Environmental Studies Course Descriptions

Contemporary life is enriched by abundant energy, but the negative environmental impacts from its use demand new methods of generation, storage and efficiency. This course examines the fundamental chemistry and physics behind conventional and emerging energy technologies, with a laboratory component to further explore their design and function. The course stresses the intersection of technology with economics, policy, and other social factors affecting its use. Students cannot receive credit for this course if they have previously received credit for PHYS 112/ENST 115

Explores energy production, storage, and usage as they are currently practiced. Certain emerging technologies will also be addressed. Environmental and socio-economic impact will be discussed in the context of limitations imposed by the laws of physics. Students cannot receive credit for this course if they have previously received credit for CHEM 112/ENST 112

Environmental degradation impacts some individuals and communities more than others: the poor, people of color, and certain nonhuman species and landscapes bear the brunt of our collective actions. This seminar pairs literary texts (novels, short stories and poems) with nonfiction essays on topics ranging from food production to indigenous rights. We will discuss and write about how these texts impact our understanding of fairness, justice, rights and responsibility.

Presents principles of biology, chemistry, geology, and physics that relate to such environmental issues as resource limitation, pollution, and environmental degradation. Designed to foster understanding of scientific measures of environmental quality. One laboratory per week. This course may not be taken on a Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory basis. PREREQUISITES: Freshman or sophomore standing; consent of instructor required for juniors and seniors

This course applies principles of economics and political science to environmental issues, including pollution, resource limitation, and environmental degradation. It is designed to foster an understanding of the environmental policy-making and regulatory process in the United States and globally.

Directed study follows a syllabus set primarily by the instructor to meet the needs or interests of an individual student or small group of students. The main goal of directed study is knowledge or skill acquisition, not research or creative work. PREREQUISITES: To register student must complete the Student Initiated Course Form with consultation of supervising instructor.

An opportunity for environmental studies students to gain practical experience in the commercial, government, or nonprofit sectors. The internship is supplemented by readings and discussions with a supervising faculty member. At the conclusion of the internship, the student must submit a summative report that considers the internship experience in the context of the student’s other academic work. The academic component of the internship includes readings related to the substance of the internship, discussions with the faculty supervisor, and a written report appropriate to the discipline. Course grades are based on this academic work. PREREQUISITES: To register student must complete the Student Initiated Course Form with consultation of supervising instructor.

Study of a particular topic of current interest in environmental studies. Topics will vary with each offering of the course, and may include field research, community engagement, or other experiential learning opportunities. Course may be repeated when topic is different.

A course investigating the links between geology and health, with a particular focus on environmental issues in urban areas and ties to the field of environmental justice. The course considers issues such as human lead exposure from soil and water, and the links between air pollution and asthma. This course includes a lab component in which students will be collecting and analyzing soil, air, and water samples. PREREQUISITES: GEOL 110, ENST 150, or CHEM 116

A lecture and field-study course examining the principles and problems of animal behavior. Subjects include orientation, feeding, locomotion, communication, escape in time and space, biological rhythms, mate choice, and aspects of social behavior, examined from evolutionary, ontogenetic, physiological, ecological, and ethological perspectives. Lecture and laboratory. PREREQUISITES: BIOL 150

A study of biological evolution, including natural selection, adaptation, the evolution of sex, speciation, extinction, and constraints on evolutionary change. Reading primary literature is emphasized. Two lectures and one discussion per week. PREREQUISITES: BIOL 130 or ANTH 141

An introduction to the interactions between organisms and the environment. Explores the role of physical, chemical and biotic processes--including human activities--in determining the structure and function of populations, communities, and ecosystems. Topics include resource availability, competition, predation, symbiosis and natural and anthropogenic disturbances such as disease, biological invasions, pollution and climate change. Lecture and laboratory.

This course focuses on the fundamental chemical processes that control Earth's atmosphere, ocean, soil, and climate. The course emphasizes the mechanisms that regulate the flow of energy in different ecosystems, the environmental role of particulate matter and solar radiation, chemistry-climate relationships, and the anthropogenic impact on the environment. PREREQUISITES: CHEM 116

An introduction to the interactions between organisms and the environment. Explores the role of physical, chemical and biotic processes--including human activities--in determining the structure and function of populations, communities, and ecosystems. Topics include resource availability, competition, predation, symbiosis and natural and anthropogenic disturbances such as disease, biological invasions, pollution and climate change. Lecture only.

