Bulletins

Environmental Studies    101

3 (crs.)

Introduction to Environmental Studies (XS)(GC)

The goal of this class is to provide an introduction to the field of environmental studies by using an interdisciplinary perspective to explore the complex relationships between humans and the natural world, in the U.S. and around the globe. Prerequisite: Course is to be limited to students with less than 60 credits or Environmental Studies majors and minors or those with instructor consent.

Environmental Studies    101Q1

3 (crs.)

Introduction to Environmental Studies (XS)(GC)

The goal of this class is to provide an introduction to the field of environmental studies by using an interdisciplinary perspective to explore the complex relationships between humans and the natural world, in the U.S. and around the globe. Prerequisite: Course is to be limited to students with less than 60 credits or Environmental Studies majors and minors or those with instructor consent.

Environmental Studies    101Q2

3 (crs.)

Introduction to Environmental Studies (XS)(GC)

The goal of this class is to provide an introduction to the field of environmental studies by using an interdisciplinary perspective to explore the complex relationships between humans and the natural world, in the U.S. and around the globe.

Environmental Studies    102

3 (crs.)

Introduction to Sustainability (XS) (GC)

This course explores the many contested meanings of the term “sustainability.” Sustainability might mean, for some people, nothing more than tips for how to live “green.” In this class, however, we will treat sustainability as a lens of inquiry, a way of analyzing and assessing the complicated social, economic, and environmental problems that our society faces in the twenty-first century. These issues arise all around us, in the food we eat, the cars we drive, and the communities that we inhabit. And they occur at a variety of scales from the very local (such as the campus of the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh) to the global. There is no single path to sustainability, no single solution to complicated problems. In this class, we will learn to think critically about sustainability issues, policies, solutions, and responsibilities. We will seek to answer the question: How do people understand and create a sustainable world?

Environmental Studies    102Q1

3 (crs.)

Introduction to Sustainability (XS) (GC)

This course explores the many contested meanings of the term “sustainability.” Sustainability might mean, for some people, nothing more than tips for how to live “green.” In this class, however, we will treat sustainability as a lens of inquiry, a way of analyzing and assessing the complicated social, economic, and environmental problems that our society faces in the twenty-first century. These issues arise all around us, in the food we eat, the cars we drive, and the communities that we inhabit. And they occur at a variety of scales from the very local (such as the campus of the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh) to the global. There is no single path to sustainability, no single solution to complicated problems. In this class, we will learn to think critically about sustainability issues, policies, solutions, and responsibilities. We will seek to answer the question: How do people understand and create a sustainable world?

Environmental Studies    103

3 (crs.)

Honors Introduction to Environmental Studies (GC) (XS)

The goal of this class is to provide an introduction to the field of Environmental Studies by using an interdisciplinary perspective to explore the complex relationships between humans and the natural world, in the U.S. and around the globe. Prerequisite: In good standing with The Honors College, prior or concurrent enrollment in HNRS 175Q.

Environmental Studies    164

3 (crs.)

Religion and Nature (XC)

Examines competing environmental ethics, and the ensuing social conflicts, which result from diverse views about what constitutes proper moral relationships with and obligations toward the natural world. Cross-listed: ENV STDS 164/GLBL REL 164.

Environmental Studies    201Q3

4 (crs.)

Conservation in Action (XL)

By examining the interconnections between humans and the environment, this Quest 3 course will address the signature question, “How do people understand and create a more sustainable world?” Moving from big picture concepts to specific examples, this course will cover basic ecology, values of and threats to biodiversity, and an orientation to environmental activism and stewardship practices. Hands-on activities may include habitat restoration, water quality sampling and management, growing food, teaching conservation, and other citizen-based science. As part of Quest 3, your community-based learning experiences will empower you to advocate for a healthy environment. Special course fees may apply.

Environmental Studies    230

3 (crs.)

Environmental Ethics (XC)

A survey of topics in environmental ethics. Topics may include: wilderness conservation, endangered species, hunting/agriculture, minerals/pollution, population, climate change, and others. Cross-listed: ENV STDS 230/PHIL 230.

Environmental Studies    243

3 (crs.)

