Environmental Studies Courses

Semester specific course desciptions

The “ESP” designation indicates that this course meets the Environmental Science & Policy (ESP) requirement for the environmental studies major.

101. Introduction to Environmental Studies.
This one-semester course is an introduction to the basic concepts and interrelationships needed to understand the complexities of environmental problems. A survey of the characteristics of natural environments and human populations is followed by a study of environmental degradation and alternative solutions to environmental problems. The student is introduced to the roles of many disciplines (including both the natural and social sciences) in the study of environmental problems. The emphasis of the course is on interdisciplinary thinking.

105,107. Energy.
The nature of energy, its application in modern society and a variety of issues associated with that use. The course covers the physical principles of energy, particularly of electrical energy, electromagnetic (optical) energy, nuclear energy and thermodynamics. The role of energy in society, fossil fuels, electric power plants, automobiles, global warming and the ozone layer and energy conservation; other topics may include nuclear, solar and other sources of energy. This course makes extensive use of elementary algebra and scientific notation. Environmental Studies 107 has a lab component and fills the natural science with lab distribution requirement. Environmental Studies 105 is taught in a lecture format with shorter integrated lab activities and fills the natural science distribution requirement. One of these courses is typically offered every other year. Also offered as Physics 105, 107.

106. Chemistry and the Environment. (1.25 units)
This course is designed for non-science majors and environmental studies majors. Basic chemical concepts are examined with special reference to the environment. Topics include elements and compounds; atomic structure and the periodic table; chemical change; energy and entropy; oxidation and reduction; acidity; and the 10 questions a chemist needs to answer before fully characterizing a chemical reaction. These topics are related to pollution, waste management, recycling, energy sources and the limits to growth. Lecture plus one laboratory per week. Also offered as Chemistry 106.

108. Economics for Environmentalists.
An introduction to the basic concepts, tools and theories of microeconomics that are applied to problems typically associated with the use of the environment. The course begins with basic microeconomic principles, advances to important economics theories that are commonly used to describe environmental resource allocation problems, and concludes with an examination of case studies such as air pollution and acid rain, destruction of rainforests, climate change, alternative sources of energy and waste disposal. This course does not count toward the major in environmental studies-economics and is not open to first-year students. Prerequisite: Environmental Studies 101 or permission of instructor. Also offered as Economics 108.

110. Environmental Geology.
This course relates geology, the science of the Earth, to human activities and emphasizes the importance of geology in environmental affairs. Important geologic concepts and fundamental principles necessary to unite the cultural and physical environments are discussed. Topics include natural geologic hazards and interaction between people and the environment, including human modification of nature, geologic resources and energy. May not be taken following or in conjunction with Geology 103. Also offered as Geology 110.

112. Global Climate.
Climate is perhaps the single most important and pervasive factor controlling global ecosystems and human well-being. This interdisciplinary course examines global climate from a historical perspective, beginning with the formation of the solar system and continuing through geologic time to the present. Topics include the development of the atmosphere; the workings of the global “heat engine” of atmosphere, oceans and continents; evidence for past climate change; causes of global climate change; the effects of climate change on human evolution; and the effects of human evolution on the global climate system. This is a team-taught studio lab course satisfying the natural science distribution requirement. Also offered as Geology 112 and Physics 112 and through Global Studies.

124. Dirty Business and the Environment.
The Earth is in crisis.  In this course we focus on the social causes – and solutions – to this crisis.  We look comparatively at cultures and economic systems to see which societies have developed ecologically sustainable cultures and economies, then examine some of the effects of corporations on wildlands, agriculture and energy policy.  What causes these effects and how do people respond to them?   Last, we examine consumerism and different remedies to the effects of corporations, and alternatives, both market and nonmarket. At each step we analyze the principles that lead to ecological sustainability. Also offered as Sociology 124 and through Peace Studies.

