The objectives of the course are to teach students about
attitudes toward nature and the physical environment in 
general as expressed in literature, with special emphasis on 
the relevance of texts under discussion to contemporary 
society around the world; to introduce students to works of 
world literature that focus on the natural world; to inform 
students of varying cultural models of the relationship 
between humans and the non-human world; to develop students' 
critical abilities through analysis of literary and non-
literary texts; and to hone students' communication skills 
through oral presentations and expository writing assignments.

Students' performances will be assessed through presentations,
tests, papers, and a final examination.

Topics vary with the instructor, but common themes treated in 
the course include traditional Western conceptions of order 
(such as the great chain of being); Darwinian conceptions of 
competition and cooperation; holism and ecosystem concepts; 
ecocriticism, ecofeminism, ecophilosophy; environmentalism and
the literary essay. Special emphasis will be placed on the 
relevance of the texts studied to contemporary society around 
the world. The works examined differ with the instructor. The 
following is a sample syllabus of readings for a single 
semester:

Pope.  Essay on Man
Lovejoy.  The Great Chain of Being
Conrad.  Heart of Darkness.
"Caliban:  A Sequel to 'Ariel'"
Gilman.  "The Yellow Wallpaper"
Darwin.  The Origin of Species (selections)
Odum.  "Ecosystem Management:  A New Venture"
James Lovelock.  Gaia:  A New Look at Life on Earth (selections)
Danial Quinn.  Ishmael
J. Baird Callicott.  "The Metaphysical Implications of Ecology"
Warren.  "The Power and Promise of Ecological Feminism"
Leopold.  "The Land Ethic," "Thinking Like a Mountain,"
"Conservation Esthetic"
Borges.  "The Babylon Lottery"
Celaya.  Selected Poetry

Students are required to abide by the University of Georgia academic honesty policy.