Course Overview
I would like to acknowledge with respect the Onondaga Nation, firekeepers of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, the indigenous peoples on whose ancestral lands Syracuse University now stands.
This course introduces key sociological concepts, theoretical perspectives, and how they relate to the environment. It also explores the dynamics between politics, power, and inequality. We will begin with a basic introduction to understanding theoretical perspectives such as ecological modernization and ecological degradation and how these concepts influence human society and nonhuman nature.
This course will discuss theories in environmental sociology and the rise of environmentalism, with a focus on the practical implications of the ‘new ecological paradigm’. We will delve into economic inequalities among wealthy nations and peripheries and the ecological effects that transcend national boundaries, keeping you engaged and interested in the subject.
In this course, we will explore the histories and contemporary challenges faced not only by Indigenous communities but also by other marginalized groups, including ethnic, linguistic, religious, and nomadic populations, in Africa, East Asia, Eastern Europe, Central Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East. Students will broaden their understanding of Indigenous peoples beyond North America by examining their histories and cultures, their relationships with states and other communities, and the key social, political, and cultural issues they face in their respective regions. Together, we will also consider why these regions and lived experiences matter within an increasingly interconnected global society.
By the end of the course, you will have a comprehensive understanding of the role of environmental movements, international organizations, energy development, green economy, global media, and indigenous people’s environmental relations in shaping our understanding of the relationship between people and nature and how these insights can be applied in real-world scenarios.
All students who successfully complete the course will receive a Certificate of Completion and have the opportunity to request a Syracuse University credit transcript.
Learning Objectives
When this course is completed, the students will be able to:
- Attain a basic understanding of the sociological concepts and theoretical perspectives in environmental sociology.
- Explore the complex interactions between human society and nonhuman natures.
- Expand knowledge about Indigenous peoples outside of North America, their histories and cultures, their interactions with others, and the issues they face in their respective regions.
- Comprehend the crucial role of power and social inequality in the interconnection of human society and the natural world.
- Analyze the profound consequences of environmental degradation on issues related to inequality, environmental justice, resource-dependence economies, and environmental impacts.
Course Information
Course Prefix and Number: GEO 103
Format: On Campus
Eligibility: Students must be of rising high school junior, or senior status – or a 2026 high school graduate.
Credit: 3 credits
Grading: A-F
Cost:
- Residential: $5,595
- Commuter: $4,624
Program rates are subject to change and will be approved by the board of trustees. Discounts and scholarships are also available.
Program Information
Summer College – On Campus: Experience what college is really like: take a college-level course, live in a residence hall, have meals with friends in a dining hall, and participate in activities and events on campus.
Course Dates and Details
| Program | Course Dates | Synchronous Class Time (Eastern Time) | Credit/Noncredit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summer College – On Campus | 2-Week Session I: Sunday, July 6 – Friday, July 17, 2026 | MTWThF; 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. | 3 Credits |
| Summer College – On Campus | 2-Week Session II: Sunday, July 19 – Friday, July 31, 2026 | MTWThF; 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. | 3 Credits |
To see if this course is ‘open,’ refer to the full course catalog.
Typical Day
Tentative Schedule
From Monday to Friday, from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm, the typical class schedule includes a 30-40-minute break. The structure of the day involves:
- Mini lectures (10 minutes): I start the class with short 10-minute lectures to introduce key theoretical concepts and topics.
- Small Group Discussions: Students will engage in small group discussions to delve deeper into the presented material and exchange ideas and thoughts.
- In-class activities: To enhance learning, I incorporate various in-class activities, which will include group projects and problem solving.
- Writing assignments: to produce an effective written communication and enhance writing skills
Additionally, over the course of two weeks, students will have guest lectures from experts in the field. These guest lectures offer diverse perspectives and insights from practitioners and researchers.
A unique feature of this course is its emphasis on hands-on, experiential learning. Students will take part in small-group activities and guided visits to the Bird Library on the Syracuse University campus, including the Special Collections Research Center, where they will explore rare, printed materials, photographs, artworks, and audio and moving-image recordings that tell the story of Syracuse University and our global society. The course also includes visits to the Syracuse University Art Museum, giving students the opportunity to connect social theory to public spaces and to practice interpreting art in meaningful ways. By engaging with museum collections and on-campus exhibitions, students will strengthen their creative thinking skills and develop ideas for original research projects.
A typical schedule will look like:
- 9.00-9.10 am – mini lecture
- 9:10-9:30 am – reflection and discussion
- 9:30 – 9:40 am – mini lecture
- 9:40 – 10:00 am – activity and discussion
- 10:00 – 10:10 am – mini lecture
- 10:10 am – 10:40 am – small group discussion
- 5-minute break
- 10:45 am – 11:00 am – mini lecture
- 11:00 – 11:40 am – lunch break
- 11:40 – 12:00 pm – lecture
- 12:00 – 1:00 pm – activity and closing discussion
There will be an end event at the end of the course open to parents and other guests.
When class is over, and on weekends, students can look forward to various Summer College – On Campus activities to meet and connect with other students! Check out our On Campus Experience page for more information!
Faculty Bios
Darzhan Kazbekova
Darzhan Kazbekova is a Ph.D. candidate in the Social Science program at the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs and the instructor of MAX 123 “Critical Issues for the United States.” She received her PhD in international relations from the Academy of Public Administration under the President of Kazakhstan in 2015. After completing the PhD at the Academy, she was a research assistant and a director of the Research Institute at the Academy for three years before joining the Social Science program at Syracuse University. Darzhan is a fellow of the 2025-2026 K-14 Global Fellowship Program: Exploring Global Tech Innovations at theCenter for Slavic, East European and Eurasian Studies at Ohio State University. Darzhan’s research focuses on policy learning among governmental administrators responsible for implementing the “Green Economy” policy. Through the interdisciplinary approach, she examines how the policy is formulated and implemented in the authoritarian context of a highly resource-dependent economy and who are the critical actors of environmental policy implementation in the country.