Introduction to Nature Writing: A Global Perspective (XC)(GC)

A survey of literature about how people imagine and interact with natural systems. Students will read, discuss, and write about poetry, essays, fiction, and reportage from around the world. Creative writing will also be required. Cross-listed: ENGLISH 243/ENV STDS 243.

Environmental Studies    260

3 (crs.)

Environmental Science

A core course for Environmental Studies that will provide an overview of: 1) scientific principles on which studies of the environment are based; 2) current understandings of environmental problems from a scientific perspective; and 3) evaluation of scientific evidence. Prerequisites: BIOLOGY 105 or CHEM 103 or GEOG 121 or GEOLOGY 150 or ENV STDS 101, 102 or 103.

Environmental Studies    261

3 (crs.)

Environment and Society (XS)

Examines the relationship between social structure, culture and natural environments; compares different modes of production and cultural systems. Examines economic, political and ideological structures of industrial and industrializing societies. Analyzes the impact of these structures upon natural environments and analyzes the impact of natural environment upon these structures. Cross-listed: ENV STDS 261/POLI SCI 261/SOC 261. Special course fees may apply.

Environmental Studies    282

3 (crs.)

Environmental Humanities (XC)

This interdisciplinary humanities course examines how social, religious, aesthetic, and philosophical values are interwoven in the context of environmental problems. Students critically analyze classic environmental literature, ethical arguments, current movements and leading thinkers in light of relevant case studies. This course also offers students the opportunity to hone their writing skills and make positive steps toward career preparation. Special course fees may apply.

Environmental Studies    300

0 – 3 (crs.)

Internship

An internship experienced with a cooperating organization.  Students apply their knowledge and skills in environmental studies to real world problems.  The number of units and the criteria for the grading will be agreed upon in advance with the faculty member who is the on-campus supervisor. Prerequisite: Environmental Studies major or minor or consent of Director of Environmental Studies.

Environmental Studies    301

0 – 3 (crs.)

Internship in Environmental Science

An internship experience with a cooperating organization, with a primary focus in scientific research and/or methods. The number of units and the criteria for the grading will be agreed upon in advance with the faculty member who is the on-campus supervisor. Prerequisites: Environmental studies major or minor or consent of Director of Environmental Studies.

Environmental Studies    302

3 (crs.)

Sustainable Enterprise MGT

This course introduces the natural environment and social responsibility as components of the business decision-making process in addition to the traditional economic focus. Topics include Triple Bottom Line supply chain management, energy, transparency, design, life cycle assessment, reverse logistics, facilities management, marketing and strategy. Cross-listed: ENV STDS 302/SMGT 302.

Environmental Studies    303

3 (crs.)

Pyrogeography

This course will examine the physical controls and effects of fire on ecosystems and the management of fire by people over time. Fire is an inherently geographical process. Fire can affect landscapes on spatial scales from local to subcontinental and fire can affect, and be affected by processes that occur on temporal scales from a day to millennia. Special course fees may apply.

Environmental Studies    304

3 (crs.)

Principles of Soil Science

Explores the fundamental principles of soil science and soils as an essential natural resource. Basic concepts in soil science will be presented including: soil genesis; classification and mapping; fertility and productivity; conservation and management; and physical, chemical, and biological properties in relation to the soil environment. Cross-listed: ENV STDS 304/ GEOG 304. Prerequisites: 8 credits of lab science or instructor consent. Special course fees may apply.

Environmental Studies    305

3 (crs.)

The Biology, Identification, and Management of Invasive Species

Invasive species frequently cause serious ecologic, social, and economic effects. This course will explore the individual biology, identification, and management of invasive species on a case-by-case basis. Terrestrial and aquatic plants and animals, both native and nonnative, will be covered. Invasive species with the most notable ecological and economic impacts in the U.S.  Midwest will be emphasized, but examples from and around the world will be used. We will also consider potential impacts of impending introductions. Prerequisites: ENV STDS 260 or BIOLOGY 260. Special course fees may apply.

Environmental Studies    306

3 (crs.)

Environmental Conservation (GS)

An examination of natural resource utilization, methods of exploitation, policies governing their development, and their relationship to cultural geographic patterns. Cross-listed: ENV STDS 306/GEOG 306.