205. Quantitative Analysis. (Env.)
An introductory course dealing with the chemical, physical and logical principles underlying quantitative chemical analysis. Among the broad topics treated are data evaluation, titrimetry, solution equilibria, potentiometry and absorption spectroscopy. Lectures plus one laboratory per week. Prerequisites: Environmental Studies 101; Chemistry 104 or 105 (with a 2.0 grade or higher) or permission of instructor. Also offered, with variations, as Chemistry 205.

209. Vertebrate Natural History.
A field-oriented course that explores the biology of vertebrate animals, with emphasis on understanding the diversity, life history, evolution and unique adaptations of vertebrates. The laboratory focus is on developing scientifically sound skills in observation and on learning to identify local vertebrates. Some extra class meetings are required for regional field excursions and for early-morning bird-watching sessions. Prerequisites: Environmental Studies 101, Biology 101, 102 or permission of instructor. Also offered as Biology 209 and through Outdoor Studies.

211. Geomorphology.
Geomorphology, literally “earth-shape-study,” is the study of the landscape, its evolution and the processes that sculpt it. The purpose of this course is to enhance the student’s ability to read geologic information from the record preserved in the landscape. This is achieved through understanding the relationship between the form of the Earth’s surface and the processes that shape that form. Students combine quantitative description of the landscape with study of landscape-shaping processes into a comprehensive investigation of the dynamic landscape system including glaciation, hills, rivers, mountains and plains. Prerequisite: Environmental Studies 101. Also offered as Geology 211.

216. Climate Change Policy and Advocacy. (ESP)
This course focuses broadly on the action groups of people take in the face of climate change. Most of our time will be devoted to the way knowledge, worldviews, and power are used by governments in climate change decision making, but we will also consider how groups of individuals act as well. We consider climate change policy, and attendant critiques, at the international, national, and state levels. particular focus is given to the Kyoto Protocol and how it developd within the United Nations under the Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The class incorporates climate change science and impacts as they become known, and policy as it happens. Students also get involved with the climate change movement. Prerequisite: Environmental Studies 101. Also offered through Peace Studies.

221. General Ecology.
A study of the factors influencing the abundance and distribution of species, including interactions between individuals and their physical/chemical environment, population dynamics and the structure/function of communities and ecosystems and their responses to disturbance. Labs are field-oriented and emphasize characteristics of local communities or specific techniques such as estimation of population density. Lectures and one lab per week. Prerequisites: Environmental Studies 101; Biology 101, 102 or equivalent; or permission of instructor. Also offered as Biology 221 and through Outdoor Studies.

231. Health Effects of Pollution. (ESP)
An introduction to the scientific study of environmental agents and their human health effects. Emphasis is on the environmental causes of disease, including biological agents, hazardous waste, radiation, pesticides, flame retardants, drinking water contaminants, food additives, housing, occupational hazards and stress. Case studies illustrate how health effects are investigated by epidemiology and how theories of disease have evolved. Procedures for establishing regulatory policy and health standards are also discussed. Prerequisite: Environmental Studies 101.

240. Environment and Resource Use in Kenya.
The contrast in Kenya’s physical and human environment is addressed, between highland and lowland, cropland and rangeland, domestic livestock and wildlife, modern and traditional ways of life and land-use systems. The impact of the colonial regime on land ownership and resource use is studied with reference to certain ethnic groups. Responses to changing economic and political conditions in the postcolonial era are also discussed. Prerequisite: Environmental Studies 101. Also offered as Anthropology 240.

249. Contemporary Recreation Issues and Public Lands. (PP)
The popularity of outdoor recreation continues to increase dramatically. Land managers are often charged with the contradictory responsibilities of allowing an “unconfined” recreation experience while maintaining resource protection. This course is an interdisciplinary investigation of outdoor recreation on public lands and its social and ecological consequences. The emphasis is on wildland recreation — activities that are dependent on undeveloped settings. The course examines the biophysical and social science of recreation to inform policy and planning approaches. Prerequisite: Environmental Studies 101.

251. Independent Projects in Environmental Studies.
For students desiring to do individual research in environmental studies. May be elected only after submission of a written proposal during the prior semester and approval by core faculty of environmental studies. Prerequisites: Environmental Studies 101 and permission of instructor.

