Sustainable Development and Political Ecology
This concentration provides a critical perspective to issues of development and resource conservation, multi-cultural and multi-disciplinary perspectives. A particular strength of this program is the integration of theoretical knowledge with field-based training opportunities. Three major themes are addressed within this concentration: 1) The types of resource management systems that exist around the world and their relationship to particular ecosystems; 2) The types of knowledge systems and ideas that are associated with this diverse array of resource management systems (environmental knowledge and theoretical perspectives included); and 3) The culture of the global and local institutions that design and implement conservation and development (from small-scale NGOs to the World Bank). A central goal of this emphasis is to help students imagine careers in conservation and/or development, and to provide them with information, opportunities, and resources to pursue a wide variety of career options. In addition to the course offerings listed below we encourage each student to develop a specialized skill, choosing from the following options: GIS mapping (Geography), ecology (Biology/Anthropology), legal (Graduate School of Public Affairs), land-use (Geography, GSPA), research/evaluation methodologies (Anthropology).
Courses Credit Hours
ANTH 4/5170 Culture and the Environment 3
ANTH 4/5070 The Culture of Development and Globalization 3
ANTH 4/5 Contemporary Issues in Sustainable Development and
Political Ecology 3
ANTH 4/ Sustainable Development and Political Ecology:
Theory and Practice 3
Students will select other relevant courses in consultation with their advisor.