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Catalogue 2016-2017 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]
Course Descriptions
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Earth Science: II. Intermediate |
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ESCI 221 - Soils
1 unit(s)
(Same as GEOG 221 ) Soils form an important interface between the lithosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere. As such, they are critical to understanding the functioning of ecosystems. This course studies soil formation, and the physical and chemical properties of soils critical to the understanding of natural and constructed ecosystems. Field trips and laboratory work focus on the description and interpretation of local soils. Jeffrey Walker.
Prerequisite(s): one introductory course in Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science; or ENST 124 .
Not offered in 2016/17.
Two 75-minute periods; one 4-hour laboratory/field period.
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ESCI 224 - GIS: Spatial Analysis Semester Offered: Spring
1 unit(s)
(Same as GEOG 224 ) Geographic information systems (GIS) are increasingly important and widespread packages for manipulating and presenting spatial data. While this course uses ArcGIS, the same software as Cartography, the primary focus here is spatial analysis (calculating patterns and relationships), rather than map design for data visualization. We explore a variety of techniques for answering questions with spatial data, including overlay, map algebra (math using multiple input layers), hydrologic modeling, surface interpolation, and site selection. Issues of data collection through remote sensing and sampling are addressed. GIS involves a more rapid introduction to the software than Cartography does; it is useful to take both Cartography and GIS (preferably in that order) to gain a more complete understanding of spatial data analysis and manipulation. Neil Curri.
Satisfies the college requirement for quantitative reasoning.
Two 75-minute periods; one 2-hour laboratory.
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ESCI 231 - Geomorphology: Surface Processes and Evolution of Landforms Semester Offered: Spring
1 unit(s)
(Same as GEOG 231 ) Quantitative study of the physical, chemical, and biological processes that create Earth’s many landforms. Topics include weathering and erosion, landsliding and debris flows, sediment transport by rivers and glaciers, the role of climate in landscape modification, and the use of landforms to document earthquake hazards. Lab exercises emphasize fundamental skills in geomorphologic analysis such as mapping, surveying, interpretation of aerial photography, and use of Geographic Information Systems software. Kirsten Menking.
Prerequisite(s): ESCI 151 or permission of the instructor.
Satisfies college requirement for quantitative reasoning.
Two 75-minute periods; one 4-hour laboratory/field period. An overnight weekend field trip may be required.
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ESCI 235 - Water
1 unit(s)
(Same as GEOG 235 ) Sixty to seventy percent of Dutchess County residents depend on groundwater supplies to meet their daily needs. Industrial pollution and road salt have contaminated many of these supplies, spawning legal actions and requiring costly remediation. Ensuring adequate and safe groundwater supplies for humans and ecosystems requires extensive knowledge of the hydrologic cycle and of how contaminants may be introduced into water resources. We explore how rainfall and snowmelt infiltrate into soils and bedrock to become part of the groundwater system, learn what factors govern subsurface flow, and discuss the concept of well-head protection, which seeks to protect groundwater recharge areas from contamination. Using Vassar’s teaching well at the field station we perform a number of experiments to assess aquifer properties, water chemistry, and presence of microbial contaminants. Comfort with basic algebra and trigonometry is expected. Kirsten Menking.
Prerequisite(s): ESCI 151 , ENST 124 , or permission of the instructor.
Satisfies the college requirement for quantitative reasoning.
Not offered in 2016/17.
Two 75-minute periods; one 4-hour laboratory/field period.
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ESCI 251 - Global Geophysics and Tectonics
1 unit(s)
What can physics and simple math tell us about the earth? By utilizing an array of techniques, geophysicists gain an understanding of the processes that shape our planet. Reflection and earthquake seismology give us insight into deep earth structure, plate tectonic mechanisms, mountain building, basin formation, and hazard mitigation. Variations in the earth’s gravitational field yield information on density contrasts beneath the surface, from the scale of mountain ranges to buried artifacts. Heat flow variations are useful in determining regional subsurface thermal structure, fluid advection, and climate variation. Laboratories are designed to use the skills required in most geology related fields. They involve the use of Geographic Information System (GIS) software, and construction of simple computer models.
Prerequisite(s): ESCI 151 or ESCI 121 .
Not offered in 2016/17.
Two 75-minute periods; one 4-hour laboratory.
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ESCI 254 - Environmental Science in the Field Semester Offered: Spring
1 unit(s)
(Same as BIOL 254 and ENST 254 ) The environment consists of complex and often elegant interactions between various constituents so that an interdisciplinary approach is required to understand how human interactions may affect it. In this course, we study a variety of aspects of a specific environment by considering how biological, chemical, geological, and human factors interact. We observe these interactions first hand during a weeklong field trip. Some of the questions we may consider are: How does a coral polyp create an environment that not only suits its particular species, but also helps regulate the global climate? How has human development and associated water demands in the desert Southwest changed the landscape, fire ecology, and even estuary and fisheries’ health as far away as the Gulf of California? How have a variety of species (humans included) managed to survive on an island with the harsh environment of the exposed mid-ocean ridge of Iceland? The course is offered every other year, and topics vary with expertise of the faculty teaching the course. Kirsten Menking and Mark Schlessman.
Prerequisite(s): permission of the instructor.
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ESCI 260 - Conservation of Natural Resources
1 unit(s)
(Same as GEOG 260 ) Natural resources are perennially at the center of debates on sustainability, planning, land development, and environmental policy. The ways we conceptualize resources can be as important to understanding these issues as their actual distributions are. This course provides a geographic perspective on natural resource conservation, using local examples to provide deeper experience with resource debates. We focus particularly on forest resources: biodiversity, forest health, timber resources, forest policy, and the ways people have struggled to make a living in forested ecosystems. We discuss these issues on a global scale (such as tropical timber piracy and forest conversion), and we explore them locally in the Adirondacks of New York. This course requires that students spend October Break on a group study trip in the Adirondacks. Students must be willing to spend long, cold days outside, including some strenuous physical activity (unless special permission is arranged with the instructor). Mary Ann Cunningham.
Students wishing to register under Earth Science must have had at least one previous earth science course.
Not offered in 2016/17.
Two 75-minute periods.
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ESCI 271 - Structural Geology: Deformation of the Earth
1 unit(s)
Structural geology explores the deformation of Earth’s crust caused by the movement of its tectonic plates and the resulting structures that are produced at scales ranging from the microscopic to the mountainous. It underpins the oil and gas industry and mining because fossil fuels and precious metals are commonly associated with folds and faults. It is also important in earthquake and landslide hazard prediction. Lab exercises emphasize the fundamentals of geologic mapping, how to use geometric principles to predict what lies in the subsurface from surface observations, and how rocks behave under varying conditions of stress. Many exercises occur in the field. Kirsten Menking.
Prerequisite(s): ESCI 151 or permission of the instructor.
Satisfies the college requirement for quantitative reasoning.
Not offered in 2016/17.
Two 75-minute periods; one 4-hour laboratory/field period. An overnight weekend field trip may be required.