Environmental Studies    311

3 (crs.)

Economic Geography

This class will explore how economic activity shapes our understanding of human-environment systems. We will examine core economic concepts of production, surplus, labor, exchange of goods and services, and commodities, within the context of different economic, political and social systems to better understand the costs and benefits associated with each. Cross-listed: ENV STDS 311/GEOG 311. Prerequisites GEOG 202, ENV STDS 261 or instructor consent.

Environmental Studies    312

3 (crs.)

The Science of Sustainable Food

Due to large-scale land use and intense fossil-fuel inputs, some scientists say that the biggest crisis our world currently faces is the imminent collapse of our food system. To begin, this course will discuss the evolutionary underpinnings of our food preferences and how those preferences translate into the food systems in place today. From there we as a class will build the rest of the course based on scientific topics of the student’s choice that will help us understand why the current system is so unsustainable and what alternatives are available. Prerequisites: ENV STD 101 and ENV STDS 260, or instructor consent.

Environmental Studies    313

3 (crs.)

Rural Sociology

In recent decades, our world has become an urban one, yet rural places remain sociologically interesting. This course covers topics including community, agriculture, immigration and demographic change, consumption and the environment, and modern life in rural Wisconsin. In particular, it explores two important trends taking place in the rural U.S., including Wisconsin: the rise of large-scale industrialized agriculture and the simultaneous increase in popularity of community-supported agriculture and small-scale farms. Cross-listed: ENV STDS 313/SOC 313. Prerequisites: SOC 101, 151 or 203, or instructor consent. Special course fees may apply.

Environmental Studies    314

3 (crs.)

Principles of Wildlife Management

This course is designed to help students bridge the gap between academic experience and advances into the wildlife profession. The course will apply population and community ecology to the management and conservation of wild populations. Cross-listed: BIOLOGY 314/ENV STDS 314. Prerequisite: MATH 104 and BIOLOGY 349 or ENV STDS 260, or instructor consent. Special course fees may apply.

Environmental Studies    315

3 (crs.)

Population Problems

How many people, of what kind, are where? How come? And so what? These questions are often tied to so-called population problems, and this course explores important questions like these, by studying fertility, mortality, and immigration in the U.S. and around the globe. Learning what these components of demography are, how to measure them, and what they mean is critical to not only understanding current affairs but also the future of human populations. Cross-listed: ENV STDS 315/SOC 315. Prerequisites: SOC 101, 151 or 203, or instructor consent.

Environmental Studies    316

3 (crs.)

Environmental Law

This course focuses on U.S. (federal) environmental law, with particular focus on common law and administrative law. The course examines legal frameworks for environmental law in the federal court system, including how federal courts review the policies of administrative agencies that regulate the environment. The course also probes philosophical and social underpinnings of environmental law, such as ecofeminism, capitalism, collectivism, and cost-benefit analyses. One of the main course themes is examining environmental law through a sustainability lens. Cross-listed: ENV STDS 316/POLI SCI 316.

Environmental Studies    317

3 (crs.)

Introduction to Environmental Health

Learn how our environment impacts human health and the role of Environmental Public Health in promoting healthy environments. Topics covered in the course include environmental factors involved in transmission of communicable diseases, biological hazards in food and water, chemical and physical hazards related to both work and life activities will be explored. When possible hands-on activities will augment lecture materials and provide skills training in the collection of environmental public health data. Cross-listed: BIOLOGY 317/ ENV STDS 317. Prerequisites: BIOLOGY 105 or ENV STDS 260 or instructor consent.

Environmental Studies    318

3 (crs.)

Wildlife Behavior and Conservation

This course is designed to teach the fundamental theory of behavioral ecology and then apply that theory to wildlife conservation. We will examine how environments shape organisms’ lives and what that means for our efforts to manage and conserve species. The specific course objectives are to 1) gain a rigorous biological foundation in behavioral ecology, evolutionary biology, and related topics in order to understand how environments shape behavior; 2) provide a forum for discussion of current issues in conservation biology; 3) develop a framework for applying behavior ecological theory to wildlife conservation. Cross-listed: BIOLOGY 318/ENV STDS 318. Prerequisites: BIOLOGY 105 or BIOLOGY 260/ENV STDS 260 or instructor consent. Special course fees may apply.

