Back to selection
41829-01 - Lecture with practical courses: Perspectives of Social Sciences on Sustainability (3 CP)
| Semester | fall semester 2025 |
| Course frequency | Every fall sem. |
| Lecturers | Janina Grabs (janina.grabs@unibas.ch, Assessor) |
| Content | The course is offered within the scope of the program "Pathways to Sustainability" (formerly known as "Transfaculty Cross Section Program Sustainable Development/Transfakultäres Querschnittsprogramm TQNE": https://msd.unibas.ch/en/study-programs/pathways-to-sustainability-tqne/). The program consists of 3 introductory lectures with practical courses (lecture A and B are offered in fall semesters, C is offered in spring semesters) dedicated to conveying the foundations of sustainable development. An additional integration seminar (D, offered in spring semesters) engages with interdisciplinary work. The assignment and completion of D requires the successful completion of two lectures from the above mentioned lectures A, B and C. This lecture with exercises (lecture B) deals with the analysis of sustainability problems and problem solving from different social science perspectives. It seeks to clarify the prerequisites and conditions, as well as the possibilities and limits of dealing with sustainability problems and fostering societal transformations toward sustainability. Food as an integration focus for the entire program is analyzed as a social, cultural and political phenomenon in relation to sustainable development: What can social sciences contribute to a differentiated understanding of food-related sustainability problems and their solutions? (e.g., land use and conflicts, common property resources; food production, food consumption and waste; food distribution and security; food governance and governing a sustainable food system etc.). The course consists of weekly sessions that will be split in two: A first lecture input deals with systematic overview knowledge and a set of specific social science concepts, approaches and theories. In a second part, students will work in groups on a specific food product and value chain and apply the social science knowledge attained in class. These weekly exercises will culminate in a final presentation where students will compare and contrast their findings across products and sectors. |
| Learning objectives | The lecture aims at the acquisition of the following competences: - Professional competences: Students are familiar with selected social science perspectives (concepts, approaches and theories) relevant to the analysis of the link between sustainability and food. In addition, they have exemplary empirical knowledge on selected sustainability problems in the subject area of food and sustainability. - Methodological competences: Students are able to develop and apply strategies and techniques for the research and structuring of information. They are also able to apply specific social science perspectives to the analysis of a sustainability problem and to reflect the knowledge gained thereby. - Social and self-competences: Students can organize group work and organize and carry out results-oriented activities. They can argue their own positions in a small group and in front of a larger audience, defend against objections and reflect on the basis of critical objections by others. |
| Bibliography | Will be provided through ADAM. |
| Comments | The kick-off event: details tba. Practical course: The groups are organized together with the enrolled students at the beginning of the teaching period. Extra certificate Upon completion of the entire program “Pathways to Sustainability” and the enrolled degree program at the University of Basel students may order an additional certificate. For this purpose students send an email to coordination-msd@unibas.ch, attach their official final degree transcript (= graduation transcript = Zeugnis) and provide the postal address. This lecture is offered by the programs "Pathways to Sustainability" and MSD. Prof. Dr. Janina Grabs is the head of the Sustainability Research Group, Dep. of Social Sciences, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. |
| Admission requirements | This course is open to students of the University of Basel and EUCOR sustainability program who are at least in their third bachelor semester, or who are studying at Master or PhD level. MSD 2017 Students who have already attended a similar class are supposed to contact Prof. Dr. Janina Grabs and determine a substitute. |
| Course application | Course enrollment on online services should be completed by the beginning of the teaching period (withdrawal possible until Monday of teaching week five). |
| Language of instruction | English |
| Use of digital media | No specific media used |
| Interval | Weekday | Time | Room |
|---|---|---|---|
| wöchentlich | Tuesday | 16.15-18.00 | Kollegienhaus, Hörsaal 117 |
| Comments |
Kick-off: Details tba. |
Dates
| Date | Time | Room |
|---|---|---|
| Tuesday 16.09.2025 | 16.15-18.00 | Kollegienhaus, Hörsaal 117 |
| Tuesday 23.09.2025 | 16.15-18.00 | Kollegienhaus, Hörsaal 117 |
| Tuesday 30.09.2025 | 16.15-18.00 | Kollegienhaus, Hörsaal 117 |
| Tuesday 07.10.2025 | 16.15-18.00 | Kollegienhaus, Hörsaal 117 |
| Tuesday 14.10.2025 | 16.15-18.00 | Kollegienhaus, Hörsaal 117 |
| Tuesday 21.10.2025 | 16.15-18.00 | Kollegienhaus, Hörsaal 117 |
| Tuesday 28.10.2025 | 16.15-18.00 | Kollegienhaus, Hörsaal 117 |
| Tuesday 04.11.2025 | 16.15-18.00 | Kollegienhaus, Hörsaal 117 |
| Tuesday 11.11.2025 | 16.15-18.00 | Kollegienhaus, Hörsaal 117 |
| Tuesday 18.11.2025 | 16.15-18.00 | Kollegienhaus, Hörsaal 117 |
| Tuesday 25.11.2025 | 16.15-18.00 | Kollegienhaus, Hörsaal 117 |
| Tuesday 02.12.2025 | 16.15-18.00 | Kollegienhaus, Hörsaal 117 |
| Tuesday 09.12.2025 | 16.15-18.00 | Kollegienhaus, Hörsaal 117 |
| Tuesday 16.12.2025 | 16.15-18.00 | Kollegienhaus, Hörsaal 117 |
| Modules |
Grundkurse (Transfakultäre Querschnittsprogramme im freien Kreditpunkte-Bereich) Modul: Vertiefung Landschaft und Umwelt (Bachelor's degree subject: Geography) Modul: Vertiefung Politikwissenschaft M.A. (Master's degree subject: Political Science) Module: Complementary Knowledge in Social Sciences (Master's Studies: Sustainable Development) Module: Electives in Data Science (Master's Studies: Data Science) Module: Fields: Environment and Development (Master's degree program: African Studies) Module: Resources and Sustainability (Master's degree program: Changing Societies: Migration – Conflicts – Resources) Specialization Module Global Europe: Environment and Sustainability (Master's Studies: European Global Studies) |
| Assessment format | record of achievement |
| Assessment details | Compulsory attendance in presence of lecture and practical course, oral presentation (practical course). Final written examination: tba, during usual lecture time, 90 minutes. Repear examination: tba, during usual lecture time, 90 minutes. For details regarding room see online course directory/section "dates and rooms". Practical course: Each student has to attend 3 sessions of a practical course (each 90 minutes) and 1 lesson with presentation in the course of the lecture taking place on pre-determined dates according to the announcement. |
| Assessment registration/deregistration | Reg.: course registration, dereg: cancel course registration |
| Repeat examination | one repetition, best attempt counts |
| Scale | 1-6 0,1 |
| Repeated registration | as often as necessary |
| Responsible faculty | University of Basel |
| Offered by | Departement Umweltwissenschaften |