Focuses on the structural forces affecting environmental degradation and environmental behavior by examining the relationships between (a) inequality and democratic decision making and (b) undemocratic decision making; U.S. and corporate food and energy policy; and global environmental degradation. The course also focuses on the role that global inequality plays in fostering environmental degradation. Same as SOCY 4027. Requisites: Restricted to students with 57-180 credits (Juniors or Seniors).
Includes field-oriented courses offered at irregular intervals during academic year or during summer sessions. Fulfills application requirement for Environmental Studies major. Recommended prereq., ENVS 1000.
Various topics not normally covered in the curriculum: offered depending on student demand and specialties of faculty. Applied to specialization requirement for Environmental Studies major. May be repeated up to 6 total credit hours, provided the topics vary.
Various topics not normally covered in the curriculum; offered depending on student demand and specialties of faculty. May be repeated up to 8 total credit hours, provided the topics vary. Applies to specialization requirement for Environmental Studies major.
Provides students with an opportunity to apply their knowledge of energy technologies, systems, and policies to energy policy issues. Specific topical coverage varies by semester. Example topics include natural gas fracking, automotive fuel economy standards, and natural gas exports. Students work in teams to research, prepare, and present a detailed and specific energy project proposal. Recommended prereq., ENVS 3621. Formerly RSEI 4150. Requisites: Restricted to students with 57-180 credits (Juniors or Seniors).
Covers fundamentals of biogeochemical cycling, emphasizing water, carbon, and nutrient dynamics in terrestrial ecosystems; chemical interactions of atmosphere, biosphere, lithosphere, and hydrosphere, and natural and human-managed environments. Same as GEOL and EBIO 4160 Requisites: Requires prerequisite courses of GEOL 3320 or EBIO 3270 and CHEM 1011 (all minimum grade D-).
Introduces this interdisciplinary science, studying the interactions between atmospheric processes and living organisms (plants, animals, and humans). Discusses how organisms adapt to a changing environment. Uses a practical, problem-solving approach to explore these interactions. Same as GEOG 4201. Requisites: Requires a prereq course of GEOG 1001 and APPM1340 and 1345 or APPM1350 or ECON1088 or MATH1081 or 1300 or 1310 or 2510 or ANTH4000 or APPM4570 or BCOR1020 or ECON3818 or GEOG3023 or GEOL3023 or PSCI2075 or PSYC3101 or SOCY2061 or 4061 (min grade D-).
Field Studies. Examines the application of conservation principles in the Atlantic Forest of Brazil, a 'biodiversity-in-crisis' setting. Explores successful conservation strategies integrated with efforts to alleviate socioeconomic issues. Three-week Maymester, Study Abroad Global Seminar. Recommended prereqs., EBIO 2040, ENVS 2000 or 2000/higher-level course in ANTH, EBIO, ENVS, EVEN, GEOG, IAFS or other discipline related to ecology or sustainability. Same as ENVS 5340, EBIO 4340 and EBIO 5340.
Class covers research and field methods for biological disciplines associated with natural history museums: vertebrates, invertebrates, and plants. Emphasis is on field research techniques: observations, sampling, collection and preservation methods, and comparisons among elevation zones. Includes 5 field labs, 2 weekend trips, 5 lab practica, experience with several taxonomic experts, and individual research projects. Same as MUSM 4795 and EBIO 4795.
Examines a specific environmental topic in depth, synthesizing information from complex and controversial issues. Different course sections present different topics. Fulfills capstone requirement for Environmental Studies major.Recommended prereq., ENVS 1000. Requisites: Restricted to students with 57-180 credits (Junior or Senior) Environmental Studies (ENVS) or Geography (GEOG) majors only.
Students work with an approved faculty sponsor to explore a topic in greater depth and to pursue an interest that is not offered in the formal curriculum. Recommended prereq., ENVS 1000. May be repeated up to 8 total credit hours.
