SPRING 2009 COURSES
Please note that spring 2009 is the last time we expect to offer BI240 Environmental Biology since this course will no longer be required under the new ES major. If you are an ES-Environmental Science track major who needs BI 240 or an ES-Social and Cultural track/ES minor who wants to take BI 240, please be sure to enroll in the course this spring.
Please note that we have several special topics that do not appear on the master schedule list for ES. Please see the description of these courses below.
Courses for the new ES major (for Class of 2012)
Courses for the old ES major (for Classes of 2009-2011)
Courses for the new ES minor (for Class of 2012)
Courses for the old ES minor (for Class of 2009-2011)
Special Topics Course Descriptions
Courses for the new ES Major (for Class of 2012)
Social and Cultural Perspectives Track (for Class of 2012)
Foundation Courses:
- ES 100 Environmental Concerns in Perspective
- ES 105 Field Studies in Environmental Science
Core Courses:
- GO 231 Environmental Policy and Politics
Cluster A Courses:
- AM 103W Introduction to American Studies: Nature and American Culture
- AN 252 Culture, Natural History and Conservation in Madagascar
- AN 345 Ecological Anthropology
- EC 361 The Economics of Climate Change (prereq.: EC 104 Introduction to Microeconomics)
- ED 261C Environmental Education
- EN 205D Environmental Journalism
- ES 221 Sustainable Development
- ES 351 Environmental Art
- IA 101 Introduction to International Affairs
- GO 231 Environmental Policy and Politics
- SO 326 Social Theories of the Environment (Rik Scarce, Instructor will admit students with a prereq.: SO223 Environmental Sociology)
Cluster B1 Courses:
- BI 240 Environmental Biology
- GE 112 Introduction to Oceanography
- GE 208 Origin and Distribution of Natural Resources
- GE 251 Geology Topics: Current Events
- GE 351 Applied Geology: Current Events
Capstone Course:
- ES 375 Case Studies in Environmental Sustainability
Methods Courses:
- EC 237 Statistical Methods
- MS 104 Introduction to Statistics
- SO 227 Sociology Research Design
Environmental Science Track (for Class of 2012)
Foundation Course:
- ES 100 Environmental Concerns in Perspective
Disciplinary Foundation Courses:
- BI 106 Biological Sciences II: Diversity of Life
- CH 105 Chemical Principles I
- CH 106 Chemical Principles II
Cluster A Courses:
- AM 103W Introduction to American Studies: Nature and American Culture
- AN 252 Culture, Natural History and Conservation in Madagascar
- AN 345 Ecological Anthropology
- EC 361 The Economics of Climate Change (prereq.: EC 104 Introduction to Microeconomics)
- ED 261C Environmental Education
- EN 205D Environmental Journalism
- ES 221 Sustainable Development
- ES 351 Environmental Art
- IA 101 Introduction to International Affairs
- GO 231 Environmental Policy and Politics
- SO 326 Social Theories of the Environment (Rik Scarce, Instructor will admit students with a prereq.: SO223 Environmental Sociology)
Cluster B2 Courses:
- BI 316 Animal Behavior
- BI 324 Evolution
- CH 222 Organic Chemistry II
- GE 208 Origin and Distribution of Natural Resources
- GE 251 Geology Topics: Current Events
- GE 351 Applied Geology: Current Events
Capstone Course:
- ES 375 Case Studies in Environmental Sustainability
Methods Courses:
- MS 104 Introduction to Statistics
Courses for the old ES Major (for Class of 2009-2011)
Social and Cultural Perspectives Track (for Class of 2009-2011)
Foundation Courses:
- ES 100 Environmental Concerns in Perspective
- ES 105 Field Studies in Environmental Science
Cluster A Courses:
- AM 103W Introduction to American Studies: Nature and American Culture
- EC 361 The Economics of Climate Change (prereq.: EC 104 Introduction to Microeconomics)
- ED 261C Environmental Education
- EN 205D Environmental Journalism
- ES 351 Environmental Art
- IA 101 Introduction to International Affairs
- GO 231 Environmental Policy and Politics
- SO 326 Social Theories of the Environment (Rik Scarce, Instructor will admit students with a prereq.: SO223 Environmental Sociology)
Cluster B1 Courses:
BI 240 Environmental Biology
GE 112 Introduction to Oceanography
GE 208 Origin and Distribution of Natural Resources
GE 251 Geology Topics: Current Events
GE 351 Applied Geology: Current Events
Cluster C Courses:
- ES 221 Sustainable Development
- AN 252 Culture, Natural History and Conservation in Madagascar
- AN 345 Ecological Anthropology
Note: The ES Program will consider counting one or more Cluster C courses toward your Cluster A requirements. Please consult your advisor and/or Karen Kellogg, Director of ES, if you would like to make a request for substitution.
