IPM 543/EDU 543 - ECOLOGY AND HUMAN CONSCIOUSNESS
St. Thomas University
Spring, 2004 (February 11-12 &
25-26; March 4-5, 2005)
Instructors
Patricia Siemen, OP, JD (Northeastern University School of Law), M.A,
(Public Affairs, University of Texas), M.A, (Culture & Spirituality,
Holy Names College, Oakland, CA); Joyce DiBenedetto-Colton, M.S.
(Adult Education, Certificate in Environmental Studies, Florida
International University), Joe A Iannone, Ph.D (Theology, University
of Notre Dame).
Course Description
EDU
This course explores the relationship between the development of
human consciousness and current ecological trends and crises.
The evolution of worldviews will be explored and social and
ecological analysis will be used to identify contemporary critical
ecological issues. Ecologically sustainable alternatives and
practices will be presented. Educators will explore ways to
incorporate these concepts into their respective disciplines.
IPM
This course provides an overview of human experience as conscious,
spiritual, planetary beings. The trends towards global cultural and
ecological crises will be explored. Social and ecological analysis
will be used to identify the “signs of the times” of our planetary
crisis, including new understandings of deep time and space. The
human quest for meaning and transformation in relation to these
trends, crises and emerging ecological consciousness will be probed.
Credit Hours: 3 graduate credits
Location
Sessions will be held at St. Thomas University, 16400 NW 32nd
Avenue, Miami, Florida. Room TBA.
Required Texts
Berry, Thomas.
The Great Work. Bell Tower, 1999.
Earth Charter Commission.
The Earth Charter: Values & Principles for a Sustainable Future.
Available on website:
http://www.earthcharter.org.
Hartmann, Thom.
The Last Hours of Ancient Sunlight: Waking Up to Personal and
Global Transformation. Harmony Books, New York, 1999.
Macy, Joanna.
Coming Back to Life. New Society Press, Gabriola
Island, British Columbia, 1998.
Uhl, Christopher. Developing Ecological Consciousness: Path to
a Sustainable World. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Lanham,
MD, 2003.
Supplemental Readings:
Glendinning, Chellis.
My Name is Chellis and I’m in Recovery from Western Civilization.
Shambhala Press, 1994.
Hubbard, Barbara Max.
Conscious Evolution: Awakening the Power of Our Social
Potential. New World Library, Novato, CA, 1998.
Margulis, Lynn, and Sagan, Dorien. Microcosmos. University of
California Press, Berkeley, 1997.
Seed, John and Macy, Joanna. Thinking Like a Mountain.
New Society Publishers, Gabriola Island, British Columbia, 1988.
Swimme, Brian.
Hidden Heart of the Cosmos. Orbis Books, New York, 1996.
The WorldWatch Institute.
State of the World 2004. W.W. Norton & Company, New
York, 2004.
Zohar, Danah.
The Quantum Self: Human Nature and Consciousness Defined by the
New Physics.
Quill/William Morrow: New York, 1990.
Instructional Methods
Interactive presentations, small group work, student presentations,
personal journaling, field trips, and artistic and media
presentations will form the core instructional mode of
teaching-learning.
Student Goals
Upon completion of this course, students will:
-
Engage the concept that the emergence of consciousness is a part
of the evolutionary unfolding of planetary life.
-
Identify trends that are causing the sixth great extinction of
species.
-
Better perceive humans as an integral and interdependent part of
the Earth community.
-
Be better prepared to live consciously and make intentional
choices to eat and consume in ways that sustain planetary life.
-
Be introduced to varied communal and spiritual practices that
support the human capacity to live with all planetary beings in
mutually enhancing ways.
-
Be able to incorporate the concepts of ecological consciousness
within their personal and professional lives.
Schedule of Activities
and Assignments
-
By the start of class, Friday, February 11, 2005, four of the
five assigned readings are to be completed. The fifth
text, Coming Back to Life, will be read throughout the course of
the class.
-
Due Friday evening, February 11:
-
Either a 3-5 page reflection paper (double-spaced) that is
an initial articulation of your perception and experience of
the relationship, if any, between ecological consciousness
and human consciousness; OR
-
A project that artistically or creatively depicts a
timeline/spiral of your own emerging consciousness that
identifies significant moments or movements in your life
that altered your relationship with the natural world; OR
-
A combination of the either of the above.
-
Students will be asked to share excerpts from their papers
or project the first weekend of class.
-
Students shall maintain a journal of course experiences and will
be expected to share relevant journal entries during the seminar
sessions.
-
Classes will be held over three weekends, Friday evenings from 5
pm to 9 pm; and Saturdays, 9 am to 4:00. The weekends are:
February 11-12, 2005; February 25-26, 2005 and March 4-5, 2005.
All classes will be held at St. Thomas University, 16401 NW 37th
Ave., Miami Gardens, FL 33054.
-
A final 8-10 page (double-spaced) paper will be due by March 25,
2005. This paper will be a response to “How my ecological
consciousness can impact some aspect of ecological restoration.”
Other creative expressions that address this theme may meet the
final assignment requirement upon consultation with the
instructor.
Grading
Grading will be based on attendance and participation in seminar
discussions, projects and the completion of assignments in a timely
fashion. An initial 3-5-page reflection paper or project (see
Assignments above) will be due at the beginning of the seminar on
Friday, February 11. A final 8-10 page paper is due by March
25, 2005.
Expectations
-
Given the brevity of class time together, timely and prompt
attendance at each session is expected.
-
Engaged participation in class discussions and activities is
expected.
-
Maintenance of ethical standards expected of all graduate
students with respect to work submitted.
-
Written assignments submitted on or before the published due
dates.
-
Papers must be received by the instructor via email or postal
mail on or before date due.
