Environmental Studies
Information
Jim Feldman, Director
Department Office: Sage Hall 3451
Department Telephone: (920) 424-0964
ENV STDS
Faculty
| Adler (Biology) | Loaicono (History) | |
| Baltutis (Religious Studies | Long (Geography) | |
| Bohr (Sociology) | McPhee (Environmental Studies) | |
| Cole (Env Studies/English) | Pillsbury (Biology) | |
| Coulibaly (Geography) | Rindo (English) | |
| Davis-Foust (Biology/Env Studies) | Scribner (Political Science) | |
| Dunn (Business) | Slagter (Political Science) | |
| Feldman (Environmental Studies) | Son (Sociology) | |
| Hallet – (Geology) | Spehar (Anthropology) | |
| Haynes (English) | Stelzer (Biology/Microbiology) | |
| Hiatt (Geology) | Thomas (Political Science) | |
| Hinrichs (Communication) | Van Auken (Sociology/Environmental Studies) | |
| Kleinheinz (Engineering Tech) |
Degrees
- Undergraduate: A major in Environmental Studies can lead to the degree(s): Bachelor of Arts; Bachelor of Science.
- Graduate: None
Summary of Fields of Study
1. Goal(s)
- Environmental Studies is the study of the relationships between human culture and living systems. It is also a study with a purpose: to understand the social variables that lead to environmental degradation and to inspire critical thought and action in response. Thus, it is a course of study for people who care about environmental issues and want to contribute to the resolution of environmental problems.
2. The Major(s)
- The program offers a single interdisciplinary major, the Environmental Studies major. Within the Environmental Studies major, the Department offers a choice of two emphases: 1) Environmental Policy and Values; 2) Environmental Science.
3. The Minor(s)
- The program offers one minor: (1) Environmental Studies. The minor is licensable for students in the elementary education (Early Childhood – Early Adolescence, Middle Childhood – Early Adolescence) or secondary education (Early Adolescence Ð Adolescence) with majors in Broad Field Natural Science, Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science or Physics.
Admission/Graduation Requirements
To be eligible for graduation, students must meet all requirements for the degree being sought in addition to earning a minimum grade point average of 2.00 in all courses required for the Environmental Studies major or minor. Refer to the following for complete requirements. Those students seeking Wisconsin teacher licensure must earn a minimum grade point average of 3.00 in all courses required for their majors and minors in order to meet the requirements of the College of Education and Human Services.
Required Core Courses
- Environmental Studies: 3 credits
- Environmental Studies 101 or 102 or 103
- Laboratory Environmental Science: 8 credits
- Two of the following:
- Anthropology 202
- Biology 105
- Geography 121
- Geology 150
- Two of the following:
- Intermediate Environmental Science: 3 credits
- Environmental Studies 260
- Environmental Policy and Values: 9 credits
- Religious Studies 164/Environmental Studies 164 or Philosophy/ES 230 or English/ES 243
- Environmental Studies/Sociology 261
- Environmental Studies 282
- Skills course: 3 credits
- One of the following
- Geog 241
- English 388
- Environmental Studies 300
- One of the following
- Interdisciplinary Seminars: 6 credits
- Environmental Studies 357/Political Science 357
- Environmental Studies 490
The Major(s), with Emphases and/or Options
1. Environmental Studies Major
In addition to the Core Courses:
A. Environmental Science Emphasis: 31 credits
- Introductory Science: 10 credits
- Chemistry 105
- Chemistry 106
- Environmental Science Breadth
- Biology 349 or Geography 363
- Geography 314
- Advanced Environmental Science Electives 9 credits:
- Majors are required to take at least three approved upper level Environmental Science courses. Up to 3 of these credits can be an internship or independent study in any approved department (if not used as a skills course).