255. Environmental Perceptions and Indigenous Knowledge.
People in different cultures perceive their environment in different ways and have bodies of systematic knowledge relating to land, water, soil, plants and animals upon which they base their use of these resources. This course attempts to show how indigenous people understand the interrelationship of the different elements of their environments and have used them for sustainable livelihood. The impact of Western knowledge systems and commercial interests on indigenous communities is discussed, with reference to African and American case studies. Also offered as Anthropology 255 and through African Studies and Native American Studies.

258.  Ethnobotany
Ethnobotany is an interdisciplinary field drawing on concepts from both natural and social sciences to investigate human-plant interactions. This course will illustrate the importance of plants in our everyday life and the influence of human activities on plant populations. Independent projects center around surveys and experiments on socio-economically important plants. Field trips and labs explore Native American reservations, botanical gardens, greenhouses, nature reserves and plant population survey techniques. Three hours lecture and one three-hour laboratory per week. Prerequisite: General Biology (101). Also offered as Biology 258.

261. Sustainable Agriculture Systems. (PP)
This course introduces students to the ecological, economic and social dimensions of agriculture, both food and fiber. We critically examine modern, large-scale, industrialized agriculture — how it has arisen and how it affects land, water, biodiversity and human communities — and analyze whether it is sustainable. We then evaluate a variety of models that might represent more sustainable systems, including Native American, organic and local food systems. Students visit several local farms and gain hands-on experience in the gardens at the Ecological Sustainability Landscape. Prerequisite: Environmental Studies 101. Also offered through Peace Studies.

263. Global Change and Sustainability. (ESP)
This course examines how social systems can be organized to lessen their impact on natural systems, lessen inequalities within generations, and ensure the viability of natural resources for future generations. The course focuses on international policy as developed through the United Nations and affiliated institutions. National policy is considered, where appropriate, as examples of leadership in or obstruction to diminishing human impact on the environment. Students consider various case studies at the local level that exude principles of sustainability. The concept of sustainability in the face of global change is critically examined as a key theme throughout the course, including issues of ecological integrity and social justice. Prerequisite: Environmental Studies 101. Also offered through Peace Studies.

275. Energy and the Environment. (PP)
This course addresses energy from individual, local, regional, national, and global perspectives. The differences in these perspectives provide a common theme, and emphasis is placed on how these differences force trade-offs and translate into energy-related decisions and policy. A life cycle approach is taken, wherein the production, use and impacts of energy sources are considered throughout the different stages of systems that supply energy in usable forms to society. An overview of historical energy transitions leads into a look at current energy use practices and trends, ultimately focusing on development throughout the next 20-50 years. Prerequisite: Environmental Studies 101. Also offered through Peace Studies.

295. Nature and Environmental Writing.
This course is designed for students who want to explore nature writing — the intersection of self and the natural world. We explore how this genre combines the observational, scientific “eye” with the personal, narrative “I” through readings in non-fiction anthologies, novels and/or memoirs. Students write essays on nature and the environment that reflect different objectives within the genre, such as the political essay, the literary field study and the personal essay. Students also keep a “naturalist’s journal.” Discussion of the readings is interspersed with workshop sessions. Also offered as English 295 and through Outdoor Studies.

301. Pollution of Aquatic Ecosystems. (ESP)
After introducing major physical, chemical and biological aspects of the ecology of lakes, rivers and coastal waters, the course focuses on the consequences of human activities on aquatic ecosystems: cultural eutrophication, oxygen-demanding wastes, persistent toxic chemicals, acidification, oil and metal pollution, global warming, and the effects of water diversions and impoundments.. Projects emphasize water sampling and analysis, stream assessment using biotic indices, analysis of contaminants in runoff and sediments, and models of phosphorus in lakes and bio-accumulation of persistent toxins. Prerequisite: Environmental Studies 101 or Biology 101 or Geology 103. Also offered through Global Studies.

