open access, hosted on external websites, or available for free through the City Tech library to students of City Tech. See hyperlinks in schedule.

Course Intended Learning Outcomes/Assessment Methods

LEARNING OUTCOMES

ASSESSMENT METHODS

1. Understand the nature of the massive increases in human influence on the environment and natural world

 

1. Class participation, Philosophical Journals, Unit Essays

 

2. Gain familiarity with the methods of philosophy and the ways in which these can contribute to study of environmental issues and problems

 

2. Class participation, Philosophical Journals, Unit Essays

 

3. Understand and evaluate major ethical theories about our obligations to other persons, to animals, and to the environment in general

 

3. Class participation, Philosophical Journals, Unit Essays

 

4. Analyze, critique, and evaluate contemporary environmental issues using basic philosophical methods and theories of environmental ethics

 

4.  Class participation, Philosophical Journals, Unit Essays

 

General Education Learning Outcomes/Assessment Methods

LEARNING OUTCOMES 

ASSESSMENT METHODS
1. KNOWLEDGE: Develop knowledge from a
range of disciplinary perspectives, and develop the
ability to deepen and continue learning.

1. Class participation, Philosophical Journals, Unit Essays
2. SKILLS: Acquire and use the tools needed for
communication, inquiry, analysis, and productive
work.

2. Class participation, Philosophical Journals, Unit Essays

3. INTEGRATION: Work productively within and
across disciplines

3. Class participation, Philosophical Journals, Unit Essays

4. VALUES, ETHICS, AND RELATIONSHIPS:
Understand and apply values, ethics, and diverse
perspectives in personal, civic, and cultural/global
domains.

4. Class participation, Philosophical Journals, Unit Essays