- Advanced Environmental Policy and Values Electives 6 credits:
- Approved upper level policy & values courses
- Advanced Environmental Science Courses
- Biology/Ecology Oriented Courses:
- Anthropology/Environmental Studies: Anthropology 372 or Environmental Studies 372
- Biology/Environmental Studies: Biology 314 or Environmental Studies 314; Biology 318 or Environmental Studies 318
- Biology: Biology 325, 326, 327, 336, 338, 349, 376, 386
- Environmental Studies: Environmental Studies 305, 391, 396
- Geography: Geography 363
- Nursing: Nursing 361
- Resource Management Oriented Courses:
- Biology/Environmental Studies: Biology 318 or Environmental Studies 318
- Engineering Technology: Engineering Technology 375
- Environmental Studies: Environmental Studies 305, 312
- Geography/Environmental Studies: Geography 303 or Environmental Studies 303
- Geography: Geography 314, 341, 364, 382, 414, 441
- Earth Science Oriented Courses:
-
- Environmental Studies or Geology: 323
- Geography: Geography 304, 335, 363, 452, 461
- Geology: Geology 314, 320, 328, 335, 365, 366, 370, 371
-
- Biology/Ecology Oriented Courses:
B. Environmental Policy and Values Emphasis: 24 credits
Up to 3 of these credits can be an internship or independent study in any approved department (if not used as a skills course).
-
- Resource Planning & Policy: 6 credits
- At least 6 credits from the Resource Planning & Policy group
- Society & Values: 6 credits
- At least 6 credits in the Society & Values group
- Environmental Policy and Values Electives: 6 credits
- At least 6 additional credits from either the Resource Planning & Policy group or the Society and Values group.
- Advanced Environmental Science: 6 credits
- Approved upper level Environmental Science courses
- Resource Planning & Policy: 6 credits
Resource Planning and Policy Group
-
- Anthropology/Environmental Studies: Anthropology 368 or Environmental Studies 368
- Business/Environmental Studies: SMGT 302/Environmental Studies 302, SMGT 328/Environmental Studies 328, SMGT 329/Environmental Studies 329, SMGT 330/Environmental Studies 330
- Geography: Geography 311, 313, 314, 364, 377, 414, 419
- Economics: Economics 360
- Environmental Studies: Environmental Studies 300, 311, 320, 390, 395, 474
- Political Science: Political Science 316 or ES 316, Political Science 388 or Environmental Studies 388, Political Science 386 or Environmental Studies 386
- Public Administration: Public Administration 391
- Sociology/Environmental Studies: Sociology 315 or Environmental Studies 315
- Sociology: Sociology 317
Society and Values Group
-
- Anthropology: Anthropology 348.
- Anthropology/Environmental Studies: Anthropology 380 or Environmental Studies 380, Anthropology 382 or Environmental Studies 382.
- Communication/Environmental Studies: Communication 455 or Environmental Studies 455
- English/Environmental Studies: English 343 or Environmental Studies 343, English 360 or Environmental Studies 360, English 399 or Environmental Studies 399
- History/Environmental Studies: History 326 or Environmental Studies 326, History 335 or Environmental Studies 335, History 339 or Environmental Studies 339, History 345 or Environmental Studies 345, History 354 or Environmental Studies 354, History 355 or Environmental Studies 355
- Philosophy/Environmental Studies: Philosophy 340 or Environmental Studies 340
- Religious Studies/Environmental Studies: Religious Studies 362 or Environmental Studies 362
- Sociology: Sociology 311, 342
- Sociology/Environmental Studies: Sociology 313 or Environmental Studies 313
- Women’s Studies/Environmental Studies: Women’s Studies 365 or Environmental Studies 365
The Minor(s)
1. Environmental Studies Minor
- Required Credits: 24 minimum
- Required Courses:
-
- Environmental Studies 101 or 102 or 103
- Environmental Studies 260/Biology 260
- Environmental Studies 261/Sociology 261
- Environmental Studies 282
- Environmental Studies 357
- One Introductory Environmental Humanities Course:
- Environmental Studies 164/Religious Studies 164
- Environmental Studies 230/Philosophy 230
- Environmental Studies 243/English 243
- Electives: Any two upper-level courses approved for the Environmental Studies major.