Environmental Studies    320

3 (crs.)

Topics in Campus Sustainability

This course examines the concept of sustainability at three levels: as a social issue facing the global community; as a guiding principle for the operations, teaching, research, and outreach at institutions of higher education; and as a set of specific challenges facing our own university. Students in this course will engage in a variety of hands-on projects designed to explore these three elements of sustainability. Prerequisites: ENV STDS 101 or instructor consent. Special course fees may apply.

Environmental Studies    323

3 (crs.)

Minerals, Energy, and the Environment

A course in environmental and economic geologic principles as they relate to society’s quest for earth materials for various applications. Interactive lectures and a field trip to review geologic processes that lead to mineral and energy resource deposit formation and redistribution. Students will learn scientific approaches to mineral and energy exploration, and review global and local economic and environmental factors that influence energy and metals markets driving these industries. Special attention will be given to environmental topics by examining the long and short-term environmental impacts for specific case studies of historic and modern mining and energy resource development. Cross-listed: ENV STDS 323/GEOLOGY 323. Prerequisites: GEOLOGY 102, 150 or 110; Recommended: CHEM 105.

Environmental Studies    326

3 (crs.)

American Environmental History

A survey of the major topics and issues in North American environmental history from the early native American experience through the twentieth century. Cross-listed: ENV STDS 326/HISTORY 326. Prerequisites: Junior standing or any 200-level History course or instructor consent.

Environmental Studies    328

1.5 (crs.)

Energy and Facilities Management

The assessment of current and potential energy systems with emphasis on meeting regional and global energy needs in the 21st century in a sustainable manner. Examination of energy technologies in each fuel cycle state for fossil (oil, gas, synthetic), solar, biomass, wind, hydro, nuclear, and geothermal energy types, along with storage, transmission, and conservation issues. Focus on evaluation and analysis of energy technology systems and building efficiency in the context of facilities management. Cross-listed: ENV STDS 328/SMGT 328. Prerequisites: Business majors who have been admitted to the School of Business. All other students complete 60 credits with a combined GPA of 2.2.

Environmental Studies    329

1.5 (crs.)

Creating Healthy, Sustainable Communities

This course provides an opportunity to learn how healthy people, healthy communities and health-promoting environments all intersect at the bottom line. This course will explore business practices that foster employee, community and environmental health. In addition to discussing community-based programming trends and initiatives, the course will also focus on community needs assessment processes, community-based participatory research and enhancing collective efficacy. We will discuss major social issues and how they impact healthy, sustainable communities. Cross-listed: ENV STDS 329/SMGT 329. Prerequisites: Business majors who have been admitted to the School of Business. All other students complete 60 credits with a combined GPA of 2.2.

Environmental Studies    330

3 (crs.)

Sustainability Reporting

This course is designed to introduce students to the issues surrounding the natural environment; specifically, how daily and long-term business measures and accounts for social and environmental capital. This is a hands-on course in which you will be required to do much introspection, reading, and group discussion. Coverage includes corporate social responsibility and environmental management reporting. Cross-listed: ENV STDS 330/SMGT 330. Prerequisites: Business majors who have been admitted to the School of Business. All other students complete 60 credits with a combined GPA of 2.2.

Environmental Studies    335

3 (crs.)

Nuclear America

In this research and reading seminar, students will explore the many and complicated ways that Americans have interacted with nuclear energy by examining topics such as foreign policy and the arms race, civil defense planning, nuclear energy, the peace movement, the environmental movement, climate change, and many more. In confronting nuclear energy, Americans thought and reflected on much more than just the power of the atom. They wrestled with elemental questions such as the human relationship to nature, the nature of progress, the obligations of citizenship, and the balance between national security and democracy. Cross-listed: ENV STDS 335/ HISTORY 335. History student prerequisites: Junior standing or any 200-level History course or instructor consent. Environmental Studies student prerequisites: ENV STDS 101 or HISTORY 201 or 202, 203, 204, 205 or 210.

Environmental Studies    339

3 (crs.)

