COM* 210: Environmental Communication

3 Credits
While many of us think of the “environment” as something physical in the world around us, and somehow related to “nature”, our understanding of the environment is to some extent mediated by the way we communicate about it. In this course we will explore questions like, “how does the way we communicate about the environment influence the way we act in that environment? What is the role of communication in creating a better place to live? How is communication involved in our sense of place, our sense of home, and the wilderness ‘out there’?” We’ll look at pop culture representations of the environment and ask about the consequences of those messages. We’ll also explore some big ideas like communicating about climate change, and look at some more local issues like how groups make decisions about the use of local environmental resources.
Prerequisites: Eligibility for ENG* 101
Offered: Occasionally