2016/17 Taught Postgraduate Module Catalogue
SOEE5281M Introduction to Sustainability
15 creditsClass Size: 150
Module manager: Dr George Holmes
Email: g.holmes@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable
Year running 2016/17
This module is approved as an Elective
Module summary
The purpose of this module is for students to obtain a well-grounded understanding of theories that explore the interaction between environment, society and the economy, especially as they relate to the concept of sustainable development. The objectives are: 1. To establish the historical context of sustainable development and discuss key ideas, people, institutions, and events. 2. To establish the epistemological/intellectual origins of the concept of sustainability. 3. Establish and evaluate frameworks for understanding sustainable development. 4. Understand basic factors relating to governance that shape the prospects for sustainability, such as property regimes and market forces.Objectives
At the end of this module you should:1. Be familiar with the historical and intellectual context of sustainable development
2. Be able to define sustainable development and apply it to a range of real-life issues
3. Be aware of and be able to engage critically with key ways of framing and measuring sustainability
4. Be critical of both environmental and anti-environmental rhetoric and concepts
5. Improve your written communication skills
6. Be more confident making and justifying arguments in public
7. Articulate links between society and the environment and use theory to help explain these links.
Syllabus
- Defining sustainability
1. Introductions, definitions, history
2. Economic discourses on sustainable development
3. Social discourses on sustainable development.
- Conceptualising sustainability
4. Frameworks for sustainability
5. The nature of nature.
- Doing sustainability
6. sustainability through markets, economic growth and technological change
7. Sustainability through policy, governance and ecological modernisation
8. Social capital, or why there is more to doing sustainability than money
9. Private property: Essential or redundant
10. Participation in sustainability
11. Workshop on biofuels policy
- Doing sustainability
6. sustainability through markets, economic growth and technological change
7. Sustainability through policy, governance and ecological modernisation
8. Social capital, or why there is more to doing sustainability than money
9. Private property: Essential or redundant
10. Participation in sustainability
11. Workshop on biofuels policy
Teaching methods
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
| Workshop | 1 | 4.00 | 4.00 |
| Lecture | 10 | 2.00 | 20.00 |
| Seminar | 4 | 1.00 | 4.00 |
| Private study hours | 122.00 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 28.00 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 150.00 | ||
Private study
- 4 hours reading per lecture (40 hours)- Formative assignment (16 hours)
- Assignment 1 (18 hours)
- Assignment 2 (46 hours).
Opportunities for Formative Feedback
- Guidance on assignments and academic skills provided during seminars starting in week 1.Feedback provided on formative assignment in week 6, with supporting seminar.
- Summative feedback in form of two assignments.
> Summative feedback on assignment 1 (group policy brief) and 2 (extended essay) will be marked by academic staff and summative feedback provided to students in the form of formal feedback sheets.
Methods of assessment
Coursework
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
| Essay | Formative 1,500 word essay | 0.00 |
| Written Work | 2 page group policy brief (plus references and Appendix) | 30.00 |
| Essay | 2,500 word essay | 70.00 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100.00 | |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
Reading list
The reading list is available from the Library websiteLast updated: 11/01/2017
Browse Other Catalogues
- Undergraduate module catalogue
- Taught Postgraduate module catalogue
- Undergraduate programme catalogue
- Taught Postgraduate programme catalogue
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