Public History

Examines the practice of history outside of academia and explores the connections between American history, popular memory, landscapes, and community identity; examines the historic origins and contemporary implications of a “sense of place.” Cross-listed: ENV STDS 339/HISTORY 339. Environmental Studies student prerequisites: 9 credits of History or Environmental Studies, or instructor consent. History student prerequisites: Junior standing or any 200-level History course or instructor consent.

Environmental Studies    340

3 (crs.)

Climate Justice (GS)

This course addresses climate change from a global perspective, using the tools of ethics (broadly construed to include some philosophy, psychology, politics, gender studies, literature, and religion). By the end of the course, students should be able to discuss, analyze, and evaluate the claims of justice, duty, and effective action as they relate to climate change and its effects around the world. Cross-listed: ENV STDS 340/PHIL 340.

Environmental Studies    343

3 (crs.)

Nature Writing: Optional Content

A course in reading and writing about the natural world.  Writers discussed may include Henry David Thoreau, Aldo Leopold, Annie Dillard, and others.  Student writing will represent a significant portion of the coursework.  Writing assignments may include essays on natural history, journal entries, environmental advocacy pieces, eco-fiction, and others consistent with the focus of the course. This course may be offered with different content. Cross-listed: ENGLISH 343/ENV STDS 343. Prerequisite: ENGLISH 281 or instructor consent.

Environmental Studies    345

3 (crs.)

History of American Wilderness

Examines the history of changing American ideas about wilderness, the history of nature protection in the United States; explores current debates over the proper methods of wilderness preservation. Cross-listed: ENV STDS345/HISTORY 345. Environmental Studies student prerequisites: 3 credits of History or Environmental Studies. History student prerequisites: Junior standing or any 200-level History course or instructor consent.

Environmental Studies    346

3 (crs.)

Indigenous Peoples, National Parks, and Protected Areas

This course explores the historical and contemporary relationships of Indigenous Peoples, National Parks and Protected Areas. This course will look at Indigenous peoples of the United States and globally, whom have been directly impacted by the creation of the spaces of ‘wilderness.’ More specifically, this course will peel back the layers of the stated intentions of the conservation, environmentalism and preservation of National Parks and Protected Areas and the often glossed over or excluded question of ‘at what cost.’ This will challenge students to deconstruct the romantic cultural expressions of the pristine; explore the power dynamics (political, financial, social, etc) at play in the creation and perpetuation of these spaces, the reclamation of cultural interactions with these spaces, and the question of where do we go from here. Cross-listed: ANTHRO 346/ENV STDS 346/INDG ST 346

Environmental Studies    347

3 (crs.)

Indigenization, Economy, and Environmentalism

This course explores the interconnected relationships of our economy, nature and culture as expressed in the Indigenizing of space and place. We will examine the shared belief systems and political factors that influence how we as humans at large and Indigenous peoples more specifically, interact with our biophysical environment to solve the production, distribution, and consumption needs in society. Specifically focusing on Indigenous voices, experiences and lessons, we will travel through the anthropological foundations of culture, nature and economy; the theoretical underpinnings of cultural ecology and globalization; the importance of situated knowledge; Indigenous environmentalism and glocalization; and attempt to process the adage where do we go from here. Cross-listed: ANTHRO 347/ENV STDS 347/INDG ST 347.

Environmental Studies    353

3 (crs.)

Archaeology of Animals

What do animals mean to us? What did they mean to people in the past? Why do we kill and eat them, but also worship and love them? This course explores human-animal relationships thematically from an archaeological perspective. The relationships evidenced in the archaeological record will be oriented by broader works from the field of human-animal studies to assess the variable ways that humans may engage with animals, and how animals are instrumental in framing human subjectivities. Cross-listed: ANTHRO 353/ENV STDS 353.

Environmental Studies    354

3 (crs.)

Latin American Environmental History

This class discusses a series of topics relevant to the environmental history of Latin America. Among these topics are the early population of the Americas and the development of sedentary habits. It also covers an analysis of the pre-Hispanic civilizations and their interaction with their landscape. The course also includes an analysis of the effects of the Spanish conquest and of the challenges created by the construction of the Atlantic Empires in early modern times. Health issues will be at the course of this analysis, in particular the yellow fever epidemics that ravaged the Caribbean basin between 1790 and the early twentieth-century. Cross-listed: ENV STDS 354/HISTORY 354. Prerequisites: Environmental Studies students: HISTORY 101 or 102. History students: Junior standing or any 100-level History course or instructor consent.

