SYA4930 - Environmental Inequality

Section 02DH: T(1:50-2:40) / TH(1:50-3:55)

INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION

Ryan Thomson

Email:

Office: Turlington 3346

Office Hours: Tuesdays 2:40-4:40 am EST or by appointment.

Classroom: Turlington 2346(T)/ 2333(TH)

COURSE INFORMATION

Course Website: Canvas

In many places around the world and in the U.S., people share their neighborhoods with hazardous waste, toxic incinerators, and health-threatening chemical contamination. Moreover, some people are much more likely to be affected by these environmental hazards than others—namely, people of color, working class people, immigrants, and indigenous communities.

This uneven exposure to environmental risks and hazards, often coupled with the systematic exclusion of people from environmental decision-making processes, is called environmental racism or environmental inequality. It wasn’t until researchers, activists, and government officials began documenting patterns of social inequality and environmental harm in the 1970s and early 1980s that the concept of environmental inequality emerged.

Don’t be fooled by the terms—the causes of environmental inequality are social and political. In other words, environmental inequality is not, at its core, an environmental issue. Rather, it is rooted in our discourses, structures, and political and economic institutions, and it is intertwined with the other inequalities that permeate our daily lives. It is within this context that this course seeks to understand environmental justice, which according to sociologist Robert Bullard is the notion that all people and communities are entitled to equal protection by environmental health laws and regulations.

COURSE POLICIES:
ATTENDANCE POLICY:Approach this class professionally. Attend class, complete all work punctually, arrive on time and be prepared to engage mindfully and civilly with their peers.

LATE WORK, FILE SUBMISSION, INCOMPLETES AND EXTRA CREDIT

Late work for forum answers, forum replies, response papers, midterm exam, and final exam will not be accepted. If you do not turn in the assessments on time, you will receive a zero. If you miss a deadline because of a documented, excusable reason, you may be allowed to make up the work, or an alternate assignment may be given to you. Refer to the University of Florida grading policy on excused absences to define an excusable reason for missing class. (found here:

Only “.doc” or “.docx,” files are the only submission type that will be accepted within the canvas portal.I cannot download any other file. If you send it with any other file extension and miss the deadline, it will be considered late).

Incompletes for this course will only be given in dire circumstances and is at the sole discretion of the instructor. (

REFLECTION POSTS:

Each week students should upload a reflection paper (between 300 and 600 words) to canvas before class on Tuesday. Reflection papers allow you to communicate howthe assigned reading shapes your understanding of socio-environmental relations. Reflection papers are personal and subjective, but they must still maintain a somewhat scholastic tone and must still be cohesively organized.See the reflection post rubric for further details.

Students also have the option to submit an alternative op-ed piece which directly relates to the week’s readings. Students are invited to structure their article as they see fit but must be an original piece.Articles should indicate where they intend to be submitted and typically run from 400 to 1,200 words.

FINAL PAPERS:

Throughout the semester, students should develop their research interests into asingle article (between 10 to 15 pages, double spaced 12-point font). Papers may take the form of a literature review, case study, or empirical analysis. Proposals are due by February 10 at 8pm, see paper proposal and final paper rubrics for further details.

EVALUATION / PERCENTAGE
In-class Discussion / 20%
Reflection Posts / 30%
Paper Proposal / 10%
Final Paper / 40%

UF POLICIES:
UNIVERSITY POLICY ON ACCOMMODATING STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES:

Students requesting accommodation for disabilities must first register with the Dean of Students Office ( The Dean of Students Office will provide documentation to the student who must then provide this documentation to the instructor when requesting accommodation. You must submit this documentation prior to submitting assignments or taking the quizzes or exams. Accommodations are not retroactive, therefore, students should contact the office as soon as possible in the term for which they are seeking accommodations.

TECHNICAL ISSUES:

For issues with technical difficulties for Canvas, please contact the UF Help Desk at:

(352) 392-HELP (4357); Walk-in: HUB 132

COUNSELING & WELLNESS CENTER:

The Counseling and Wellness Center 352-392-1575 offers a variety of support services such as psychological assessment and anxiety assistance. Visit their web site for more information: Online and in person assistance is available.

UNIVERSITY POLICY ON ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT:Academic honesty and integrity are fundamental values of the University community. UF Student Honor Code at

GRADING SCALE:

A 100-93%, A- 92-90%, B+ 89-87%, B 86-83%, B- 82-80%, C+ 79-77%, C 76-73, C- 72-70%,

D+ 69-67%, D 66-63%, D- 62-60%, E 59-0%

Topic / Date / Assignment
FOUNDATIONS OF ENVIRONMENTAL INEQUALITY
Week 1 / Introduction / 1.5
Week 2 / Defining Environmental Inequality / 1.10 / Reflection Post
1.12
Week 3 / The Roots of Environmental Justice / 1.17 / ReflectionPost
1.19
Week 4 / Disproportionate Risk Exposure & Slow Violence / 1.24 / ReflectionPost
1.26
Week 5 / Environmental Inequality Formation / 1.31 / ReflectionPost
2.2
Week 6 / Externalization & Green Crime / 2.7 / ReflectionPost
2.9 / Paper Proposals Due Friday by 8pm
PROCESSES & INSTITUTIONS
Week 7 / Toxin Creation & the EPA / 2.14 / ReflectionPost
2.16
Week 8 / CWAFlow Accumulation / 2.21 / ReflectionPost
2.23
Week 9 / CAA & Drift Dispersion / 2.28 / ReflectionPost
3.2
Week 10 / Spring Break (NO CLASS) / 3.7 / ReflectionPost
3.9
Week 11 / International Flows
& the Race to the Bottom / 3.14 / Reflection Post
3.16
Week 12 / Social Movements:
Red, Green, or Otherwise / 3.21 / Reflection Post
3.23 / Optional: Draft Paper Submission Due
CASE STUDIES
Week 13 / Local Examples / 3.28 / Reflection Post
3.30
Week 14 / Climate Change / 4.4 / Reflection Post
4.6
Week 15 / Collective Action &
Resistance Movements / 4.11 / Reflection Post
4.13
Week 16 / Final Presentations / 4.18
4.20 / Final Papers Due
Finals Week / NO CLASS / 4.25
4.27