Kurs

Publicerad 20.11.2025

(Uppdaterad 11.6.2026)

Helsingfors universitet

Sustainability: Social Sciences in the Face of the Anthropocene

2 sp

Fördjupade studier

Basic training on sustainability from a social science perspective that aims to generate interest in these subjects among a wider audience, while offering flexible and accessible training, expanding educational opportunities in society in the face of current socio-ecological challenges. The training is organised into three levels. 1) Introduction to sustainability and the challenges of the Anthropocene. 2) Focusing on the different social and political actors and analysing how they understand, analyse and respond to current socio-environmental and ecological challenges. 3) Examining various case studies to explore specific situations in different geographical areas.

Objectives:

• Introduce social science analytical and methodological perspectives into the study of sustainability.

• Disseminate knowledge, debates and research from the social sciences that address the eco-social crisis, sustainability and the Anthropocene.

• Raise awareness of the importance of understanding the challenge of the current socio-ecological crisis as a social, political and cultural issue of the utmost importance.

TOPICS

1. Human-nature relations and cultural diversity

2. Environmental Political Theory

3. Global governance and democracy

4. Economic debates on growth: links and implications among ecology and economy.

5. Social inequalities and the climate emergency

6. State, Public policies, and other social and political actors

7. Hegemonic and alternative eco-social transitions

8. Locally Driven Innovation in Livestock Systems: Reconnecting Agriculture and Nature in the Face of Socio-Ecological Crises.

9. Environmental conflicts and eco-cosmologies.

10. Mapping and Testing Environmental Democracy in the Anthropocene

11. Water and sustainability

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Detaljerad information:

Utbildningsområden

Naturvetenskap

Omfattning

2 sp

Kod

ATM406

• Critically interpret the concepts of ‘nature’ and ‘culture’ throughout Western thought.

• Compare different ontological systems and worldviews on the relationship between humans and non-humans.

• Apply contemporary theoretical approaches to analyse the ecological transformations of the Anthropocene.

• Analyse the role of the social sciences in the construction of environmental discourse since the 19th century.

• Understand the transformations in political theory in the face of the ecological crisis of the 21st century.

• Explain the relationships between denialism, truth and politics in the debate on climate change.

• Interpret the impact of geopolitical relations and ecological debt on eco-social transitions.

• Analyse cases of the instrumentalisation of international cooperation in relation to strategic resources.

• Distinguish between proposals for sustainable growth and post-growth economic models.

• Investigate the relationship between social inequality and attitudes towards climate change.

• Understand the ecological and social scope of public policies on environmental matters.

• Develop the ability to understand ontological systems and worldviews on the relationship between nature and society in the development of public policies.

• Analyse the reconfiguration of the role of public, private and community actors in eco-social transformation.

• Examine the dynamics of local governance in specific agroecological experiences.

• Apply the constructivist approach to sustainable urban initiatives in food and territory.

• Understand the relevance of local context and culture in the prevention and resolution of environmental conflicts.

• Develop the ability to analyse socio-environmental conflicts by integrating cultural, political and economic dimensions.

• Assess the sustainability of local agri-food systems in the face of global dynamics.

• Develop skills related to the practice of environmental democracy.

• Raise awareness of the importance of developing water policies that guarantee its sustainability.

Enrollment

This course is operated by Open university. Enrollment to the course on the course page.

Completion methods

The course is offered online in a Moodle platform from University Complutense de Madrid for online learning on a continuous basis. The course will be taken as a distance learning course. In order to receive the ECTS, students will be required to follow the full MOOC course, which is articulated into 11 units of 3 modules/slots each. Students will be required to pass the 11 self-examinations tests or exercises placed at the end each of the 11 units.

Assessment practices and criteria

The course is assessed as pass/fail.

Teaching period when the course will be offered

The course is offered on a continuous basis.

Recommended time or stage of studies for completion

The course can be completed any time during the studies.

Study module

ATM393 Micro-crendential in Sustainability, Study Module

Arrangör

Helsingfors universitet

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uni-help@helsinki.fi

Information och funktioner

Sustainability: Social Sciences in the Face of the Anthropocene

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Detaljerad information:

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Studiematerial

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