Environmental Studies    355

3 (crs.)

Global Environmental History (GS)

Examines the way that the natural environment intersects with major themes in world history, including industrialization, colonialism, frontiers, and war. Investigates the environmental context and consequences of these and other subjects with the understanding that the natural world can shape human history and that the events of human history have played and continue to play, key roles in shaping the environment. Cross-listed: ENV STDS 355/HISTORY 355. Environmental Studies student prerequisites: 3 credits of History or Environmental Studies. History student prerequisites: Junior standing or any 100-level History course or instructor consent.

Environmental Studies    357

3 (crs.)

Environmental Policy

This course examines the process in which environmental policy is made. The course will introduce students to interdisciplinary approaches used to analyze environmental problems. The role of political actors, scientific experts and the citizenry in identifying problems and developing solutions in considered. Emphasis is also placed on the use of scientific information and values in the decision-making process. Topics to be covered include major US and international legislation protecting air and water quality, climate change, natural resource extraction, agricultural production, and land management. Cross-listed: ENV STDS 357/POLI SCI 357. Prerequisites: POLI SCI 105 or ENV STDS 261 or instructor consent.

Environmental Studies    360

3 (crs.)

Literary Animal Studies

This course serves as an introduction to the interdisciplinary field of animal studies through the methodologies of the humanities in general and English in particular (i.e., close reading, textual analysis, and close attention to historical, philosophical, and theoretical contexts). Recognizing that we tend to reserve the term “animal” for nonhuman animals, this course sets out to examine how and why we as a species draw this categorical line, and to interrogate what is at stake in maintaining this conceptual boundary between human and nonhuman animals. Topics to be examined include animals as food, the legal status of animals, anthropomorphism, the genetic manipulation of animals, animal emotion and language, animals as pets, and hunting. Because this is a class in specifically literary animals studies, particular emphasis will be placed on representations of nonhuman animals in literature–and how such representations have often served to nuance and challenge received notions of the human/animal divide. Cross-listed: ENGLISH 360/ENV STDS 360. Prerequisites: Any 200-level ENGLISH literature course or ENV STDS 282, or instructor consent.

Environmental Studies    363

3 (crs.)

Biogeography

This course focuses on the processes and mechanisms that govern species distributions over time, their history, and the impacts of environmental change on those distributions. Cross-listed: ENV STDS 363/GEOG 363. Prerequisites: 8 credits of lab science or instructor consent. Special course fees may apply.

Environmental Studies    364

3 (crs.)

Water Resource Management

A study of the characteristics and behavior of water on a global scale. Emphasis on the geographic location of water, its significance, its use by man, and the problems of water management. Cross-listed: ENV STDS 364/GEOG 364. Prerequisite: 8 credits of lab science or instructor consent. Special course fees may apply.

Environmental Studies    365

3 (crs.)

Gender and Nature

This course offers an introduction to the connections between concepts of gender and nature in the West. It examines ecological feminist theories about the relationship between the domination of nature and the subordination of women as well as the impact of gender differences on ideas and experiences of nature. Topics include: scientific explanations of the nature of gender, the feminization of nature in Western thought, the roles of men and women in the environmental movement, and the gendered division of environmental risk, work, and benefits in contemporary political economies. Cross-listed: ENV STDS 365/WG STDS 365.

Environmental Studies    368

3 (crs.)

Human Dimensions of Wildlife Conservation

This course focuses on the most central issue in the conservation of wildlife: people. This course will integrate perspectives from conservation biology and environmental anthropology, focusing particularly on the interaction between humans and the environment and how this influences the effectiveness and appropriateness of measures taken to preserve biodiversity. The course includes a discussion of perspectives on the value of biodiversity; a careful exploration of human-generated threats to biodiversity, including habitat destruction, overhunting, the wildlife trade, invasive species, and global warming; and an extensive overview and critique of conservation solutions, such as the creation of protected areas, community-based conservation, ecotourism, economic incentives programs, debt-for-nature swaps, and more. The effects of globalization on international conservation will be an integral part of this discussion. Cross-listed: ANTHRO368/ENV STDS 368.

