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Earth's environment is maintained through complex feedback mechanisms which, over geologic time, have operated to keep that environment within a range appropriate for life. Humans have always affected the environment, but since industrialization the nature and scope of their impact has increased dramatically.
Our current use of natural resources is spiraling due to exponential population growth. Due largely to the destruction of the tropical rain forests, we appear to be losing species at a rate that equals or exceeds anything in the earth's history. Human activities create smog, cause acid rain, introduce poisonous substances to the hydrosphere, and change the composition of the atmosphere in ways that are of great concern. Poverty and racism, in their environmental dimension, threaten global survival and a sustainable future.
Environmental concerns will be with us for generations as we work toward a sustainable way of life. The environmental studies program structures a liberal arts education around these concerns and prepares students for entry level positions in environmental fields as well as for graduate programs in environmental areas.
Environmental Studies is a multidisciplinary field, thus the program offers an interdisciplinary major and an interdisciplinary minor. The natural sciences offer an understanding of how the environment works and how human activities affect it. The social sciences consider the social and political implications of environmental policy and the economic tradeoffs involved. The humanities offer an understanding of the concepts and values involved in our perception of, and interaction with, the environment. These approaches are combined explicitly in our introductory integrative course and the senior integrative experience. Program faculty and graduates of the program also highly recommend two majors, a major in environmental studies along with a major in a discipline to benefit from the breath of environmental studies and the focus of a discipline. All courses counting toward an environmental studies major or minor must be passed with a grade of C- or higher.
Environmental Studies Program Majors and Minors
Environmental Studies is an interdisciplinary program. Careful selection of core and elective courses is key to developing a coherent area of concentration within the student's program of study.
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES MAJOR (B.A.)
interdisciplinary, 13 courses
ENV 110; ENV 300 or ENV 301; two "ES Core" courses from different departments in each division; one "ES Tools" course; and four "ES Elective" courses from the ES Core and/or ES Elective course lists at the 200 level or above. The "ES Tools" course cannot also count as an ES Core or Elective. Students are asked to carefully select ES Core and Elective courses to define a focus, such as environmental science, public policy, aquatic studies, social ecology, or natural resource use.
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES MINOR
interdisciplinary, 6 courses
ENV 110 or substitute one additional ES Core course; one ES Core course from each division; and two ES Elective courses from the ES Core and/or ES Elective course lists at the 200 level or above.
Environmental Studies Core Courses
Humanities Core
AMST 201 American Attitudes Towards Nature
ENG 223 Environmental Literature
HIST 151 Food Systems in History
HIST 215 American Urban History
HIST 246 American Environmental History
HIST 286 Plants and Empire
PHIL 154 Environmental Ethics
REL 226 Religion and Nature
WMST 309 Ecofeminism
Natural Sciences Core
BIOL 167 Introductory Topics in Biology
CHEM 110 Molecules that Matter
ENV 191 Introductory Environmental Science
ENV 170 The Fluid Earth
GEO 140 Environmental Geology
GEO 160 Weather & Climate
GEO 170 Environmental Geoscience
Social Sciences Core
