Organizing Themes in the Environmental Studies and Sciences (ESS) Program at Skidmore College
Below are a set of organizing themes for each track of the ESS major. A theme is
not a requirement of the ESS major, but rather a possible framework aimed at guiding
choices regarding courses, study abroad, and internships. We encourage students to
talk with their advisors about themes of interest and also research opportunities
that might complement different themes.
ESS-Social and Cultural Perspectives Track Themes:
Environmental Policy
Sustainable Development
Natural Resource Policy and Planning
Public Health
Environmental Economics
Environmental Sociology
Energy Analysis and Planning
ESS-Environmental Science Track Themes:
Water Resource Management
Landuse and Watershed Planning
Environmental Remediation and Restoration
Natural Resource and Wildlife Management
Conservation Biology
Agro-Ecology
ESS-Social and Cultural Perspectives Track Themes:
Environmental Policy
Foundation:
ES 100 Environmental Concerns in Perspective
ES 105 Field Studies in Environmental Science
Core:
EC 104 Intro To Microeconomics (ES)
GO 231 Environmental Politics and Policy
SO 223 Environmental Sociology
Social & Cultural Electives:
ES 351 Environmental Legal Issues
GO 339 International Political Economy and Environment
HI 217 American Environmental History
HI 312 Industry, Empire and the Environment
SO 326 Social Theories of the Environment
Natural Science Electives:
BI 115 H Ecology of Food
BI 160 Conservation Biology
BI 180 Economic Botany
BI 327 Conservation Ecology
ES 251 The Engineering and Ecology of Energy
GE 208 Origin and Distribution of Natural Resources
GE 211 Climatology
Methods:
ID 210 Introduction to GIS
MS 104 Introduction to Statistics
SO 226 Social Resource Analysis
SO 227 Social Resource Design
Abroad/Domestic Program Opportunities:
SIT Brazil – Amazon Resource Management and Human Ecology
SIT Australia-Sustainability and the Environment
Local Internship Opportunities:
Please see Anne Ernst for contacts and opportunities at the State Assembly, American
Farmland Trust, and Environmental Advocates.
Foundation:
ES 100 Environmental Concerns in Perspective
ES 105 Field Studies in Environmental Science
Core:
EC 104 Intro to Microeconomics (ES)
EN 229 Literature and the Environment
GO 231 Environmental Politics and Policy
SO 223 Environmental Sociology
Social & Cultural Electives:
AM 232 H New England Begins
AN 345 Ecological Anthropology
EC 316 Economics of Development
ES 221 Sustainable Development
HI 217 American Environmental History
HI 312 Industry, Empire, and the Environment
PH 225 Environmental Philosophy
SO 326 Social Theories of the Environment
SO 331 Women in Global Economy
Natural Science Electives:
BI 115 H Ecology of Food
BI 180 Economic Botany
ES 251 The Engineering and Ecology of Energy
GE 211 Climatology
GE 208 Origin and Distribution of Natural Resources
Methods:
ID 210 Introduction to GIS
MS 104 Introduction to Statistics
SO 226 Social Resource Analysis
Abroad/Domestic Program Opportunities:
SIT Australia-Sustainability and the Environment
International Honors Program
Local Internship Opportunities:
Please see Anne Ernst for contacts and opportunities at the State Assembly, American
Farmland Trust, Environmental Advocates, Sierra Club, and Wilton Wildlife Preserve.
Foundation:
ES 100 Environmental Concerns in Perspective
ES 105 Field Studies in Environmental Science
Core:
EC 104 Intro to Microeconomics (ES)
EN 229 Literature and the Environment
GO 231 Environmental Politics and Policy
SO 223 Environmental Sociology
Social & Cultural Electives:
AN 345 Ecological Anthropology
ES 351 Environmental Legal Issues
HI 217 American Environmental History
SO 223 Environmental Sociology
SO 326 Social Theories of the Environment
Natural Science Electives:
BI 115 H Ecology of Food
ES 251 The Engineering and Ecology of Energy
GE 211 Climatology
GE 208 Origin and Distribution of Natural Resources
Methods:
ID 210 Introduction to GIS
Abroad/Domestic Program Opportunities:
SIT Botswana – Community-Based Natural Resource Management
SIT Tanzania – Wildlife Conservation and Political Ecology
SIT Tanzania Zanzibar – Coastal Ecology and Natural Resource Management
SIT Viet Nam – Delta Ecology and Resource Management
SFS Turks and Caicos – Marine Resource Management Studies
Local Internship Opportunities:
Please see Anne Ernst for contacts and opportunities at Saratoga PLAN, Municipal Stormwater
Program, City of Saratoga Springs - Planning Department, Wilton Wildlife, and Environmental
Advocates.
