Introductory Courses - These courses satisfy the ENV-110 introductory requirement for major/minor.

110 Topics in Environmental Studies: XXXXXX

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, Global Climate Change, and Sense of Place and Environmental Consciousness. Their individual descriptions are found below. This course, 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)

Biodiversity - Arens

Biologists estimate that Earth is populated by between 10 million and 100 million species. Each is unique and these differences constitute biodiversity. In this course students explore the origins and history of all that diversity, including Earth’s history of extinctions, as a context in which to consider today’s world. How bad is today’s biodiversity “crisis”? How does it compare with past events? What are its causes? Are there solutions? How do we as individuals fit into the picture, making ethical, social and scientific decisions about biodiversity? Students explore these questions through reading, discussion, writing and original research. (Arens, offered annually)

Cancer - Pelkey

This course examines the scientific, economic, political, and public policy issues that interrelate cancer and the environment. Cancer is defined and the methodology for how scientists identify and evaluate cancer-causing substances is discussed. Both naturally occurring and anthropomorphic sources are considered. Case studies are utilized to focus discussions and to explore the connections between disciplines. (Pelkey, offered occasionally)

Energy - Halfman & Drennen

Life cannot exist without energy. Life on earth harnesses energy from the sun and other plants and animals. Society harnesses energy from fossil and modern organic matter, from atoms, the sun, wind, and tides, and from the earth’s interior. Each energy source harnessed by society has a set of environmental, technologic, geologic, economic, social, and moral advantages and disadvantages. Which source of energy is better? What does “better” mean? Which source of energy is, over the long term, sufficient, environmentally safe, and adaptable to many applications? In this course, students examine various aspects of the energy question to arrive at answers to these and other questions. (Halfman/ Drennen, Spring, offered annually)

Water - MaGee or Ryan & B. McKinney

This course examines water as a critical, renewable resource using several different perspectives. Initially, students seek a scientific understanding of how water moves and the aquatic ecosystems it supports. Then students look at water use and development in the arid western U.S. as a case history of water scarcity and the policies that help address such problems. Finally, students apply both the scientific and historical perspectives to current water issues, both regional and global. Note that this course includes a mandatory laboratory period which is used for field trips and special class activities. (Ryan/B. McKinney, Spring, offered alternate years)

Global Climate Change - Curtin, Arima or Arens

This class addresses numerous questions and perspectives regarding global change. What is global change? What causes it? What are the consequences? Is there natural variability in global climate and, if so, how much? What influence do/can/have humans have (had) on global climate? How do we know the difference between short- and long-term climate trends? Does the Earth have the ability to moderate climate regardless of the cause? What are our responsibilities, as an individual, a nation, to the Earth? How does population growth, industrialization, economic status, social, ethical, and political beliefs affect an individual’s/country’s perspective or role in experiencing/dealing with the consequences of global climate change? A number of out-ofclassroom activities are required, involving field trips and supporting the local community on issues related to global change. (Curtin, Arima, Arens, offered annually)

Other 100-level courses:

Env-120 Human Geography and Global Economy - Arima

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.

Env-170 The Fluid Earth - Laird, Curtin, Halfman

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. (Laird, Curtin, Halfman, offered each semester)

Env-191 Introduction to Environmental Science - Halfman

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, Spring, offered annually)

200-level courses:

Env-203 Fundamentals to GIS - Arima

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 adn acquisition, database query and site selection, vector and raster modeling, and integration with global positioning system (GPS). (Arima, Fall, offered annually)

Env-204 The Geography of Garbage - MaGee

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, Spring, offered annually)

Env-205 Introduction to Environmental Law - Kinne

---(Kinne, Spring, offered annually)

Env-215 Development and Environment in East Asia - MaGee

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 "substainable 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, Spring, offered annually)

Env-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)

Env-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)

300-level courses:

The Senior Integrative Experience - All Majors must take either 300 or 301.

Env-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)

Env-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, Fall, offered annually)

Env-310 Advanced GIS

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 spartial data interpolation techniques, point pattern and density analysis, and error assessment.  Hands-on experience will be provided through weekly labs and final project. (Arima, Fall, offered annually)