ANTH 210 Prehistoric Ecology
ANTH 280 Environment and Culture
ECON 212 Environmental Economics
ECON 245 Economics of Food & Agriculture
EDUC 360 Teaching for Sustainable Environment
ENV 120 Human Geography
ENV 203 Fundamentals to GIS
ENV 204 The Geography of Garbage
ENV 205 Intro to Environmental Law
ENV 215 Development and Environment in East Asia
ENV 310 Advanced GIS
PPOL 101 Democracy and Public Policy
PPOL 328 Environmental Policy
SOC 202 Agriculture, Food, and Society
SOC 249 Technology and Society
SOC 271 Sociology of Environmental Issues
Tools Courses
BIOL 212 Biostatistics
ECON 202 Statistics
ENV 203 Fundamentals of GIS
PSY 210 Statistics and Research Methods
SOC 211 Research Methods
WRRH 300 American Print Journalism
WRRH 308 Reporting Online
WRRH 351 Writing in the Natural Sciences
WRRH 352 Writing in the Professional Workplace
Environmental Studies Elective Courses
ANTH 206 Early Cities
ANTH 228 Physical Anthropology
ANTH 247 Urban Anthropology
ANTH 285 Primate Behavior
ANTH 296 African Cultures
ANTH 297 Peoples and Cultures of Latin America
ANTH 298 Modern Japan
ANTH 326 Patterns and Processes in Ancient Mesoamerican Urbanism
ANTH 354/454 Food, Meaning, Voice
ARCH 301 Design II: The Immediate Environment
ARCH 302 Design III: The Wider Environment
ARCH 311 History of Modern Architecture
ARCH 312 Theories of Modern Architecture and Urbanism
ARCH 302 Landscapes and Gardens
ARTS 265 Intermediate Imaging
ARTS 365 Imaging Workshop
BIDS 219 Math Models and Biological Systems
BIOL 212 Biostatistics
BIOL 220 Genetics
BIOL 222 Microbiology
BIOL 225 Ecology
BIOL 228 The Biology of Plants
BIOL 233 General Physiology
BIOL 236 Evolution
BIOL 238 Aquatic Biology
BIOL 315 Advanced Topics
BIOL 316 Conservation Biology
BIOL 327 Behavioral Ecology
BIOL 339 Physiological Ecology
CHEM 240 Introduction to Organic Chemistry
CHEM 241 Intermediate Organic Chemistry
CHEM 260 Environmental Chemistry
CHEM 280 Chemical Reactivity
CHEM 310 Quantitative Chemical Analysis
CHEM 448 Biochemistry I
ECON 202 Statistics
ECON 213 Urban Economics
ECON 221 Population and Society
ECON 232 U.S. Economy: A Critical Analysis
ECON 301 Microeconomic Theory and Policy
ECON 316 Labor Market Analysis
ECON 348 Natural Resources and Energy Economics
ECON 461 Seminar: Environmental Economics
EDUC 339 Nature of Science and Scientific Inquiry
EDUC 348 Our National Parks
ENG 207 American Literature to Melville
ENG 250 English Romantic Poets
ENG 257 Dickens and His World
ENG 338 Poe, Dickinson, Frost
GEO 210 Environmental Hydrology
GEO 230 Problems in Earth History
GEO 240 Mineralogy
GEO 250 Physical Oceanography
GEO 260 Meteorology
GEO 270 Paleoclimatology
GEO 280 Aqueous Geochemistry
GEO 320 Sediments and Sedimentary Rocks
GEO 330 Limnology
GEO 360 Applied Climatology
HIST 204 History of American Society
HIST 208 Women in American History
HIST 234 Medieval History
HIST 253 Renaissance and Reformation
HIST 256 Technology and Society in Europe
HIST 264 Modern European City
HIST 310 Rise of Industrial America
HIST 311 20th Century America: 1917 1941
HIST 313 Darwin and the Darwinian Revolution
HIST 397 Seminar: Environmental History
MATH 214 Applied Linear Algebra
MATH 232 Multivariable Calculus
MATH 237 Differential Equations
MATH 350 Probability
MATH 353 Mathematical Models
PHIL 232 Liberty and Community
PHIL 234 What Should I Do?
PHIL 235 Morality and Self Interest
PHIL 236 Philosophy of Law
PHIL 238 Philosophy of Natural Science
PHIL 372 Early Modern Philosophy
PHYS 270 Modern Physics
PHYS 285 Mathematical Methods
POL 215 Minority Group Politics
POL 236 Urban Politics
POL 320 Mass Media
PPOL 219 Sexual Minority Movements and Public Policy
PSY 305 Psychological Test Development
SOC 221 Race and Ethnic Relations
SOC 222 Social Change
SOC 223 Inequities
SOC 225 Sociology of Family
SOC 244 Religion in American Society
SOC 251 Sociology of the City
SOC 258 Social Problems
SOC 259 Fight For Your Right!
