Environmental history of fossil fuels Field of study: Interdisciplinary Environmental Studies in the Humanities
Programme code: W1-S1SH24.2024

Module name: Environmental history of fossil fuels
Module code: W1-SH-S1-HSPK
Programme code: W1-S1SH24.2024
Semester: summer semester 2025/2026
Language of instruction: Polish
Form of verification: exam
ECTS credits: 3
Purpose and description of the content of education:
The aim of the module is to familiarise students with the foundations of environmental history, its developments and recent trends, as well as its applicability to a variety of theoretical and practical situations, not necessarily directly related to the humanities. As part of the module, students will be introduced to some examples of environmental history studies focused on the impact of both selected landscapes and natural phenomena (such as forests, rivers, swamps) as well as individual plants or animals on human culture. In addition to discussing selected aspects of environmental history, the module will develop and explicate the issues connected with fossil fuels, particularly coal, the impact of its extraction on the environment, people, their history and culture. The course will emphasise the environmental history of Polish coal and lignite in European (world) contexts. The knowledge which the students will acquire will be based on both documentary materials and artefacts, since the module will also aim to re-evaluate the traditionally understood historical sources and include literature, art and various cultural texts in its contexts.
List of modules that must be completed before starting this module (if necessary): not applicable
Learning outcome of the module Codes of the learning outcomes of the programme to which the learning outcome of the module is related [level of competence: scale 1-5]
has knowledge of the relationship between the history of fossil fuels and cultural history against the background of changes in knowledge of the environmental history of the world, country and region [01]
 W03 [4/5]
has knowledge of the main trends in the development of environmental history in Poland and worldwide; links it with the cultural history of fossil fuels, in particular coal and lignite; knows the most important types of cultural sources (visual arts, literature, architecture) [02]
 W04 [3/5]
understands the need to modernise cultural history from the perspective of environmental history and to search for cultural images of fossil fuels and human relations with them; can analyse selected cultural texts from the point of view of non-anthropocentric history [03]
 W09 [4/5]
can use source materials and, on its basis, create e.g. presentations, short projects, or discuss selected problems [04]
 U01 [4/5]
can appropriately use knowledge of geology, geography, mining and history while preparing his/her own oral or written assignments [05]
 U02 [3/5]
undertakes pro-social activities related to the course knowledge of environmental history; is able to use its practical dimension in action [06]
 K04 [3/5]
Form of teaching Number of hours Methods of conducting classes Assessment of the learning outcomes Learning outcomes
practical classes [C] 30 Description [a03] 
Lecture-discussion [b02] 
Activating method – discussion / debate [b04]  		exam 01 02 03 04 05 06
The student's work, apart from participation in classes, includes in particular:
Name Category Description
Literature reading / analysis of source materials [a02] Preparation for classes
reading the literature indicated in the syllabus; reviewing, organizing, analyzing and selecting source materials to be used in class
Consulting materials complementary to those indicated in the syllabus [a04] Preparation for classes
agreeing on materials complementary to those indicated in the syllabus, supporting the implementation of tasks resulting from or necessary for class participation
Determining the stages of task implementation contributing to the verification of learning outcomes [c01] Preparation for verification of learning outcomes
devising a task implementation strategy embracing the division of content, the range of activities, implementation time and/or the method(s) of obtaining the necessary materials and tools, etc.
Analysis of the corrective feedback provided by the academic teacher on the results of the verification of learning outcomes [d01] Consulting the results of the verification of learning outcomes
reading through the academic teacher’s comments, assessments and opinions on the implementation of the task aimed at checking the level of the achieved learning outcomes
Attachments
Module description (PDF)
Information concerning module syllabuses might be changed during studies.
Syllabuses (USOSweb)
Semester Module Language of instruction
(no information given)