Environment and society is a timely new major introduced into the Bachelor of Social Science in 2018. It wrestles the intersections between human society and the environment, including the ways in which environmental problems ' such as climate change, land clearing and waste ' are tied to social, political, economic and cultural processes. Understanding these connections is vital to addressing these environmental challenges; this major equips you with the analytical and research skills to do just this. To chart responses, the major scrutinizes local, national and international causes of environmental issues, and draws from alternative disciplines, philosophies and ethics, with a hearty dose of politics of hope.

Topics covered include global issues of social and environmental injustice, environmental racism and violence, the politics of conflict, and activism and social change. The major will be particularly relevant for students wanting to work in areas such as government policy making, environmental communication and advocacy, international development, and those wishing to work to address environmental and social challenges.

The environment and society major in the B Soc Sci examines the role of the environment in human society and culture. Our global environmental challenges demand a better understanding of how we understand the environment and how we can change our societies to better take care of our shared futures. The major explores the ways in which unsustainable ways of living have come to be embedded in cultural patterns and government policies. It explores alternative philosophies and ethics about the relationship between people and the environment. Topics covered include global issues of social injustice, the politics and policy of the environment, environmentally induced conflict, and environmental activism. The major provides students with an interest in the social sciences who want to work in areas such as government policy making, environmental advocacy and communication, international development, and those who want to work alongside environmental scientists to enable social change.