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<h1>Environmental Studies Course Catalog 1999-2000</h1>
<h2> Environmental Studies Program Overview</h2>
<p> The Environmental Studies Program provides an interdisciplinary approach to
the study of human interactions with the environment. Of central concern are
the impact of technology on natural environments and its implications for human
welfare. The program seeks to apply the different perspectives of the humanities,
social sciences, biology, and the physical sciences to environmental and natural
resource issues. These perspectives, combined with complementary training in
a traditional discipline, will prepare students for graduate work and careers
in the environmental sciences, law, public health, public policy, or public
administration. <br>
Because careful course selection is necessary to achieve specific objectives,
students are urged to consult as early as possible with the program director
and other members of the Environmental Studies Program Committee (names available
in the Environmental Studies office). Students should consult the course descriptions
for prerequisites and plan accordingly. Descriptions of new program courses
and activities in addition to those listed below may be found in supplements
to this catalog issued by the Registrar, and the Environmental Studies Course
Description Supplement available in the Environmental Studies office. New students
are encouraged to begin the social science component of the major with ENVS
101. <br>
It is strongly recommended that students majoring in Environmental Studies complete
a second major in a department such as Biology, English, Politics, etc. This
will ensure more focus to the Environmental Studies major by relating it to
the approaches and concerns of an established discipline. <br>
Students who wish to major in Environmental Studies should: <br>
1. Consult with a member of the Environmental Studies Program Committee or with
the Program Director. <br>
2. Pick up a checklist of major requirements form from the Environmental Studies
office. <br>
3. Select an advisor who is a member of the Environmental Studies Program Committee
(names listed in the Environmental Studies office). <br>
4. In consultation with advisor, complete the Registrar's Declaration of major
form along with the checklist of major requirements. <br>
5. Submit these forms, signed by advisor, to the Program Director for approval.
The proposal, when approved, constitutes an agreement between the student and
the Environmental Studies Program as to the content of the student's major.
Please consult with your advisor for approval before making any changes to avoid
any problems at graduation time. <br>
Deadline. Deadline for major proposal submission is normally the end of the
student's sophomore year. If ENVS is the student's second major, it may be submitted
at the end of the student's junior year. </p>
<h2>The Environmental Studies Major</h2>
<p> The major consists of a minimum of 15 hours of course work in the Natural
Sciences, 18 hours (six courses) in the Social Sciences and Humanities, and
a statistics course. In addition, some of the courses have prerequisites
that are not listed here. At least 20 of the credit hours counted toward
the major must be taken at Oberlin. Courses must be selected to meet the following
requirements (N.B. - If the ENVS requirements change after the major is declared,
students can choose to comply with either the requirements in place at the time
of their declaration of major or the revised requirements.)
<p>Please consult individual departmental listings for full course descriptions
and availability in a given semester and year. Not all of these courses
are offered every year. <br>
Social and Behavioral Sciences/Arts and Humanities Requirements. Majors must
take six courses totaling at least 18 hours in Social Sciences and Humanities
consisting of the following: <br>
1. Environmental Studies 101 (Environment and Society) is required of
all majors. It is normally to be taken during the first two years. <br>
2. A total of five additional courses in the Social Sciences and Arts
and Humanities to be chosen from the following list. ENVS 208 (Environmental
Policy) OR ENVS 231 (Environmental Economics) MUST be one of the five, and no
more than two of the five courses may be cross-referenced with a single department
or program. At least one Humanities course is highly recommended. <br>
<br>
Social Science Courses: <br>
Anthropology <br>
237 Ecological Anthropology
<p>Economics <br>
231 Environmental Economics <br>
241 Economics of the Urban Environment <br>
331 Economics of Land, Location, and the Environment <br>
431 Seminar: Environmental and Resource Economics
<p>History <br>
251 Social History of American Architecture <br>
252 American Environmental History <br>
423 Research in American Environmental History
<p>Politics <br>
204 American Environmental Law <br>
208 Environmental Policy <br>
237 Green Political Theory <br>
321 International Politics: Environmental Issues
<p>Sociology <br>
446 Seminar: The City and Social & Environmental Policy <br>
<br>
Humanities Courses: <br>
Art <br>
048 Visual Concepts and Processes: Whatís Natural Isnít Real
<p>English <br>
253 Transcendentalism <br>
378 Literature, Wilderness, and the Human Imagination
<p>Expository Writing <br>
103 Figuring Nature
<p>Philosophy <br>
225 Environment, Destitution, Future Generations, Moral Responsibility
<p>Russian <br>
329 Literature and the Land: Writing Nature in Russia and America <br>
<br>
Also, majors may choose ONE course from the following list (see program courses
listing) that counts toward major credit: ENVS 210, 212, 291, 309, 395,
481, 482, 490, and 491. (ENVS modules 481 and 482 are now equivalent to
ENVS 490) Only three hours of credit from this list of courses can count
towards the major.
