SPRING 2013 COURSES
Courses for the ES Major: Social and Cultural Perspectives Track
Courses for the ES Major: Environmental Science Track
Courses for the ES Minor
Special Topics Course Descriptions
COURSES FOR THE ES MAJOR
SOCIAL AND CULTURAL PERSPECTIVES TRACK
Foundation Courses:
- ES 100 Environmental Concerns in Perspective
- ES 105 Filed Studies in Environmental Science
Core Courses:
- EN 229 Literature and the Environment
- GO 231 Environmental Politics and Policy
Cluster A Courses:
- AN 252A Native American Health
- EN 229 Literature and the Environment
- ES 252D Political Ecology
- ES 352C Environment and Development in the Middle East
- ES 352C Environmental Art
- ES 352C Environmental Learning
- ES 352C Environmental Issues in Central America
- EX 131 Introduction to Public Health
- GO 231 Environmental Politics and Policy
- GW 210 Ecofeminism
- MB 351B Business and the Natural Environment
- PH 225 Environmental Philosophy
- SO 326 Social Theories of the Environment
Cluster B1 Courses:
- ES 252D The Engineering and Ecology of Energy
- GE 112 Oceanography
- GE 320 Global Biogeochemical Cycles
Capstone:
- ES 375 Environmental Studies Research Capstone
Methods:
- EC 237 Statistical Methods
- ID 210 Introduction to GIS
- MS 104 Introduction to Statistics
- SO 226 Stats for the Social Sciences
- SO 227 Social Research Methods
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE TRACK
Foundation Course:
- ES 100 Environmental Concerns in Perspective
Disciplinary Foundation Courses:
- BI 106 Biological Sciences II
- CH 105 Chemical Principles I
- CH 106 Chemical Principles II
Core Course:
- ES 206 Watershed Assessment
Cluster A Courses:
- AN 252A Native American Health
- EN 229 Literature and the Environment
- ES 252D Political Ecology
- ES 352C Environment and Development in the Middle East
- ES 352C Environmental Art
- ES 352C Environmental Learning
- ES 352C Environmental Issues in Central America
- EX 131 Introduction to Public Health
- GO 231 Environmental Politics and Policy
- GW 210 Ecofeminism
- MB 351B Business and the Natural Environment
- PH 225 Environmental Philosophy
- SO 326 Social Theories of the Environment
Cluster B2 Courses:
- BI 324 Evolution
- BI 325 Topical Ecology
- CH 222 Organic Chemistry II
- CH 303 Modern Analytical Chemistry
- ES 252D The Engineering and Ecology of Energy
- GE 320 Global Biogeochemical Cycles
Capstone:
- ES 375 Environmental Studies Research Capstone
Methods:
- ID 210 Introduction to GIS
- MS 104 Introduction to Statistics
COURSES FOR THE ES MINOR
Foundation Courses:
- ES 100 Environmental Concerns in Perspective
- ES 105 Filed Studies in Environmental Science
- ES 206 Watershed Assessment
Cluster A Courses:
- AN 252A Native American Health
- EN 229 Literature and the Environment
- ES 252D Political Ecology
- ES 352C Environment and Development in the Middle East
- ES 352C Environmental Art
- ES 352C Environmental Learning
- ES 352C Environmental Issues in Central America
- EX 131 Introduction to Public Health
- GO 231 Environmental Politics and Policy
- GW 210 Ecofeminism
- PH 225 Environmental Philosophy
- MB 351B Business and the Natural Environment
- SO 326 Social Theories of the Environment
Cluster B1 Courses:
- ES 252D The Engineering and Ecology of Energy
- GE 112 Oceanography
- GE 320 Global Biogeochemical Cycles
Special Topics Course Descriptions
AN-252C 001 Native North America - Instructor: A. Foley
Health and Wellness A biocultural exploration of Native North American health, diversity,
and lifeways. Using bioarchaeological, ethnographic, and archaeological evidence,
we will examine the peopling of the Americas, changes in subsistence, environmental,
and settlement patterns and their relationships to indigenous American health. We
will also study the pathological environment, including both disease and injury, faced
by Native North Americans prior to and immediately after European contact. Finally
we will spend some time examining the ethnoarchaeological evidence concerning concepts
of health and healing among indigenous Americans. Topics of study will include: paleopathology,
diet, environment, gender, and pre-Columbian North American history. Prerequisite:
AN-101 or AN-102.
ES 252D Political Ecology - Instructor: N. Atalan Helicke
How does political ecology differ from ecology? Who has power over the environment?
How is nature constructed and destructed? How do existing policies and stakeholder
interactions affect the use of environment by society? How do resource conflicts arise
and become resolved? How is environmental knowledge used and abused? This course will
introduce students to the array of broad political and socio-economic forces that
shape the human relationships with the environment. These forces are multiple and
interact in complex ways over a set of interlocking scales from local to global. We
will address these issues by covering several case studies, both from the United States
and the world. This course includes Service Learning component that requires a 15-hour
commitment to an off campus community project.
The course work includes an exam, a research project on a community project (15 hours/semester commitment and possible travel to outside campus), reflection papers and a presentation. Prerequisite: Familiarity with social science research methods, permission from the instructor
ES 252D The Engineering and Ecology of Energy - Instructor: R. Wiltshire
Energy is a principle means for providing basic human needs, and it facilitates opportunities
for achieving a decent quality of life. Access to and distribution of affordable,
adequate, and sustainable energy sources is a prerequisite for sustainable development,
and understanding the design, efficiencies, and environmental impacts of different
energy systems is critical to our transition to a cleaner, more equitable energy future.