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ESCI 275 - Paleontology and the Fossil Record
1 unit(s)
(Same as BIOL 275 ) Paleontology isn’t just a “dead science”- by studying processes that have occurred in the past, we can deepen our understanding of the current biota inhabiting the Earth. Conversely, by studying the modern distribution of organisms and the environmental, taphonomic, and ecological processes that impact their distribution and preservation, we can enhance our understanding of the processes that have controlled the formation and distribution of fossils through time. In this course, we explore the methodology used to interpret the fossil record, including preservational biases and how we account for them when studying fossil taxa. We also explore large-scale ecological changes and evolutionary processes and discuss how they manifest across geologic time, and how these relate to Earth’s changing fauna. We additionally learn about how paleontology has developed as a field in the context of different historical and social perspectives. Lab exercises focus on applying paleontological methods to a variety of different fossil and recent samples.
Not offered in 2016/17.
Two 75-minute periods and one 4-hour laboratory period.
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ESCI 277 - Biogeochemistry
1 unit(s)
As the name implies, biogeochemistry focuses on the living world (bio), the geology of the earth (geo) and the interaction of biology and geology on the chemistry of our planet. This course focuses on the biological influences on important geochemical transformations, and how biological systems, underlain by different geologies, affect measurable chemical attributes important to life. The course also covers human influences on biogeochemical cycles. Impacts addressed include the effects of atmospheric deposition (pollution), changes in land use history and how climate change influences biogeochemistry. Lynn Christenson.
Not offered in 2016/17.
Two 75-minute periods, and one 4-hour laboratory.
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ESCI 290 - Field Work Semester Offered: Fall or Spring
0.5 to 1 unit(s)
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ESCI 297 - Readings in Earth Science
0.5 unit(s)
Contemplating Time. Deep time, the concept of geologic time recognized by Persian polymath Avicenna (Ibn Sina) and Chinese naturalist Shen Kuo in the 11th century and developed further by James Hutton during the 18th century Scottish Enlightenment, has been called the single greatest contribution of geology to science. The concept provides a critical link between earth science and environmental change. Using reading and reflection, the aim of this course is to help students develop a feeling for the enormity of Earth’s duration in relation to human life spans. Students contemplate the nature of time from geoscientific, religious, and literary perspectives. Reading works by Loren C. Eiseley, Mircea Eliade, Malcolm Gladwell, Stephen Jay Gould, Abraham Joshua Heschel, Shunryu Suzuki, and Elie Wiesel, among others, we consider subjects such as the two great metaphors of time, arrows and cycles, in relation to natural and anthropogenic environmental change. The class meets weekly for contemplative practice and is suitable for students at any level. Jill Schneiderman.
Prerequisite(s): permission of the instructor.
Not offered in 2016/17.
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ESCI 298 - Independent Work Semester Offered: Fall or Spring
0.5 to 1 unit(s)
Execution and analysis of a field, laboratory or library study. The project, to be arranged with an individual instructor, is expected to have a substantial paper as its final product. The department.
Prerequisite(s): permission of the instructor.
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Earth Science: III. Advanced |
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ESCI 300 - Senior Research and Thesis Semester Offered: Fall
0.5 unit(s)
Critical analysis, usually through observation or experimentation, of a specific research problem in earth science. A student electing this course must first gain, by submission of a written research proposal, the support of a member of the earth science faculty with whom to work out details of a research protocol. The formal research proposal and a final paper and presentation of results are required parts of the course. A second faculty member participates in the final evaluation. The department.
Prerequisite(s): permission of the instructor.
Yearlong course 300-ESCI 301 .
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ESCI 301 - Senior Research and Thesis Semester Offered: Spring
0.5 unit(s)
Critical analysis, usually through observation or experimentation, of a specific research problem in earth science. A student electing this course must first gain, by submission of a written research proposal, the support of a member of the earth science faculty with whom to work out details of a research protocol. The formal research proposal and a final paper and presentation of results are required parts of the course. A second faculty member participates in the final evaluation. The department.
Prerequisite(s): permission of the instructor.
Yearlong course ESCI 300 -301.
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ESCI 321 - Environmental Geology
1 unit(s)
This course explores the fundamental geochemical processes that affect the fate and transport of inorganic and organic pollutants in the terrestrial environment. We link the effects of these processes on pollutant bioavailability, remediation, and ecotoxicology. The department.
Prerequisite(s): ESCI 201 , or CHEM 108 /CHEM 109 .
Not offered in 2016/17.
One 4-hour period/laboratory/field session.
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ESCI 323 - History of Geological Thought: 1690-1980
1 unit(s)
(Same as STS 323 ) In this course we examine the historical context and scientific ideas put forth by natural philosophers and scientists including Thomas Burnet, Nicolas Steno, James Hutton, Charles Lyell, Charles Darwin, Alfred Wegener, Marie Tharp, Bruce Heezen, Stephen Jay Gould, Niles Eldredge, James Lovelock and Walter Alvarez. Topics of study include geologic time, continental drift and plate tectonics, evolution and punctuated equilibrium, Gaia, and bolide impacts. Jill Schneiderman.
Prerequisite(s): Must be a science or Science, Technology, and Society major at the junior or senior level, or by permission of the instructor.
Not offered in 2016/17.
Two 75-minute periods.
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ESCI 335 - Paleoclimatology: Earth’s History of Climate Change
1 unit(s)
(Same as ENST 335 ) In recent decades, record high temperatures and extreme weather events have led scientists and policy makers to grapple with the fact that human activities are affecting the climate system. At the same time, scientists have come to realize that climate is capable of dramatic shifts in the absence of human intervention. The science of paleoclimatology seeks to understand the extent and causes of natural climatic variability in order to establish the baseline on top of which anthropogenic changes are occurring. In this course we examine the structure and properties of the oceans and atmosphere and how the general circulation of these systems redistributes heat throughout the globe; study how cycles in Earth’s orbital parameters, plate tectonics, changes in ocean circulation, and the evolution of plants have affected climate; and explore the different lines of evidence used to reconstruct climate history. Weekly laboratory projects introduce students to paleoclimatic methods and to records of climatic change from the Paleozoic through the Little Ice Age. Kirsten Menking.
Prerequisite(s): 200-level work in Earth Science or permission of the instructor.
Not offered in 2016/17.
One 4-hour classroom/laboratory/field period.
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ESCI 340 - Advanced Urban and Regional Studies Semester Offered: Spring
1 unit(s)
(Same as ENST 340 and GEOG 340 ) Topic for 2016/17b: Arctic Environmental Change. Arctic environments define a geographic region that is important to understand both in terms of its distinctive biogeographic patterns and functions and because it is subject to some of the most dramatic and far-reaching environmental consequences associated with climate change. This course examines the biogeographic and climate patterns of the region to understand how it contributes to global biodiversity, and why it contributes disproportionately to the regulation and change of the earth’s climate system. What characteristics define these environments and make them especially vulnerable to positive feedbacks in a changing climate? How might climate changes alter the distribution of plants and animals in the region? How do environmental changes at high latitudes influence the global climate system? We examine current literature and data, including reports from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, to explore these questions about ongoing and anticipated environmental change in arctic regions. Some background in understanding earth systems or climate change is helpful. Mary Ann Cunningham.
One 3-hour period.
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ESCI 351 - Volcanology
1 unit(s)
Volcanoes are an important window into the workings of the earth’s interior. They are also spectacular landscape features: serene in repose, and often violent in eruption. This course addresses the physical aspects of volcanoes, including such topics as the generation of magmas, styles of eruptions, products of eruptions, tectonic controls on the formation of volcanoes, and methods for predicting eruptions and mitigating the hazards associated with volcanic activity. An optional field trip to an active volcano is possible. Jeffrey Walker.
