Competence of students to understand the social importance of harmony between nature, man and society, social aspects of ecological crisis, and ways and means of solving environmental problems in order to give fuller contribution to creating a humane society.

The acquisition of sociological knowledge about the social causes of environmental pollution in modern society, the degree and dimensions of pollution, as well as theoretical and institutional forms of solving the ecological crisis, including research processes and research methods of environmental problems.

Natural and social environment: man as a natural and social being, the elements of man`s environment, quality of life and environmental quality. Development of society and quality of the environment: the environment in agricultural, industrial and information society. Environmental risks and modern society: the external and produced risks. Social aspects of environmental crisis of modern society: the nature of pollution, pollution of working environment (the alienation of labor and technical risks), pollution of social environment (the alienation of people from life and society, consumerist culture, false values). Social causes of environmental crisis: technology development, urban development, industrialization, the nature of economic and social systems, population growth, value system, consumption, globalization. Globalization and ecology: global society as a society of produced risk, globalization and environmental inequalities in the world. Theoretical understanding of the ways of solving the ecological crisis: the limits of growth, demographic transition, sustainable development, international legal environment, ecological modernization, eco-efficiency, eco-centralization. Ecological consciousness and culture: elements, factors and levels of development of environmental awareness and culture. Ecological policy: objectives, principles and ecological policy factors. Ecological movements: the objectives, principles and how ecological movements react. Ecological ethic: norms, practices, sanctions. Research in environmental issues: development of a theoretical hypothetical framework, determination of sample, research methods, implementation of research, analysis of results.

Classes are held in the form of lectures and students` participation in the discussion focused on the problems exposed, as well as seminar papers elaboration, and seminar paper presentation, including students` discussions regarding seminar paper problems.