This course is designed for SEEP students interested in learning about heterodox economic approaches to the social-ecological crises. The social economic aspect includes issues of agency-structure, power relations, the role of corporations and the counter role of environmental and social movements. The focus is on the core theoretical concepts that have been developed over time within social ecological economics including how this relates to other heterodox fields of economics and related fields of knowledge such as eco-feminism, political ecology and environmental ethics. Connections will be drawn to the underlying philosophy behind ideas and their ontological and epistemological aspects.

The course probes these concepts and ideas and critically analyses their development, content and meaning. The central approach of the course is based around readings. Each week core readings will be set and discussed in class. Allocated readings will be discussed in class on a pre-set topic and the discussion initiated around questions set the week before (or earlier). Students should be prepared to informally present on the contents of the papers and problems and issues they raise. Students will submit four brief one-page answers to pre-set questions covering two sets of readings. These are to be submitted online prior to class.

A student-led debate will be held during the course where all students will be expected to participate in different ways (e.g. make short presentations, engage their opponents as a team, question from the floor).

There will also be two film nights. Films relating to the course will be watched and followed by a Q&A and discussion session in free format. This is part of the attendance requirements.

• To introduce social ecological economics as a heterodox economic approach
• To gain insight into the structural aspects of the economy and challenges facing proposed ‘solutions’ to the ecological crises
• To be able to recognise key theoretical issues relating to economic approaches to and understanding of environmental policy
• To understand processes of social, ecological, and economic transformation and the challenges this poses

Any absence from class should be notified to the teaching assistant in advance. There is a basic pass /fail course attendance requirement. That is, you cannot miss more than 4 hrs of class (equivalent of two class sessions) over the entire semester. This allowance is for serious unforeseen circumstances.

Notice of Special Regulation for Covid-19: If a student is required to quarantine, or is otherwise prevented from attending class, due to a certified case of Covid-19 infection or a federally mandated Covid-19 lockdown, and this affects either attendance or the completion of an exam or other required course assignment, the course instructor is empowered to provide an alternative means for said student to meet the attendance/assessment requirement as necessary. The same means will be required of any student in the same situation in the same course.

• There will be 10 classes of 2 hours each plus two film nights (April 12^th and May 3^rd)
• There are 8 reading sessions, which will involve lectures, student participation and group work.
• Each session will have a short break halfway.
• There will be an extended last session for student-led debates.

The overall grade for this course consists of the following four parts:

• Final essay (40%)
• Student-led debate (20%)
• In-class participation (15%)
• Four one page written assignments (25%) are required of which two will be randomly selected for a full grading of 12.5% each; one from the first two assigned and one from the second two assigned.

Attendance Requirements

Any absence from class should be notified to the teaching assistant in advance. There is a basic pass /fail course attendance requirement. That is, you cannot miss more than 4 hrs of class (equivalent of two class sessions) over the entire semester. This allowance is for serious unforeseen circumstances.

Notice of Special Regulation for Covid-19: If a student is required to quarantine, or is otherwise prevented from attending class, due to a certified case of Covid-19 infection or a federally mandated Covid-19 lockdown, and this affects either attendance or the completion of an exam or other required course assignment, the course instructor is empowered to provide an alternative means for said student to meet the attendance/assessment requirement as necessary. The same means will be required of any student in the same situation in the same course.

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