Prerequisite(s): ESCI 201 .
Not offered in 2016/17.
One 4-hour period.
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ESCI 361 - Modeling the Earth
1 unit(s)
(Same as ENST 361 ) Computer models are powerful tools in the Earth and Environmental Sciences for generating and testing hypotheses about how the Earth system functions and for allowing simulation of processes in places inaccessible to humans (e.g., Earth’s deep interior), too slow to permit observation (e.g., erosion driven uplift of mountains ranges), or too large to facilitate construction of physical models (e.g., Earth’s climate system). Taking readings from the scientific literature, we create and then perform experiments with simple computer models, using the STELLA iconographic box-modeling software package. Topics include the global phosphorus cycle, Earth’s radiative balance with the sun and resulting temperature, the flow of ice in glaciers, and the role of life in moderating Earth’s climate. Toward the end of the semester, students apply the skills they have acquired to a modeling project of their own devising. Kirsten Menking.
Prerequisite(s): one 200-level course in the natural sciences.
Satisfies the college requirement for quantitative reasoning.
Not offered in 2016/17.
One 4-hour classroom/laboratory period.
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ESCI 379 - Conservation Paleobiology
1 unit(s)
Humans currently and pervasively impact many (if not all) of Earth’s ecosystems. Two major challenges in modern conservation efforts are our lack of a well-defined baseline for pre-disturbance ecological conditions and an incomplete understanding of the natural range of variability for different systems. This discussion based course explores how paleontological data in both terrestrial and marine environments (e.g., varved lake deposits, rodent middens, marine fossil deposits, and archaeological material) can be used to help set restoration targets and inform conservation practices by filling in these knowledge gaps. We also gain experience interpreting geohistorical data, and discuss several specific case studies where the geologic record has been utilized to inform conservation planning. By the end of the course, students are aware of the range of different types of information that can be gathered from the geohistorical record (such as burn regimes and climate records, as well as inferences about paleo-diets and changing environmental conditions), the unique contributions of this record to increasing understanding of current conservation issues, and the impacts that humans have on ecosystems. Students additionally complete a semester term paper on how geohistorical records could be applied to mitigate a conservation problem, and present their findings and suggestions to the class.
Not offered in 2016/17.
One 3-hour period.
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ESCI 383 - Extinction Events in Earth’s History Semester Offered: Fall
1 unit(s)
This seminar course uses selected readings from the scientific literature to cover the major extinction events in Earth’s history. The introduction to the course focuses on a brief overview of geologic time, fossilization, key fossil groups, and diversity estimates. Special emphasis is placed on the modern extinction event in the last quarter of the semester. Each week students are required to read 1-2 papers, answer provided questions, and participate in group discussions. A required final project is a short oral presentation on an organism currently facing extinction. David Moss.
One 3-hour period.
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ESCI 385 - Stable Isotopes in the Earth and Environmental Sciences
1 unit(s)
Stable isotopes are fundamental tools used in the Earth and Environmental Sciences to investigate past climates, track animal migration routes, unravel food webs, and study the origins of life on Earth, among other applications. This course highlights the uses of stable isotopes in ecological, climatic, environmental, and geological studies and also discusses the limitations and scientific abuses of these tools. Students learn the fundamentals of stable isotope biogeochemistry, including the differences between stable and radiogenic isotopes and the processes that fractionate (separate) common stable isotopes among different biogeochemical reservoirs. Readings derive from the primary literature and are adjusted to cover topics of interest to students. Potential topics include, but are not limited to, biogeochemical cycling, uplift of mountain ranges, paleodiets of fossil organisms, and climate change.
Prerequisite(s): One 100-level earth science or chemistry course.
Not offered in 2016/17.
One 4-hour period.
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ESCI 399 - Senior Independent Work Semester Offered: Fall or Spring
0.5 to 1 unit(s)
Execution and analysis of a field, laboratory, or library study. The project, to be arranged with an individual instructor, is expected to have a substantial paper as its final product. The department.
Prerequisite(s): permission of the instructor.
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Earth Science and Society: I. Introductory |
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ESSC 100 - Earth Resource Challenges
1 unit(s)
(Same as ESCI 100 , ENST 100 , and GEOG 100 ) This course combines the insights of the natural and social sciences to address a topic of societal concern. Geographers bring spatial analysis of human environmental change, while Earth scientists contribute their knowledge of the diverse natural processes shaping the Earth’s surface. Together, these distinctive yet complementary fields contribute to comprehensive understandings of the physical limitations and potentials, uses and misuses of the Earth’s natural resources. Each year the topic of the course changes to focus on selected resource problems facing societies and environments around the world. When this course is team-taught by faculty from Earth Science and Geography, it serves as an introduction to both disciplines.
Prerequisite(s): Open only to freshmen; satisfies college requirement for a Freshman Writing Seminar.
Not offered in 2016/17.
Two 75-minute periods.
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Earth Science and Society: II. Intermediate |
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ESSC 290 - Field Work
0.5 to 1 unit(s)
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ESSC 298 - Independent Work
0.5 to 1 unit(s)
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Earth Science and Society: III. Advanced |
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ESSC 300 - Senior Thesis Semester Offered: Fall
0.5 unit(s)
An original study, integrating perspectives of geography and earth science. The formal research proposal is first developed in GEOG 304 , the senior seminar, and then is presented to a faculty member in either geography or earth science, who serves as the principal adviser. A second faculty member from the other respective discipline participates in the final evaluation.
Yearlong course 300-ESSC 301 .
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ESSC 301 - Senior Thesis Semester Offered: Spring
0.5 unit(s)
An original study, integrating perspectives of geography and earth science. The formal research proposal is first developed in GEOG 304 , the senior seminar, and then is presented to a faculty member in either geography or earth science, who serves as the principal adviser. A second faculty member from the other respective discipline participates in the final evaluation.
Yearlong course ESSC 300 -301.
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ESSC 331 - Gender, Resources and Justice
1 unit(s)
(Same as WMST 331 ) This multidisciplinary course acquaints students with the debates and theoretical approaches involved in understanding resource issues from a gender and justice perspective. It is intended for those in the social and natural sciences who, while familiar with their own disciplinary approaches to resource issues, are not familiar with gendered perspectives on resource issues and the activism that surrounds them. It is also appropriate for students of gender studies unfamiliar with feminist scholarship in this area. Increasing concern for the development of more sustainable production systems has led to consideration of the ways in which gender, race, and class influence human-earth interactions. The course examines conceptual issues related to gender studies, earth systems, and land-use policies. It interrogates the complex intersections of activists, agencies and institutions in the global arena through a focus on contested power relations. The readings, videos and other materials used in the class are drawn from both the South and the North to familiarize students with the similarities and differences in gendered relationships to the earth, access to resources, and resource justice activism. Jill Schneiderman.
Not offered in 2016/17.
One 2-hour period.
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ESSC 370 - Feminist Perspectives on Environmentalism
1 unit(s)
(Same as ENST 370 and WMST 370 ) In this seminar we explore some basic concepts and approaches within feminist environmental analysis paying particular attention to feminist theory and its relevance to environmental issues. We examine a range of feminist research and analysis in ‘environmental studies’ that is connected by the recognition that gender subordination and environmental destruction are related phenomena. That is, they are the linked outcomes of forms of interactions with nature that are shaped by hierarchy and dominance, and they have global relevance. The course helps students discover the expansive contributions of feminist analysis and action to environmental research and advocacy; it provides the chance for students to apply the contributions of a feminist perspective to their own specific environmental interests. Jill Schneiderman.
