SPRING 2018 COURSES
Courses for the Environmental Studies Major
Courses for the Environmental Science Major
Courses for the ESS Minor
Special Topics Course Descriptions
COURSES FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES MAJOR
Foundation Courses
- ES 100 Environmental Concerns in Perspective
- ES 105 Field Studies in Environmental Science
Core Courses
- ES 104 Introduction to Microeconomics
- ES 221 Sustainable Development
- PL 231 Environmental Policy and Planning
- SO 223 Environmental Sociology
Cluster A Courses
- AN 205 Mesoamerican Archaeology
- EC 104 Introduction to Microeconomics
- EC 243 Environmental and Resource Economics
- ES 221 Sustainable Development
- ES 302 Environment and Development in the Middle East
- ES 306 US Public Lands & Oceans
- EX 131 Introduction to Public Health
- GE 251D Common Ground: Geology and Art
- HI 116H Sea Changes
- HI 280 Science and Nature in the Renaissance
- PL 231 Environmental Policy and Planning
- SO 223 Environmental Sociology
- WLL 263 Green Italy
Cluster B1 Courses
- BI 136 Ecology of the Adirondacks
- BI 165 Microbes and Society
- ES 252D Environmental Planning and Design
- EX 242 Principles of Nutrition
- GE 101 Earth System Science
- GE 251C Glacial Geology
Capstone
- ES 375 Environmental Studies Research Capstone
Methods
- EC 237 Statistical Methods
- ID 210 Introduction to GIS
- MS 104 Introduction to Statistics
- SO 227 Social Research Methods
COURSES FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE MAJOR
Foundation Course
- ES 100 Environmental Concerns in Perspective
Disciplinary Foundation Courses
- BI 108 Organismal Biology
- CH 125 Principles of Chemistry
- GE 101 Earth System Science
Note: We are waiving BI 106 for majors.
Core Courses:
- ES 206 Environmental Engineering and the Science of Sustainability
Cluster A Courses
- AN 205 Mesoamerican Archaeology
- EC 104 Introduction to Microeconomics
- EC 243 Environmental and Resource Economics
- ES 221 Sustainable Development
- ES 302 Environment and Development in the Middle East
- ES 306 US Public Lands & Oceans
- EX 131 Introduction to Public Health
- GE 251D Common Ground: Geology and Art
- HI 116H Sea Changes
- HI 280 Science and Nature in the Renaissance
- PL 231 Environmental Policy and Planning
- SO 223 Environmental Sociology
- WLL 263 Green Italy
Cluster B2 Courses
- BI 239 Parasitology, Epidemiology and Public Health
- CH 221 Organic Chemistry I
- CH 222 Organic Chemistry II
- CH 232 Analytical Methods in Chemistry
- CH 351 Atmospheric Chemistry
- ES 206 Environmental Engineering and the Science of Sustainability
- EX 242 Principles of Nutrition
- GE 251C Glacial Geology
- GE 320 Global Biogeochemical Cycles
Capstone
- ES 375 Environmental Studies Research Capstone
Methods
- BI 235 Biostatistics
- ID 210 Introduction to GIS
- MS 104 Introduction to Statistics
COURSES FOR THE ESS MINOR
Foundation Courses
- ES 100 Environmental Concerns in Perspective
- ES 105 Field Studies in Environmental Science
Cluster A Courses
- AN 205 Mesoamerican Archaeology
- EC 104 Introduction to Microeconomics
- EC 243 Environmental and Resource Economics
- ES 221 Sustainable Development
- ES 302 Environment and Development in the Middle East
- ES 306 US Public Lands & Oceans
- EX 131 Introduction to Public Health
- GE 251D Common Ground: Geology and Art
- HI 116H Sea Changes
- HI 280 Science and Nature in the Renaissance
- PL 231 Environmental Policy and Planning
- SO 223 Environmental Sociology
- WLL 263 Green Italy
Cluster B1 Courses
- BI 136 Ecology of the Adirondacks
- BI 165 Microbes and Society
- ES 252D Environmental Planning and Design
- EX 242 Principles of Nutrition
- GE 101 Earth System Science
- GE 251C Glacial Geology
Cluster B2 Courses
- BI 239 Parasitology, Epidemiology and Public Health
- CH 221 Organic Chemistry I
- CH 222 Organic Chemistry II
- CH 232 Analytical Methods in Chemistry
- CH 351 Atmospheric Chemistry
- ES 206 Environmental Engineering and the Science of Sustainability
- EX 242 Principles of Nutrition
- GE 251C Glacial Geology
- GE 320 Global Biogeochemical Cycles
SPECIAL TOPICS COURSE DESCRIPTIONS:
EC 243 - Environmental and Resource Economics Instructor: S. Goff
Analysis of contemporary environmental and resource problems (e.g., air, water, noise
and aesthetic pollution, extinction of animal and plant species) through the use of
economic theories and techniques of evaluation. Environmental policies dealing with
these problems will also be considered.
Prerequisites: EC 104 and EC 237, MS 104, or SO 226
ES 252D Environmental Planning and Design Instructor: T. Hart
This course explores environmental planning, the process of applying environmental
science to the protection of ecological values in the context of human uses. Students
will learn about the history of planning from an environmental perspective, and how
considerations of environmental health, natural resources and natural hazards are
integrated into the planning process. Examples of outcomes include using environmental
planning and ecosystem-based management to produce measurable results relating to
ecological resiliency, preservation of ecological functions, managing sustainable
working landscapes, and guiding development in the built environment. The course will
consider global, national, state, regional, and local geographies with case studies
focusing how local government decisions translate to protection or conservation of
ecosystem-based values.
Prerequisite: ES 105
GE-251D Common Ground: Geology and Art Instructor: J. Cholnoky
This course will explore the intersection between geosciences and visual art. Fundamentals
of physical geology will be considered in this context using three themes – earth
materials as media, earth (landscape) as subject, and earth as canvas. Students will
develop their observational skills and their abilities to describe, record, and understand
the natural world. We will consider how art is used to convey scientific knowledge,
to contextualize vast spans of time and space, and to examine connections between
people and the land through a variety of readings, activities, and field trips (including
one required full-day trip).
Prerequisite: One 100-level Geosciences course or permission of the instructor.
WLL 263B Green Italy: Gardens, Food, and Material Culture Instructor: S. Smith
In this course students explore the relationship between green space, resources and esthetics in Italian culture from the Renaissance to the present. They consider how these elements concern food (its production, preparation and consumption). Each thematic grouping has an experiential component. For example, students study the Italian garden in history and literature; subsequently we visit Congress Park and Yaddo in Saratoga. The Italian market place is reflected in Arcimboldo’s portrait paintings of seasons (16th century). The hands-on component is a visit to the local farmers’ market; it is followed by preparation of a meal in the test kitchen. Material culture is a constant theme. The study of Italian orchards, vineyards, olive groves and fields of wheat evolves into a view of food gathering. After discussing durum wheat, the class meets in the test kitchen to make bread. Hand and mind combine in this course to explore the connections between the natural aspects of food production (e.g., Mediterranean climate, hydrogeological risk) and the social aspects of food consumption (e.g., food culture). It also raises critical questions about sustainability of the food system through a discussion of the industrialization of food production and alternative food movements like Slow Food in Italy.
