module specification

SC6059 - Environmental Justice (2025/26)

Module specification Module approved to run in 2025/26
Module title Environmental Justice
Module level Honours (06)
Credit rating for module 15
School School of Social Sciences and Professions
Total study hours 150
 
105 hours Guided independent study
45 hours Scheduled learning & teaching activities
Assessment components
Type Weighting Qualifying mark Description
Coursework 100%   Written composition of 2000 words OR Podcast or Vlog of 10 minutes
Running in 2025/26

(Please note that module timeslots are subject to change)
Period Campus Day Time Module Leader
Spring semester North Friday Afternoon

Module summary

You will explore and examine key issues in  Environmental and Green Criminology.


Key topics to be covered may include wildlife crime, policing and punishing environmental crime, climate related conflct and conservation and its impacts. Topics will focus on issues across the globe and will be regularly reviewed and adapted as required to reflect current concerns and specific student interest.

Prior learning requirements

Available for Study Abroad? YES

Module aims

You will:

  1. Study key concepts and challenges in environmental justice and green criminology
  2. Investigate a range of harms on the environment and the consequences
  3. Examine how conservation and/or enforcement bodies tackle environmental, and wildlife related crimes and harms
  4. Critically analyse the challenges that conservationists and enforcement bodies encounter when investigating environmental crimes and harms
  5. Consider the impact that conservation initiatives may have on local communities

Syllabus

The module will cover key areas, such as:

  • The Greening of Criminology
  • Wildlife Crime
  • Policing and punishing environmental crime
  • Conservation and its impacts on local communities
  • Rural Criminology
  • Climate related conflct
  • Corporate environmental Crime

There may also be scope for specific student interest to inform the syllabus and a range of further topics could be covered, including:

  • Crime and heatwaves
  • The impacts of war and military activity on the environment
  • The trade in endangered species
  • Southern Green Criminology
  • Blue Criminology
  • Climate activism
  • Conservation and colonialism

Balance of independent study and scheduled teaching activity

The module will use a range of learning, teaching and delivery methods, including workshops, lectures, blended learning and online sessions. There will be a heavy emphasis on interactive, small group student-centred activities and active participation will be required.

You are expected to attend and engage in all sessions and expected to undertake 6-7 hours independent reading/study per week to develop your knowledge and critical thinking skills. This will often include recommended readings and/or tasks ahead of each session.

The sessions, particularly the assignment workshops, offer the opportunity for reflective learning and time will be allocated for individual and/or group feedback as part of the assessment preparation.

Learning outcomes

At the end of this module you will be able to:

  1. Critically appraise the key issues surrounding green criminology and environmental justice
  2. Demonstrate an understanding of both environmental harms and their consequences
  3. Understand how conservation and/or enforcement bodies deal with ecological and wildlife related crimes and harms
  4. Demonstrate a critical understanding of the challenges that conservationists and enforcement bodies encounter when investigating environmental crimes and harms
  5. Critically discuss the impact that conservation initiatives may have on local communities.

Bibliography