302. Air Pollution. (ESP)
This course examines the sources, chemistry, transport, and ecological and social impacts of major air pollutants. Our scale of study moves from global to regional to local. Issues include global climate change, stratospheric ozone depletion, urban air quality, photochemical smog, acidification and local industry. Emphasis is on consequences of industrialization and urbanization in both developed and developing countries. While primary focus is on ecological impacts, we also consider the equity issues, policy and implementation strategies for protecting air quality. Prerequisite: Environmental Studies 101. Also offered through Global Studies and Native American Studies.

306. Environmental Chemistry and Toxicology.
This course is designed for chemistry majors and students in environmental studies who have a strong background in chemistry. It explores the sources and levels of chemical pollutants, the pathways along which they move through the environment and the toxicological effect they have on humans and other living things. A laboratory program accompanies the lecture. Prerequisites: Environmental Studies 101 and Chemistry 221 or permission of instructor. Also offered as Chemistry 306.

308. Environmental Economics.
An analysis of deficiencies in the market system and the existing property rights structure that generate pollution problems in industrial society. Alternative policy options are considered, including incentive-based approaches and cost-benefit analysis. Prerequisites: Environmental Studies 101 and Economics 251. Also offered as Economics 308.

310. Philosophy of the Environment.
Our current environmental problems are due primarily to the total volume of human consumption. This course focuses on the problem of high consumption in developed countries and possible solutions for it. Is this high consumption necessary for our happiness, or could we be just as happy while doing less damage to the natural world? If we could, as many environmentalists argue, why do so few of us live as though we truly believe it? Is it possible to consume less, either as individuals or as a society? What kinds of changes are feasible in society to reduce our damage to the natural world? The course offers a theory of happiness intended to make it possible to answer these questions. Prerequisite: Environmental Studies 101. Also offered as Philosophy 310 and Outdoor Studies 310 and through Peace Studies.

312. Environmental Law and Politics.
Legal and governmental reactions to problems of environmental protection, including population, crowding, noise, air and water pollution, depletion of resources and land use. A survey of private law and public law at federal, state and local levels, with stress on the representation of interest groups in legislative, administrative and judicial processes. Prerequisites: Environmental Studies 101 and Government 103; junior or senior standing. Also offered as Government 312.

318. Environmental Psychology.
This lecture-lab course studies the relationships between humans and physical environments, both natural and built. Topics include environmental assessment, attitudes and behavior toward the environment, and the psychological effects of such environmental factors as crowding, architectural design, extreme environments, pollution and natural disasters. Prerequisites: Environmental Studies 101 and Psychology 100 or 101. Also offered as Psychology 318.

319. Hydrology and Hydrogeology.
This course provides an introduction to the movement and storage of water on the Earth’s surface (hydrology) and in the subsurface (hydrogeology). We discuss the fundamentals of the water cycle and hydrologic processes at the surface, the transfer of water in and out of the subsurface and the processes of groundwater flow. Human impacts upon water are also examined, including water resources, contamination, changing land-use and climate change. Prerequisite: Environmental Studies 101. Also offered as Geology 319.

321. Land-Use Planning. (ESP)
An interdisciplinary approach to land-use planning that both satisfies human needs and protects the environment. Topics include human settlement patterns, urban development and sprawl, farmland preservation, habitat and groundwater protection, and coastal zone management. Procedures of traditional land-use planning and neo-traditional design are emphasized, including zoning, site plan review, preferential tax policies, acquisition of easements and transfer of development rights. The course integrates theory and methods within an applied context. Prerequisite: Environmental Studies 101.

326. Once and Future Forest (ESP)
This course concentrates on the ecological conservation and restoration of forests in the North Country.  Students consider both old-growth forest conservation as well as new forest restoration. This is an applied, field-oriented, community service, project-based course. Students work on two on-going projects. With the first project, students learn about old-growth, or ancient, forests that once blanketed the area. Students conduct old-growth forest inventories, searching for old forests in the area and continuing the work of the St. Lawrence County Old-Growth Program. With the second project, students consider how to restore disturbed or degraded land, working on a project to restore the forest and stream running through the department’s Ecological Sustainability Landscape (ESL). Taken together, students are exposed to the complexities and difficulties of contemporary forest ecology and management. Prerequisite: Environmental Studies 101.