A study of the physical, chemical, and organic evolution of the Earth since its origin 4.5 billion years ago, with emphasis on times of change and crisis. The course also examines the evolution of ideas about Earth’s history, illustrating how science and culture are inherently entangled. PREREQUISITES: GEOL 110

In this class we will cover the fundamental scientific knowledge about climate, and the long-term patterns and variation in climates over Earth’s history. Students will be able to evaluate and explain major climate drivers in the past, and how past and future human activities are altering climates at both local and global scales. PREREQUISITES: GEOL 110 or GEOS 110 or GEOL 150 or GEOS 150 or CHEM 212

Fundamentals of electromagnetic radiation and the interaction of radiation with matter are introduced as the basis of remote sensing. Interpretation and manipulation of remotely sensed images are used to demonstrate the wealth of information remote sensing provides. Applications and case studies from geology, environmental science, ecology, agronomy, and urban planning will be explored. High school physics recommended. Lecture and laboratory. PREREQUISITES: GEOL 110; high school physics recommended

Low-temperature geochemical processes drive the formation, weathering, and alteration of rocks and minerals and govern the composition of waters at the Earth’s surface. In studying these principles, we will investigate questions about the Earth’s environment from both modern systems and deep geological time. Course includes a three-day field trip to northern Wisconsin in the middle of the term. One lab per week. PREREQUISITES: GEOL 110 or GEOS 110 concurrent enrollment in GEOS 245

This course examines the growing genre of ecocinema through film screenings, literary, political, and theoretical works that delve into the intersections among aesthetics, political accountability, and environmental issues. We will consider the role of creative work in addressing environmental conditions and connecting struggles for social and environmental justice. Students will learn about video production and will have the opportunity to create their own short films.

This course explores scientific concepts related to the conservation and restoration of Earth's biological diversity. Topics include patterns of species and ecosystem diversity, the relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning, causes of extinction, assessing extinction risk, behavioral indicators, in-situ and ex-situ management strategies for endangered species, and ecosystem restoration. Lecture only. PREREQUISITES: BIOL 150 and sophomore standing

A course in the quantitative description of chemical equilibria in solution (acid-base, complexation, redox, solubility) using classical, separation, electrochemical, and spectrochemical methods of analysis. This course covers methods of quantification, statistics, and data analysis as applied to modern chemistry. Students will have the opportunity to individually design projects. Three lectures and two laboratory periods per week. PREREQUISITES: CHEM 116, placement exam, or consent of instructor

How can we understand our place on this planet and envision a better future? Doing so requires not only scientific knowledge but humanistic insight into how humans conceptualize, value, and engage with more-than-human nature. Accordingly, this seminar draws on diverse lenses-which may include literature, history, film, art, philosophy, and Indigenous studies-to examine current environmental realities, how we got here, and possible paths forward.

How can cities be sustainable? The increasing urbanization of the world's population, shift to service-driven economies, and growing diversity of cities make this question pressing and complicated. This course introduces economic, environmental, and social dimensions of the urban sustainability problem and explores responses to it through a two-week December study trip to London and Amsterdam and winter term studies and poster presentations. Program fee is required. Students pay their own airfare. PREREQUISITES: An introductory course in GOVT, ECON, ENST or GLST, or consent of instructor

Presents the research process in archaeology and offers an overview of essential data-collection and analysis techniques, including site survey and excavation, settlement pattern analysis, lithic analysis, and ceramic analysis. Students will take part in field research. PREREQUISITES: ANTH 120

This course explores fundamental cycles between earth's major reservoirs of nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, carbon and water. Through lecture and group presentations, students will gain a solid understanding of the fundamentals of biogeochemical cycles and the mechanism underlying the biological transformations of those elements. Lecture and laboratory. PREREQUISITES: BIOL 130 or GEOL 110

This course provides an examination of the environment as an issue in world politics. Emphasis will be placed on the role of both state and non-state actors (i.e., the UN, NGOs) in global environmental regimes that are designed to deal with global warming, ozone depletion, and other environmental issues. Particular attention will be paid to the positions taken by both developed and developing countries. As part of the course, students will participate in a simulation of an international negotiation on an environmental issue. PREREQUISITES: Sophomore standing or ENST 150 or GOVT 110

The course shows how economists analyze environmental problems and the types of solutions they propose (if any). Topic coverage includes property rights and externalities, cost-benefit analysis, regulatory policy instruments, the interplay between policy and innovation, and basic models of political economy. PREREQUISITES: ECON 100 or ENST 151

This discussion based course investigates how historical and contemporary environmental injustices are entangled with settler colonialism and extractive capitalism. Through papers, discussions, and presentations, you will come to understand how Indigenous sovereignty and decolonization are fundamentally concerned with land, water, and ecosystems. You will receive an introduction to Indigenous environmental justice, develop a theoretical toolkit to approach topics concerning settler colonialism, and explore political and environmental solutions.