Environmental Studies    372

3 (crs.)

Primate Behavior and Ecology

This course is designed to introduce students to our closest living relatives, the nonhuman primates (monkeys, apes, and prosimians). The course will focus on primate diversity and characteristics, ecology, social behavior, communication, cognition, and conservation. We will also discuss the relevance of primate studies to understanding human evolution. This course will involve at least one field trip to the Milwaukee Zoo. Cross-listed: ANTHRO 372/ENV STDS 372.

Environmental Studies    380

3 (crs.)

Globalization

“Globalization” has become an all-encompassing term for describing a series of processes which are reshaping the society, economy, politics, culture and environment of the planet.  This course will introduce some of the main, often competing perspectives on globalization. Through intensive readings and discussion, we will try to understand the ways in which the local and the global are increasingly intertwined, and to assess both the risks and the promises of the global society that lies ahead.  Cross-listed: ANTHRO 380/ENV STDS 380.

Environmental Studies    381

3 (crs.)

Anthropology and Tourism

Tourism is among the world’s largest industries, generating trillions of dollars in annual revenues and employing millions, has a direct impact on our natural environment and resources, and informs cultural identity and meaning for individuals and groups alike. The anthropological examination of tourism seeks to understand the relationships between the industry and other cultural productions, often mitigated by the environment. In this course, we will explore the cultural practices and impacts of tourism in relation to both host and guest communities and travel itself as a part of culture. We will ask questions such as ‘Who are tourists?’ Who are the hosts and guests? What are the motivators or felt needs of the consumer and provider? What are the power structures at play? What role does anthropology play in/for tourism? Etc. We will explore various forms of tourism such as indigenous tourism, spiritual tourism, ecotourism, dark tourism, heritage tourism and more, through various theoretical lenses, giving attention to gender, ethnicity, nationalism, class, as well as environmental and economic impacts. Cross-listed: ANTHRO 381/ENV STDS 381

Environmental Studies    382

3 (crs.)

Food: A Biocultural, Socioeconomic Examination

The fundamental question guides an exploration of the relation between food and people: Biologically, economically, socially, and culturally. The course critically examines the “unnatural” current state of food and its impact on humans and the environment. The course also provides practical knowledge of food, food production, and nutrition with which students can make informed decisions about food.

Environmental Studies    386

3 (crs.)

Politics of Developing Countries (GS)

This course examines experiences of economic and political development in the developing world in order to understand the political roots of diverse government policies to confront major development issues such as poverty, injustice, corruption, democratization, environmental degradation, and deadly conflict. Cross-listed: ENV STDS 386/POLI SCI 386/SOC JUST 386. POLI SCI 101 or 115 are recommended.

Environmental Studies    388

3 (crs.)

Global Politics of Climate Change

Examination of the role of environmental issues in international relations. We will look at such issues as global warming, global pollution, management of scarce resources, and eco-development. How have various countries responded to these problems? How should they respond? What is the role of international institutions such as the World Bank? What is the role of non-governmental organizations such as Greenpeace? How have countries and international institutions interacted to deal with these environmental problems? Cross-listed: ENV STDS 388/POLI SCI 388. Prerequisite: POLI SCI 101 or 115, or SOC 261 or ENV STDS 261 or POLI SCI 261 or instructor consent.

Environmental Studies    390

3 (crs.)

Special Topics

Special Topics courses in Environmental Studies focus on current environmental issues. The disciplinary approach and subject matter will vary. In keeping with the interdisciplinary nature of the Environmental Studies program, the scientific, social, and ethical dimensions of the issue at hand will be explored. Students will normally be expected to carry out an original, interdisciplinary research project. Special course fees may apply.

Environmental Studies    391

3 (crs.)

Special Topics in Environmental Science

Various courses focusing on current environmental issues examined from a scientific perspective. The disciplinary approaches and subject matter will vary, but the course will be interdisciplinary and predominantly based in the natural sciences. Students will normally be expected to carry out an original, interdisciplinary research project. Prerequisites: ENV STDS 260 or instructor consent. Special course fees may apply.