Foundation:
ES 100 Environmental Concerns in Perspective
ES 105 Field Studies in Environmental Science
Core:
EC 104 Intro to Microeconomics (ES)
GO 231 Environmental Politics and Policy
SO 223 Environmental Sociology
Social & Cultural Electives:
AN 344 Anthropology & Environmental Health
EC 316 Economics of Development
ES 281 Disease & the Environment
SO 326 Social Theories of the Environment
WS 210 Ecofeminism, Women, and the Environment
Natural Science Electives:
BI 115H Ecology of Food
ES 251 The Engineering and Ecology of Energy
GE 207 Climatology
Methods:
ID 210 Introduction to GIS
MS 104 Introduction to Statistics
Abroad/Domestic Program Opportunities:
International Honors Program
Local Internship Opportunities:
Please see Anne Ernst for contacts and opportunities at the Saratoga Foundation for
Women Worldwide.
Foundation:
ES 100 Environmental Concerns in Perspective
ES 105 Field Studies in Environmental Science
Core:
EC 104 Intro to Microeconomics (ES)
GO 231 Environmental Politics and Policy
SO 223 Environmental Sociology
Social & Cultural Electives:
ES 221 Sustainable Development
EC 316 Economics of Development
GO 339 International Political Economy and the Environment
HI 217 American Environmental History
SO 331 Women in Global Economy
Natural Science Electives:
BI 180 Economic Botany
ES 251 The Engineering and Ecology of Energy
GE 208 Origin and Distribution of Natural Resources
Methods:
MS 104 Introduction to Statistics
ID 210 Introduction to GIS
Abroad/Domestic Program Opportunities:
SIT Australia – Sustainability and the Environment
SIT Brazil – Natural Resource Management
Local Internship Opportunities:
Please see Anne Ernst for contacts and opportunities at STEP Park.
Foundation:
ES 100 Environmental Concerns in Perspective
ES 105 Field Studies in Environmental Science
Core:
EN 229 Literature and the Environment
GO 231 Environmental Politics and Policy
SO 223 Environmental Sociology
Social & Cultural Electives:
AN 344 Ecological Anthropology
HI 217 American Environmental History
PH 225 Environmental Philosophy
SO 326 Social Theories of the Environment
SO 331 Women in Global Economy
WS 210 Ecofeminism, Women, and the Environment
Natural Science Electives:
GE 207 Climatology
BI 115H Ecology of Food
Methods:
ID 210 Introduction to GIS
SO 226 Social Resource Analysis
SO 227 Social Resource Design
Abroad/Domestic Program Opportunities:
Any SIT program
Local Internship Opportunities:
Please see Anne Ernst for contacts and opportunities at Wilton Wildlife Preserve and
Park.
Foundation:
ES 100 Environmental Concerns in Perspective
ES 105 Field Studies in Environmental Science
Core:
EC 104 Intro to Microeconomics (ES)
GO 231 Environmental Politics and Policy
SO 223 Environmental Sociology
Social & Cultural Electives:
EC 343 Environmental and Resource Economics
EC 361 Economics of Climate Change
ES 221 Sustainable Development
ES 351 Environmental Legal Issues
ES 351 Climate Change Science and Policy
GO 231 Environmental Policy and Politics
HI 217 American Environmental History
HI 312 Industry, Empire and the Environment
Natural Science Electives:
ES 251 The Engineering and Ecology of Energy
GE 208 Origin and Distribution of Natural Resources
GE 211 Climatology
Abroad/Domestic Program Opportunities:
SIT Iceland – Renewable Energy, Technology, and Resource Economics (summer)
Frontiers Abroad
Local Internship Opportunities:
Please see Anne Ernst for contacts and opportunities at NYSERDA and Plug Power.