Prerequisite(s): permission of the instructor; WMST 130 recommended.
Not offered in 2016/17.
One 2-hour period.
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ESSC 399 - Senior Independent Work Semester Offered: Fall or Spring
0.5 to 1 unit(s)
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Economics: I. Introductory |
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ECON 102 - Introduction to Economics Semester Offered: Fall and Spring
1 unit(s)
Economic forces shape our society and profoundly influence our daily lives. This course introduces students to economic concepts and to how economists think about the world. We explore both basic microeconomics - decision making by individuals and firms - and basic macroeconomics - issues related to coordinating individual activities across an entire economy. Topics will include demand and supply, market structures, GDP, the business cycle, and monetary and fiscal policies. The department.
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ECON 120 - Principles of Accounting Semester Offered: Fall
1 unit(s)
Accounting theory and practice, including preparation and interpretation of financial statements. Frederick Van Tassell.
Not open to Freshmen.
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Economics: II. Intermediate Freshmen may not take 200, 201, or 209 but they may take other courses numbered 200 and above in their second semester provided they have satisfied the prerequisite requirements.
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ECON 200 - Macroeconomic Theory Semester Offered: Fall and Spring
1 unit(s)
A structured analysis of the behavior of the national and international economies. Alternative theories explaining the determination of the levels of GDP, unemployment, the interest rate, the rate of inflation, economic growth, exchange rates, and trade and budget deficits are considered. These theories provide the basis for discussion of current economic policy controversies. The department.
Prerequisite(s): ECON 102 and permission of the instructor.
NRO for Seniors Only.
Two 75-minute periods.
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ECON 201 - Microeconomic Theory Semester Offered: Fall and Spring
1 unit(s)
Economics is about choice, and microeconomic theory begins with how consumers and producers make choices. Economic agents interact in markets, so we carefully examine the role markets play in allocating resources. Theories of perfect and imperfect competition are studied, emphasizing the relationship between market structure and market performance. General equilibrium analysis is introduced, and efficiency and optimality of the economic system are examined. Causes and consequences of market failure are also considered. The department.
Prerequisites: ECON 102 , MATH 121 , and permission of the instructor. With the instructor’s permission, students who have taken ECON 109 may take ECON 201 with concurrent enrollment in MATH 121 .
NRO for Seniors Only.
Two 75-minute periods.
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ECON 209 - Probability and Statistics Semester Offered: Fall and Spring
1 unit(s)
Probability and Statistics introduces basic probability theory, statistical analysis and its application in economics. The objective is to provide a solid, practical, and intuitive understanding of statistical analysis with emphasis on estimation, hypothesis testing, and linear regression. Additional topics include descriptive statistics, probability theory, random variables, sampling theory, statistical distributions, and an introduction to violations of the classical assumptions underlying the least-squares model. Students are introduced to the use of computers in statistical analysis. The department.
Prerequisites: ECON 102 , MATH 121 , and MATH 126 . With the instructor’s permission, students who have taken ECON 109 and MATH 121 may take ECON 209 with concurrent enrollment in MATH 126 .
NRO for Seniors Only.
Two 75-minute periods.
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ECON 210 - Econometrics Semester Offered: Fall and Spring
1 unit(s)
Econometrics equips students with the skills required for empirical economic research in industry, government, and academia. Topics covered include simple and multiple regression, maximum likelihood estimation, multicollinearity, heteroskedasticity, autocorrelation, distributed lags, simultaneous equations, instrumental variables, and time series analysis. Paul Ruud.
Prerequisite(s): ECON 209 or an equivalent statistics course.
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ECON 215 - The Science of Strategy Semester Offered: Fall
1 unit(s)
Strategic behavior occurs in war, in business, in our personal lives, and even in nature. Game theory is the study of strategy, offering rigorous methods to analyze and predict behavior in strategic situations. This course introduces students to game theory and its application in a wide range of situations. Students learn how to model conflict and cooperation as games, and develop skills in the fine art of solving them. Applications are stressed, and these are drawn from many branches of economics, as well as from a variety of other fields. Geoffrey Jehle.
Prerequisite(s): ECON 102 .
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ECON 220 - The Political Economy of Health Care Semester Offered: Fall
1 unit(s)
(Same as STS 220 ) Topics include the markets for physicians and nurses, hospital services, pharmaceuticals, and health insurance, both public and private; effects of changes in medical technology; and global health problems. A comparative study of several other countries’ health care systems and reforms to the U.S. system focuses on problems of financing and providing access to health care in a climate of increasing demand and rising costs. Shirley Johnson-Lans.
Prerequisite(s): ECON 102 . Students with a strong quantitative background may enroll with the instructor’s permission.
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ECON 225 - Financial Markets and Investments Semester Offered: Fall
1 unit(s)
Financial Markets and Investments provides an overview of the structure and operation of financial markets, and the instruments traded in those markets. Particular emphasis is placed on portfolio choice, including asset allocation across risky investments and efficient diversification. Theoretical foundations of asset-pricing theories are developed, and empirical tests of these theories are reviewed. The course introduces valuation models for fixed-income securities, equities, and derivative instruments such as futures and options. Throughout the course, students apply investment theories by managing a simulated asset portfolio. Additional topics include financial statement analysis and performance evaluation measures. Sarah Pearlman.
Prerequisite(s): ECON 102 . Students with strong quantitative backgrounds can enroll with the instructor’s permission.
Recommended: ECON 201 and ECON 209 .
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ECON 238 - Law and Economics Semester Offered: Spring
1 unit(s)
Law and Economics uses economics to analyze legal rules and institutions. The primary focus is on the classic areas of common law: property, contracts, and torts. Some time is also spent on criminal law and/or constitutional law (e.g., voting, public choice, and administration). Much attention is paid to developing formal models to analyze conflict and bargaining, and applying those models to specific cases. Topics include the allocation of rights, legal remedies, bargaining and transaction costs, regulation versus liability, uncertainty, and the litigation process. Time permitting, the course may also include discussion of gun control, the death penalty, federalism, and competition among jurisdictions. Evsen Turkay-Pillai.
Prerequisite(s): ECON 102 , and one semester of college-level calculus.
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ECON 240 - U.S. Economic Issues
1 unit(s)
The U.S. economy has dominated the world economy for the last 60 years. With only five percent of the world’s population, it consumes roughly 25 percent of the world’s resources and produces approximately 25 percent of the world’s output. However, U.S. policy makers face substantial challenges in the years to come. The course surveys the causes and possible solutions for numerous issues including increasing international competition for jobs and resources, an aging population, persistent trade and government budget deficits, and rapid growth in entitlement programs. Other topics will be studied based on student interests and as time permits. This course utilizes readings, writing assignments and classroom discussion rather than quantitative problem sets. Robert Rebelein.
Prerequisite(s): ECON 102 .
Not open to students who have completed ECON 342 .
Not offered in 2016/17.
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ECON 248 - International Trade and the World Financial System Semester Offered: Spring
1 unit(s)
A policy-oriented introduction to basic models of trade adjustment, exchange rate determination and macroeconomics adjustment. These are applied to the principle issues and problems of the international economy. Topics include the changing pattern of trade, fixed and floating exchange rates, protectionism, foreign investment, the Euro-dollar market, the role of the WTO, the IMF and World Bank, the European Community and third-world debt. Ergys Islamaj.