This course explores the economics of both exhaustible and renewable natural resource extraction. Topics include oil and mineral extraction, fisheries, forest and water management, and biodiversity. The course includes extensive study of current issues associated with the use of natural resources through a group project. PREREQUISITES: ECON 100; sophomore standing recommended

The heart of this course is an annual symposium organized around a well-defined topic with both scientific and policy components — e.g., nuclear waste disposal, global warming. Each year, two or three nationally recognized experts on the selected topic are brought to campus. In the weeks before a visit by one of the major speakers, students, together with environmental studies faculty, read and discuss papers suggested by the speaker. The speakers meet with students in the seminar following their public lecture, providing students with an opportunity to interact directly with scientists and policy makers at the forefront of environmental issues.

This class investigates intersections among people, arts, and the environment in European regions during the Middle Ages (c. 400-1400). Readings draw broadly from primary sources in translation, ecocritical studies, and environmental histories and dovetail with close examinations of images, objects, monuments, and sites across varied medieval landscapes. We question what constitutes medieval ecologies and consider their profound relevance for today's world.

The principles of the ecology of fresh waters, developed through discussions, laboratory, and field investigations of the functional relationships and productivity of biotic communities as they are affected by the dynamics of physical, chemical, and biotic parameters. Lecture and laboratory. PREREQUISITES: BIOL 150 or BIOL 170 (or concurrent enrollment) or BIOL 230

Students engaged in this course will have the opportunity to do field research in a developing country. Each student will develop and implement a project that concerns a political, economic, social, or environmental issues that is important in the country visited. Past Field Experiences have taken place in Sierra Leone, Ghana, Jamaica, and Morocco. Students will also have the opportunity to learn from both national and local leaders in the country of research, and to participate in community engaged learning through volunteer activities. Class members will actually travel during either winter or spring break. Students should register for ENST 311 in the term prior to the planned travel. They should also register in the subsequent term, when they will present their research to the wider Lawrence community.

Planned Location for 2021-22: To be determined PREREQUISITES: GOVT 248, GOVT 500 or consent of instructor

A course designed to offer students an opportunity to study important issues in environmental studies not covered in other regularly offered courses. Activities may include the reading and analysis of material from primary literature, consideration of interdisciplinary connection, and field and laboratory activities.

A more detailed investigation of geochemical principles and processes through the investigation of important geochemical issues. Readings come heavily from the primary literature. PREREQUISITES: GEOL 240 and CHEM 115, or consent of instructor; CHEM 116 recommended

This course studies the movement of water, solute, and sediment through the landscape and the resulting properties and distribution of surficial earth materials and landforms. Topics include weathering; soil development; runoff; mass movement; river, glacial, and coastal processes; and deposition in sedimentary environments. One lab per week. PREREQUISITES: GEOS 240

This course examines urban processes with special attention to race and the city. We will adopt a critical spatial perspective to analyzing urban space, ecology, racial inequality, class and labor politics, public policy, urban planning, climate crisis and sustainability, urban greening and gentrification, urban agriculture, and community wellbeing. We will explore multiple methods for mapping and collectively create interactive digital maps using open-source software.

This course emphasizes core concepts in ecology and evolution from the unique perspective of plants. Students will explore the interactions between plants and their environment over a range of scales; from individuals to populations and communities. Lecture and laboratory. PREREQUISITES: BIOL 170

A hands-on course intended to demonstrate basic ecological principles using local terrestrial ecosystems. Field research projects will introduce students to methods in hypothesis development, experimental design, data collection, statistical analysis, and scientific writing and presentation. Research topics will include estimating population size, community structure, plant-animal interactions, and foraging behavior. Lecture and laboratory. PREREQUISITES: BIOL 150 or BIOL 170, and sophomore standing

In this course, you will learn how forests are more than “natural resources” or “ecosystem services.” Rather, forests are complex and agentic assemblages of plants, animals, insects, fungi, and micro-ecosystems, with intrinsic value. And from a cultural lens they hold human lifeways, history, belonging, and meaning. Though papers, projects, and discussions, you will gain important skills, including analytical writing, persuasive speaking, and qualitive research methods. PREREQUISITES: PREREQUISITES: Sophomore standing

North Americans have transformed the environment while being shaped by nature in turn. This course surveys the changing relationships between Americans and their physical environment in historical context from the 17th century to the present. Topics include the “Columbian exchange,” agriculture, urbanization, conservation, and the emergence of contemporary environmentalism. PREREQUISITES: Sophomore standing