<p>Certain courses previously offered can also be counted towards the ENVS major.
These include ARTS 051, ARTS 069, HIST 262, 267, 329, ENGL 435, POLT 970 and
<br>
ANTH 269.
<p>Natural Sciences Requirements. Majors must take at least 15 hours of coursework
in the Natural Sciences from the following list. Biology 120, either Geology
160 or 162, and either Chemistry 101, 102, 103 or 151 MUST be included among
these 15 hours. The balance of the 15 hours in natural science must be
selected from courses in the Biology, Chemistry, Geology, and/or Physics Departments,
and they must EITHER count towards one of those four majors OR be cross-referenced
with Environmental Studies.
<p>Biology <br>
120 Genetics, Evolution and Ecology <br>
205 Community Ecology <br>
206 Population Ecology <br>
318 Evolution <br>
411 Seminar: Conservation Biology
<p>Chemistry <br>
101 Structure and Reactivity <br>
102 Chemical Principles <br>
103 Topics in General Chemistry <br>
151 Chemistry and the Environment
<p>Geology <br>
121 Geology in Our National Parks <br>
160 Physical Geology <br>
161 Marine Science <br>
162 Environmental Geology <br>
242 Groundwater Hydrogeology <br>
330 Sedimentary Geology
<p>Physics <br>
055 Principles of Solar Energy
<p>Additional Requirement. Majors must take ONE course in statistics or research
methods selected from the following: Mathematics 090, 092, 100, 113, or 114,
Sociology 211, Chemistry 211, Biology 205 or 318 (N.B. - of these
courses, only those in Biology and Chemistry can also be counted as part of
the 15 hours in natural science).
<h2>The Environmental Studies Minor</h2>
<p> A student may pursue a minor in Environmental Studies by submitting a plan
of study for approval (the minor form is available from the Registrar's Office)
and a one-page rationale to the program director. A minor must include a minimum
of 15 hours in at least five Environmental Studies courses, including two or
more components of work at the non-introductory level. There must be at least
seven hours of work in the natural sciences and at least seven in social sciences
and/or humanities. At least ten hours must be taken at Oberlin.
<p>General. In addition to course work, the following opportunities are available
to students interested in environmental problems. <br>
1. Internships with government agencies (e.g. public schools, Forest
Service, EPA or private organizations (e.g. Nature Conservancy, International
Audubon Society, National Science Foundation) involved in some aspect of environmental
research, regulation, or advocacy may be a valuable learning and career planning
experience. Internships may be undertaken during Winter Term, an off-campus
semester, or in the summer. Normally these internships do not earn academic
credit. Files of volunteer and paid internships are maintained in the Environmental
Studies office and at the Environmental Studies Information Center in Mudd Library.
