Environmental Studies

Studies the interactions between organisms-the biosphere-and their environments. The course investigates the nature of ecosystems, energy flow, biogeochemical cycles, and characteristics of populations and communities of organisms, and it considers imbalances in various areas of human concern. Fulfills general education requirement in natural sciences. [4 credits]

Studies the spheres that comprise Earth: the lithosphere, which contains both the crust and underlying material; the hydrosphere, which contains all of the planet's solid, liquid, and gaseous water; and the atmosphere, which contains all of the planet's air. Students also study events that cause changes to occur in one or more of the spheres, and the results of interactions within and among the Earth's physical spheres. Fulfills general education requirement in natural sciences. [4 credits]

Incorporates laws of natural science to examine how environmental carrying capacity ultimately limits economic activity, beginning with the fundamental problem of scarcity. The course examines the economic activities of consumption and production as a subset of a broader ecosystem, particularly investigating how these activities impact and are impacted by women. The unintentional consequences, externalities, and benefits of economic activity are considered with a focus on ideas for internalizing the externalities and for providing incentives to consider such things as aesthetics, ethics and biodiversity in our valuation of economic choices. Fulfills general education requirement in social sciences. [3 credits]

Addresses global ecological system dynamics as well as policy alternatives at the local, state, national and international level. The course focuses on fiscal, regulatory and trade policies at the national level as well as green international efforts, and investigates how environmental injustice disproportionately affects women. It analyzes policy alternatives that would move the U.S. from an economy reliant on fossil fuels to a country based on green energy sources. In Kenneth Boulding's terms, the course analyzes how to move from a "cowboy economy" to a "spaceman economy." And in the Iroquois tradition, it asks the question, "How will it affect the seventh generation?" Fulfills general education requirement in social sciences. [3 credits]

Addresses a variety of challenging issues in environmental ethics. Topics considered may include the status of non-human animals, farming and the environment, global climate change, inter-generational justice, issues of land use, the preservation of forests and wilderness, and the use and development of energy resources. Through an examination of some of these issues, the course also introduces students to a variety of moral theories, from both philosophical and religious perspectives.The social, gender and environmental justice implications of ecological issues are a major concern of the course. Fulfills general education requirement in upper-level Philosophy and Values. Cross-listed with PHL-336. [3 credits]

Provides a practicum, internship or study abroad experience focused on environmental issues, including such possibilities as the PLEN seminar in Washington, D.C.; participation in the biology partnerships in Florida; study abroad trip to Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, New Zealand, Australia, or at SSND sites worldwide; or internship at the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Herring Run Watershed Association, the National Aquarium or the Maryland Zoo. [3 credits]

Seeks to replicate the historical context of a particular event, such as Hurricane Katrina, with its causal forces: environmental, sociological, political and others. Students will investigate and debate case studies in the area of environmental sustainability, considering the science, policy and business aspects. This course, though set in the past, is constructed as a game. The game will unfold in ways that are not predetermined; what students do affects what will happen. Serves as the capstone for the environmental sustainability program; course is restricted to majors only. [3 credits]