Sociology of ecosystems

Contract lecturer.

Lecturer in Ethics in Tourism and the Environment (IUS/20-Philosophy Of Law), Bachelor’s Degree course in Business Legal Operator;

Lecturer in Theory of International and Intercultural Relations (SPS/11-Political Sociology), Master’s degree course in Law;

Lecturer in the Master’s course in Experts in Politics of International and Intercultural Relations and Protection of Human Rights (IUS/13-International Law, IUS/14-European Union Law, SPS/04-  Political Science);

Lecturer in the Master’s course in Aviation Management – Competitive strategies and performance in the aviation industry (IUS/05-  Economics Law).

The Sociology of Ecosystems course will be divided into 2 modules and will cover the following contents:

• Module 1 – Overview of the subject, historical background, sociological evolution, Italian and European regulatory aspects

In the first module, the discipline of the subject will be framed, analysing, through historical hints, the evolution of the relationship between society and the environment. It will also address the Italian and European regulatory aspects that have accompanied the growing awareness of sustainability and protection of ecosystems.

• Module 2 – Environmental protection (emergence and sociological and regulatory development), tourism ethics, environment and human rights.

In the second module, the theme of environmental protection will be analysed, focusing mainly on its development in Italy and later, thanks to the process of European integration, in EU legislation.

Ethics of Tourism and the relationship between the protection of Human Rights and the Environment will be analysed.

The course will be divided into 2 modules and will deepen the following contents:

In the first module, the discipline of the subject will be framed, analysing, through historical hints, the evolution of the relationship between society and the environment. It will also address the Italian and European regulatory aspects that have accompanied the growing awareness of sustainability and protection of ecosystems.

In the second module, the theme of environmental protection will be analysed, focusing mainly on its development in Italy and later, thanks to the process of European integration, in EU legislation.

Ethics of Tourism and the relationship between the protection of Human Rights and the Environment will be analysed.

• Module 1 – Overview of the subject, historical background, sociological evolution, Italian and European regulatory aspects.
• Module 2 – Environmental protection (emergence and sociological and regulatory development), tourism ethics, environment and human rights.

At the end of the course, the student will possess the theoretical foundations for understanding the issues of sociology of ecosystems.

(module 1) In particular, the student will be able to describe the basic elements of the sociology of the environment, the historical aspects, the sociological evolution, the regulatory aspects.

(module 2) The student will be able to trace and explore the issue of environmental protection, as well as the main aspects of tourism ethics and the protection of fundamental rights relating to the environment.

A. Knowledge and understanding

The student will acquire adequate knowledge and understanding:

• of the sociology of ecosystems;
• the emergence and evolution, both sociological and normative, of the issue of environmental protection;
• the basic principles of tourism ethics and its connection with environmental protection;
• the relationship between the environment and the protection of human rights.

B. Applied knowledge and understanding

The student will be able to understand the fundamentals of the relationship between society and the environment, the dynamics related to it, applying them to the analysis of case studies, highlighted during the video conference meetings.

C. Autonomy of judgement

The student should be able to give a thorough reading of the main topics of the course, critically analysing sociological issues related to the environment, sustainability and the protection of fundamental rights and proposing solutions to them.

D. Communication skills

The student will be required to report on his or her knowledge of the main topics in sociology, ecosystems and environmental protection.

In addition, he/she should have the ability to argue the issues discussed, referring to real cases.

The student will be able to communicate specific information clearly and competently, present their ideas, raise problems and propose solutions.

E. Learning ability

The student will have acquired the necessary knowledge to understand the basic dynamics of the sociology of ecosystems.

A. Use of advanced textbooks, knowledge of some cutting-edge topics within the subject studied.

Students are expected to demonstrate knowledge of sociological theories on the environment and sustainability.

Particular attention should be given to the study of the relationship between the environment and the protection of human rights and to issues of ethics in tourism.

B. A professional approach to their work and possession of appropriate skills to devise arguments, support them and solve problems within the subject studied. Ability to collect and interpret data useful for making independent judgements.

The students will have to demonstrate their ability to use the knowledge acquired in the first module of the course by individually tackling the case analysis activity proposed by the lecturer.

C. Ability to communicate information, ideas, problems and solutions to specialists and non-specialists.

During synchronous activities, students are expected to discuss a topic concretely identified with the teacher.

D. Ability to undertake further studies with a high degree of autonomy.

Students are expected to present the subject contents to their lecturers. Similarly, during synchronous activities, they will share analyses and research with other fellows.

DIDACTICS PROVISION

• 6 hours of recorded video lessons available on the platform.
• 2 synchronous meetings on the platform.
• Podcasts of all the above-mentioned video lessons.

INTERACTIVE DIDACTICS

• 1 course orientation forum;
• 2 thematic follow-up forums (1 per module);
• Possibility to carry out work in groups.
• 2 structured e-activities (as described in the section “in itinere assessment methods”).

SELF-LEARNING

Teaching materials are provided for each module: in-depth thematic studies, articles and slides by the lecturer, open access readings, online resources, reference bibliography, etc.

• CARIONI M. Slides from the Sociology of Ecosystems course.
• DEL BO’ C. Responsabilità, sostenibilità, equità.
• ANGELINI A., PIZZUTO P. Manuale di ecologia, sostenibilità ed educazione ambientale.

Access to the final examination is subject to the following 2 e-activities:

• Etivity 1 – multiple-choice test;
• Etivity 2 – multiple-choice test.

The assessment of learning will take the form of an oral interview on the course contents and on the final report submitted, if any. The grade (min 18, max 30 with possible honours) is determined by the level of performance for each of the following dimensions of the oral interview: mastery of contents, appropriateness of definitions and theoretical references, clarity of argument, command of specialist language.

Italian