ESS-Environmental Science Track Themes:
Water Resource Management
Foundation:
ES 100 Environmental Concerns in Perspective
BI 105 Biological Sciences I: Unity and Diversity of Life
BI 106 Biological Sciences II: Diversity of Life
CH 105 Chemical Principles I and CH 106 Chemical Principles II (or CH 107H Intensive
General Chemistry Honors)
GE 101 Earth Systems Science
Core:
ES 205 Conservation and the Use of Forested Landscapes
ES 206 Watershed Assessment: Dynamics and Integrity of Aquatic Systems
Methods:
ID 210 Introduction to GIS
MS 104 Introduction to Statistics
Natural Science Electives:
CH 303 Modern Analytical Chemistry
ES 351 Restoration Ecology
GE 301 Hydrogeologic Systems
GE 304 Geomorphology
Social & Cultural Electives:
ES 351 Environmental Legal Issues
GO 231 Environmental Politics and Policy
HI 217 American Environmental History
Abroad/Domestic Program Opportunities:
Woods Hole – Semester in Environmental Science
SFS Mexico – Conserving Marine Mammal & Coastal Ecosystems
SIT Vietnam – Delta Ecology and Resource Management
Williams Mystic
Local Internship Opportunities:
Please see Anne Ernst for contacts and opportunities at EPA, Environmental Advocates
– Air and Water Division, County Soil & Water, and the Municipal Stormwater Program.
Foundation:
ES 100 Environmental Concerns in Perspective
BI 105 Biological Sciences I: Unity and Diversity of Life
BI 106 Biological Sciences II: Diversity of Life
CH 105 Chemical Principles I and CH 106 Chemical Principles II (or CH 107H Intensive
General Chemistry Honors)
GE 101 Earth Systems Science
Core:
ES 205 Conservation and the Use of Forested Landscapes
ES 206 Watershed Assessment: Dynamics and Integrity of Aquatic Systems
Methods:
ID 210 Introduction to GIS
MS 104 Introduction to Statistics
Natural Science Electives:
ES 351 Restoration Ecology
ES 351 Urban Ecology
GE 304 Geomorphology
Social & Cultural Electives:
ES 351 Environmental Legal Issues
ES 221 Sustainable Development
GO 231 Environmental Politics and Policy
HI 217 American Environmental History
Abroad/Domestic Program Opportunities:
SFS Costa Rica – Sustainable Development Studies
SIT Viet Nam – Delta Ecology and Resource Management
Local Internship Opportunities:
Please see Anne Ernst for contacts and opportunities at Saratoga PLAN, County Soil
& Water Office, Wilton Wildlife, CDRPC, and the Municipal Stormwater Program.
Foundation:
ES 100 Environmental Concerns in Perspective
BI 105 Biological Sciences I: Unity and Diversity of Life
BI 106 Biological Sciences II: Diversity of Life
CH 105 Chemical Principles I and CH 106 Chemical Principles II (or CH 107H Intensive
General Chemistry Honors)
GE 101 Earth Systems Science
Core:
ES 205 Conservation and the Use of Forested Landscapes
ES 206 Watershed Assessment: Dynamics and Integrity of Aquatic Systems
Methods:
ID 210 Introduction to GIS
MS 104 Introduction to Statistics
Natural Science Electives:
BI 351 Biological Invasions
ES 351 Restoration Ecology
GE 301 Hydrogeologic Systems
GE 304 Geomorphology
Social & Cultural Electives:
AN 344 Anthropology and Environmental Health
AN 345 Ecological Anthropology
ES 351 Environmental Legal Issues
GO 231 Environmental Politics and Policy
PH 225 Environmental Philosophy
Abroad/Domestic Program Opportunities:
Independent Research on various SFS/SIT Programs
Local Internship Opportunities:
Please see Anne Ernst for contacts and opportunities at Wilton Wildlife, the LA Group,
and Saratoga PLAN.
