Drew University: Environmental Studies Course Offerings for Fall Semester 2008
Click here for full schedule of class meeting times for fall 2008
Envst 90/ Earth Systems and Environment (same as Biol 192, section.2). Professor Catherine Riihimaki. Description:
This course explores the interrelated characteristics and functions of the atmosphere, oceans, solid Earth, and biota. We also evaluate the influence that growing human populations now exert on the Earth system. The study of global change is multidisciplinary; therefore we touch on topics as diverse as the physics of electromagnetic radiation, the chemistry of acid mine drainage, and the biology of coastal ecosystems. You should come away with a feel for how scientists ask questions, gather data and arrive at conclusions. You also should understand the many ways that Earth scientists construct “stories” about the Earth, and how we use these stories to make predictions. The course should improve your ability to critically approach the urgent issues concerning resource use, environmental degradation and global change that humanity now faces. Lab experiences and a required 1-day field trip are intended to broaden and deepen your learning experiences on topics that reinforce or complement the material in lecture. 4 credits. Meets: TTh 11:50-1:05 and Thursdays 1:15-4:15 .
Envst 191/ Consumption, Well-Being, Economy, and Environment (same as Econ 30). MWF 1:15-2:20. Professor Fred Curtis. Description: This course will focus on the connections among consumption, well-being (happiness), the economy and the natural environment. Conventional economics assumes that for individuals and society more consumption is better in the sense of creating greater well-being. Environmentalists know that more consumption also means a greater impact on the natural environment. This course will explore the economics of happiness, consumerism, the forces that support consumerism (subsidies, advertising, etc.), green marketing, public goods, behavioral economics, downsizing and voluntary simplicity, sustainable consumption, green marketing, green consumerism, the logic of sufficiency, materialism, and the environmental impact of consumption of different kinds of goods (e.g., food, fuel and energy). We will also look at competitive consumption, consumption externalities, positional goods, unequal consumption among people and collective or cooperative consumption. The course will draw on economics, environmental studies, business literature and other academic disciplines as well as the work of environmentalists, non-governmental organizations and government documents. We will also look at what various wisdom traditions have to say on this topic.
Anth 11/Cultural Ecology *
Biol 7/Ecology and Evolution *
Chem 3/Chemistry and the Environment *
Chem 6/Principles of Chemistry I*
Econ 5/Microeconomics *
Econ 45/Environmental Economics *
Psci 141/Environmental Politics and Policy *
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For descriptions of the above courses, see the course catalog
First-Year Seminars Related to Environmental Studies, Fall 2008:
~ Archaeology and Sustainability
~ Global Warming
~ Hurricane Katrina: The Cultural Ecology of an American Catastrophe.
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Past Course Offerings
Environmental Studies Courses Offered Spring Semester 2008
Biology 183/Tropical Marine Ecology
Econ 5/Microeconomics
ECON 5/Economic Principles: Microeconomics
ECON 47/Economics of Business and Sustainability
ECON 145/Sustainable Development
Environmental Studies Courses Offered Fall Semester 2007
BIOL 3/ Environmental Biology
BIOL 7/ Ecology and Evolution
BIOL 162/Ornithology
BIOL 173/ Forest Ecology
CHEM 6/ Principles of Chemistry I
ECON 5/Economic Principles: Microeconomics
Environmental Studies Courses Offered Spring Semester 2006
Biology 3/Environmental Biology
Biology 167/Animal Behavior
Biology 177/Advanced Environmental Science
Chem 3/Chemistry and the Environment
Econ 45/Environmntal Economics
Econ 5/Microeconomics
Rel 152/Environmental Ethics
Environmental Studies 100: Topics: Geology and Biogeography
Environmental Studies 101: Topics:
Economics of Global Warming and Peak Oil
Environmental Studies Courses Offered Fall Semester 2006
Anth 11/Cultural Ecology
Biol 7/Ecology and Evolution
Biol 167/Conservation Biology
Biol 186/Freshwater Ecology
Chem 6/Principles of Chemistry I
Econ 5/Economic Principles: Microeconomics
Econ 145/Sustainable Development
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Questions: Professor Sara Webb (swebb at drew.edu), Director
of Environmental Studies at
Drew University