Capstone Course:
- ES 375 Case Studies in Environmental Sustainability
Environmental Science Track (for Class of 2009-2011)
Foundation Courses:
- ES 100 Environmental Concerns in Perspective
- ES 105 Field Studies in Environmental Science
Core Courses:
- BI 240 Environmental Biology
- CH 105 Chemical Principles I
- CH 106 Chemical Principles II
Cluster A Courses:
- AM 103W Introduction to American Studies: Nature and American Culture
- EC 361 The Economics of Climate Change (prereq.: EC 104 Introduction to Microeconomics)
- ED 261C Environmental Education
- EN 205D Environmental Journalism
- ES 351 Environmental Art
- IA 101 Introduction to International Affairs
- GO 231 Environmental Policy and Politics
- SO 326 Social Theories of the Environment (Rik Scarce, Instructor will admit students with a prereq.: SO223 Environmental Sociology)
Cluster B2 Courses:
- BI 316 Animal Behavior
- BI 324 Evolution
- CH 222 Organic Chemistry II
- GE 208 Origin and Distribution of Natural Resources
- GE 251 Geology Topics: Current Events
- GE 351 Applied Geology: Current Events
Cluster C Courses:
- ES 221 Sustainable Development
- AN 252 Culture, Natural History and Conservation in Madagascar
- AN 345 Ecological Anthropology
Note: The ES Program will consider counting one or more Cluster C courses toward your Cluster A requirements. Please consult your advisor and/or Karen Kellogg, Director of ES, if you would like to make a request for substitution.
Capstone Course:
- ES 375 Case Studies in Environmental Sustainability
Other Courses:
- MS 104 Introduction to Statistics (this is a substitution for MS104E)
Courses for the new ES Minor (for Class of 2012)
Social and Cultural Perspectives Track (for Class of 2012)
Foundation Courses:
- ES 100 Environmental Concerns in Perspective
- ES 105 Field Studies in Environmental Science
Cluster A Courses:
- AM 103W Introduction to American Studies: Nature and American Culture
- AN 252 Culture, Natural History and Conservation in Madagascar
- AN 345 Ecological Anthropology
- EC 361 The Economics of Climate Change (prereq.: EC 104 Introduction to Microeconomics)
- ED 261C Environmental Education
- EN 205D Environmental Journalism
- ES 221 Sustainable Development
- ES 351 Environmental Art
- IA 101 Introduction to International Affairs
- GO 231 Environmental Policy and Politics
- SO 326 Social Theories of the Environment
Cluster B1 Courses:
- BI 240 Environmental Biology
- GE 112 Introduction to Oceanography
- GE 208 Origin and Distribution of Natural Resources
- GE 251 Geology Topics: Current Events
- GE 351 Applied Geology: Current Events
Courses for the old ES Minor (for Class of 2009-2011)
Foundation Courses:
- ES 100 Environmental Concerns in Perspective
Cluster A Courses:
- AM 103W Introduction to American Studies: Nature and American Culture
- EC 361 The Economics of Climate Change (prereq.: EC 104 Introduction to Microeconomics)
- ED 261C Environmental Education
- EN 205D Environmental Journalism
- ES 351 Environmental Art
- IA 101 Introduction to International Affairs
- GO 231 Environmental Policy and Politics
- SO 326 Social Theories of the Environment
Cluster B1 Courses:
- BI 240 Environmental Biology
- ES 105 Field Studies in Environmental Science
- GE 112 Introduction to Oceanography
- GE 208 Origin and Distribution of Natural Resources
- GE 251 Geology Topics: Current Events
- GE 351 Applied Geology: Current Events
Cluster C Courses:
- ES 221 Sustainable Development
- AN 252 Culture, Natural History and Conservation in Madagascar
- AN 345 Ecological Anthropology
Note: The ES Program will consider counting one or more Cluster C courses toward your Cluster A requirements. Please consult your advisor and/or Karen Kellogg, Director of ES, if you would like to make a request for substitution.
