Spring 2020
Grise Hall 247
TR 11:10am--12:30pm

Course Description:

Human-wildlife conflict is a persistent social, economic, and ecological problem. As human populations grow and expand into new territory, they compete with wildlife for land and resources. This conflict results in loss or destruction of habitat, poaching of wildlife, social changes in human and wildlife communities, economic losses, and loss of life within human populations. This course examines human-wildlife conflict across the globe and the different ecological and social realities that exist on different continents. The course also examines how human-wildlife conflict at the local level shapes, and is shaped by culture and by transnational, governmental, and non-governmental efforts to curb poaching, preserve valuable habitat, and address issues of extreme poverty in the developing world.

Course Objectives:

This course fulfills the WKU Colonnade Connections Course Requirement - Local to Global Category (3 hours). Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:

1. Analyze the problem of human-wildlife conflict within a variety of local contexts using sociological and ecological theories and research
2. Examine the relationship between human-wildlife conflict at a local level and the development of transnational and non-governmental institutions created to address this social and ecological problem
3. Evaluate the effectiveness and efficacy of specific strategies designed to mitigate human-wildlife conflict, especially in developing countries with high level of extreme poverty
4. Collect relevant research evidence and argue different perspectives on the inherently divisive issue of conservation vs. utilization of natural resources given the sociocultural realities in a selected case/cases.

Required Texts and Readings:

The course will require students to purchase one text:

Additional articles will be assigned and posted on Blackboard.  These articles will be from journals and/or books in the fields of conservation biology and sociology, which may include Conservation Biology, Society and Natural Resources, and Human Dimensions of Wildlife.

Evaluation Criteria:

Students will be evaluated based on the following performance indicators:

1. Midterm examination (20% of the final grade): The midterm exam will be administered after completion of Lessons 1-6. It will require students to apply and synthesize information presented and discussed in Lessons 1-6 in three written essay responses.
2. Final examination (20% of the final grade): The final exam will be administered after completion of Lessons 7-11. It will require students to apply and synthesize information presented and discussed in Lessons 7-11 and information included in the student group presentations. Similar to the midterm examination, students will be required to respond to three essay questions.
3. Group Presentation (20% of the final grade): Students will be divided into groups of four or five students, and they will develop and give a 12-15 minute presentation focused on a specific case study or issue related to human-wildlife conflict in the world. Each group will divide into at least two smaller groups and present opposing sides of the issue using existing theories or research presented in the course. The case study selected must demonstrate how human-wildlife conflict at a local level affects actions taken by nation states, non-governmental and transnational organizations at a global level. Students must also address how these global institutions affect, for better or worse, efforts to mitigate human-wildlife conflict for local communities.
4. Research Paper (20% of the final grade): Each student will submit a final research paper that examines and evaluates the efficacy of a strategy used to mitigate human-wildlife conflict in a local context and to assess this strategy’s potential generalizability for alleviating human-wildlife conflict on a global scale. Students will be required to investigate and research the strategy used and to evaluate and discuss the strategy’s effectiveness using published research. Students may pursue an example that serves as a longitudinal case study (one strategy in one location over time) or one that yields a comparative study (one strategy compared across different geographical areas). The professors are happy to meet with students individually to identify a strategy/topic they might explore for this final paper upon request. The final paper must focus on a case study not presented in class. The final paper will be 5-6 pages (word-processed, double-spaced, 12-point New Times Roman font, 1 inch margins) and include a bibliography in addition to the required 5-6 pages. Students may follow either the MPA or APA citation formats.
5. In class assignments & activities (20% of the final grade): Each student will complete several in-class assignments and activities designed to require synthesis and application of the material presented in lectures and readings assigned for homework. These in-class activities and assignments will also be used to track attendance and participation.

General Information

Grades

All of your grades will be posted on Blackboard: https://wku.blackboard.com/

Classroom Etiquette

We fully expect you to demonstrate a degree of classroom etiquette that reflects being a respectful adult in our society. Therefore, we will not tolerate any of the following in the classroom: (1) ringing cell phones, (2) talking on a cell phone during class, (3) text messaging during class, (4) walking into class late, (5) leaving class early (without prior arrangements), (6) the use of computers for tasks other than taking notes. We will reduce your final grade by 50 points (1/2 letter grade) for each instance these classroom etiquette expectations are violated.

Attendance

Per the Student Code of Conduct, regular and consistent attendance is expected. Students must submit exams, papers, projects, and in-class activities/assignments on the date specified.

Academic Dishonesty

We will not tolerate any form of academic dishonesty, including cheating and plagiarism (especially on your exams and papers). Evidence of any of these behaviors will result in an automatic "F" in the course. If you are part of a working group, your individual grade will reflect in part your individual contributions to the group project. If one or two students "carry" the group, those students will receive the best grades.

Polling/Classroom Response

Formative assessment is shown to be an effective way of engaging students in a topic. One type of formative assessment mechanism is a classroom response system. Such systems may be a dedicated hardware platform (clickers) or may use an app on your own smart phone or other personal computing device. One exception to our rule on cell phone use in class is when we request a classroom response. These exercises fall under "In-class assignments & activities."

Special Circumstances

We realize all of you have busy lives. If anything serious or significant occurs in your life that may hurt your performance in the course, please let us know ASAP.

Other Important Dates:

Resolving Complaints about Grades

The first step in resolving a complaint about grades is for the student to attempt to resolve the problem directly with the course instructors. See the Student Handbook, available at http://www.wku.edu/handbook/ for additional guidance.  

Title IX Misconduct/Assault Statement

Western Kentucky University (WKU) is committed to supporting faculty, staff and students by upholding WKU’s Title IX Sexual Misconduct/Assault Policy (#0.2070) at https://wku.edu/eoo/documents/titleix/wkutitleixpolicyandgrievanceprocedure.pdf and the Discrimination and Harassment Policy (#0.2040) at https://www.wku.edu/policies/docs/251.pdf.

Under these policies, discrimination, harassment and/or sexual misconduct based on sex/gender are prohibited. If you experience an incident of sex/gender-based discrimination, harassment and/or sexual misconduct, you are encouraged to report it to the Title IX Coordinator, Andrea Anderson, 270-745-5398 or Title IX Investigators, Michael Crowe, 270-745-5429 or Joshua Hayes, 270-745-5121.  

Please note that while you may report an incident of sex/gender based discrimination, harassment and/or sexual misconduct to a faculty member, WKU faculty are “Responsible Employees” of the University and MUST report what you share to WKU’s Title IX Coordinator or Title IX Investigator. If you would like to speak with someone who may be able to afford you confidentiality, you may contact WKU’s Counseling and Testing Center at 270-745-3159.

ADA Accommodation Statement

In compliance with University policy, students with disabilities who require academic and/or auxiliary accommodations for this course must contact the Student Accessibility Resource Center located in Downing Student Union, 1074. SARC can be reached by phone number at 270-745-5004 [270-745-3030 TTY] or via email at sarc.connect@wku.edu. Please do not request accommodations directly from the professor or instructor without a faculty notification letter (FNL) from The Student Accessibility Resource Center.” 

Remember, the most up-to-date-university policies relating to courses may be found at: https://www.wku.edu/syllabusinfo/index.php

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