Module: Environmental History

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title	Environmental History
Module Code	HIS1063 (ITS: HY344)
Faculty	History & Geography	School	Humanities & Social Sciences
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	5

Description

What does history look like when we place greater emphasis on the nonhuman environment? This module asks you to reflect on this question through lectures, readings, tutorials and a sequence of assessments. The usual approach to history is to consider how humans have shaped it and what effect historical changes have had on humans. Environmental history considers changing ideas about the nonhuman world, how the environment has affected human history and in turn how humans have shaped the environment. We live through an age dominated by a disease that has spread from animals and debates about how to avert climate catastrophe. This seems like an apt moment to consider the interrelationship between humans and environment throughout history.

Learning Outcomes

1. Identify the key components of, and questions asked by, an environmental history approach to the past.
2. Analyse episodes in human history from an environmental history viewpoint.
3. Argue for the importance of including nonhuman factors in historical causation.
4. Identify and analyse primary sources used in environmental history.
5. Use your knowledge of the past to think critically about our relationship with the nonhuman world in the present.

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Lecture	24	No Description
Assignment Completion	92	No Description
Independent Study	24	No Description
Total Workload: 140

Section Breakdown
CRN	21444	Part of Term	Semester 2
Coursework	0%	Examination Weight	0%
Grade Scale	40PASS	Pass Both Elements	Y
Resit Category	RC1	Best Mark	N
Module Co-ordinator	Juliana Adelman	Module Teacher

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Assignment	There will be a combination of summative and formative assessment.	40%	n/a
Formal Examination	n/a	60%	End-of-Semester

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; RC1: A resit is available for both^* components of the module. RC2: No resit is available for a 100% coursework module. RC3: No resit is available for the coursework component where there is a coursework and summative examination element. ^* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a coursework/summative examination split; where the module is 100% coursework, there will also be a resit of the assessment

Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Indicative Reading List

Books:
None

Articles:
None

Other Resources

None