Bachelor of Social Work (B.S.W.) Environment Studies Syllabus - Mumbai University
This is the syllabus of the College of Social Work (Empowered Autonomous), Nirmala Niketan, which is the only college offering the B.S.W. under the University of Mumbai. The college has been autonomous since 2019-20 and empowered autonomous since 2024-25, so it sets this syllabus and conducts these examinations itself, and the degree awarded is still a University of Mumbai degree. The University last set a common B.S.W. paper of its own in 2019; this is the current document, amended in June 2026.
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Syllabus for Environment Studies
About this course
For the last four decades, several environmental problems such as pollution, global warming, ozone layer depletion, acid rain, deforestation, and desertification have remained a major focus of scientists, policymakers, and the common public across the world. These problems are perceived as the major threats to the life-supporting environment of the earth, thus making our survival on the planet increasingly unsafe. To tackle these challenges, holistic knowledge about working in our life-supporting environment and a thorough understanding of the dynamics of these problems become imperative. Social workers can play an important role in engaging with environmental social work.
Course objectives
- To understand basic concepts, terminology, and various environment issues impacting human beings.
- To develop basic skills and knowledge to work with individuals, groups, and communities to plan interventions in areas of environmental issues.
- To develop skills required to research and analyse environmental issues scientifically and learn how to use those skills in applied situations such as careers that may involve environmental problems and/or issues.
Learning outcomes
- CO 21 Comprehend basic concepts, terminology, and matters of environmental concern
- CO 22 Analyse current environmental issues scientifically
- CO 23 Outline the laws and programs for prevision of environmental degradation in India
- CO 24 Apply basic skills in assessment of environmental situation in the locality.
Unit I: Introduction to Environment Studies Understanding Natural Ecosystem and its Misuse
- Defining Environment, Bio sphere, Habitat and Ecology; Ecosystem, Biodiversity, food chain/web
- Conceptualising Global Warming, Climate Change, Ozone layer depletion and acid rain
- Air, Water, Land, Forest, Mineral, Food Resources, and Climate.
- Destruction, Depletion, and Exploitation of Resources. Impacts: Acid Rains, Avalanches, Melting of Glaciers, Climate Change
Essential readings
- Erach, B. (1998). The Biodiversity of India. Ahmedabad: Mapin Publishing Pvt. Ltd.
- Hugget, R.J. (2014). Natural History of Earth; Debating Long-Term Change in the Geosphere and Biosphere.
- Verdier, A.J., Lacy, W. J., Pawlowski, L., (2000). Chemistry for the Protection of the Environment. Canada: Elsevier Science Pub. Co.
- Agarwal, K.C. (2001). Environmental Biology. Bikaner: Nidi Publishers Ltd.
Unit II: Government and NGO Interventions to safeguard environment and natural resources
- Legislations and Conservation Interventions by Government
- Civil society engagements about the Environment: Save Flamingo, Save Mangroves, Save Aarey, Beach Cleaning Drives, Eco- Tourism
Essential readings
- Trivedy, R.K. (2010). Handbook of Environmental Laws, Rules Guidelines, Compliances and Standards, Vol I (3rd edition). B.S. Publishers.
- Jadhav. H., Bhosale, V.M. (1995).
- Environmental Protection and Laws. Delhi: Himalaya Pub. House.
Reproduced from Regulations and Syllabus of Bachelor of Social Work Degree (2023), Amended 2026, published by the College of Social Work (Empowered Autonomous), Nirmala Niketan, which is affiliated to the University of Mumbai and sets this syllabus itself. Wording is as printed in that document.
The complete syllabus
This subject is cut from the college's own syllabus document. Open it here if you want the whole thing rather than a single subject.