GEOG 3104: Environmental Problems, Population, and Development

This course examines environmental problems in their social, spatial, and global contests, exploring the impacts of globalization, neoliberalism, and population growth on the environment. Students will examine the effects of developed and developing countries on the environment, focusing on conceptualizing development, population dynamics, environmental justice, factory farming, energy and renewable energy, global health, disasters, and intercultural and global awareness.

Why take it?

This course allows students interested in various fields (geography, food systems, global health, environmental studies, international studies, policy, sustainability, urban and environmental planning, among others) to move past simplistic understandings of environmental problems to more nuanced understandings of the global, political, economic, cultural, historical, and spatial dimensions of environmental problems. In addition to enhancing their knowledge of environmental issues, this course will also improve students’ communication, problem solving, and creativity skills.

GEOG 3104 fulfills an elective in the following Pathways minors:

• Biodiversity Conservation
• Blue Planet
• Climate and Society
• Ecosystems for Human Well-Being
• Global Food Security and Health
• Integrated Security
• Philosophy, Politics, and Economics
• Visual Arts and Society

Requirements

There are no prerequisites for this course.

This course fulfills Pathways requirements in Reasoning in the Social Sciences and Intercultural and Global Awareness.