ARTS-A0622 - Environmental Thinking, Lecture, 3.9.2024-10.10.2024

Please note! Course description is confirmed for two academic years, which means that in general, e.g. Learning outcomes, assessment methods and key content stays unchanged. However, via course syllabus, it is possible to specify or change the course execution in each realization of the course, such as how the contact sessions are organized, assessment methods weighted or materials used.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Students will learn critical thinking through gaining knowledge of central environmental concepts and theories. They will become more fluent in using different concepts and analysing discourses concerning environmental change. The students will gain confidence in discussing environmental concerns and in assessing how environmental processes affect human and nonhuman life, with a special emphasis on creative and artistic processes. 

Credits: 6

Schedule: 03.09.2024 - 10.10.2024

Teacher in charge (valid for whole curriculum period):

Teacher in charge (applies in this implementation): Sanna Lehtinen

Contact information for the course (applies in this implementation):

CEFR level (valid for whole curriculum period):

Language of instruction and studies (applies in this implementation):

Teaching language: English. Languages of study attainment: English

CONTENT, ASSESSMENT AND WORKLOAD

Content

  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    The course concentrates on contemporary trends in environmental thinking with a focus on aesthetics, sustainability, and art. We will discuss how environmental theories and concepts affect and help to analyse different types of creative practices. Besides environmental philosophy and aesthetics, other central content areas of the course include everyday aesthetics, philosophy of the city, and philosophy of technology. The theoretical contents are discussed with a broad range of case examples which contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the human-world and human-nonhuman relations.

Assessment Methods and Criteria

  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    Seminar work (lectures+small group discussions), smaller assignments based on readings and other learning materials, and final task; grading is based on the final task and seminar attendance.

Workload

  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    6 credits (162 hours):

    • Seminar meetings (42 h)
    • Smaller assignments + independent work (60 h)
    • Final task (60 h)

DETAILS

Study Material

  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    Broad selection of related research articles and other materials assigned by the lecturer, will be announced in the first meeting.

Substitutes for Courses
Prerequisites
SDG: Sustainable Development Goals

    11 Sustainable Cities and Communities

    12 Responsible Production and Consumption

    13 Climate Action

    14 Life Below Water

    15 Life on Land

    17 Partnerships for the Goals

FURTHER INFORMATION

Further Information

  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    Teaching Language: English

    Teaching Period: 2024-2025 Autumn I
    2025-2026 Autumn I

    Registration:

    Priority order to courses is according to the order of priority decided by the Academic committee for School of Arts, Design and Architecture, https//www.aalto.fi/en/services/registering-to-courses-and-the-order-of-priority-at-aalto-arts

    Minimum amount of participants 8. Maximum amount of participants 60.

Rules of Conduct - Students´ Rights and Responsibilities (in force from 1 August 2020)

Aalto University Code of Academic Integrity and Handling Violations Thereof