Key Issues in Environmental History (HIS352)

Content

Environmental historians study how humans have worked with, shaped, and thought about nature and environment - and how we have been shaped by this nature. The course will examine major developments and boundaries of this field. What are the central problems environmental historians examine? How has the field developed over time and what is the state of the field today?

Learning outcome

Knowledge

After completing the course, the student will be able to

• demonstrate advanced knowledge about environmental history as a research field

• demonstrate critical understanding about how interactions between people and their environments have shaped historical developments

Skills

After completing the course, the student will be able to

• analyze environmental history publications for their structure, argumentation, empirical basis, and relationship to a historiographical context

• critically reflect over different approaches to environmental history as a research field

• apply historiographical perspectives independently in their own writing

General competence

After completing the course, the student will be able to

• account for and critically reflect over different approaches to environmental history, and discuss whether they contribute anything new to our understanding of the past

• actively participate in a seminar-based academic discussion

Required prerequisite knowledge

Same as admission requirements for Master’s program in History.

Exam

Coursework requirements

70% attendance in seminars.

Course teacher(s)

Course teacher:

Course teacher:

Course coordinator:

Study Adviser:

Study Adviser:

Method of work

This is a seminar-based course that requires active student oral participation. Students will work together and individually. The seminars will be complemented by some lectures. Students are required to complete written and oral assignments throughout the course.

Open for

Course assessment

Literature