I took this class as a graduating senior, and it ended up being one of my favorite classes at UCLA, though it did not seem like that during the course.

The workload is A LOT (if you are trying to actually do it all). Each week, there are hefty readings to which you then do a one-page single-spaced response to. Discussions and lectures are mandatory, but a "word of the day" is used in lectures and recordings are posted, so you can get around this if you have a friend in the class. Throughout the quarter, there are deadlines for the final research paper, which examines an entity's (organization or city in the LA region) relationship to the sustainability - social and environmental. There's also a 1-min presentation on your paper findings to the class. You have to buy a couple books for the readings. There is a written essay final (choose from a couple pre-revealed prompts).

I was frequently complaining about the class to my friends, and the majority of my effort for the quarter went to the course (definitely would not recommend taking with other heavy classes). Yet I realized at the end, this was one of the most interesting and engaging courses I have ever taken. If you do not like mundane classwork and not-applicable-to-real-life content, I would recommend this course. It actually challenged me to think about "real life" concepts relating to the environment, social issues, and politics, and I learned a lot and enhanced my critical analysis skills. The first book was one of my favorite reads ever, because it discussed the things that I stay up at night thinking about - that type of interesting and challenging.

As far as Dr.Sexton, he is definitely a cool person. His lecturing, however, is a challenge. The way he speaks can be really difficult to 1) hear and 2) comprehend; a lot of "big", uncommon words are used, and he often speaks in broken sentences and phrases, that mumble off. I found myself getting lost in lecture a lot. While I kept up and comprehended the readings, I felt that I got nothing from the lectures, until I actually went back over the recordings before the final. Going over the lecture recordings, I suddenly understood and had even a deep comprehension of everything said, was able to connect all the class concepts, and was able to do really well on the final. I actually feel like I'm walking away with something from the course - which I only felt from one other class at UCLA.

All this being said, I think it's a great class and would encourage everyone to take it to engage in important social and environmental topics and "learn beyond the classroom", but be warned, it is A LOT of work.

Professor Sexton has been one of the best professors I have had here at UCLA. He is very clear in what he wants from you and will help you with anything as long as you reach out to him and show your concerns. I took his crime class as well and they were both structured the same and had a quarter long research problem that gave you the chance to research something of your interest and dig deeper into the subject and learn a lot about it. For me I long wine so I did my project on how viticulture affects the environment, so it was cool to research something I was passionate about and learn more about it. The work load for the class is a decent about because you have to research a lot in the end for your essay, but in the end I believe it is worth it in what you get in return. I recommend taking this class or any classes with Sexton because in the end if you put in the work you learn a lot.

Very boring class! Would not recommend.

Very boring class! Would not recommend.

When it comes to registering for classes, the first thing I do without hesitation is search for the professor name (Jason sexton). If it's his class, I sign up immediately because of the immense trust I have in his teaching abilities and style. Without a doubt, he is the best professor in the world, and I hold the utmost respect for him.
Throughout his class, I have consistently found it to be incredibly interesting and enriching. I have gleaned valuable knowledge and insights, and it is a class I would happily continue taking indefinitely. From what I've observed, it's not just me who feels this way; many students hold his class in high regard and consider him one of the best professors in the world.

Environmental Sociology is a cross-listed course, M133 and M115 in the Environmental Science and Sociology departments, respectively. As an Environmental Science major, this course can fulfill requirements in either the social sciences/humanities category or the Environmental Systems and Society minor concentration.

General Overview

This class is amazing. I would recommend taking it before you start your senior practicum if you are an Environmental Science major; the experience of following through on a preliminary qualitative research project is very helpful in approaching future research projects. If you really want to prepare for the practicum, you can take on the research project in a team. There are several graded components to keep track of as the quarter progresses: weekly TA-graded discussion summaries, attendance per-lecture basis, regular ancillary research project deliverables, extra credit, and a final.

Discussion Summaries and the Reading Schedule

There are several books assigned with weekly deadlines, most taking 2-4 weeks to complete. They are synced up with lecture materials and in the case of "Rocking Qualitative Social Science", they often provide critical skills in achieving a good grade on the final qualitative research project. I would advise you to stay on top of these reading deadlines and do more than skim, however, you are allowed the freedom of addressing the portions of the assigned reading excerpt however you like in your discussion summary. As long as you address the core of the assigned segment, you will be fine. Your TA addresses your summaries in-depth and provides you with feedback on how to engage the readings more critically if needed. Regardless, expect to be able to write however you like (as long as it is thoughtful and backed by a firm grasp of the assigned text).

TA-led Discussion Sections

These sections provide analysis and open-table discussion on the week's assigned readings. There are structured questions, lectured portions, and open discussions. These usually end with a Q&A on the upcoming ancillary research component deadline, with helpful tips on getting the best grade. Sections were always pleasant and supplemented the rest of the course. Make sure you go! The final two sections offer breakdowns of the final exam structure and help you hone in on critical lecture concepts that will be tested.

Extra Credit

You have a choice of analyzing a book from a curated selection or submitting a book for approval. You then are tasked with writing a 5-paged, single-spaced critical review of the book. This is VERY engaged and will be a step up in diligence from the weekly summaries. Make sure to pace yourself, as the deadline is right behind the final exam. Make sure to prepare for this early in the quarter. Worth taking on if you enjoy the book you chose. Tread with caution!