Special Topics Course Descriptions
AM 103W Introduction to American Studies: Nature and American Culture
This course introduces students to the interdisciplinary study of American culture
by focusing on the relationship between Americans and nature. We will explore the
ways in which Americans, past and present, have thought about nature, and we will
examine how these beliefs about the natural world have influenced politics and power
relations, shaped the landscape, and contributed to ideas about national identity.
Additionally, we will consider how gender, race, and class influence understandings
of and relationships with the natural, non-human world. Using historical, literary,
philosophical, and popular texts, as well as art, music, film, and material culture,
we will explore wilderness ideologies, expansionism, managed nature and cultivation,
consumption, foodways, urbanization, and environmental movements.
EC 361 The Economics of Climate Change
Climate change is arguably the biggest global environmental issue we shall have to
face over this century. Rising temperatures, changes in hydrological cycles, and subsequent
pressures on ecosystems’ health pose a threat to the well-being of humans and other
species. The economics of climate change attempts to offer insights on the design
and implementation of policies aimed at mitigating the potential impacts of a warming
climate. It also aims at understanding the prospects of adaptive measures and, given
the strong correlation between fossil fuel combustion and climate change, also deals
with the evaluation of alternative energy policies. In this course we will examine
these roles of economics. Starting with an introduction to the scientific basics of
climate change and the likely and less-likely impacts that we may foresee, we will
discuss how basic concepts of environmental and ecological economics apply to the
climate change problem. The general economic principles will then be used to analyze
selected applications, such as the impacts of climate change on agriculture and food
security, lifestyles, human health, species loss and energy use. Critical discussions
of current domestic and international policy initiatives - like the one proposed in
the Kyoto protocol - and of economic models used in the evaluation of policy prescriptions
will constitute an important component of the course. (prereq.: EC 104 Introduction
to Microeconomics)
ED 261C Environmental Education
Environmental education is at the heart of any attempt to solve environmental problems.
Scientific, policy, and even economic approaches to environmental problems all rely
on public knowledge and attitudes to succeed. And for long-run enduring change, arguably
education is the only route. This class will introduce you to the nature, theory &
justification of environmental education, with the young and old, and in formal and
non-formal settings. As part of the course, you will work on a project of your choosing;
evaluating resources, exploring local opportunities and developing curriculum for
the age group, setting, and issues that most interests you.
ES 351 Special Topics in Environmental Studies: Environmental Art
From its roots in land art of the 1960’s to more recent ecological interventions,
environmental art encompasses a range of approaches to connecting art with the environment.
In this course, we will examine these approaches and question how they serve environmental
concerns and current issues in art. Critical texts, such as Sue Spaid’s Ecovention:
Current Issues to Transform Ecologies and Brian Wallis and Jeffery Kastner’s Land
and Environmental Art, will guide our study as we explore environmental art through
both theory and practice. Analytical writing assignments and a collaborative environmental
art project will be required. Artists discussed will include Robert Smithson, Richard
Long, Andy Goldsworthy, Agnes Denes, Mel Chin, and Lynne Hull. Prerequisites: ES100
or ES105 and AR131 or AR132 or permission of instructor. Lab fee: $50
GE 251 Applied Geoscience Topics in Current Events
This course will investigate and analyze current events that relate to geoscience
topics. The course will utilize case studies that may cover a variety of topics. The
topics may range from global issues (such as energy and climate change) to regional
issues (such as geohazards and groundwater issues). Many of the specific case studies
will be determined by class interest. The goal of the course is to provide the knowledge
and methods to allow students to understand the importance of geoscience topics in
everyday life. Perquisite: One GE course.
GE 351 Applied Geoscience Topics in Current Events
This course will investigate and analyze current events that relate to geoscience
topics. The course will utilize case studies that may cover a variety of topics. The
topics may range from global issues (such as energy and climate change) to regional
issues (such as geohazards and groundwater issues). Many of the specific case studies
will be determined by class interest. As part of this course students will be responsible
for extensively researching a case study and implementing a course module with the
help of the instructor. The goal of the course is to provide the knowledge and methods
to allow students to understand and to be able to research the importance of geoscience
in everyday life. Prerequisite: Two GE courses.
