Explore the nature of environmental problems and gain an overall understanding of the complexity of these problems (LAC, gtP).
Analysis of the causes and proposed solutions of environmental problems and of environmental issues and their political resolution.
Prerequisite: ENST 100 recommended. Examine interrelationships between human behavior and the environment. Review personal, social and structural dimensions of everyday life relating to the environment. Understand environmental problems and consider alternative behavior models.
Study past, present and future methods of energy production and limitations imposed by the laws of physics. Discuss applications to transportation, home and industry. Taught by the Physics department. (LAC, gtP)
Study the chemistry of natural waters, the atmosphere, and geosphere and the chemicals used for agriculture, industry, home, and energy production that pollute them. (LAC, gtP)
Air pollution and temperature inversions, global circulation of pollutants, acid rain, human impact on the ozone layer, carbon dioxide and climatic change, nuclear winter and other climate/human relationships.
Learn the characteristics of the major natural resources and the scientific basis behind current resource use practices. The environmental consequences of their use and abuse will be emphasized.
Use case studies to explore a general overview of commerce, economics, and business as it relates to the environment and human interactions.
Demographic perspective on human populations. Introduction to population processes of fertility, mortality, migration. Analysis of global patterns of demographic processes and the relation of culture to population growth and decline.
Prerequisite: ECON 205. Students will examine the strengths and weaknesses of economic theory in analyzing the seriousness of resource and environmental issues facing society.
Discussion of the relationships of environmental pollution to the ecosystem and health of humans. Analyze major areas of environmental pollution: water, air, solid wastes, pesticides, radioactive wastes and population.
Explore human relationships with nature writing from various periods and cultures. Economic, scientific, philosophic and religious attitudes emerge from attitudes about nature. Do these influence human treatment of natural things?
Examine the sustainability of contemporary living patterns. Explore alternative approaches to meeting transportation, domestic power and heating, food production and waste disposal needs on the personal and community levels.
Investigate and participate in the process of art as it relates to the different environments of human existence.
Juniors or above. Exploration of materials used in the built environment including the characteristics of: Sustainability, durability, recyclable and renewable resources, embodied energy, and indoor air quality.
Discuss current environmental issues in depth and in detail, on the basis of student background, library resources, interviews and guest speakers. Individuals and small groups analyze and present problems.
Individualized investigation under the direct supervision of a faculty member. (Minimum of 37.5 clock hours required per credit hour.) Repeatable, maximum concurrent enrollment is two times.
Permission of ENST coordinator. Practical experience and training in areas related to the environment. Credit hours and nature of experience arranged individually. Repeatable, maximum of 15 credits.
Juniors or above, or consent of instructor. Study for undergraduate students in various topics of sustainability. Repeatable under different subtitles, maximum of nine credits.