SUM4019 – Consumption, Sustainability and Social Change

Schedule, syllabus and examination date

Course content

Unsustainable consumption patterns and the upwards spiraling resource use embedded in these are at the core of the world’s sustainability challenges. And while overconsumption has been on political agendas for quite some time, very little progress—and often also little effort—has been made in dealing with it. This is the starting point of this course, together with an insistence on understanding consumption as a highly complex social phenomenon that involves much more than individuals making choices. The main focus of the course is on studying how consumption plays out in our everyday lives, as well how different social and material structures co-shape consumption patterns. The course presents a variety of social-scientific approaches to consumption, as well as a range of case studies from both affluent societies and ‘emerging economies’. Possible avenues for changing consumption patterns in a more sustainable direction are discussed throughout the course.

Learning outcome

  • To critically discuss the importance of consumption to global and local sustainability as well as attempts to create more sustainable consumption patterns
  • To interpret the complex set of factors influencing and co-shaping consumption patterns
  • To categorize, interpret, and compare new theoretical perspectives on the social, economic and technological contributions to consumption

Admission to the course

You may apply to be a guest student at SUM. Please follow these instructions.

Formal prerequisite knowledge

Bachelor’s degree.
Specialization equivalent to at least 80 ECTS within subjects from the humanities or social sciences, sustainable development, or equivalent relevant subjects.

Overlapping courses

Teaching

Attendance in lectures and seminars is mandatory, and active participation in class is both expected and encouraged. You must have an attendance of 80% to be eligible to take the exam.

Examination

From 2018 onwards - : Three day home exam. Assessment Guide

Previous exam formats:

2017: Course Paper.

2005-2016: Three day home exam.

Language of examination

The examination text is given in English, and you submit your response in English.

Grading scale

Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail. Read more about the grading system.

Resit an examination

More about examinations at UiO

You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.

Last updated from FS (Felles studentsystem) Oct. 15, 2026 7:54:49 AM

Facts about this course

Level
Master
Credits
10
Teaching
Spring and autumn

The course is last held spring 2025

Examination
Spring .

Examination is last held spring 2025

Teaching language
English

Contact

Centre for Development and the Environment