Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Spring 2026 - SA 371 OL01

Contesting Ecological Collapse (S) (4)

Class Number: 3266

Delivery Method: Online

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Online

  • Instructor:

    Nicholas Scott
    nascott@sfu.ca
    Office Hours: TBA, online & by appointment

  • Prerequisites:

    SA 101 or 150 or 201W.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Examines the infrastructures and ideologies behind biodiversity collapse and mass extinction, such as plantations, extractive industries, automobility, and human supremacism, or belief that humans are superior to all other species. We also explore how to contest ecological crises through interventions like other-than-human personhood, decolonization, AI, and multispecies democracy.

COURSE DETAILS:

This course examines the constellation of infrastructures and ideologies behind biodiversity collapse and mass extinction, such as colonial plantations, resource-extractive industries, the ‘system’ of automobility, and human supremacism––or the belief that humans are superior to all other species. We also explore how to contest ecological crises through political and technological interventions such as other-than-human personhood, rights of nature, decolonization, more-than-human assemblies, and artificial intelligences that facilitate multispecies dialogue.

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

  • Differentiate anthropocentric scholarship about the environment from sociology, political studies and geography that actively include other-than-human voices
  • Participate in developing an intellectual community of practice that contests mass extinction, habitat destruction and human supremacism
  • Flesh out ecologically just ways of reassembling society, politics and ‘the good city’ by building on western and anti-colonial ideals and imaginaries
  • Design multispecies, anti-anthropocentric research using ethnographic, statistical, mobile/go-along, sonic, cinematic and/or archival research
  • Produce a critique of ecological collapse and a vision for an alternative future that connects your biography to (multispecies) society

Grading

  • Participation Assignments 20%
  • Conceptual Analysis Papers 30%
  • Research Project 50%

NOTES:

Grading: Where a final exam is scheduled and the student does not write the exam or withdraws from the course before the deadline date, an N grade will be assigned. Unless otherwise specified on the course syllabus, all graded assignments for this course must be completed for a final grade other than N to be assigned. An N is considered as an F for the purposes of scholastic standing.

Grading System: The undergraduate course grading system is A+, A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, D, F, N (N standing indicates student did not complete course requirements). Intervals for the assignment of final letter grades based on course percentage grades are as follows:

A+ (95-100) | A (90-94) | A- (85-89) | B+ (80-84) | B (75-79) | B- (70-74) | C+ (65-69) | C (60-64) | C- (55-59) | D (50-54) | F (0-49) | N*
*N standing to indicate the student did not complete course requirements

Academic Honesty and Student Conduct Policies: The Department of Sociology & Anthropology follows SFU policy in relation to grading practices, grade appeals (Policy T20.01), and academic honesty and student conduct procedures (S10‐S10.05). Unless otherwise informed by your instructor in writing, in graded written assignments you must cite the sources you rely on and include a bibliography/list of references, following an instructor-approved citation style. It is the responsibility of students to inform themselves of the content of SFU policies available on the SFU website.

Centre for Accessible Learning: Students with hidden or visible disabilities who believe they may need classroom or exam accommodations are encouraged to register with the SFU Centre for Accessible Learning (1250 Maggie Benston Centre) as soon as possible to ensure that they are eligible and that approved accommodations and services are implemented in a timely fashion.

The Sociology and Anthropology Student Union, SASU, is a governing body of students who are engaged with the department and want to build the SA community. Get involved!  Follow Facebook and Instagram pages or visit our website.

Materials

MATERIALS + SUPPLIES:

Provided on Canvas.

REQUIRED READING:

Provided on Canvas.


REQUIRED READING NOTES:

Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

At SFU, you are expected to act honestly and responsibly in all your academic work. Cheating, plagiarism, or any other form of academic dishonesty harms your own learning, undermines the efforts of your classmates who pursue their studies honestly, and goes against the core values of the university.

To learn more about the academic disciplinary process and relevant academic supports, visit: 


RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION

Students with a faith background who may need accommodations during the term are encouraged to assess their needs as soon as possible and review the Multifaith religious accommodations website. The page outlines ways they begin working toward an accommodation and ensure solutions can be reached in a timely fashion.