Spring 2025 COURSES
Courses for the Environmental Studies Major
Courses for the Environmental Science Major
Courses for the ESS Minor
Special Topics Course Descriptions
COURSES FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES MAJOR
Foundation Courses:
- ES 100 Environmental Concerns in Perspective
- ES 105 Field Studies in Environmental Science
Core Courses:
- EC 104 Introduction to Microeconomics
- ES 221 Sustainable Development
- ES 224 Political Ecology
- HI 266P American Environmental History
- SO 223 Environmental Sociology
Cluster A Courses:
- AS 221 The Himalayas
- EC 104 Introduction to Microeconomics
- EC 361 Evaluating Sustainable Development
- ES 221 Sustainable Development
- ES 224 Political Ecology
- ES 303 The Politics of Food
- ES 306 US Public Lands & Oceans
- ES 352C All Hands on Deck: Meeting the Climate Challenge through Policy and Innovation
- HI 266P American Environmental History
- HP 131 Introduction to Public Health
- IA 101 Introduction to International Affairs
- MB 341 Sustainable Finance
- MB 351 Sustainability, Prototyping, and Play
- PS 312 Environmental Psychology
- RE 209 Indigenous Religious Freedom
Cluster B1 Courses:
- ES 252D Mapping for the Environment and Sustainable Development
- ES 352D Building Energy Solutions
- GE 101 Earth Systems Science
- GE 251 Glacial Geology
- ID 351 Advanced GIS
Capstone:
- ES 375 Environmental Studies Research Capstone
Methods:
- EC 237 Statistical Methods
- ID 210 Introduction to GIS
- MS 204 Statistical Methods
- SO 227R Social Research Methods
- SO 228 Statistics for the Social Sciences
COURSES FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE MAJOR
Foundation Course:
- ES 100 Environmental Concerns in Perspective
Disciplinary Foundation Courses:
- BI 108 Organismal Biology
- CH 126 Principles of Chemistry
- ES 105 Field Studies in Environmental Science or GE 101 Earth Systems Science
Core Courses
- ES 207 Regenerative Environmental Systems
Cluster A Courses:
- AS 221 The Himalayas
- EC 104 Introduction to Microeconomics
- EC 361 Evaluating Sustainable Development
- ES 221 Sustainable Development
- ES 224 Political Ecology
- ES 303 The Politics of Food
- ES 306 US Public Lands & Oceans
- ES 352C All Hands on Deck: Meeting the Climate Challenge through Policy and Innovation
- HI 266P American Environmental History
- HP 131 Introduction to Public Health
- IA 101 Introduction to International Affairs
- MB 341 Sustainable Finance
- MB 351 Sustainability, Prototyping, and Play
- PS 312 Environmental Psychology
- RE 209 Indigenous Religious Freedom
Cluster B2 Courses:
- BI 241 Ecology
- BI 329 Marine Biology
- CH 221 Organic Chemistry I
- CH 222 Organic Chemistry II
- CH 232 Analytical Methods in Chemistry
- ES 207 Regenerative Environmental Systems
- ES 352D Building Energy Solutions
- GE 251 Glacial Geology
- GE 301 Hydrogeologic Systems
- GE 302 Sedimentation and Stratigraphy
- HP 242 Principles of Nutrition
- ID 351 Advanced GIS
Capstone:
- ES 375 Environmental Studies Research Capstone
Methods:
- ID 210 Introduction to GIS
- MS 204 Statistical Methods
COURSES FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES AND SCIENCES MINOR
Foundation Courses:
- ES 100 Environmental Concerns in Perspective
Cluster A Courses:
- AS 221 The Himalayas
- EC 104 Introduction to Microeconomics
- EC 361 Evaluating Sustainable Development
- ES 221 Sustainable Development
- ES 224 Political Ecology
- ES 303 The Politics of Food
- ES 306 US Public Lands & Oceans
- ES 352C All Hands on Deck: Meeting the Climate Challenge through Policy and Innovation
- HI 266P American Environmental History
- HP 131 Introduction to Public Health
- IA 101 Introduction to International Affairs
- MB 341 Sustainable Finance
- MB 351 Sustainability, Prototyping, and Play
- PS 312 Environmental Psychology
- RE 209 Indigenous Religious Freedom
Cluster B1 Courses:
- ES 252D Mapping for the Environment and Sustainable Development
- ES 352D Building Energy Solutions
- GE 101 Earth System Science
- GE 251 Glacial Geology
- ID 351 Advanced Topics in GIS and Modeling
Cluster B2 Courses:
- BI 241 Ecology
- BI 329 Marine Biology
- CH 221 Organic Chemistry I
- CH 222 Organic Chemistry II
- CH 232 Analytical Methods in Chemistry
- ES 352D Building Energy Solutions
- GE 251 Glacial Geology
- GE 301 Hydrogeologic Systems
- GE 302 Sedimentation and Stratigraphy
- HP 242 Principles of Nutrition
- ID 351 Advanced Topics in GIS and Modeling
SPECIAL TOPICS COURSE DESCRIPTIONS:
ES 252D Mapping for the Environment and Sustainable Development
Instructor: N. Menkiti
An overview of environmental planning challenges with a focus on the integration of relevant disciplines to achieve environmentally and socially sustainable development. Lectures, labs, and exercises will broadly cover development issues from the social, cultural, and biophysical perspectives. The course will also explore the world of open geospatial data mapping for sustainable development and resilient environments.
Prerequisite: ES 100
ES 352 All Hands on Deck: Meeting the Climate Challenge through Policy and Innovation
Instructor: J. Snyder
An exploration of how public policy facilitates the technological, economic and social transitions needed to meet the climate challenge with the urgency deemed necessary by the scientific consensus. Achieving the necessary transformation requires an entrepreneurial response and innovation across the economy that is both stimulated by governmental policy and informs the development of such policy. Students will explore the role of governmental policy in establishing the framework for the innovation and investment decisions that enable deep decarbonization across various sectors of the economy, considering issues of climate justice and economic factors such as jobs, affordability, and competitiveness. The course will examine the role of business and communities in implementing climate solutions and the role of interest groups and advocacy organizations in crafting climate policy.
ES 352D Building Energy Solutions
Instructor: K. Kellogg
An application of engineering and ecological-based concepts and principles to the design and implementation of renewable and energy-efficiency projects. Lecture, field tours, and discussions with professionals in energy-related fields will help deepen our understanding of innovative yet practical solutions to help meet our growing energy demands in a low-carbon way. The emphasis of the course will be the development of project recommendations for a suite of issues and needs identified and guided by various community partners, with the ultimate goal of our analyses pushing the implementation of local and regional energy solutions.
Prerequisite: ES 222
MB 351 Sustainability, Prototyping, and Play
Instructor: C. Hill
An exploration of the elements of sustainable design and climate responsible businesses through the lens of prototyping and play. We will discuss what makes a business sustainable from a scientific, political, economic, and biologic perspective. We will consider the impact of different business models and discuss how purpose driven businesses can combat the world’s biggest problems. We will discuss how to integrate your values into your work so that you can help transform firms into catalysts for system level change.