Course Offerings
| 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 department 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 department consent. | |
| Environmental Studies 102 | 3 (crs.) |
| Introduction to Sustainability (XS) | |
| 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) | |
| 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. Prerequisites: Enrolled in good standing in the The Honors College at UW Oshkosh and prior or concurrent enrollment in HNRS 175. | |
| 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. Credit cannot be received for both Religious Studies 164 and Environmental Studies 164. | |
| 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. | |
| 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/Environmental Studies 243. Students may receive credit for only one of the two cross listed courses. Prerequisite: Any Writing-Based Inquiry Seminar (WBIS 188), or English 101, or English 110. | |
| 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 Chemistry 103 or Geography 121 or Geology 150 or Environmental Stds 101 or Environmental Stds 102 or Environmental Stds 103. | |
| Environmental Studies 261 | 3 (crs.) |
| Environment and Society (XS) | |
| Examines 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. Sociology 261/Environmental Studies 261/Political Science 261 Students may receive credit for only one of the three cross-listed courses. Special course fees may apply. | |
| Environmental Studies 282 | 3 (crs.) |
| Environmental Humanities | |
| 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. Prerequisite: Environmental Studies 101, 102, or 103 and Environmental Studies 164, 230 or 243 or consent of instructor. Special fees may apply. | |
| Environmental Studies 300 | 1 – 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. Course may be repeated for up to a total of six units (crs.). Prerequisite: Environmental Studies major or minor or consent of Director of Environmental Studies. | |
| Environmental Studies 301 | 1 – 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 Business 302/Environmental Studies 302. Students may receive credit for only one of the two cross-listed courses. | |
| 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. Prerequisites: Geography 121, Environmental Studies 260, 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: Environmental Studies 260 or Biology 260. Special fees may apply. | |
| 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 with Environmental Studies (ES 311). | |
| 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: Environmental Studies 101 and Environmental Studies 260, or by 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. Sociology 313/Environmental Studies 313 Students may receive credit for only one of the two cross-listed courses. Prerequisites: Sociology 101 or 151, or 203 or consent of instructor. 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: Environmental Studies 314/Biology 314. Students may receive credit for only one of the two cross-listed courses. Prerequisite: Math 104 and Biology 349 or Env Stds 260 or consent of the instructor. Special 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. Sociology 315/Environmental Studies 315 Students may receive credit for only one of the two cross-listed courses. Prerequisites: Sociology 101 or 151, or 203 or consent of instructor. | |
| 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. | |
| 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/Environmental Studies 318. Students may receive credit for only one of the two cross-listed courses. Prerequisites: Biology 105 or Biology 260/Environmental Studies 260 or consent of instructor. (3+0) 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: Environmental Studies 101 or consent of the instructor. 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. Prerequisites: Geol 102, Geol 150, or Geol 110; Recommended: Chemistry 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: History 326/Environmental Studies 326. Students may receive credit for only one of the two cross-listed courses. Prerequisites: Junior standing or any 200-level History course or consent of instructor. | |
| 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 with Business 328. Students may only receive credit for only one of the two cross-listed courses. Prerequisites: NOTE: For any student not admitted to the College of Business, the prerequisites to enroll in the upper level courses for the Sustainable Management minor is 60 credits earned, 2.5 combined GPA and limit of 6 credits of upper-level business classes per semester. Business 328/Environmental Studies 328 Prerequisites: Business majors who have been admitted to the COB. All other students can take up to 21 credits of 300 and 400 level College of Business department courses, provided they have completed 60 credits with a combined GPA of 2.5. | |
| 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 with Business 329. Students may only receive credit for only one of the two cross-listed courses. Prerequisites: Business majors who have been admitted to the COB. All other students can take up to 21 credits of 300 and 400 level College of Business department courses, provided they have completed 60 credits with a combined GPA of 2.5. Environmental Studies329/Business 329 | |
| 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 with Business 330. Students may only receive credit for only one of the two cross-listed courses. Prerequisites: Business majors who have been admitted to the COB. All other students can take up to 21 credits of 300 and 400 level College of Business department courses, provided they have completed 60 credits with a combined GPA of 2.5. SMGT 330/Environmental Studies 330 | |