An examination of some ethical assumptions that might figure in discussions of environmental policy by economists, legal experts, philosophers, and policy scientists. PREREQUISITES: One course in economics or environmental studies or government or philosophy; or junior standing

A look at how humans have made sense of existing in the biosphere. We will examine views on the nature of life in religious traditions like ancient Egypt and Jainism as well as early philosophical accounts. The second half will involve a close reading of Charles Darwin and reflection on resources offered by religious traditions to respond to the "sixth extinction." Lecture/discussion with written assignments and journaling on the coming of spring. PREREQUISITES: Sophomore standing

An integrated lecture and computer laboratory introduction to the process of developing mathematical descriptions of the interactions between components of a population, community, or ecosystem, and the use of computer simulation as a tool for understanding ecology and natural resource management. Topics include population growth, predator-prey and competitor interactions, biogeochemical cycling, and mass balance in ecosystems. PREREQUISITES: At least one of the following: BIOL 229, BIOL 230, BIOL 245, BIOL 330, BIOL 335 or BIOL 345

Taking a dramaturgical and geographical approach to explore a deep sense of place, we will use the lens of culture (drama, poetry, fiction, music, film, history and visual arts) to investigate the variegated quality of Ireland's land and its people. PREREQUISITES: SOPHOMORE STANDING, or ENST 150 or ENST 151 or ENST 251 (or) THAR 111 or THAR 327

Advanced study and analysis of a particular topic or case related to environmental issues, viewed from the perspective of more than one academic discipline. PREREQUISITES: To register student must complete the Student Initiated Course Form with consultation of supervising instructor.

Directed study follows a syllabus set primarily by the instructor to meet the needs or interests of an individual student or small group of students. The main goal of directed study is knowledge or skill acquisition, not research or creative work. PREREQUISITES: To register student must complete the Student Initiated Course Form with consultation of supervising instructor.

An opportunity for environmental studies students to gain practical experience in the commercial, government, or nonprofit sectors. The internship is supplemented by readings and discussions with a supervising faculty member. At the conclusion of the internship, the student must submit a summative report that considers the internship experience in the context of the student’s other academic work. The academic component of the internship includes readings related to the substance of the internship, discussions with the faculty supervisor, and a written report appropriate to the discipline. Course grades are based on this academic work. PREREQUISITES: To register student must complete the Student Initiated Course Form with consultation of supervising instructor.

Advanced independent research, under the guidance of a faculty mentor or mentors, on a particular topic related to the environment. The student is required to produce a formal paper or equivalent (e.g., poster session, Web page, presentation at a professional meeting) as a tangible record of the work carried out. PREREQUISITES: To register student must complete the Student Initiated Course Form with consultation of supervising instructor.

This service-learning course involves hands-on research and advocacy with Menominee community members concerning issues of sustainability, environmental justice, and community-based scholarship. You will work in groups on areas of concern to the Menominee community, and will produce knowledge that will assist in their efforts. Through course readings, presentations, field trips, and projects, you will gain a firm grounding in Indigenous knowledgeways, environmental ethics, and methodologies. PREREQUISITES: Sophomore standing

Field and laboratory experimental investigations of the transfer and transformation of energy or energy-containing materials between and within organisms and populations of aquatic ecosystems. Part of the Marine Biology Term. Lecture and laboratory. PREREQUISITES: BIOL 330, concurrent enrollment in BIOL 505 and 226 and consent of instructor

Study of the transfer and transformation of energy or energy-containing materials between and within organisms and populations. Discussions will cover food web structure and function across marine, freshwater and terrestrial environments. Part of the Marine Biology Term. Lecture only. PREREQUISITES: BIOL 330, concurrent enrollment in BIOL 505 and 226 and consent of instructor

Earth is a dynamic and changing planet, comprised of tightly linked ecosystems and organisms. In this course we explore relationships between the biotic and abiotic drivers that influence the distribution of global diversity. We use large-scale datasets to develop practical skills for monitoring the responses of biodiversity to environmental change. PREREQUISITES: BIOL 150 and BIOL 170; preferred but not required: BIOL 230 and BIOL 235

An introduction to the basic components of the hydrologic cycle, focusing on surface water and groundwater systems. Measurement and analysis of hydrologic data are emphasized. Application to contemporary issues such as flooding, watershed development, and groundwater contamination will be discussed. PREREQUISITES: GEOL 110; PHYS 141 or 151 recommended