Foundation:
ES 100 Environmental Concerns in Perspective
BI 105 Biological Sciences I: Unity and Diversity of Life
BI 106 Biological Sciences II: Diversity of Life
CH 105 Chemical Principles I and CH 106 Chemical Principles II (or CH 107H Intensive
General Chemistry Honors)
GE 101 Earth Systems Science
Core:
ES 205 Conservation and the Use of Forested Landscapes
ES 206 Watershed Assessment: Dynamics and Integrity of Aquatic Systems
Methods:
ID 210 Introduction to GIS
MS 104 Introduction to Statistics
Natural Science Electives:
BI 241 Ecology
BI 307 Ornithology
BI 339 Plant-Animal Interactions
BI 351 Biological Invasions
GE 208 Origin and Distribution of Natural Resources
GE 304 Geomorphology
Social & Cultural Electives:
AN 344 Ecological Anthropology
EC 343 Environmental Resource Economics
ES 351 Environmental Legal Issues
GO 231 Environmental Politics and Policy
HI 217 American Environmental History
Abroad/Domestic Program Opportunities:
SIT Botswana – Community-Based Natural Resource Management
SIT Tanzania – Wildlife Conservation and Political Ecology
SIT Tanzania Zanzibar – Coastal Ecology and Natural Resource Management
SIT Viet Nam – Delta Ecology and Resource Management
SFS Turks and Caicos – Marine Resource Management Studies
SFS – Tropical Rainforest Studies
Local Internship Opportunities:
Please see Anne Ernst for contacts and opportunities at Wilton Wildlife, Saratoga
PLAN, Saratoga Battlefield, and Moreau State Park.
Foundation:
ES 100 Environmental Concerns in Perspective
BI 105 Biological Sciences I: Unity and Diversity of Life
BI 106 Biological Sciences II: Diversity of Life
CH 105 Chemical Principles I and CH 106 Chemical Principles II (or CH 107H Intensive
General Chemistry Honors)
GE 101 Earth Systems Science
Core:
ES 205 Conservation and the Use of Forested Landscapes
ES 206 Watershed Assessment: Dynamics and Integrity of Aquatic Systems
Methods:
ID 210 Introduction to GIS
MS 104 Introduction to Statistics
Natural Science Electives:
BI 241 Ecology
BI 327 Conservation Ecology
BI 324 Evolution BI 307 Ornithology
Social & Cultural Electives:
AN 345 Ecological Anthropology
EC 343 Environmental and Resource Economics
ES 351 Environmental Legal Issues
GO 231 Environmental Policy and Planning
Abroad/Domestic Program Opportunities:
SFS Mexico – Conserving Marine Mammals and Coast Ecosystems
SFS Australia – Tropical Rainforest Studies
SFS Costa Rica - Sustainable Development Studies
SIT-Botswana
SIT Madagascar
Local Internship Opportunities:
Please see Anne Ernst for contacts and opportunities at the Nature Conservancy and
Wilton Wildlife.
Foundation:
ES 100 Environmental Concerns in Perspective
BI 105 Biological Sciences I: Unity and Diversity of Life
BI 106 Biological Sciences II: Diversity of Life
CH 105 Chemical Principles I and CH 106 Chemical Principles II (or CH 107H Intensive
General Chemistry Honors)
GE 101 Earth Systems Science
Core:
ES 205 Conservation and the Use of Forested Landscapes
ES 206 Watershed Assessment: Dynamics and Integrity of Aquatic Systems
Methods:
ID 210 Introduction to GIS
MS 104 Introduction to Statistics
Natural Science Electives:
BI 241 Ecology
GE 304 Geomorphology
Social & Cultural Electives:
AM 260B The Machine in the Garden
ES 251 Food, Food Culture, and Society
HI 217 American Environmental History
Abroad/Domestic Program Opportunities:
SFS Costa Rica – Sustainable Development Studies
Local Internship Opportunities:
Please see Anne Ernst for contacts and opportunities at the American Farmland Trust,
local farms, and the Cornell Cooperative Extension.
