Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey

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FYSE1047A-F23

Nature and Society

Nature and Society
This seminar is sociology for nature lovers. We often behave as if nature is independent of social life, but the two are profoundly interconnected. In this course we will explore this paradox through short excursions in the natural world—hikes, walks, field trips, outdoor meetings—and classroom-based learning. Drawing on practices of naturalism, social science, ecology, and philosophy, we will investigate the social construction of the natural world under capitalism. Course material will focus on studying Vermont’s ecological communities, the environmental movement, cultural geography, and natural literacy. Students will learn to “read the landscape” through the critical lens of sociology, and to challenge concepts of “natural” and “wild,” as well as “race” and “gender.” The course emphasizes an approach to writing based on observation, reflection, and evidence.
Course Reference Number (CRN):
92742
Subject Code:
FYSE
Course Number:
1047
Section Identifier:
A

Course

FYSE 1047

All Sections in Fall 2023

Fall 2023

FYSE1047A-F23 Seminar (McCallum)