Prerequisite(s): ECON 102 .
Not open to students who have completed ECON 345 or ECON 346 .
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ECON 261 - Political Economy Semester Offered: Fall
1 unit(s)
Political Economy focuses on political strategy, public policy and the private sector and addresses the political, legal and social constraints on economic decision making. While economics typically focuses on strategic interactions in market contexts, e.g., customers, competitors, suppliers, workers—many strategic interactions occur outside of the marketplace. This course uses real world cases to examine strategies in non-market environments. Topics may include: activism, NGOs, the media, lobbying, the US political system, environmental and other regulation, anti-trust, intellectual property, international political economy, IGOs, trade policy, ethics, and corporate social responsibility. Benjamin Ho.
Prerequisite(s): ECON 102 .
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ECON 273 - Development Economics Semester Offered: Spring
1 unit(s)
(Same as INTL 273 ) A survey of central issues in the field of development economics. Topics include economic growth, the role of institutions, trade, poverty, inequality, education, child labor, health, the environment, conflict and impact evaluation. Examples and case studies from Africa, Asia and Latin America provide the context for these topics. Gisella Kagy.
Prerequisite: ECON 102 .
Two 75-minute periods.
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ECON 275 - Money and Banking Semester Offered: Spring
1 unit(s)
Money and Banking covers the structure of financial institutions, their role in the provision of money and credit, and the overall importance of these institutions in the economy. The course includes discussion of money, interest rates, financial market structure, bank operations and regulation, and the structure of the banking sector. The course also covers central banks, monetary policy, and international exchange as it relates to monetary policy and the banking sector. The ultimate goal is to provide a deeper understanding of the structure of financial markets, the reasons why it is optimal for these markets to be well functioning, and the key barriers to this optimal outcome. The department.
Prerequisite(s): ECON 102 .
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ECON 277 - The Development of the American Economy Semester Offered: Fall
1 unit(s)
A survey of economic development in the Americas emphasizing the United States from colonial times through the 20th century. The emphasis is on the use of economic theory and quantitative evidence to explore key questions and themes related to the development of the American economy. Dustin Frye.
Prerequisite(s): ECON 102 .
Two 75-minute periods.
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ECON 290 - Field Work Semester Offered: Fall or Spring
0.5 unit(s)
Individual or group field projects or internships. The department.
Prerequisite(s): a course in the department. Permission required. Corequisite: a course in the department. Permission required.
May be elected during the academic year or during the summer.
Unscheduled.
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ECON 298 - Independent Work Semester Offered: Fall or Spring
0.5 to 1 unit(s)
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Economics: III. Advanced |
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ECON 300 - Senior Reseach Semester Offered: Fall
0.5 unit(s)
Structured independent work with a faculty advisor designed to result in a paper that can be used as a detailed proposal for the senior thesis. The paper is typically a literature review and a full description of a theoretical model and/or econometric project (including data) or experimental work required to complete the thesis. Students should seek permission to undertake this course of study from the faculty advisor no later than the beginning of the Fall semester of their Senior year but ideally they will do so during the Spring semester of their Junior year or the summer preceding their Senior year. Required of all students who wish to write a thesis in economics but open to senior economics majors who wish to gain research experience. Students may continue with ECON 301 upon completion of ECON 300 with the approval of the advisor and the department. The department.
Prerequisite(s): ECON 210 .
Open to senior majors by special permission of the advisor.
Two 75-minute periods.
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ECON 301 - Senior Thesis Semester Offered: Spring
1 unit(s)
The sequel to ECON 300 leading to the completion of the senior thesis. Students will submit the finished thesis by noon on the fourth Friday after spring vacation and give a half-hour oral presentation of their thesis to the department at the end of the semester. The department.
Open to senior majors who have successfully completed ECON 300 and received departmental approval to complete the thesis.
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ECON 304 - Advanced Topics in Macroeconomics
1 unit(s)
This course examines recent theoretical and applied work in macroeconomics, with a special focus on the analytical foundations of modern growth theory. The requisite dynamic optimization methods are developed during the course (this involves the regular use of partial differentiation techniques). Topics include the relationship of education, demographics, institutions and industrial organization with economic growth. Nelson Sá.
Prerequisite(s): ECON 200 , ECON 201 , and MATH 220 or equivalent, or permission of the instructor.
Not offered in 2016/17.
One 3-hour period.
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ECON 310 - Advanced Topics in Econometrics
1 unit(s)
Analysis of the classical linear regression model and the consequences of violating its basic assumptions. Topics include maximum likelihood estimation, asymptotic properties of estimators, simultaneous equations, instrumental variables, limited dependent variables and an introduction to time series models. Applications to economic problems are emphasized throughout the course. Paul Ruud.
Prerequisite(s): ECON 210 and MATH 220 and MATH 221 or equivalent, or permission of the instructor.
Recommended:
Not offered in 2016/17.
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ECON 318 - Urban and Regional Economics Semester Offered: Spring
1 unit(s)
(Same as URBS 318 ) An exploration of the nature and development of urban areas that begins with an examination of the theory of why cities grow and how individuals and firms choose their locations before covering patterns of land use, suburbanization, transportation, education, crime, and housing and their influence the growth of cities. Dustin Frye.
Prerequisite(s): ECON 201 and ECON 209 .
Two 75-minute periods.
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ECON 333 - Behavioral Economics Semester Offered: Spring
1 unit(s)
A survey of the empirical and experimental evidence that human behavior often deviates from the predictions made by models that assume full rationality. This course combines economics, psychology, and experimental methods to explore impulsivity, impatience, overconfidence, reciprocity, fairness, the enforcement of social norms, the effects of status, addiction, the myopia that people exhibit when having to plan for the future, and other behaviors which deviate from economic rationality. Benjamin Ho.
Prerequisite(s): ECON 201 and ECON 209 .
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ECON 342 - Public Finance Semester Offered: Fall
1 unit(s)
Public Finance considers the effects that government expenditure, taxation, and regulation have on people and the economy. Attention is given to how government policy can correct failures of the free market system. Topics include the effect taxes have on consumption and employment decisions, the U.S. income tax system, income redistribution, budget deficits, environmental policy, health care, voting, and social security. Robert Rebelein.
Prerequisite(s): ECON 201 .
Two 75-minute periods.
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ECON 345 - International Trade Theory and Policy Semester Offered: Spring
1 unit(s)
This course examines classical, neoclassical and modern theories of international trade, as well as related empirical evidence. Topics included are: the relationship between economic growth and international trade; the impact of trade on the distribution of income; the theory of tariffs and commercial policy; economic integration, trade and trade policy under imperfect competition. Geoffrey Jehle.
Prerequisite(s): ECON 201 .
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ECON 346 - International Macroeconomics Semester Offered: Spring
1 unit(s)
The course is devoted to the problems of balance of payments and adjustment mechanisms. Topics include: the balance of payments and the foreign ex-change market; causes of disturbances and processes of adjustment in the balance of payments and the foreign exchange market under fixed and flexible exchange rate regimes; issues in maintaining internal and external balance; optimum currency areas; the history of the international monetary system and recent attempts at reform; capital movements and the international capital market. The department.
Prerequisite(s): ECON 200 and college-level calculus, or permission of the instructor.
Not offered in 2016/17.