The course will examine the relationship between community-mindedness and the development of ecological literacy. Cultural assumptions about the natural world and our place in it that are implicit within the K-12 and college curriculum, and the manner in which modern forms of education shape our understanding of what it means to “live well in a place we know well” will be explored. Examples of how schools can contribute to environmental and social sustainability (and justice) via community- and place-based education will be presented. PREREQUISITES: Sophomore standing or consent of instructor

An examination of selected aspects of environmental policy in the United States. Topics include the historical development of US environmental policy, environmental justice, urban environmental issues, connections between food systems and the environment, and the application of economic reasoning to environmental policy making. PREREQUISITES: ENST 151 and junior standing, or consent of instructor

An in-depth examination of a particular topic in environmental history, suitable for majors in history and environmental studies. Students from other majors should consult the instructor before registering. May be repeated for credit when topic is different.

In many societies around the world, people use music and specialized listening skills to connect with nature, specific places, and surrounding environments. This course will explore music performance practices that express or enact these connections. Course materials will draw on ethnographic case studies and the growing fields of ecomusicology, acoustic ecology, and zoomusicology. PREREQUISITES: MUCO 212 or MUCO 202 or ENST 127 or consent of instructor

Examines the ecology of coral reef environments. Lecture, laboratory, and field components. Part of the Marine Biology Term. Lecture and laboratory. PREREQUISITES: BIOL 330 and concurrent enrollment in BIOL 226 and BIOL 434

An interdisciplinary investigation of the ways that literature shapes environmental values and practices as well as responds to environmental concerns. We will study novels, films, and essays on topics such as organic food and farming, air and water pollution, and environmental justice movements. PREREQUISITES: Junior standing

Advanced study and analysis of a particular topic or case related to environmental issues, viewed from the perspective of more than one academic discipline. PREREQUISITES: To register student must complete the Student Initiated Course Form with consultation of supervising instructor.

Directed study follows a syllabus set primarily by the instructor to meet the needs or interests of an individual student or small group of students. The main goal of directed study is knowledge or skill acquisition, not research or creative work. PREREQUISITES: To register student must complete the Student Initiated Course Form with consultation of supervising instructor.

An opportunity for environmental studies students to gain practical experience in the commercial, government, or nonprofit sectors. The internship is supplemented by readings and discussions with a supervising faculty member. At the conclusion of the internship, the student must submit a summative report that considers the internship experience in the context of the student’s other academic work. The academic component of the internship includes readings related to the substance of the internship, discussions with the faculty supervisor, and a written report appropriate to the discipline. Course grades are based on this academic work. PREREQUISITES: To register student must complete the Student Initiated Course Form with consultation of supervising instructor.

Advanced independent research, under the guidance of a faculty mentor or mentors, on a particular topic related to the environment. The student is required to produce a formal paper or equivalent (e.g., poster session, Web page, presentation at a professional meeting) as a tangible record of the work carried out. PREREQUISITES: To register student must complete the Student Initiated Course Form with consultation of supervising instructor.

A seminar on issues and methods of environmental studies and a focal point of the environmental studies major. Topics include scientific measures of environmental quality, natural resource management, pollution, prices, and public policy and ethical considerations. Students employ data and models to address a chosen environmental problem. Faculty members from contributing disciplines participate. PREREQUISITES: ENST 150, ENST 300, and senior standing; or consent of the instructor

Advanced study and analysis of a particular topic or case related to environmental issues, viewed from the perspective of more than one academic discipline. PREREQUISITES: To register student must complete the Student Initiated Course Form with consultation of supervising instructor.

Directed study follows a syllabus set primarily by the instructor to meet the needs or interests of an individual student or small group of students. The main goal of directed study is knowledge or skill acquisition, not research or creative work. PREREQUISITES: To register student must complete the Student Initiated Course Form with consultation of supervising instructor.

An opportunity for environmental studies students to gain practical experience in the commercial, government, or nonprofit sectors. The internship is supplemented by readings and discussions with a supervising faculty member. At the conclusion of the internship, the student must submit a summative report that considers the internship experience in the context of the student’s other academic work. The academic component of the internship includes readings related to the substance of the internship, discussions with the faculty supervisor, and a written report appropriate to the discipline. Course grades are based on this academic work. PREREQUISITES: To register student must complete the Student Initiated Course Form with consultation of supervising instructor.

Advanced independent research, under the guidance of a faculty mentor or mentors, on a particular topic related to the environment. The student is required to produce a formal paper or equivalent (e.g., poster session, Web page, presentation at a professional meeting) as a tangible record of the work carried out. PREREQUISITES: To register student must complete the Student Initiated Course Form with consultation of supervising instructor.