335. Foundation of Environmental Thought.
An examination of environmentalism formulated by naturalists and writers in North America. Emphasis is on a historical understanding of attitudes toward the natural world. Format is primarily seminar. A brief review of global environmental history looks at the rise and fall of various civilizations at different times in different parts of the world. Discussion then focuses on the writings of Thoreau, Muir, Leopold, Carson, Abbey and other naturalists of historical significance, as well as contemporary writers emphasizing indigenous knowledge and current issues. Problems of industrialization, limits to growth, sustainability and public land programs are also covered. Prerequisite: Environmental Studies 101. Also offered through Outdoor Studies.

340. Conservation Biology.
This course examines the problem of maintaining biological diversity in a changing world. Emphasis is on the biological concepts involved in population biology, genetics and community ecology, and their use in conservation and management of biodiversity. Labs mix local projects and trips to sites of interest for conservation. Prerequisites: Environmental Studies 101; Environmental Studies 221 or Biology 245/246 or permission of instructor. Also offered as Biology 340 and through Global Studies.

343. Famine.
Physical, economic and cultural factors give rise to famines. Cultural factors include the ways different societies respond to food shortage and the role of cultural conflicts and misunderstandings in contributing to famine or preventing adequate response to food shortage. These issues are discussed as they relate to famines in Europe, Asia and Africa during the 19th and 20th centuries. Films and print media sources are used to evaluate the cultural image of famine prevalent in this society. Also offered through African Studies and Global Studies, and as Anthropology 343.

346. American Literature and the Environment.
A study of the literary response to the taming of the American wilderness. The course focuses on the close association of nature and art in American literature, examining how American writers, in shaping story and poem, have tried to reconcile the processes and values associated with “wilderness” and “civilization.” Some attention is given to the historical and cultural backgrounds of the wilderness theme. Writers such as Crevecoeur, Jefferson, Cooper, Thoreau, Melville, Twain, Whitman, Jewett, Frost, Faulkner, Cather, Steinbeck, McPhee and Dillard are studied, but an effort is made to choose works not usually taught in the surveys of American literature. Prerequisites: Environmental Studies 101 and two lower-level courses in English or permission of instructor. Also offered as English 346 and through Outdoor Studies.

347, 348. Special Topics.
An in-depth consideration of some area of environmental studies not covered in regular course offerings. The specific topic normally is an advanced study of some interdisciplinary problem.

351. Internships in Environmental Studies.
Student-arranged study with an environmental organization. The internship comprises three parts: contact with daily operations; intensive work on one particular project; and extensive reading in appropriate areas. May be elected only after submission of a written proposal during the prior semester and approval by core faculty of environmental studies. A letter of support must be received from the sponsoring organization. Prerequisites: Environmental Studies 101 and permission of instructor.

352. Contemporary Literature and the Environment.
A study of the contemporary literary response to rising national interest in the natural world and rising awareness about the danger to natural resources. Readings are predominantly in prose (novels and essays), with some poetry included. Among the questions the authors ask: as we approach the natural world, how can we move beyond metaphors of dominion? What are the biases of gender, geography and culture that we bring to our inquiry? What is the relationship between the human and the “natural”? What does it mean to fully invest ourselves in our local environment? Prerequisite: Environmental Studies 101. Also offered as English 352 and through Outdoor Studies.

361. Research Seminar in Environmental Studies.
Faculty-directed research designed for small groups of advanced students. The focus is often on environmental problems of northern New York. Topics are usually defined in response to needs identified by local communities. The course draws together the expertise of students from different majors. Basic concepts and methodologies of field research are applied in practice. Prerequisites: Environmental Studies 101 and permission of instructor.

