SPRING 2019 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
- EC 104 Introduction to Microeconomics
- EN 224 Literature and the Environment
- ES 252C Human Rights and Development
- PL 231 Environmental Politics and Policy
Cluster A Courses
- AM 351D Wild America
- AN 252C Archaeology of the American Southwest
- AN352D Andean Archaeology and Ethnohistory
- EC 104 Introduction to Microeconomics
- EN 224 Literature and the Environment
- ES 252C Human Rights and Development
- ES 303 Politics of Food
- ES 306 US Public Lands and Oceans
- ES 352C Humanities Action Lab: Environmental Justice in the Capital Region
- HI 264 History of the American West
- HP 131 Introduction to Public Health
- PL 231 Environmental Politics and Policy
- RE 225 Religion and Ecology
- WLL 263 Green Italy: Gardens, Food, and Material Culture
Cluster B1 Courses
- BI 136 Ecology of the Adirondacks
- ES 252C Plastic Planet: The Promise and Perils of Polymers
- ES 252D Managing Environmental Change
- HP 242 Principles of Nutrition
- GE 101 Earth System Science
- GE 211 Climatology
- GE 251C The Coastal Ocean
- ID 351 Spatial Analysis and Modeling
Capstone
- ES 375 Environmental Studies Research Capstone
Methods
- EC 237 Statistical Methods
- ID 210 Introduction to GIS
- MS 104 Introduction to Statistics
- SO 226 Statistics 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 126 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
- AM 351D Wild America
- AN 252C Archaeology of the American Southwest
- AN352D Andean Archaeology and Ethnohistory
- EC 104 Introduction to Microeconomics
- EN 224 Literature and the Environment
- ES 252C Human Rights and Development
- ES 303 Politics of Food
- ES 306 US Public Lands and Oceans
- ES 352C Humanities Action Lab: Environmental Justice in the Capital Region
- HI 264 History of the American West
- HP 131 Introduction to Public Health
- PL 231 Environmental Politics and Policy
- RE 225 Religion and Ecology
- WLL 263 Green Italy: Gardens, Food, and Material Culture
Cluster B2 Courses
- BI 239 Parasitology, Epidemiology and Public Health
- BI 252 Plant Biology
- BI 307 Ornithology
- BI 316 Animal Behavior
- CH 221 Organic Chemistry I
- CH 222 Organic Chemistry II
- CH 232 Analytical Methods in Chemistry
- CH 251 Principles of Chemical Systems
- GE 211 Climatology
- GE 251C The Coastal Ocean
- GE 305 Remote Sensing
- HP 242 Principles of Nutrition
- ID 351 Spatial Analysis & and Modeling
Capstone
- ES 375 Environmental Studies Research Capstone
Methods
- 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
- AM 351D Wild America
- AN 252C Archaeology of the American Southwest
- AN352D Andean Archaeology and Ethnohistory
- EC 104 Introduction to Microeconomics
- EN 224 Literature and the Environment
- ES 252C Human Rights and Development
- ES 303 Politics of Food
- ES 306 US Public Lands and Oceans
- ES 352C Humanities Action Lab: Environmental Justice in the Capital Region
- HI 264 History of the American West
- HP 131 Introduction to Public Health
- PL 231 Environmental Politics and Policy
- RE 225 Religion and Ecology
- WLL 263 Green Italy: Gardens, Food, and Material Culture
Cluster B1 Courses
- BI 136 Ecology of the Adirondacks
- ES 252C Plastic Planet: The Promise and Perils of Polymers
- ES 252D Managing Environmental Change
- HP 242 Principles of Nutrition
- GE 101 Earth System Science
- GE 211 Climatology
- GE 251C The Coastal Ocean
- ID 351 Spatial Analysis and Modeling
Cluster B2 Courses
- BI 239 Parasitology, Epidemiology and Public Health
- BI 252 Plant Biology
- BI 307 Ornithology
- BI 316 Animal Behavior
- CH 221 Organic Chemistry I
- CH 222 Organic Chemistry II
- CH 232 Analytical Methods in Chemistry
- CH 251 Principles of Chemical Systems
- GE 211 Climatology
- GE 251C The Coastal Ocean
- GE 305 Remote Sensing
- HP 242 Principles of Nutrition
- ID 351 Spatial Analysis & and Modeling
SPECIAL TOPICS COURSE DESCRIPTIONS:
AM 351D: Wild America Instructor: E. Newcombe
From the “howling wilderness” described by early colonists to the “Leave No Trace”
movement espoused by modern hikers and campers, the concept of wilderness has played
a critical and varied role in American culture. Drawing from literature, history,
environmental studies, and more, this interdisciplinary seminar explores the changing
idea of “wilderness” in American culture from the colonial period to the present.
Our assignments and readings will explore how identity – including race, gender, and
class – influence the way Americans define and engage with wilderness. To understand
the evolving idea of wilderness, we will examine, novels, short stories, essays, paintings,
prints, photographs, films, and the physical environment. We will also read the work
of scholars from a variety of disciplines, including literature, history, environmental
studies, and more.