We will explore the fundamental physics of energy, the evolving designs, technologies
and efficiencies of more traditional and alternative energy production, and the comprehensive
ecological impacts of various energy sources and systems such as Solar, Wind, Hydro,
and Biomass. Prereqs. ES 100 and QR1.
ES 352C Environmental Learning - Instructor: AJ Schneller
Do you have a deep appreciation for environmental protection and a genuine concern
about environmental problems that will affect the Earth and future generations for
years to come? Maybe you also feel the need to share this positive passion for the
environment with children, your friends, and interested members of the community?
Then it's very possible that YOU should explore the field of environmental learning,
and how to become an effective environmental educator! This course will especially
be of interest to future teachers, non-formal environmental educators and advocates,
and students interested in outreach, education, and communications for the non-profit
and government sector. Students will learn about the history and current state of
environmental learning in the US, as well as the various pedagogical tools, programs,
and resources that are available for the global dissemination of environmental learning.
We’ll explore the innovations and philosophies behind experiential and authentic environmental
learning; sustainability education; research on environmental learning (knowledge,
perceptions, attitudes, and behaviors); environmental service learning; earth education;
emancipatory education; critical pedagogy; and issues investigation and action training
(IIAT), etc. Students will research and critique existing environmental education
programs as well as undertake a partnership with a local school, outdoor education
center, National, State, or City Park, youth organization, hospital, non-profit organization,
etc. in order to design and implement an age appropriate, innovative, and inspirational
environmental learning unit. Students will be required to take one mid-term examination,
take quizzes, as well as submit various written assignments.
ES 352C Environmental Issues in Central America - Instructor: AJ Schneller
If you've ever traveled to Mexico or Central America then you already know that our
neighbors to the south own an incredible stretch of real estate, rich in both cultural
heritage and biological diversity. Are you starting to consider research and study
abroad opportunities in Costa Rica, Panama, Honduras, or El Salvador, and interested
in knowing more about these countries before you make a decision? Possibly this course
will help you to make a more informed decision about the opportunities that exist
and where your interests may lie. The Central American people, landscapes, ecosystems,
and species are diverse and beautiful, yet face intense stressors and pressure due
to unsustainable development, international trade, industrial resource exploitation,
tourism, pollution, corruption, immigration, and civil and political unrest. This
course will also explore the innovations and opportunities that exist for positively
affecting society, culture, and the economy, as well as terrestrial and marine environments
and species. We'll collectively investigate the various stakeholders: environmental
policies, governmental agencies, domestic and international non-governmental organizations,
environmental advocates, communities, and business interests that both positively
and negatively influence the region. Special guest speakers will complement this course,
in person, and also via Skype. Students will take one exam, various quizzes, and write
a semester-long paper, as well as other shorter writing assignments. Projects will
also require that students work in groups for this course.
ES 352 C Environment and Development in the Middle East - Instructor: N. Atalan Helicke
The Middle East immediately brings to mind religious and political complexities. However,
Middle Eastern nations also face distinctive environmental and development challenges.
In this class, students will study the natural and human environment in the Middle
East, addressing major development and environmental topics such as the impacts of
oil and other natural resource use; modernization and large dam projects; population
growth and access to water, energy and food; and climate change and transboundary
environmental issues. Students will explore the complex and interdisciplinary characteristics
of Middle East environmental issues at both the regional and global scales through
the examination of case studies from Saudi Arabia, Iran, Egypt, Turkey, Syria, Lebanon,
Israel, Jordan, Yemen and the United Arab Emirates.
The course work includes an exam, a research project, individual and group work on case studies. Prerequisite: Familiarity with international policy making and world geography; permission from the instructor. Fulfills the Nonwestern requirement.
ES352C Environmental Art - Instructor: A. Barnes
In this course we will work collaboratively to create visual projects on the Skidmore
Campus. As we develop project proposals and then implement our projects, we will look
for guidance and inspiration from contemporary works of art that explore environmental
issues or encourage positive environmental change. We will also examine contemporary
art made from natural materials. Much of this work emphasizes ephemerality and one’s
personal connection with the natural world. This course is designed for students who
want to make environmental issues more visible on the Skidmore campus. Project ideas
are driven by student interest and experience. While experience with art is not required,
students must be interested in exploring contemporary art and methods for communicating
visually. Prerequisites: ES100 or permission of instructor. Lab fee: $25
MB 351 Business and the Natural Environment - Instructor: J. Kennelly
This case-based course aims to foster awareness, sensitivity and literacy concerning
the major forces and challenges bearing upon the intersection of business organizations
and the natural environment. It broadly examines and appraises the role of business
enterprise in relation to the current (and future) state of the planet. The course
begins by reviewing major ecological and socio-economic challenges facing the planet,
including population growth, human poverty, climate change, toxic pollution, loss
of biodiversity, etc, paying particular attention to the impacts of business enterprise
upon each issue. The course then turns to an assessment of sustainable development
and biophysically and socially sustainable business practices. The course concludes
with a comprehensive assessment of various ways business may become a proactive force
in an evolution to global sustainability. Prerequisites: MB 107, EC 103, 104, or permission
of instructor.
SO 326 Social Theories of the Environment - Instructor: R. Scarce
How do we make sense of contemporary society’s relationship with nature? Scholars
have produced a rich array of responses to this question that often conflict with
one another. These theorists are also concerned with how social thought can be used
to guide solutions to environmental problems. Reading original work, we will consider
the applicability, insight, and relevancy of a host of perspectives, including ecological
Marxism, ecological anarchism, social constructivisim, ecological realism, eco-modernization,
and neo- Malthusianism. Prerequisites one gateway course (SO 101 or 201 or 202 or
203 or 204 or ES 100) and one additional sociology course.
