Undergraduate Module Descriptor

POL2110: Environmental Politics and Policy

This module descriptor refers to the 2019/0 academic year.

Module Aims

This module aims to introduce you to the historical and contemporary character of environmentalism and sustainability as processes of politics, policy and political change. In so doing, it aims to introduce key scientific, philosophical and theoretical debates on the environment, alongside real world developments environmental policy and politics. It will equip you with the key skill to critically evaluate scientific and policy claims made in mass media coverage of environmental issues. The primary context will be the UK and the European Union, but the international scene will always be in evidence.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

This module's assessment will evaluate your achievement of the ILOs listed here – you will see reference to these ILO numbers in the details of the assessment for this module.
On successfully completing the programme you will be able to:
Module-Specific Skills1. Analyse the role and perspectives of multiple actors and perspectives on in environmental policy
2. Display knowledge of the complexities of addressing environmental policy across policy sectors and governance scales
3. Evaluate critically policy and public initiatives to tackle environmental problems
Discipline-Specific Skills4. Think critically, analyse debates and present coherent arguments around policy and politics
5. Evaluate the effectiveness of and barriers to policy interventions
6. Understand processes of political contestation in the modern public sphere via lobbying, mass media, public engagement and policy formation
Personal and Key Skills7. Evaluate ideas and debates
8. Present written material in a coherent and accessible manner
9. Work collaboratively in a group to produce a short film and evaluate others’ performance