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ECON 355 - Industrial Organization Semester Offered: Fall
1 unit(s)
This course examines the behavior of firms under conditions of imperfect competition. The role of market power is studied, including the strategies it permits, e.g., monopoly pricing, price discrimination, quality choice, and product proliferation. Strategic behavior among firms is central to many of the topics of the course. As such, game theory is introduced to study strategic behavior, and is applied to topics such as oligopoly pricing, entry and deterrence, product differentiation, advertising, and innovation. Time permitting, the course may also include durable goods pricing, network effects, antitrust economics, and vertical integration. Paul Ruud.
Prerequisite(s): ECON 201 and ECON 209 .
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ECON 367 - Comparative Economics
1 unit(s)
A study of different economic systems and institutions, beginning with a comparison of industrialized market economies in the U.S., Asia, and Europe. Pre-perestroika USSR is studied as an example of a centrally planned economy and the transition to a market economy is examined, with additional focus on the Czech Republic and Poland. Alternatives to both market and planned systems - such as worker self-management, market socialism, and social democracy - are also explored with emphasis on the experience of Yugoslavia and Sweden. David Kennett.
Prerequisite(s): at least two units of Economics at or above the 200-level.
Not offered in 2016/17.
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ECON 383 - History of Economic Thought Semester Offered: Fall
1 unit(s)
A survey of the world-wide history of economic thought, from the ancient world to the present. Major contributions to the theories of value, production, and distribution are considered. Influential schools of thought and the technological, ideological and social forces that shaped them are examined concluding with an analysis of the development of modern economic thinking. Philosophical and methodological issues are discussed throughout. Paul Ruud.
Prerequisite(s): ECON 200 , ECON 201 and permission of the instructor.
Two 75-minute periods.
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ECON 384 - The Economics of Higher Education
1 unit(s)
This seminar explores the economics of colleges and universities, with a particular focus on contemporary policy issues. Course materials apply economic theory and empirical analysis to selected policy issues, including tuition and financial aid, the individual and societal returns of higher education, and academic labor markets. The course also introduces students to the financial structure and management of colleges, including funding sources, budget processes, and policies and issues regarding the finance of higher education. Catharine Hill.
Prerequisite(s): ECON 201 and ECON 209 .
Not offered in 2016/17.
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ECON 388 - Latin American Economic Development
1 unit(s)
(Same as LALS 388 ) This course examines why many Latin American countries started with levels of development similar to those of the U.S. and Canada but were not able to keep up. The course begins with discussions of various ways of thinking about and measuring economic development and examines the record of Latin American countries on various measures, including volatile growth rates, high income and wealth inequality, and high crime rates. We then turn to an analysis of the colonial and post-Independence period to examine the roots of the weak institutional development than could explain a low growth trajectory. Next, we examine the post WWII period, exploring the import substitution of 1970s, the debt crises of the 1980s, and the structural adjustment of the 1990s. Finally, we look at events in the past decade, comparing and contrasting the experience of different countries with respect to growth, poverty and inequality. Sarah Pearlman.
Prerequisite(s): ECON 102 .
Not offered in 2016/17.
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ECON 399 - Senior Independent Work Semester Offered: Fall or Spring
0.5 to 1 unit(s)
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Environmental Studies: I. Introductory |
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ENST 100 - Earth Resource Challenges
1 unit(s)
(Same as ESCI 100 , ESSC 100 , and GEOG 100 ) This course combines the insights of the natural and social sciences to address a topic of societal concern. Geographers bring spatial analysis of human environmental change, while Earth scientists contribute their knowledge of the diverse natural processes shaping the Earth’s surface. Together, these distinctive yet complementary fields contribute to comprehensive understandings of the physical limitations and potentials, uses and misuses of the Earth’s natural resources. Each year the topic of the course changes to focus on selected resource problems facing societies and environments around the world. When this course is team-taught by faculty from Earth Science and Geography, it serves as an introduction to both disciplines.
Open only to freshmen; satisfies college requirement for a Freshman Writing Seminar.
Not offered in 2016/17.
Two 75-minute periods.
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ENST 101 - The Art of Reading and Writing Semester Offered: Fall
1 unit(s)
(Same as ENGL 101 ) Development of critical reading in various forms of literary expression, and regular practice in different kinds of writing. The content of each section varies; see the Freshman Handbook for descriptions. The department.
Open only to freshmen; satisfies the college requirement for a Freshman Writing Seminar.
Although the content of each section varies, this course may not be repeated for credit; see the Freshman Handbook for descriptions.
Topic for 2016/17a: Thoreau in His Time and Ours. Henry David Thoreau’s influence on American environmental thought, political ideas, and literary culture is enduring. he course examines some of his own writings including Walden, “Essay on Civil Disobedience,” excerpts from his “Indian Notebooks,” and from his lifelong Journal. We also read and write about twenty-first-century works in his tradition, including Cheryl Strayed’s book Wild (and the recent film made from it), as well as some contemporary journalism. Twentieth-century writers could include John Muir, John Burroughs (with a field trip to his nearby retreat Slabsides), Earnest Hemingway, Annie Dillard, and Gary Snyder. Photography and landscape painting influenced by Thoreau are also considered. Thoreau himself was a great prose stylist, and can provide a model for our own writing, including journal writing.
Open only to freshmen; satisfies the college requirement for a Freshman Writing Seminar.
Two 75-minute periods.
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ENST 107 - Global Change and Sustainability Semester Offered: Fall
1 unit(s)
This class offers an interdisciplinary introduction to the climate, ecosystem and sustainability principles needed to understand human impact on the natural environment. We discuss the issue of global change prediction and the scientific basis for global change assessments and policy measures. Key topics are the physical climate system and its variability, the carbon cycle and related ecosystem processes, land use issues, nutrient cycles, and the impact of global change on society. Common threads in all of these topics include the use of observations and models, the consideration of multiple scales (temporal and spatial), the interaction of human behaviors and choices with natural systems, and the linkages among aspects of the global change issue. Alison Spodek.
Two 75-minute periods.
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ENST 124 - Essentials of Environmental Science Semester Offered: Spring
1 unit(s)
A lecture/laboratory course in which basic topics in environmental biology, geology, and chemistry are covered with examples from current environmental issues used to illustrate the application and interdisciplinary nature of these fields. This course treats the following topics: energy sources and waste products, atmospheric patterns and climate, biogeochemical cycles, properties of soils and water, and ecological processes. Using these topics as a platform, this course examines the impact humanity has on the environment and discusses strategies to diminish those effects. The laboratory component includes field trips, field investigations, and laboratory exercises. Lynn Christenson.
Two 75-minute periods; one 4-hour laboratory.
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ENST 125 - Environmentalisms in Perspective Semester Offered: Fall
1 unit(s)
This multidisciplinary course examines significant approaches to the theory and practice of environmentalisms past and present. Students explore possible connections between the ethical, aesthetic, social, economic, historical, and scientific concerns that comprise environmental studies. The methods of inquiry we follow and the environmentalisms we consider vary among sections. Julie Hughes.
Required of students concentrating in the program.