Supervised project involving original research. Thesis proposal must be accepted by honors chairman. Open only to Environmental Studies majors with at least a 3.30 GPA. May be repeated up to 6 total credit hours. Fulfills capstone requirement in Environmental Studies major. Requisites: Requires prerequisite course of ENVS 1000 (minimum grade D-). Restricted to students with 57-180 credits (Junior or Senior) Environmental Studies (ENVS) majors only.
Examines the basics of energy technologies and energy delivery systems. Covers both conventional energy sources (oil and gas, coal, nuclear and hydroelectric) and renewable/sustainable energy technologies (wind, solar, biomass, geothermal and end-use efficiency). Investigates individual technologies as well as integration of multiple technologies on energy systems such as the electricity grid and liquid and gas fuels infrastructures. Formerly RSEI 5000.
Introduction to methodologies of the policy sciences with emphasis on applications to environmental issues; role of science in decision making; professional roles and responsibilities as a policy analyst. Requisites: Restricted to Environmental Studies (ENVS) graduate students only.
Examines energy policy and the problem of sustainability through a variety of disciplinary and topical perspectives: historical, political, behavioral, techno-economic and legal. A critical approach is applied to arguments about energy policy processes, systems, and desired outcomes, with special emphasis on the role of renewable and sustainable energy in the changing global energy system. Department enforced prereq., an introductory energy science and technology course. Formerly RSEI 5001.
Engages and exposes students to diverse leadership models and styles and emphasizes concepts and skills necessary for effective environmental leadership. Students will explore and critically analyze approaches and tools for effective collaboration, creative communication with diverse stakeholders, facilitation of events and processes, negotiation, fiscal management, strategic planning, practicing design thinking, developing organizational structures and leading social change.
Addresses the business of renewable energy, including opportunities and challenges with renewable electricity, renewable transportation fuels, and energy efficiency. Topics include energy markets, opportunity identification, life cycle analysis, economic analysis, policy impacts, and project financing of sustainable renewable energy business models. Same as BADM 6930. Formerly RSEI 5002. Requisites: Requires prerequisite courses of ENST/RSEI 5000 and 5001 (all minimum grade D-).
Learn to use a 'systems thinking' approach to address complex environmental challenges. The objective of the course is to introduce students to thinking about environmental challenges in a holistic manner. This will help students to understand the connectivity between different parts of the same system and to identify the synergies and trade-offs contained within most socio-environmental systems.
Prepares students to be effective leaders within their organizations by introducing them to a wide range of value systems and examining links between these and effective leadership. Students will learn tools and approaches for effective analysis and presentation of value-based appeals and will learn through practical scenarios to identify and assess value-based analyses used by others.
Introduces students to theory and methods used in research on environmental science, values and policy. The goal of the course is to provide a broad overview of the conceptual background relevant to work and research in environmental studies, with an emphasis on understanding the similarities and differences in research methods used in different disciplines and in environmental research.
Examines the public policy process, including the influences and actors that shape policy outcomes. Focuses on the major theories, frameworks, and models of policy change, along with emerging scholarship that challenges, refines, and advances the theory. Requisites: Restricted to graduate students only.
Examines a wide range of energy issues in seminar format. Students attend energy-related seminars and critique/evaluate the presented material. Open to graduate students from all disciplines. Formerly RSEI 5100.
A variety of topics not currently offered in curriculum; offered depending on instructor availability and student demand. May be repeated up to 9 total credit hours, provided the topics vary.
Covers various topics in the social sciences and humanities in environmental studies. Requisites: Restricted to Arts and Sciences, Journalism, Law or Business Graduate Students only.
Covers a wide range of quantitative methods used in policy research and their applications. Topics may include decision-making under uncertainty, fundamentals of microeconomics, mathematics of economic efficiency, cost-benefit analysis, system optimization, budgeting, fundamentals or probability, risk assessment, risk perception, risk communication, and decision analysis. Includes practical exercises, as well as readings and discussion, of various strengths and weaknesses of the different methods.