<br>
2. During Winter Term the Environmental Studies Program often sponsors
an on-campus group project which provides an opportunity for students to earn
Winter Term credit as either participants, group leaders, or coordinators. In
recent years projects dealt with architecture and ecological design, Black
River Watershed education, and community gardens. <br>
3. A detailed description of the Honors Program is available in
the Department office. Interested students should discuss their plans with the
Program Director, or a member of the Program Committee by the beginning of their
sixth semester. In order to demonstrate potential to undertake independent research,
honors candidates should enroll in a research seminar or private reading that
same semester. (In exceptional cases they may show this potential by some equivalency
to the junior project). Candidates must then submit a 3-5 page proposal
for a senior thesis to the ENVS Program Committee by September 20, of their
Senior year. This is a substantial project of independent, interdisciplinary
research in environmental studies, undertaken in consultation with at least
two Honors advisors from different departments, at least one of whom must be
a member of the Environmental Studies Program Committee. Upon submission of
the thesis on or around April 30, a one hour oral examination will be scheduled
for the first week of May. <br>
4. The program sponsors a series of public lectures by guest speakers
and faculty members. <br>
5. Students may schedule a private reading course during their junior
or senior years. In the past, students have taken private readings in
ecological design, ecological economics and eco-feminism. <br>
Joyce Gorn Memorial Prize. In the spring semester, the Program Committee awards
the Joyce Gorn Memorial Prize to one or more students for outstanding work on
an extracurricular or off-campus environmental project.
<p>Ann Schaening Memorial Fund. Funds are available to assist students with Winter
Term projects in Environmental Studies. Applications are available in the Environmental
Studies office, Rice 33 and must be approved by the Environmental Studies Program
Committee.
<p>
<h2>Environmental Studies Courses offered 1999-2000</h2>
<p>101. Environment and Society 3 hours <br>
3SS <br>
An introduction to social, economic, technological, and political aspects of
environmental problems with emphasis on major theorists and ideas that have
influenced the environmental movement. Different schools of thought on
the relationship between humankind and nature will be discussed with the aim
of providing students with a broad understanding of issues, causes, and possible
solutions to the array of environmental problems. Enrollment Limit: 50.
Open to first- and second-year students, including 10 consent seats. <br>
Sem 1 ENVS-101-01 TuTh 11:00-12:15 Mr. Orr
<p>208. Environmental Policy 3 hours <br>
3SS <br>
An introduction to national environmental policy with emphasis on major issues
of climate change, the loss of biodiversity, and the issues of growth.
The course includes discussion of regulatory policies, taxes, market solutions,
and other policy options applied to energy policy, transportation policy, endangered
species, and materials use. Prerequisites: ECON 101. One course
in Politics or Environmental Studies recommended. Identical to POLT 208.
Enrollment Limit: 25. <br>
Sem 1 ENVS-208-01 TuTh 3:00-4:15 Mr. Orr
<p>231. Environmental Economics 3 hours <br>
3SS, QPh <br>
Identical to ECON 231. <br>
Sem 1 ENVS-231-01 MW 8:35-9:50 Mr. Sheppard <br>
<br>
241. Economics of the Urban Environment 3 hours <br>
3SS, QPh <br>
Identical to ECON 241 <br>
Sem 2 ENVS-241-01 MW 8:35-9:50 Mr. Sheppard
<p>291. Colloquium on Sustainable Agriculture 3 hours <br>
3SS <br>
A conversation on farms, farming and the agrarian foundations of civilization,
with special attention to the interaction between philosophy, policy, and practice.
The course includes discussion of different schools of thought about agriculture,
culture, and rural life including Thomas Jefferson, Liberty Hyde Bailey, Albert
Howard, Louis Bromfield, Wendell Berry, and Wes Jackson. The course includes
visits to farms in central Ohio. Enrollment Limit: 25. Juniors and
seniors only. <br>
Sem 2 ENVS-291-01 Tu 7:30-10:00 p.m. Mr. Orr
<p>310. Ecological Design
3 hours <br>
3SS <br>
An upper division seminar for seniors on ecological design i.e. the intersection
of human intentions with the ecologies of particular places. The course will
include a broad survey of ecological design strategies from different cultures
along with special emphasis on recent work in architecture, community design,
energy systems, landscape management, and <br>
ecological engineering and the work of Carol Franklin, John Lyle, William McDonough,
Sim van der Ryn, and John Todd. Consent: Consent of instructor required.