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ENST 180 - Green Fictions Semester Offered: Fall
1 unit(s)
The course studies modern environmental writing from several European countries, including France, Iceland, and the United Kingdom, and explores the reimagining of vanished landscapes. A selection of narrative tales, accounts, and reflections foregrounding contemporary ecological issues and priorities are considered; they cover a range of styles, from geopoetics to wild writing. The works draw on different cultural traditions to reflect creatively about questions of global urgency, among them climate change, sustainable development, loss of habitat, and pollution. Critical readings accompany the study of primary texts. Authors may include Kathleen Jamie, Jean Giono, Andri Snaer Magnason, Kenneth White, Michel Rio, Robert Macfarlane. Mark Andrews.
Open only to freshmen; satisfies the college requirement for a Freshman Writing Seminar.
Two 75-minute periods.
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ENST 185 - Endangered Islands: Climate Change, Rising Sea Levels, and Environmental Refugees Semester Offered: Spring
0.5 unit(s)
This course offers a comparative multidisciplinary analysis of three island groups highly endangered by rising sea levels and expected to undergo far-reaching changes as a result of climate change by the year 2050: the Bahamas, the Maldives, and Vanuatu. Environmentally, these three island groups share similar quandaries: essential infrastructure located on the coast; rapidly deteriorating reef systems increasingly vulnerable to bleaching events caused by rising sea temperatures; intensifying coastal erosion threatening vital tourism infrastructure; significant concentrations of people of lower socioeconomic status living in floodplains; threats to fresh water availability and quality; high risks of food insecurity; and potential for their populations becoming environmental refugees. As a result, they feature prominently among the most endangered in the world. They differ markedly, however, in their comparable levels of resilience-in their capacity for environmental mitigation, and ability to successfully adapt to rapidly changing environmental conditions. Their respective environmental crises have elicited significantly different governmental and civil society responses, which can severely impact the way their populations and infrastructures can adapt to fast approaching crises. Lisa Paravisini.
Second six-week course.
Two 75-minute periods.
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ENST 188 - Climate Change: A Global Challenge Semester Offered: Spring
0.5 unit(s)
Oceans warming, sea level rising, more damaging storms, severe droughts, and widespread flooding, these are some of the notable effects of our changing climate. The loss of habitat and life on a planetary scale is unprecedented in modern times. Discussed as a “threat multiplier for global security” by the UN Security Council, climate change displaces populations and endangers international peace. The science of climate change has established a solid foundation that allows increasingly accurate forecasts of future events. Most of the uncertainty today lies in the human response. We react to environmental catastrophes with disaster aid, but can we plan effectively for our future safety? The course explores the connection between the science and the social costs of climate change. Each week we pair speakers to look at specific issues, such as how oceans are changing and the impact on coastal communities and small island nations, or how climate regulates ecosystems and its significance for agriculture and food production. Stuart Belli.
First six-week course.
One 2-hour period.
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Environmental Studies: II. Intermediate |
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ENST 254 - Environmental Science in the Field Semester Offered: Spring
1 unit(s)
(Same as BIOL 254 and ESCI 254 ) The environment consists of complex and often elegant interactions between various constituents so that an interdisciplinary approach is required to understand how human interactions may affect it. In this course, we study a variety of aspects of a specific environment by considering how biological, chemical, geological, and human factors interact. We observe these interactions first hand during a weeklong field trip. Some of the questions we may consider are: How does a coral polyp create an environment that not only suits its particular species, but also helps regulate the global climate? How has human development and associated water demands in the desert Southwest changed the landscape, fire ecology, and even estuary and fisheries’ health as far away as the Gulf of California? How have a variety of species (humans included) managed to survive on an island with the harsh environment of the exposed mid-ocean ridge of Iceland? The course is offered every other year, and topics vary with expertise of the faculty teaching the course. Kirsten Menking and Mark Schlessman.
Prerequisite(s): permission of the instructor.
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ENST 258 - Environment and Culture in the Caribbean
1 unit(s)
(Same as AFRS 258 ) The ecology of the islands of the Caribbean has undergone profound change since the arrival of Europeans to the region in 1492. The course traces the history of the relationship between ecology and culture from pre-Columbian civilizations to the economies of tourism. Among the specific topics of discussion are: Arawak and Carib notions of nature and conservation of natural resources; the impact of deforestation and changes in climate; the plantation economy as an ecological revolution; the political implications of the tensions between the economy of the plot and that of the plantation; the development of environmental conservation and its impact on notions of nationhood; the ecological impact of resort tourism; the development of eco-tourism. These topics are examined through a variety of materials: historical documents, essays, art, literature, music, and film. Lisa Paravisini.
Not offered in 2016/17.
Two 75-minute periods.
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ENST 260 - Issues in Environmental Studies Semester Offered: Spring
1 unit(s)
Topic for 2016/17b: Ethics, Economics, and the Environment. This course engages economic and philosophical questions related to the environment, focusing on climate change. Topics addressed may include the economics and ethics of cost-benefit analysis, time discounting, fairness, valuation of life, valuation of ecosystems, risk and uncertainty, climate negotiations, public attitudes toward climate change, government policy making, activism, responsibility, behavioral nudges, recycling, tragedy of the commons and game theory, social entrepreneurship, fossil fuels. Ben Ho and Jamie Kelly.
Two 75-minute periods.
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ENST 261 - “The Nuclear Cage”: Environmental Theory and Nuclear Power
1 unit(s)
(Same as SOCI 261 and INTL 261 ) The central aim of this course is to explore debates about the interaction between beings, including humans, animals, plants and the earth within the context of advanced capitalism by concentrating on the production, distribution, consumption, and disposal of nuclear power. The first question concerning the class is how does Environmental Theory approach nuclear power and its impact on the environment. The second question deals with how this construction interacts with other forms of debate regarding nuclear power, especially concentrating on the relation between science, market and the state in dealing with nature, and how citizens formulate and articulate their understanding of nuclear power through social movements. Pinar Batur.
Not offered in 2016/17.
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ENST 262 - Consuming Paradise: A Global Pre-History of Environmentalism
1 unit(s)
Today’s fundamental topics of environmental justice and sustainability are not new. Likewise, our contemporary concerns with invasive species, wildlife conservation, and environmental degradation have deep histories. We trace the early development of these topics and concerns through the lens of imperial production and consumption, centered on the Global South, from the beginnings of European colonialism through the twentieth century. Tropical fruits, sugar, and spice first attracted Europeans and quickly turned verdant islands and robust laborers to dust. Innumerable weeds and other plants travelled the oceans—along with voracious sheep, cattle, and pig—reshaping the environment and inciting debate wherever they went. Commercial hunting and big game shooting flourished, giving rise to conservationism and hinting at the value of biodiversity as wildlife dwindled or disappeared. The appropriation of tropical resources—notably through the patenting of tropical species by private corporations—continues today in an ostensibly post-colonial world, forcing us to question just how much our interests in the environment have really changed. Julie Hughes.
Not offered in 2016/17.
Two 75-minute periods.
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ENST 266 - Racism, Waste and Resistance
1 unit(s)
(Same as SOCI 266 ) The 21st century will be defined in the dramatic consequences of the current events and movements regarding our waste: global climate change, pollution, resource depletion, contamination and extinction. One of the most striking and consistent observations is that racism plays a major role in placing waste in close proximity to those racially distinct, economically exploited and politically oppressed. This class examines the destructive global dynamics of environmental racism and resistance, as struggles against it. Pinar Batur.
Not offered in 2016/17.
Two 75-minute periods.
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ENST 270 - Topics in Environmental Studies
1 unit(s)
The purpose of this course is to take up topics relevant to environmental studies, and examine them through the perspectives of the humanities and the natural or social sciences. The course topic changes from year to year.
