FALL 2018 COURSES
Courses for the Environmental Studies Major
Courses for the Environmental Science Major
Courses for the ES Minor
Special Topics Course Descriptions
COURSES FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES MAJOR
Foundation Courses:
- ES 100 Environmental Concerns in Perspective
Core Courses:
- EC 104 Introduction to Microeconomics
- ES 224 Political Ecology
- ES 252 Environmental Justice
- HI 266 American Environmental History
Cluster A Courses:
- AM 252 The Hudson River
- EC 104 Introduction to Microeconomics
- ES 224 Political Ecology
- ES 252 Environmental Justice
- ES 352 Urban Planning
- ES 305 Environmental Education
- ES 307 Global Environment Governance
- HI 266 American Environmental History
- HP 131 Introduction to Public Health
- PH 225 Environmental Philosophy
Cluster B1 Courses:
- BI 140 Marine Biology
- ES 222 Energy Systems and Sustainable Solutions
- GE 101 Earth Systems Science
- GE 112 Introduction to Oceanography
- GE 207 Environmental Geology
- HP 242 Principles of Nutrition
Capstone:
- ES 374 Environmental Studies Research Capstone
Methods:
- BI 235 Biostatistics
- EC 237 Statistical Methods
- ID 210 Introduction to GIS
- MS 104 Introduction to Statistics
- PL 202 Introduction to Political Research
- SO 226 Stats for the Social Sciences
- 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 Systems Science
Core Courses:
- ES 205 Ecosystem Science and the Analysis of Forested Landscapes
Cluster A Courses:
- AM 252 The Hudson River
- EC 104 Introduction to Microeconomics
- ES 224 Political Ecology
- ES 252 Environmental Justice
- ES 352 Urban Planning
- ES 305 Environmental Education
- ES 307 Global Environment Governance
- HI 266 American Environmental History
- HP 131 Introduction to Public Health
- PH 225 Environmental Philosophy
Cluster B2 Courses:
- BI 241 Ecology
- BI 351 Environmental Microbiology
- BI 352 Invasion Biology
- CH 221 Organic Chemistry I
- CH 222 Organic Chemistry II
- ES 222 Energy Systems and Sustainable Solutions
- ES 352D Science to Solutions: Managing Ecosystems for Productivity and Resilience
- GE 304 Geomorphology
- HP 242 Principles of Nutrition
Capstone:
- ES 374 Environmental Studies Research Capstone
Methods:
- BI 235 Biostatistics
- ID 210 Introduction to GIS
- MS 104 Introduction to Statistics
COURSES FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES AND SCIENCE MINOR
Foundation Courses:
- ES 100 Environmental Concerns in Perspective
- ES 205 Ecosystem Science and the Analysis of Forested Landscapes
Cluster A Courses:
- AM 252 The Hudson River
- EC 104 Introduction to Microeconomics
- ES 224 Political Ecology
- ES 252 Environmental Justice
- ES 352 Urban Planning
- ES 305 Environmental Education
- ES 307 Global Environment Governance
- HI 266 American Environmental History
- HP 131 Introduction to Public Health
- PH 225 Environmental Philosophy
Cluster B1 Courses:
- BI 140 Marine Biology
- ES 222 Energy Systems and Sustainable Solutions
- GE 101 Earth Systems Science
- GE 112 Introduction to Oceanography
- GE 207 Environmental Geology
- HP 242 Principles of Nutrition
SPECIAL TOPICS COURSE DESCRIPTIONS:
AN 252C: Indigenous Peoples of South American Tropical Rainforests Instructor: TBA
The cultures of the South American rainforests have long fascinated the Western imagination.
With this fascination, however, come broad misconceptions as Western culture has often
characterized tropical forest peoples as “primitive” and the rainforest as incapable
of supporting and sustaining complex cultural developments. This course will deconstruct
these misconceptions by presenting a broad overview of the indigenous peoples of the
South American tropical rainforests from their initial settlement to the present.