Environmental Studies    394

1 – 3 (crs.)

Field Studies–Optional Content

Field Studies courses involve intensive off-campus research focusing on specific environmental issues. The primary disciplinary approach and subject matter will vary. Each course will attend to the scientific, social, and moral dimensions of the environmental issue under scrutiny. Cost for travel and related expenses will vary. Examples include: the study of pollution and politics in the Fox-Wolf watershed; field research in Yellowstone National Park; Approaches to Resource Management in Tropical Ecosystems. The course often supports study abroad opportunities. Special course fees may apply.

Environmental Studies    395

3 (crs.)

Field Studies-Optional Content

Field Studies courses involve intensive off-campus research focusing on specific environmental issues. The primary disciplinary approach and subject matter will vary. Each course will attend to the scientific, social, and moral dimensions of the environmental issue under scrutiny. Cost for travel and related expenses will vary. Examples include: the study of pollution and politics in the Fox-Wolf watershed; the social ecology of Northern Minnesota’s Boundary Waters Canoe Area; grassroots environmentalism, the Wise Use movement, and conflict over natural resources in North America; and efforts to construct ecologically sustainable livelihoods in the Highlands of Southern Mexico. Consult the appendix and contact the Environmental Studies program for course details. Special course fees may apply.

Environmental Studies    396

3 (crs.)

Field Studies in Environmental Science- Optional Content

Field Studies courses involve intensive off-campus interdisciplinary research focusing on specific environmental issues. The primary disciplinary approaches and subject matter will vary, but this course approaches issues from the perspective of the natural sciences. Prerequisites: BIOLOGY 104 or 105, or ENV STDS 260 or instructor consent. Special course fees may apply.

Environmental Studies    399

3 (crs.)

Utopian/Dystopian Literature

This course will focus on selected texts within the traditions of utopian and/or dystopian literature, including subgenres such as science fiction, postapocalyptic fiction, and climate fiction, with particular emphasis not just on literary features but also on the social, economic, and environmental dimensions of the societies depicted in such works. Cross-listed: ENGLISH 399/ENV STDS 399. Prerequisites: Any 200-level ENGLISH literature course, ENV STDS 282, or instructor consent.

Environmental Studies    400

0 – 3 (crs.)

Sustainability Internship

This internship course serves as the capstone experience to the sustainability certificate program and provides the opportunity to apply skills learned in coursework to real-world settings and to acquire professional skills and experience. The internship also includes career preparation and reflection content.

Environmental Studies    446

1 – 3 (crs.)

Independent Study

See Independent Study under Course and Academic Advisement policies information for general course description, general prerequisites, and proper contract form requirements.

Environmental Studies    455

3 (crs.)

Environmental Rhetoric

This course is an exploration into the ways we define the environment and how language use influences our interactions with the environment. Cross-listed: COMM 455/ENV STDS 455. Prerequisite: COMM 219Q1 or 219 or 254Q1; or ENV STDS 102 or 261 or 282; or EGRT 113; or instructor consent.

Environmental Studies    456

1 – 3 (crs.)

Related Readings

See Related Reading under Course and Academic Advisement Policies information for general course prerequisites, and proper contract form requirements.

Environmental Studies    474

3 – 6 (crs.)

Honors Thesis

The Honors Thesis is one of two options offered to Honors students to meet the senior capstone requirement of The Honors College. Students who choose the thesis engage in research as an independent study over two semesters (fall/spring or spring/fall) with the support of a faculty advisor. They decide on a topic in their major or minor, address recent scholarship, develop a prospectus, and produce substantial work (e.g., a written thesis, scientific experiment or research project, or creative arts exhibit or production). At the end of the term in which the capstone is completed, students give presentations at the Honors Thesis Symposia. Credits are applied to the respective program. Prerequisites: In good standing with The Honors College, prior enrollment in HNRS 175Q and HNRS 275Q, and senior status.

Environmental Studies    490

3 (crs.)

Environmental Studies Senior Seminar

A capstone seminar for the Environmental Studies program that will examine the student’s ability to integrate perspectives gained in previous environmental studies courses emphasizing science, society and values. Prerequisite: ENV STDS 260, 261, and 282, or consent of Environmental Studies Program Director.