| 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. Prerequisites: Junior standing or any 200-level History course or consent of instructor. | |
| 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: History 339/Environmental Studies 339. Students may receive credit for only one of these two cross-listed courses. Prerequisites: Junior standing or any 200-level History course or consent of instructor. | |
| 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. | |
| Environmental Studies 343 | 3 (crs.) |
| Nature Writing: Optional Content | |
| This course may be offered with different content. With a different subtitle, it may be taken twice with the signature of the department chair. 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. Cross-listed English 343/Environmental Studies 343. Students may receive credit for only one of the two cross-listed courses. Prerequisite: English 281 or consent of instructor. | |
| 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: History 345/Environmental Studies 345. Students may receive credit for only one of the two cross-listed courses. Prerequisites: Junior standing or any 200-level History course or consent of instructor. | |
| 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 t 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: Environmental Studies 354/History 354, students may receive credit for only one of the two cross-listed courses. Prerequisites: Junior standing or any 100-level History course or consent of instructor. | |
| 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 History 355/Environmental Studies 355. Students may receive credit for only one of the two cross-listed courses. Prerequisites: Junior standing or any 100-level History course or consent of instructor. | |
| 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. Prerequisites: Political Science 105 or Environmental Studies 261 or consent of instructor. | |
| 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 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. Prerequisites: Any 200-level ENG literature course or ES 282, or permission of instructor. | |
| Environmental Studies 362 | 3 (crs.) |
| Religion and Earth Ethics | |
| Examines human attitudes and behaviors toward the natural world, focusing on the historical evolution of religious environmental ethics in diverse cultures and traditions. Analyzes how religion serves as a resource for many contemporary environmental movements and yields varying public policy prescriptions. Provides an opportunity for a critical appraisal of competing religious environmental ethics. | |
| 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: Environmental Studies 365/Women’s and Gender Studies 365. Students may receive credit for only one of the two cross-listed courses. | |
| 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: Anthropology368/Environmental Studies 368. Students may receive credit for only one of the two cross-listed courses. | |
| 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: Anthropology 372/Environmental Studies 372. Students may receive credit for only one of the two cross-listed courses. | |
| 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: Environmental Studies 380/Anthropology 380. Students may receive credit for only one of the two cross-listed courses. | |
| 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 Development (GS) | |
| This course explores the concept of ‘development’ and critically 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: Political Science 386/Social Justice 386/Environmental Studies 386. Students may receive credit for only one of the cross-listed courses. Poli Sci 101 or 115 are recommended. | |
| Environmental Studies 388 | 3 (crs.) |
| Global Environmental Politics | |
| 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 with Political Science388/Environmental Studies 388 Students may receive credit for only one of the cross-listed courses. Prerequisite: Political Science 101 or 115 or Sociology 261 or Environmental Studies 261 or Political Science 261 or consent of instructor. | |
| 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. Course repeatable once if topics are different. Special 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. Course repeatable once if topics are different. See department. Prerequisites: Environmental Studies 260 or consent of instructor. Special 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 fees may apply. | |
| Environmental Studies 396 | 3 (crs.) |
| Field Studies in Environmental Science- Optional Content | |
| Field Studies courses involving 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 Environmental Studies 260 or consent of instructor. Special 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. Prerequisites: Any 200-level ENG literature course, ES 282, or permission of instructor. | |
| 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 with Communication 455/Environmental Studies 455. Students may receive credit for only one of the two cross-listed courses. Prerequisites: Communication 104 and 219; Prerequisite or Corequisite 368 or consent of instructor. | |
| 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 a 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 department or unit. 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: Environmental Studies 260, 261, and 282, or consent of Environmental Studies Program Director. | |