This course addresses the complex and often problematic relationships and connections between humans and natural and built environments by examining how cultures and societies construct knowledge about nature and attribute value to it, how they use or abuse environments and resources, and how human activity, culture and social organization have always been deeply linked to the natural, material world. It also examines how factors such as gender, race, class, ethnicity, and cultural/historical experience influence the ways people perceive, understand, interact with, and are affected by the environments in which they live.

CILO-1: Explain major approaches in studying relationship of and the interaction between natural environment, social environment and humans. CILO-2: Identify current environment problems and the impacts to human population. CILO-3: Describe sociological methods and approaches in studying environmental issues.