362. International Law.
A study of the development of the rules and principles of international law and of their current applications. Examination of the contributions of international organization to the development of conventional international law. Preparation of topics for class presentation. Prerequisites: Environmental Studies 101 and Government 108 or permission of instructor. Also offered as Government 362 and through Peace Studies.

363. Tourism and the Environment (PP)
Ecotourism has long been heralded as a way for communities to avoid the apparent perils of extractive industries while reaping the benefits of economic uses of their natural resources. Recently, it has become apparent that the relationships between tourism and the natural and cultural landscapes upon which it depends are more complex and more contested than originally thought. This course examines the practice of nature-based tourism and consequences on the environment and local cultures. The extensive literature on this topic is examined from managerial, industry and participant perspectives. Examples are drawn from the United States and internationally. Prerequisite: Environmental Studies 101.

380. Tropical Ecology.
A seminar course based on current research in tropical biology. Emphasis is on the structure, function and biology of tropical organisms and ecosystems, especially as compared to temperate systems. Lectures include South American, Australasian and African tropical ecosystems. The course addresses the role of plant-animal interactions, mutualisms, sustainable development, conservation measures and the roles of indigenous cultures in tropical ecosystems. Prerequisites: Environmental Studies 101 and 221. Also offered as Biology 380 and through Global Studies and Outdoor Studies.

384. Natural Resource Economics.
This course complements Economics 308 (Environmental Economics). Standard economic approaches to problems of natural resources are presented and criticized from a variety of different perspectives to give students a deeper appreciation of the role of economic analysis in coping with natural resource scarcity. Specific topics include economics and population growth, economics and environmental ethics, ecological economics and sustainability, biodiversity and water resources. Prerequisites: Environmental Studies 101; Economics 200 and 251 or permission of instructor. Also offered as Economics 384.

404. SYE: The Green Backlash: Science and Politics of Environmental Opposition. (PP)
Since 1970, a broad-based environmental movement has mobilized widespread public support for ecological protection. Successful incorporation of environmental concerns into the mainstream political agenda in industrialized countries has spurred an active opposition from diverse interests. Are environmentalists really scare-mongering, elitist, anti-progress, anti-human tree-huggers? In seminar format we evaluate the works of selected environmental critics, analyze the origins, agenda, actions and interconnection of these critics, and assess strategies for response. Students undertake a major individual research project evaluating the underlying science and the stances in selected controversies. Prerequisites: senior standing in the major and permission of instructor.

421. SYE: Directed Readings.
Directed study for an individual or small group of students, based on an in-depth exploration of the literature. The topic is usually an extension of normal offerings in the curriculum. Prerequisites: senior standing and permission of instructor.

451. SYE: Senior Internship.
Student-arranged study with an environmental organization. The internship comprises three parts: contact with daily operations; intensive work on a particular project; and extensive reading in appropriate areas. May be elected only after submission of a written proposal during the prior semester and approval by core faculty of environmental studies. A letter of support must be received from the sponsoring organization. Prerequisites: senior standing and permission of instructor.

461. Research Seminar.
Faculty-directed research designed for small groups of advanced students. The focus often is on environmental problems of northern New York. Topics for the course are usually defined in response to needs identified by local communities. The course draws together the expertise of students from different majors. Basic concepts and methodologies of field research are applied in practice. Prerequisites: senior standing and permission of instructor.

489/490. SYE: Senior Research.
Special research designed by senior students on an individual basis with the faculty sponsor. Specific topic is a more detailed study of some interdisciplinary environmental problem in which the student as background from prior coursework. Prerequisites: senior standing and permission of instructor.

499. SYE: Honors Project.
Special research designed by senior students on an individual basis. The specific topic is a detailed study of some interdisciplinary problem in which student has undertaken prior coursework and study. The project is usually undertaken in the fall semester of the senior year as an honors thesis. Requires minimum GPA of 3.5, submission of a written proposal in the junior year and approval by core faculty of environmental studies. The lead mentor for the project may be either in the core faculty or an environmental studies dual-listed faculty member. At least one reader must be from the environmental studies core faculty. Prerequisites: senior standing and permission of instructor.