i. Course Title: EE 309- Social Impact Assessment
ii. Course Aim: The course aims to introduce undergraduate students to social impact assessment both as a field of study and as an integral part of the planning process in the design of development interventions.
iii. Course Expected Learning Outcomes:
By the end of the course students should be able to:
• Identify social impact assessment variables
• Relate basic concepts of Social Impact Assessment to Environmental Impact Assessment
• Identify principles governing Social Impact Assessment
• Translate those concepts and principles to real life situations
• Conduct social impact assessment
iv. Course status: Elective
v. Credit rating: 9 Credits
vi. Total hours spent: 90 hours
Lecture 36 hours
Seminars/Tutorials 18 hours
Practical 9 hours
Assignment 9 hours
Independent Research 18 hours
Pre-requisite: None
vii. Course Content:
Basic concepts in social impact assessment. Rationale for social impact assessment. Social Impact assessment and environmental impact assessment. The social impact assessment model and the planning process. Defining social impact assessment variables for the SIA model. Guidelines and principles for social impact assessment. Steps in conducting social impact assessment. Obtaining information to measure social impacts at community level, population impacts, individual and family level impacts. Mitigation, enhancement and monitoring in the social impact assessment process.
Practical: Case studies will be used to develop practical skills. These will be complimented, where necessary and where financial resources allow, with field trips to relevant sites. Alternatively, candidates will be involved in analysing selected case studies of selected problems/issues and demonstrate level of articulation and proficiency through their participation in seminar presentations.
viii. Teaching and Learning Activities
Teaching will involve lectures, practical, group assignments and seminar presentations, individual assignments to capture self- reading. Use of case studies in teaching for some practical aspects will be employed.
ix. Assessment Methods
The assessments will be through continuous assessments were written timed tests (theory and practical), quizzes, seminar presentation, practical reports, and submission of individual/group assignment papers will be used. The assessment will also include final University written examination.
x. Reading List
Barrow, C.J. (1997). Environmental and Social Impact Assessment: An Introduction. London: Arnold.
Becker, H. and F. Vanclay (2003). The International Handbook of Social Impact Assessment. Cheltenham: E Elgar.
Burdge, R.J. (1994). A Conceptual Approach to Social Impact Assessment. Revised Edition. Middleton and Wisconsin: Social Ecology Press.
Burdge, R.J. (2004). A Community Guide to Social Impact Assessment. Middleton and Wisconsin: Social Ecology Press.