Not offered in 2016/17.
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ENST 271 - Literature and the American Environment Semester Offered: Fall
1 unit(s)
This course considers the representations of nature and the environment in American literature, from the nineteenth century to the present, with special emphasis on contemporary experience and perception. Topics will include: the importance of sense of place (and displacement); multiple cultural discourses about nature; the rise of modern ecocriticism; indigenous understandings of the natural world; and the role of literature in environmental movements. Readings will be drawn from such authors as H. D. Thoreau, Mary Austin, Jean Toomer, Aldo Leopold, Gary Snyder, Barry Lopez, Leslie Silko, John Edgar Wideman, Annie Dillard, Mary Oliver, and Terry Tempest Williams, as well as from critical and scholarly sources. Paul Kane.
(Not available to students who have taken ENST 270 .)
Two 75-minute periods.
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ENST 290 - Field Work Semester Offered: Fall or Spring
0.5 to 1 unit(s)
Individual or group field projects or internships. Prior approval of advisor and instructor supervising the work are required. May be taken during the academic year or during the summer. Participating faculty.
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ENST 291 - Field Experiences in the Hudson Valley Semester Offered: Fall or Spring
0.5 unit(s)
The course emphasizes project-based learning that, rather than beginning with established divisions or disciplines, focuses on problems or questions to which students can bring all the resources of their previous classes in a truly multidisciplinary fashion. April Beisaw.
Required for Environmental Studies majors. ENST 276 can be taken instead if 291 is not being offered.
First 6-weeks of fall semester and second 6-weeks of spring semester.
Two 75-minute periods.
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ENST 298 - Independent Research Semester Offered: Fall or Spring
0.5 to 1 unit(s)
Individual or group project or study. Prior approval of advisor and instructor supervising the work are required. May be taken during the academic year or during the summer. Participating faculty.
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Environmental Studies: III. Advanced |
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ENST 300 - Senior Project/Thesis Semester Offered: Spring
1 unit(s)
Recognizing the diverse interests and course programs of students in Environmental Studies, the program entertains many models for a senior project/thesis. Depending on their disciplinary concentration and interests, students may conduct laboratory or field studies, literary and historical analyses, or policy studies. Senior project/thesis proposals must be approved by the steering committee.
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ENST 303 - Thesis Semester Offered: Fall
0.5 unit(s)
Yearlong course 303-ENST 304 .
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ENST 304 - Thesis Semester Offered: Spring
0.5 unit(s)
Yearlong course ENST 303 -304.
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ENST 305 - People and Other Animals in India
1 unit(s)
(Same as ASIA 305 and HIST 305 ) How have Indians defined the proper relationship between themselves and the animals around them? What challenges and opportunities have animals and people met with as a result? How have our ideas changed animals’ lives and the environments we both live in, and how have animals affected human lives and histories? We read excerpts from foundational ancient and classical texts, alongside British and Indian texts on war horses and elephants. We delve into the primary sources on Cow Protection and royal sport. We read children’s literature and make extensive use of non-textual sources including miniature paintings, photography, and taxidermy. To provide a framework for our studies, we consult scholarship in the emerging field of human-animal history. Julie Hughes.
Not offered in 2016/17.
One 2-hour period.
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ENST 331 - Topics in Archaeological Theory and Method Semester Offered: Fall and Spring
1 unit(s)
The theoretical underpinnings of anthropological archaeology and the use of theory in studying particular bodies of data. The focus ranges from examination of published data covering topics such as architecture and society, the origin of complex society, the relationship between technology and ecology to more laboratory-oriented examination of such topics as archaeometry, archaeozoology, or lithic technology.
May be repeated for credit if the topic has changed.
Topic for 2016/17a: Disaster Archaeology. (Same as ANTH 331 ) When did humans first experience disaster? Since their earliest manifestations, towns and cities have suffered dramatic disasters such as super storms, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, and earthquakes - which often led to their abandonment. Slower disasters, such as droughts and plagues, caused groups to reorganize in response to loss of resources, including their most vulnerable community members. Natural processes become cultural disasters when people get caught in them, and have to make decisions about risks to lives, livelihoods, and property. Newer forms of cultural disasters include nuclear events, sunken ships, and crashed planes, but these too can be studied through archaeology. Disasters have their own histories as they are often the result of processes set in motion long before there is a clear toll. Despite their cause, disasters often leave us wondering why the event happened and how we can better prepare against future threats. Archaeological methods allow us to learn from what remains, to piece together the events that led up to a disaster, the events that unfolded during it, and the decisions that were made after it. This course surveys the archaeological record of environmental and cultural threats, including El Niños, volcanic eruptions, and the release of nuclear radiation. April Beisaw.
Prerequisites: previous coursework in Anthropology or permission of the instructor.
One 3-hour period.
Topic for 2016/17b: Technology and Ecology. (Same as ENST 331 and STS 331 ) Examines the interactions between human beings and their environment as mediated by technology, focusing on the period from the earliest evidence of toolmaking approximately up to the Industrial Revolution. Student research projects often bring the course up to the present. Includes experimentation with ancient technologies and field trips to local markets and craft workshops. Lucy Johnson.
Prerequisites: previous coursework in Anthropology or Environmental Studies, or permission of the instructor.
May be repeated for credit if the topic has changed.
One 2-hour period plus one 4-hour lab.
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ENST 335 - Paleoclimatology: Earth’s History of Climate Change
1 unit(s)
(Same as ESCI 335 ) In recent decades, record high temperatures and extreme weather events have led scientists and policy makers to grapple with the fact that human activities are affecting the climate system. At the same time, scientists have come to realize that climate is capable of dramatic shifts in the absence of human intervention. The science of paleoclimatology seeks to understand the extent and causes of natural climatic variability in order to establish the baseline on top of which anthropogenic changes are occurring. In this course we examine the structure and properties of the oceans and atmosphere and how the general circulation of these systems redistributes heat throughout the globe; study how cycles in Earth’s orbital parameters, plate tectonics, changes in ocean circulation, and the evolution of plants have affected climate; and explore the different lines of evidence used to reconstruct climate history. Weekly laboratory projects introduce students to paleoclimatic methods and to records of climatic change from the Paleozoic through the Little Ice Age. Kirsten Menking.
Prerequisite(s): 200-level work in Earth Science or permission of the instructor.
Not offered in 2016/17.
One 4-hour classroom/laboratory/field period.
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ENST 340 - Advanced Urban and Regional Studies Semester Offered: Spring
1 unit(s)
(Same as ESCI 340 and GEOG 340 ) Topic for 2016/17b: Arctic Environmental Change. Arctic environments define a geographic region that is important to understand both in terms of its distinctive biogeographic patterns and functions and because it is subject to some of the most dramatic and far-reaching environmental consequences associated with climate change. This course examines the biogeographic and climate patterns of the region to understand how it contributes to global biodiversity, and why it contributes disproportionately to the regulation and change of the earth’s climate system. What characteristics define these environments and make them especially vulnerable to positive feedbacks in a changing climate? How might climate changes alter the distribution of plants and animals in the region? How do environmental changes at high latitudes influence the global climate system? We examine current literature and data, including reports from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, to explore these questions about ongoing and anticipated environmental change in arctic regions. Some background in understanding earth systems or climate change is helpful. Mary Ann Cunningham.
One 3-hour period.
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