Environmental Studies Course Descriptions

ENVR 150: Introduction to Environmental Studies 
ENVR 175: Integrated Environmental Science I
ENVR 200A: Environmental Art and Architecture
ENVR 225: Food, Gender, Globalization and the Environment
ENVR 275: Integrated Environmental Science II
ENVR 300A: Environmental Geography
ENVR 300B: Sustainable Agriculture
ENVR 311: Introduction to Geographic Information Systems
ENVR 395: Research Seminar
ENVR 397: Internship in Environmental Studies

ENVR 150: Introduction to Environmental Studies (4) Interdisciplinary introduction to environmental studies. Case-based investigation of environmental issues combining perspectives from the social sciences, natural sciences, and humanities. Topics will vary but may include such subjects as endangered species, air/water pollution, environmental justice/racism, animal rights, global warming, ecotourism, agriculture, nature writing, campus ecology, and others.

ENVR 175: Integrated Environmental Science I (4) An interdisciplinary introduction to the science underlying environmental issues. This course will focus on the principles of chemistry and geology and in their application to environmental problems. Laboratory experiences will involve exercises and experiments that engage students in the process of science, including design of experiments, analysis and presentation of quantitative data, and written and oral communication. Prerequisite: math proficiency.

ENVR 200A: Environmental Art & Architecture (4) This course focuses on a range of issues addressing art, architecture and their relationship to a sustainable environment. Through an analysis of critical theory, students will gain an understanding of the language and critical issues of art, architecture and their impact upon the environment. Through a hands-on approach, students will apply these concepts to make ceramic artwork in the SJU Pottery studio. Students will critically analyze readings, discuss examples of art and architecture and meet with artists in order to expand their understanding of the relationship between art, architecture and the environment.

ENVR 225: Food, Gender, Globalization, and the Environment (4) This course will examine the environmental, economical, and social equity issues of food production, processing, distribution, consumption, and disposal. We explore the journey of food from the field to our table. To map successfully this journey we analyze women’s and men’s roles, historically and currently, in food production: determine global food supply and hunger trends: compare consumption patterns among countries: investigate the environmental impact of agricultural methods of food production: examine different approaches to food sustainability and environmental sustainability; and delve into the politics of food.

ENVR 275: Integrated Environmental Science II (4) An interdisciplinary introduction to the science underlying environmental issues. This course will focus on the principles of biology and their integration with chemical and geological principles from ENVR 175 to analyze environmental problems. Laboratory experiences will involve exercises, experiments, and outdoor field study that engage students in the process of science, including design of experiments, analysis and presentation of quantitative data, and written and oral communication. Prerequisite: math proficiency and ENVR 175 (or CHEM 123 or GEOL 211 or GEOL 213). Fall.

ENVR 300A: Environmental Geography (4) Case-study based and issue-oriented approach to understanding relationships between societies and their environments from a geographical perspective. Centered on exploring how humans around the world have modified their environments, and how societies respond to environmental change. Examining these processes includes exploring the current and historical roles played by social and cultural institutions, by political and economic systems, and by forces such as development and globalization.

ENVR 300B: Sustainable Agriculture (4) How do we sustain the environment and provide food security to 9 billion people in 2042? This course examines the causes of food insecurity; investigates the environmental, human, and cultural costs of industrial agricultural food production; identifies the environmental consequences of producing protein foods, e.g. fish farming, meat, and soybeans; explores the potential and the risks of agricultural biotechnology to increase the global food supply. Students will examine the claims made by proponents of sustainable agriculture and assess its potential in balancing human food production with other environmental goods.

ENVR 311: Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (4) Geographic Information Systems are combinations of data management and mapping software that allow users (such as city and state governments) to organize, query, and map multiple forms of spatial data. Data can include road networks, lakes and streams, vegetation or soil types, land use, property ownership, zoning codes, elevations, census tract data, and so on. In this class, students will learn how these systems work and will produce a series of maps, some from existing data and others from new data collected during the course with global positioning systems (GPS). In order to do this successfully, students will learn spatial analysis techniques, some principles of cartography, and will consider the ethical and social justice implications of the use of GIS and GPS technologies

ENVR 395: Research Seminar (4) Capstone seminar for majors/minors; intensive research project and formal presentation in collaborative setting. Prerequisite: senior standing or permission of instructor. Spring.

ENVR 397: Internship in Environmental Studies (1-8) Supervised career exploration which promotes the integration of theory with practice. An opportunity to apply skills under direct supervision in an approved setting. Prerequisites: approval of the department chair and a faculty moderator; completion of the pre-internship seminar.