Enrollment Limit: 12. <br>
Sem 2 ENVS-310-01 M 7:30-10:00 p.m. Mr. Orr
<p>331. Economics of Land, Location and the Environment 3 hours <br>
3SS, QPh <br>
Identical to ECON 331. <br>
Next offered 2000-2001
<p>401, 402 Honors 3-5 hours <br>
3-5EX <br>
Consent: Consent of instructor required. <br>
Orr, David ENVS-401-01 <br>
Staff ENVS-401-02 <br>
Benzing, David ENVS-401-03 <br>
Care, Norman ENVS-401-04 <br>
Garvin, Mary ENVS-401-05 <br>
Laushman, Roger ENVS-401-06 <br>
Newlin, Thomas ENVS-401-07 <br>
Parsons-Hubbard, Karla ENVS-401-08 <br>
Scofield, John ENVS-401-09 <br>
Sheppard, Stephen ENVS-401-10 <br>
Wilson, Harlan ENVS-401-11 (on leave Sem II)
<p>431. Seminar: Environmental and Resource Economics 3 hours <br>
3SS <br>
Identical to ECON 431 <br>
Sem 2 ENVS-431-01 W 2:30-4:20 Mr. Sheppard
<p>490. Introduction to the Black River Watershed 2 hours <br>
2 EX <br>
This course will introduce students to our local watershed, the Black River,
through a combination of lectures, field trips, and discussions. Topics
covered will include local geology, ecology, natural and social history, and
contemporary political and economic issues. Students will also be introduced
to the principles of place-based, interdisciplinary watershed education designed
to promote appreciation for environmental challenges among students in Oberlin's
public school system. Each participating Oberlin College student will
develop a lesson plan on a specific aspect of the watershed preparatory to testing
their skills in a local classroom under the supervision of a public school teacher
during the following semester. Prerequisites: Restricted to
JRs and SRs. Preference given to Environmental Studies majors. This
course is required for enrollment in the Practicum in Watershed Education (ENVS
491). Consent: Consent of instructor required. Enrollment
limit 24. <br>
Sem 1 ENVS-481-01 W 7:30-9:30 p.m. Mr. Newlin
<p>491. Practicum in Environmental Education 2 hours <br>
2 EX <br>
Students will apply what they learned in ENVS 481 by working intensively with
a selected teacher in a local middle or secondary school classroom to develop
curricula and special projects centered on the local watershed and the environmental
challenges it faces. Students will continue to learn about the dynamics
of the Black River Watershed as they gain first-hand teaching experience.
The practicum will involve one classroom session per week in addition to one
weekly discussion with other participants. Prerequisites: ENVS 481 or
equivalent. Notes: CR/NE grading. Consent: Consent of instructor
required. Enrollment Limit: 16. <br>
Discussion Groups <br>
Sem 2 ENVS-491-01 Th 7:30-9:30 p.m. Mr. Laushman</p>
<p>995. Private Reading 1-3 hours <br>
1-3EX <br>
Consent: Consent of instructor required. <br>
Orr, David ENVS-995-01 <br>
Staff ENVS-995-02 <br>
Benzing, David ENVS-995-03 <br>
Care, Norman ENVS-995-04 <br>
Garvin, Mary ENVS-995-05 <br>
Laushman, Roger ENVS-995-06 <br>
Newlin, Thomas ENVS-995-07 <br>
Parsons-Hubbard, Karla ENVS-995-08 <br>
Scofield, John ENVS-995-09 <br>
Sheppard, Stephen ENVS-995-10 <br>
Wilson, Harlan ENVS-995-11 (on leave Sem II)</p>
<h2> Environmental Studies Resource Faculty </h2>
<p> Anthropology: Ms. Fisher <br>
Art: Ms. Schuster <br>
Biology: Mr. Benzing, Ms. Garvin, Mr. Laushman <br>
Chemistry: Mr. Carlton, Mr. Craig, Ms. Stoll <br>
College Operations: Ms. Wolfe <br>
Economics: Mr. Sheppard <br>
English: Mr. Hobbs, Mr. McMillin, Mr. Young <br>
Environmental Studies: Mr. Orr <br>
Expository Writing: Ms. McMillin <br>
Geology: Ms. Parsons-Hubbard <br>
History: Mr. Blodgett, Mr. Sackman <br>
Philosophy: Mr. Care, Mr. Love <br>
Politics: Mr. Kahn, Ms. Sandberg, Mr. Wilson <br>
Russian: Mr. Newlin <br>
Sociology: Mr. Norris
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