AN 252C: Archaeology of the American Southwest Instructor: K. Baustian
An introduction to archaeological discoveries of prehistoric and protohistoric populations in the ancient American Southwest. The course examines cultural diversity from Paleoindians to pre-contact Puebloan populations, hunter-gatherers to agriculturalists, and indigenous groups ranging from northern Mexico to southern Utah. Students will learn about the origins of agriculture, architectural and ritual change, and conflict in the region. Archaeological data will be discussed and debated regarding themes such as occupation patterns, migration, material culture, violence, and adaptations to climate change in arid environments.
BI 252: Plant Biology Instructor: D. Domozych
A survey of the major groups of organisms comprising plants, protists and fungi. The
primary organismal, cellular, reproductive and physiological characteristics, ecological
importance and evolutionary origins of each group will be studied. Laboratory work
will include experimental laboratory work and local field trips.
Prerequisites: BI 107 and 108 or permission of instructor.
CH 251: Principles of Chemical Systems Instructor: J. Navea
A course focusing on the use of fundamental principles of chemistry to understand
nature, with emphasis on quantitative reasoning skills applied to chemical and physical
processes. Topics include colligative properties, Earth’s environment and climate,
nuclear chemistry, and biological redox chemistry . Laboratory experiments serve to
illustrate concepts learned in the classroom and to develop scientific inquiring skills.
ES 252C: Plastic Planet: The Promise and Perils of Polymers Instructor: A. Ernst
Plastics are present in every facet of our lives, and their contributions to advances
in medicine, transportation, construction, and electronics that have provided huge
societal benefits. Those benefits come at a cost, however; plastics derive from limited
fossil fuels, leach toxic chemicals, litter our landscapes, and imperil marine life.
How has plastic come to dominate our lives, and what are the human health and ecosystem
effects of this domination? In this course, we will examine the variety of modern
plastics, their basic chemical and physical properties, and the scale of society’s
dependence on them. From this foundation, we will analyze impacts to public health
and ecosystem functioning, along with policies that regulate plastics and the bioplastics
that might provide more sustainable alternatives.
ES 252C: Human Rights Instructor: N. Atalan Helicke
An exploration of rights-based development approach with a focus on Sustainable Development
Goals. Students use conceptual approaches and knowledge from diverse disciplines including
history, economics, gender studies and environmental studies to analyze human development
between the North and the South, and within countries; mutual benefits of political
and economic rights-embedded development; and alternatives. Students work on case
studies with local and/ or global focus, including poverty reduction strategies, maternal
health, women immigrants, hunger and genetically engineered food, and climate justice.
Prerequisites: ES100 or AN101 or IA101 or SOC101 or PL103 or permission of the instructor
ES 252D: Managing Environmental Change Instructor: K. Covey
Shifting land use and a changing climate presents humanity with unprecedented global
scale challenges that threaten ecosystem integrity and human health. Combating these
complex problems requires an understanding not only of the physical science of ecosystem
dynamics, but also the ways our energy, agricultural, and policy systems interact
to regulate ecosystems and their extent. In this course, we’ll explore the environmental
and social drivers of change at the local and global global scales, as well as the
applied science of measuring, regulating, and communicating the impact of these long-term
changes. Students will draw on this understanding during discussions, problem sets,
and labs evaluating solutions to our most pressing environmental challenges.
Prerequisite ES105 or permission of the instructor
ES 352C Humanities Action Lab: Environmental Justice in the Capital Region Instructor:
A. Schneller
An investigation into environmental injustices and community advocacy in Albany, NY.
Skidmore College students in this course will contribute a final multi-media piece
as part of the touring Humanities Action Lab, a coalition of universities, issue organizations,
and public spaces in 36 international cities. Students will conduct both primary and
secondary source research that works to better understand and highlight threats to
public health and the environment, and potential solutions. We will interview, record,
and photograph active stakeholders and sites in the Albany Environmental Justice arena,
which includes a diversity of community members, activists, state agencies, and industry.
Travel to Albany, and evening/alternate class sessions will be required. This course
has been designated as Applied Civic Engagement (ACE).
Prerequisite: Enrollment for this course is by special permission only, and the course requires
some prior experience in justice-related course work. Please email Professor Schneller
with your interest in the course.
GE-251C: The Coastal Ocean Instructor: M. Estapa
An exploration of the physical, biological, and anthropogenic processes that impact
marine environments extending from estuaries to the edge of the continental shelf.
With the majority of the global human population living near a coastline, the rationale
for studying coastal ocean dynamics has never been stronger. Students will discuss
topics such as river deltas, estuaries, beaches, coastal circulation, and nearshore
marine ecosystems. An emphasis will be placed throughout the course on the ways humans
interact with and impact the coastal ocean (e.g. pollution, eutrophication, coastal
development, resource extraction) 3 credits. 3 hours lecture per week. Prerequisites are: GE-101 or GE-112, 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 they 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, (the Mediterranean climate and hydrogeological risk) and the social aspects of food consumption (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.
