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Skidmore College
Environmental Studies and Sciences

Fall 2008 Courses

Attention Class of 2009: To fulfill the ES major requirements for both tracks, you must take ES 374 Senior Seminar in Environmental Studies during the Fall 2008 semester. This course is not required for the ES minor.

Attention Class of 2010: ES 367/368 Junior Seminar is being replaced by ES 374 Senior Seminar in Environmental Studies and will no longer be offered. This course will be waived from your requirements.

Attention All ES Majors & Minors: ID 210 Introduction to GIS is being offered in the fall and is strongly recommended for all ES students. Finally, two sections of MS 104 Introduction to Statistics are being offered and will count in place of MS 104E for the Environmental Science track of the ES major.
There are also several new or special topics courses that do not appear on the master schedule list for ES.

Please see the descriptions of these courses below:

Social & Cultural Perspectives Track of the ES Major
Environmental Science Track of the ES Major
ES Minor
Special Topics Course Descriptions 

Social & Cultural Perspectives track of the ES major

Foundation Courses:

  • ES 100 Environmental Concerns in Perspective

Cluster A:

  • AM 232H New England Begins
  • EC 316 Economics of Development
  • EC 343 Environmental and Resource Economics
  • EN 229 Literature and the Environment
  • GO 339 International Political Economy & the Environment
  • GO 356 Africa Intl Affairs
  • IA 101 Introduction to International Affairs
  • PH 225 Environmental Philosophy
  • SO 223 Environmental Sociology

Cluster B1:

  • BI 115H Ecology of Food
  • BI 140 Marine Biology
  • BI 241 Ecology
  • CH 103 will count for this semester only for CH 112 Environmental Chemistry
  • GE 101 Earth Systems Science will count for this semester only for GE 207 Environmental Geology
  • GE 251 Special Topics: Glacial Geology
  • ES 351b Restoration Ecology

Cluster C:

  • AN 351 Primate Conservation

Capstone:

  • ES 374 Senior Seminar in Environmental Studies

Other/Methods:

These do not count for the major at present, but are highly recommended.

  • MS 104 Introduction to Statistics
  • ID 210 Introduction to GIS
  • SO 226 Soc Research Analysis
  • SO 227 Sociology Research Design

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Environmental Science track of the ES major

Foundation Courses:

  • ES 100 Environmental Concerns in Perspective

Core:

  • CH 105 Chemical Principles I
  • CH 106 Chemical Principles II
  • CH 103 will count for this semester only for CH 112 Environmental Chemistry
  • GE 101 Earth Systems Science will count for this semester only for GE 207 Environmental Geology

Cluster A:

  • AM 232H New England Begins
  • EC 316 Economics of Development
  • EC 343 Environmental and Resource Economics
  • EN 229 Literature and the Environment
  • GO 339 International Political Economy & the Environment
  • GO 356 Africa Intl Affairs
  • IA 101 Introduction to International Affairs
  • PH 225 Environmental Philosophy
  • SO 223 Environmental Sociology

Cluster B2:

  • BI 241 Ecology
  • BI 351E Topics: Biol Invasions
  • CH 222 Organic Chemistry I
  • ES 351b Restoration Ecology
  • GE 304 Geomorphology
  • GE 251 Special Topics: Glacial Geology

Cluster C:

  • AN 351 Primate Conservation

Capstone:

  • ES 374 Senior Seminar in Environmental Studies

Other/Methods:

These do not count for the major at present, but are highly recommended.

  • MS 104 Introduction to Statistics
  • ID 210 Introduction to GIS
  • SO 226 Soc Research Analysis
  • SO 227 Sociology Research Design

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ES Minor

Foundation Course:

  • ES 100 Environmental Concerns in Perspective

Cluster A:

  • AM 232H New England Begins
  • EC 316 Economics of Development
  • EC 343 Environmental and Resource Economics
  • EN 229 Literature and the Environment
  • GO 339 International Political Economy & the Environment
  • GO 356 Africa Intl Affairs
  • IA 101 Introduction to International Affairs
  • PH 225 Environmental Philosophy
  • SO 223 Environmental Sociology

Cluster B1:

  • BI 115H Ecology of Food
  • BI 140 Marine Biology
  • BI 241 Ecology
  • CH 103 will count for this semester only for CH 112 Environmental Chemistry
  • GE 101 Earth Systems Science will count for this semester only for GE 207 Environmental Geology
  • GE 251 Special Topics: Glacial Geology
  • ES 351b Restoration Ecology

Cluster C:

  • AN 351 Primate Conservation

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Special Topics Course Descriptions

AN 351 Primate Conservation – Instructor: Chris Grassi

Most non-human primate species live in developing countries in the tropics which suffer from high population growth rates and dwindling natural resources. The non-human primates are threatened with habitat disturbance, hunting, and black market trading, as well as global warming. Many of the human populations live in poverty. This course will examine the causes and consequences of the threats to primate species' survival as well as the long-standing relationships between human and non-human primates: how they have interacted, and how this has lead to the endangered status of some or may help preserve other primate species. This course will explore different strategies for protecting primates and their habitats such as cultural practices, special reserves and national parks, research programs, public education, and eco-tourism. Permission of instructor is required.

ES 351 Restoration Ecology – Instructor: Cathy Gibson

Ecological restoration is an intentional activity that initiates or accelerates the recovery of an ecosystem with respect to its health, integrity and sustainability. This course explores the newly emerging science of restoration ecology through its theoretical foundations and applications. We will review the conceptual bases of restoration ecology (succession, recruitment, landscape scale phenomena). In addition, we will address complex problems in restoration (genetics, physical barriers, exotic species, hydrologic regimes). Course work will focus on student centered presentations and analyses of case studies and recent literature. In addition, the course will involve a service-learning project at a local park.

Pre-requisites are environmental biology and environmental geology or permission of instructor.

GE 251 Glacial Geology – Instructor: Brian Bird

A course investigating glacial dynamics, erosion, deposition, and interaction with the landscape. Study will include analysis and interpretation of glacial sediments, sequences, and landforms. Aggregate resources, aquifer formation and vulnerability, as well as land use issues will be discussed. Emphasis will be placed on the glaciation of New York State and the Great Lakes region during the Quaternary. Three hours of lecture per week. Required field trip. Brian Bird

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