Lectures

Dr. Sexton's lectures are a blast. They range from discussions of the evolution of societal attitudes (pre-industrial to post-modern) through reflections on socioeconomic development and even portrayals of Batman in film and television!? There is the occasional guest lecture that supplements course concepts and provides useful insights into environmental science careers and grassroots efforts. Dr. Sexton will alternate between distinct styles depending on the lecture, either through a theological/community science/hermeneutics lense or a methodological/empirical lens. Sometimes they even intersect! Every lecture is distinctly different but lends itself to cohesion with the assigned reading materials. The last two weeks or so are instead hosted by the students, who present 60-second overviews of their completed qualitative research projects. Students stand up on the lecture stage and navigate to the coordinates of their target location, which have all been mapped on a GIS layer by a specialist. The GIS map is a fun culmination of the students' efforts. Always make sure to attend lectures, attendance is required.

Qualitative Research Project

This is easily the most unique and impactful component of the course by far, even for a STEM major. The QRP is a great opportunity for building time management skills, improving at working with/communicating with TAs, communicating with professionals in the labor sphere outside of campus, and sharpening critical reading and writing skills that often go underdeveloped for STEM majors. The QRP offers you the choice between approaching a city organization or an individual institution, both of which offer compelling research experiences. When you are taking this class, it really feels like everyone is working at a giant environmental consulting firm. "Who are you studying?" "How's the research coming along?" "Have you done your fieldwork yet? What was it like?" "How do I write thick description?" Beyond the classroom, you have to consider how you will meet professionals, what kinds of questions will you ask them, what sort of data is important to addressing your research question, what buildings and offices should I visit, and so many other responsibilities. This represents a much larger commitment than the usual course but offers a particularly valuable reward for both STEM and humanities students who will be taking on a research-based capstone or internship that will be looking for seasoned skills in this area. You can honestly consider taking this class for this alone if you are an Environmental Science/Sustainability Studies major of any kind that needs practice in engaging critical interpretation of policy and its transformation into prose. I highly, highly recommend this course for the QRP experience. It can be daunting, but make sure of two things: your topic genuinely interests you and you can maintain a quick and flexible line of communication with professionals at your organization of choice. You want to be able to rely on them when it comes down to the wire, you can't have an unresponsive connection with deadlines hanging over your head. You also don't want to be indecisive and need to be switching up your target organization in the middle of the quarter, this could go badly. Prepare early, ground yourself and stick to something, and relax!

Closing Thoughts

Take this class if the QRP strikes you the right way. Take this class if you liked the course description. Take this class if you love reading good books. Take this class if you have a good taste of music every Monday and Wednesday. That is all.

>>Skip to end for books list/recs<<

Dr. Sexton is a cool guy who’s approachable and *offered to write letters of rec for students who asked good questions in class*. He dresses like an old-timey professor, complete with bowtie, and brings a sense of humor to some of the lectures. He writes out each of his lectures beforehand, and delivers them like speeches, though allows for questions and discussion. It’s pleasant to hear good oratory. Each lecture was full of content, and it’s important to notice any topics he mentions repeatedly and write down the way he phrases them. The final exam was a timed essay, and the prompts were based directly on some of the topics he doted on in lecture. Being able to follow his train of thought was highly useful.

He responds rapidly over email (if you put the class number in the subject line) and can direct you to further reading about many subjects involving sociology, especially in the context of California and the Indigenous peoples here, and the works of big-time decolonial theorizers. Laudably, Dr. Sexton is unafraid of challenging student assumptions and making cultural and systematic critiques that scholars in the natural and environmental sciences may shy away from. He also got me out and about in the LA environmental scene, via an individual research project on LA’s municipalities and enviro orgs, which was part of the class for everyone. I got to see how nonprofits can factor into enforcement of environmental regulations, via a boat patrol of the Marine Protected Areas off the Palos Verdes Peninsula with LA Waterkeeper, which was super super cool! That project showed me a way to take agency on an issue I care about.

The readings were hefty, though I’m glad I read them all and took my time with them. I’d never taken sociology before, and the readings both introduced me to the field/its theories and expertly applied them to environmental and social justice issues. Here’s the list:

Hartmut Rosa, The Uncontrollability of the World (Polity 2020). ISBN: **********168.
Kenneth A. Gould and Tammy L. Lewis, Twenty Lessons in Environmental Sociology, 3rd Edition (OUP 2020). ISBN: **********514. *e-copy is most affordable.
Kari Marie Norgaard, Salmon and Acorns Feed Our People: Colonialism, Nature, and Social Action (Rutgers 2019). ISBN 13: **********195. *Available free as an e-book through UCLA Library.
Ashley T. Rubin, Rocking Qualitative Social Science: An Irreverent Guide to Rigorous Research
(Stanford 2021). ISBN: **********243. *Available free as an e-book through UCLA Library.

The standout here for me was Rosa’s book on uncontrollability (and how the urge to control every aspect of life is an extension of a capital/colonial mindset). I had a super validating experience with this book: it gave me a probable external reason for my anxiety, going beyond the limited scope of my therapy experience on the self/internal world. Not what I was expecting from this class, but a welcome benefit.

All said, the class was a big time commitment, though a very worthwhile one, and Dr. Sexton led it well.

Professor Sexton is great, and this was one of my favorite classes at UCLA! This class provided opportunities for me to develop and strengthen important critical reading and writing skills, oral communication and listening skills, and research and data collection skills. I believe it has had a significant positive impact on my academic growth. The research project is a large portion of the grade. It was done throughout the course of the quarter, and involved conducting interviews, attending observational visits, collecting field notes, presenting an in-class presentation, and writing a research paper. This class, and especially this project, challenged me to apply my knowledge in a real-world context, to think critically, and it expanded my opportunities to establish connections both inside and outside of UCLA, all due to Professor Sexton. He provides ample guidance and support throughout the research process, and is overall an engaging and inspiring professor. Beyond the classroom, Professor Sexton is continually committed to supporting students in pursuit of their higher education. Definitely take this class if you are looking for ways to increase your academic experiences, and develop valuable skills.