SOC 275 Social Policy
SOC 290 Sociology of Community
SOC 300 Classical Sociological Theory
SOC 325 Moral Sociology and the Good Society
WMST 372 Peace
COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
110 Topics in Environmental Studies Our introductory requirement emphasizes the interdisciplinary nature of selected pressing environmental issues. Each semester a variety of sections of this introductory requirement is available, each with its own environmental topic. The current topics include: Biodiversity, Energy, Water, and Global Climate Change. Their individual descriptions are found below. ENV 110 is not open to juniors and seniors. Juniors and seniors who have not taken this course are required to replace this required course with any other ES Core course. (ES Faculty, offered each semester)
120 Human Geography and Global Economy This course introduces students to the systematic examination of patterns and processes that shape the spatial organization of activities on a global scale, including agriculture, industries, international trade, population growth and migration, resource and environmental degradation, and development and underdevelopment. Students learn where and why various human activities are located on the Earth, why those activities are moving from one place to another, and the theories developed to explain changes in the landscape. The course addresses current issues of national and international importance such as globalization of culture and the economy, underdevelopment, pollution and environmental degradation, population growth and conflicts. (Arima, Magee, offered annually)
170 The Fluid Earth This course is an introduction to hydrology and explores water in the atmosphere, lakes, oceans, and associated with land masses. Discussion of the role of water in natural systems results in an exploration of (1) atmospheric moisture and storm systems, such as hurricanes, mid-latitude cyclones, and tornadoes, (2) floods and stream processes, (3) the physical, chemical, and ecological characteristics of lakes and oceans, (4) aquifers and groundwater processes, and (5) wetlands. In this course students use scientific quantitative reasoning to examine the characteristics and importance of water across environmental and geophysical sciences. (Curtin, Halfman, offered each semester)
191 Introduction to Environmental Science This is an introductory course focusing on environmental issues from the scientific perspective. Students learn about the scientific nature and the complex interrelationships of environmental issues like ecosystems, populations, genetic manipulation, mineral resources, land-use planning, agriculture and soil resources, water resources and pollution, global warming, acid rain, and solid, liquid and hazardous waste disposal. (Halfman, offered occasionally)
203 Fundamentals of Geographic Information Systems Geographic Information Systems (GIS) has been used in a multitude of environmental applications because it aids in the collection, storage, analysis, and visualization of spatial information and it helps users to make informed decisions regarding the use, management, and protection of the environment. This course will cover the theory of GIS with hands-on-experience in a multitude of environmental applications including: geographical data entry and acquisition, database query and site selection, vector and raster modeling, and integration with global positioning system (GPS). (Arima, Magee, offered each semester)
204 Geography of Garbage You probably know where your t-shirt or computer was made, but do you know where they go when you throw them “away”? Each night, trucks bring tons of New York City waste to processing and storage facilities near Geneva. Meanwhile, boatloads of computers “recycled” in North America sail for Asia and Africa to be dismantled in dangerous conditions so that small amounts of valuable metals may be recovered. This course will introduce students to the global geography of garbage (garbography?) with a particular focus on environmental, human health, and human rights implications. (Magee, offered annually)
205 Introduction to Environmental Law Since the 1970s, environmental law in the United States has become increasingly integrated into natural resource management, municipal land use decisions and corporate development strategies. This course will provide students with an overview of major federal environmental laws including the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, CERCLA (Superfund Act) and the National Environmental Policy Act. In addition, we will cover some basics of property law and the Administrative Procedure Act, which provide the foundation for environmental law theory and enforcement. The course would be a good course for students considering a legal career, a career in environmental studies, municipal planning or land use, or just a general interest in law. (Kinne, offered annually)