Students will learn how tropical forest peoples actively shape the rainforest to their
needs, creating complex cultural sociopolitical formations. Students will examine
the complex interplay between humans and their environment from an anthropological
perspective and evaluate modern characterizations of tropical forest cultures. Tuesdays
and Thursdays, 11:10-12:30
AN 352D: Ritual, Ceremony, and Landscape in the Ancient World Instructor: TBA
Landscapes are more than simply environmental zones that people inhabit. Anthropologists recognize landscapes are culturally constructed spaces that give order and place to social, ritual, and political practices within a community. In this course, students will use an anthropological approach to studying the ways in which ancient landscapes embodied the cosmological and ideological belief systems of their societies, providing physical space for memory, ritual, and ceremony. Through a survey of case studies ranging from the Inca to the builders of Stonehenge and the Easter Island Moai, students will gain an understanding of archaeological approaches towards landscape and an appreciation for the variation that exists among ancient cosmological systems. Tuesdays and Thursdays, 3:40-5:30
BI 352 002 Invasion Biology Instructor J. Ness
What are the ecological and evolutionary implications of the introduction of exotic
(non-native) species? We will explore the traits shared by effective invaders, identify
the characteristics that influence a community's vulnerability to invasion, discern
what successful invasions tell us about the assembly and integrity of biological communities,
and address how invasions provide opportunities to study evolution in novel environments.
The course will focus on animal, plant, microbial, and viral invaders, as well as
the prospect of feral inserted genes, and will address questions at local, regional
and global scales.
Pre-requisites: any two 200-level biology courses except BI 299 or BI 275. ES 205 or ES 206 may
be substituted for one of the 200-level Biology courses.
BI 351 001 Environmental Microbiology Instructor: S. McDevitt
A study of microorganisms in their natural environment. Students will learn about
the ecology and diversity of microbial communities in soil, water, and air and the
importance of microorganism in nutrient cycling in these environments. In addition
we will study microbial communities in extreme environments. Further topics include
bioremediation, biofilm engineering, and other applications related to public health,
agriculture, food science, and industry
Pre-requisites: one 200-level BI course or ES 205.
ES 252 Environmental Justice Instructor: AJ Schneller
An exploration of local, national, and international case studies that highlight the
origin of environmental racism and disproportionate impacts on underserved populations
from environmental hazards, vulnerability, and inequalities in enforcement of regulations.
Cases will demonstrate how unequal distributions of power affect individuals and communities,
through both overt and covert forms of discrimination. We’ll work to dissect the research
and policy challenges to incorporate environmental justice into environmental law,
collaborative problem solving, and advocacy tactics used to alleviate health, ecological,
economic, and equity issues facing communities. The course investigates contemporary
proactive shifts in the EJ Movement to advance climate justice and urban ecosystem
justice, and the provision of urban environmental amenities. Field trips to nearby
environmental justice sites in New York, and classroom visits by community influentials,
lawyers, writers, and policy makers.
Prerequisite: ES 100
ES 352C Urban Planning Instructor: T. Fabozzi
This course will examine the theory and practice of urban planning in the United States,
the evolving structure of cities and suburbs and the ways they can be designed and
developed. It will include a review of the dominant planning paradigms and how they
have changed over time in response to social, economic and environmental conditions
within the American political framework. The course will examine planning as a community
process and professional activity, including an evaluation of its successes, failures
and possibilities for shaping sustainable metropolitan regions.
Prerequisite: ES 100
ES 352D Science to Solutions: Managing Ecosystems for Productivity and Resilience
Instructor: K. Covey
An in-depth investigation of ecosystem management. Students will review the science
of dynamic ecosystems and explore the ways environmental managers tackle complex problems.
How do we decide what we want from natural systems now, and how do we manage them
to ensure they can provide what we need tomorrow and are able to balance functional
resiliency with human health and prosperity? Lectures, field tours, and quantitative
laboratory exercises investigate global environmental challenges in a local context.
Management strategies and solutions for water quality, climate change mitigation,
biodiversity and landscape-scale conservation, and sustainable resource extraction
will be explored through ecosystem-focused modules that include forests, agricultural
production systems, and urban environments. One weekend field trip is mandatory.
Prerequisites: ES 205 or ES 206, or ES 100 and any 200-level natural science course.
Note: Three hours of lecture, three hours of lab per week.