215 Environment and Development in East Asia Rapid development in East Asia has brought prosperity to many but has also created serious environmental problems. Rivers and lakes suffer from pollution and algal blooms; water tables have dropped dramatically; farmland has been polluted by industrial chemicals and over-fertilization; and cities choke on pollution from industry and automobiles. This course explores the environmental challenges facing East Asia as well as how governments and other groups are addressing them through various approaches to “sustainable development.” Special emphasis is placed on China, given its regional and global importance, and the Four Little Dragons (Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, and South Korea). (Magee, offered annually)
250 Human Impact on South American Environments This course explores the impact human cultures have had on environments in Ecuador and Peru. In prehistory, intensive agriculture was practiced widely, not only to change the environment but also to take advantage of natural variations in the environment. More recently, deforestation and modern agricultural practices have been extremely destructive to rainforests and other environments. In addition to considering the environmental problems, students consider solutions and reasons for optimism. The course can be considered to cover three different areas, although all are interrelated: deforestation, agriculture, and ecotourism. (Bowyer, Ecuador Program)
251 Geological and Environmental Issues of South America The different geological and environmental issues that affect South America are numerous. The coastline of western South America lies on a convergent plate margin, resulting in the Andes Mountains, volcanoes, and earthquakes. The Galapagos Islands are hotspots, formed by the movement of the Earth’s plates. Thus, the basics behind plate tectonics, earthquakes, volcanoes, and hotspots, as well as the environmental effects, are discussed and examples are visited firsthand. Other important environmental issues such as microclimates, El Niño, farming practices/sustainability (previous and current) and the effects of/on ancient civilizations in the area as well as the ongoing rainforest destruction are also covered. (Ecuador Program)
255 Latin America, and Ecuador and Peru in particular, is one of the most biologically and culturally diverse places in the world. In a transect of a few hundred miles, the landscape can change from desert to tropical rainforest, topography jumps from zero to 15,000 feet, and the spoken language from Spanish to Quechua. In this course, we will examine emerging environmental issues that might fundamentally alter the cultural and biological landscape of the region. Topics include the melting of Andean glaciers and changes in El Nino (ENSO) temporal pattern as a result of climate change, infrastructure development across Amazonian forests, rapid urban growth, and ecotourism, among others. We will discuss the evidences of changes, the socio-economic impacts that will inevitably result from those changes and discuss the effectiveness and fairness of policies that try to combine economic development with biodiversity conservation. Field trips to glaciers, Amazon forest, Galapagos Islands, and peri-urban settlements, will provide contextual information and will stimulate discussions about each topic. (Arima, Ecuador Program)
300 Senior Integrative Experience The senior integrative experience (SIE) involves a multidisciplinary project or seminar, independent study, or an off-campus internship. Ideally an internship should have both an academic and an experiential component. Students must register for ENV 300 during their senior year even if they are fulfilling this requirement by completing an independent study. A student should discuss the SIE project with his or her adviser, as well as with the faculty member supervising the work if other than the student’s adviser. Completion of the senior integrative experience requires preparation of a substantial paper demonstrating integration of all three perspectives of study, and a public presentation at a brown bag seminar. (Staff, offered each semester)
301 Group Senior Integrative Experience The group senior integrative experience (SIE) involves a multidisciplinary project or seminar. It enables a group of ES seniors to investigate an interdisciplinary topic of environmental interest with a focus on the local HWS and Geneva community. The topic is selected at the beginning of the semester and students work both independently and in groups toward the completion of an overall class goal. Completion of the group senior integrative experience requires preparation of a substantial individual paper demonstrating the student’s project focus as well as the integration of their work with the others within the class, and a public (group or individual) presentation at a brown bag seminar. (Staff, offered each semester)
310 Advanced Geographic Information Systems Geographic Information Systems (GIS) modeling capabilities have been used to inform and support decision making in the management of watersheds and parks, in the design of emergency evacuation plans, among others. Advanced GIS will cover a wide range of modeling applications using rasters, including watershed drainage analysis, ecological corridors and least cost path analysis. Students will also be introduced to analytical tools such as spatial data interpolation techniques, point pattern and density analysis, and error assessment. Hands-on experience will be provided through weekly labs and final project. (Arima, offered annually)
499 Environmental Studies Internship (Staff, offered each semester)
