Course Listings

AAEC4309 - Sustaining Global Ecology, Natural Resources and Economy

Prerequisite: Junior standing. Challenges to global markets and environment across diverse systems and histories. Fulfills multicultural requirement.

ATMO 1300. Introduction to Atmospheric Science

An investigation of atmospheric properties and physical processes that determine current weather events and long-term climate conditions. Partially fulfills core Life and Physical Sciences requirement.

BIOL 1305. Ecology and Environmental Problems

An introduction to ecological principles and the analysis of environmental problems. Not for major credit. BIOL 1401, 1402, 1305, and 1306 may be taken in any sequence or simultaneously. Partially fulfills the lecture component of the core Life and Physical Sciences requirement.

BIOL 1401. Biology of Plants

An introductory coverage of plant-environment interactions and plant structure and function as they relate to our understanding of the plant world. Expressly designed for students not majoring in a biological science. BIOL 1401 and 1402 may be taken in any sequence or simultaneously. Partially fulfills core Life and Physical Sciences requirement.

BIOL 1402. Biology of Animals

An introductory coverage of animal-environment interactions and animal structure, function, and behavior as they relate to our understanding of the animal world. Expressly designed for students not majoring in a biological science. BIOL 1401 and 1402 may be taken in any sequence or simultaneously. Partially fulfills core Life and Physical Sciences requirement.

BIOL 3303. Tropical Marine Biology

Prerequisites: BIOL 1401 and BIOL 1402 or BIOL 1403 and BIOL 1404. Introduces students to the ecology and diversity of tropical marine communities.

BIOL 3307. Population Biology

Prerequisite: BIOL 3309. Introduction to population biology theory with emphasis on interaction between genetics and ecology.

BIOL 3309. Principles of Ecology

Prerequisite: BIOL 1305, or BIOL 1401, BIOL 1402, or BIOL 1404. An examination of ecological systems emphasizing populations, communities, and ecosystems.

ECO 3336. Environmental Economics

Prerequisites: C- or better in ECO 3311 and ECO 3312 or consent of instructor. Applies economic models to current local and global environmental issues with an emphasis on evaluating policies.

ECO 3356. Energy Economics.

Prerequisites: C- or better in ECO 3311 and ECO 3312 or consent of instructor. Application of economic models to current local and global energy markets with an emphasis on evaluating policies.

ENGL 2310. Literature, Social Justice, and the Environment.

Prerequisites: ENGL 1301, ENGL 1302. Critical study and writing about literary texts from multiple genres, periods, and traditions in relation to aspects of social justice and the environment. Fulfills core Language, Philosophy, and Culture, requirement. Fulfills Multicultural requirement.

ENTX 3300. Biological Effects of Chemicals in the Environment 

Introduces students to the biological effects following exposure to chemicals in the environment.

ENTX 3301. Introduction to Ecotoxicology

A comprehensive overview of wildlife and ecological problems with a focus on toxicology.

EVHM 1301. The Natural History Tradition

An introduction to the field of nature writing. Field trip required. Special field trip fee.

EVHM 1302. Introductory Fieldcraft: Nature as Text

Development of field skills and interpretation of landscape. Weekly field trips and outside projects required. Special field trip fee.

EVHM 2302. The Literature of Place

An introduction to the literature of place through a series of writing and reading workshops. Fulfills core Language, Philosophy, and Culture requirement.

EVHM 3300. Research Methods: Writing the Natural World

Writing for publication. A writing workshop in creative nonfiction focused on the relationship between people and nature. Field trips required.

EVHM 3305. Ecology

An introduction to the ecology of individuals, populations, and ecosystems. Special field trip fee.

EVHM 3306. Course Readings in Natural History

An exploration of contemporary writers whose focus is primarily the relationship of people with nature.

EVHM 3350. Advanced Fieldcraft: Nature as Text

An advanced exploration of location. Research of literature, culture, and ecology of a region in preparation for immersion in a field experience. Field trip required.

GEOG 1401. Physical Geography

Study of the atmospheric and terrestrial systems that shape our natural environment, especially the global patterns of climate, landforms, and vegetation. Fulfills laboratory science requirements. Provides laboratory and nonlaboratory science credit. Partially fulfills core Life and Physical Sciences requirement.

GEOG 3310. Environmental Change

Prerequisite: GEOG 1401 or equivalent natural science courses. Investigates changes in climate, hydrology, soils, biota and landforms since the start of the Ice Age, and the effects of these environmental changes on humans.

GEOG 3353. Environmental Sustainability

Study of the interrelated problems of population growth, efficient use of natural resources, and human disruption of Earth's environment.

GEOG 3360. Technology and the Human Landscape

Study of the relationship of technological development and energy use with human use of the earth from pre-humans to the present.

GEOG 4301. Geomorphology in Environmental Management

Prerequisite: GEOG 1402, GEOL 1303, or consent of instructor. Evaluation and analysis of earth-forming processes and terrain features in relation to human activities. Course emphasizes analytical techniques.

GEOG 4321. Biogeography

Prerequisite: GEOG 1401 or consent of instructor. Study of plants and animals in their spatial context, functional interaction, and as related to human impacts.

GEOG 4357. Geography of Arid Lands

Systemic and regional inquiry into the physical nature and the problems of human utilization of the arid and semi-arid lands of the earth.

GEOL 1303. Our Planet Earth: Principles of Geology

Introduction to earth structure and composition, minerals and rocks, surface processes, orogeny, and the principle of plate tectonics. Partially fulfills core Life and Physical Sciences requirement.

GEOL 1350. History of Life.

A survey of the evolution of life on earth as interpreted from the fossil record and the processes that produced extinct and modern ecosystems. Not for credit for majors.

GEOL 3322. Oceanography

Prerequisite: GEOL 1303, GEOL 3324, GEOG 1401, or ATMO 1300. The physiography and origin of ocean basins and the processes and systems operative in them including physical, chemical, and biological factors as well as sedimentation patterns.

GEOL 3323. Environmental Geology

Prerequisite: GEOL 1303 or GEOL 3324. Study of geological processes that affect human activities, emphasizing natural hazards, water resources, waste disposal, energy, mineral resources, and land use and planning.

GEOL 3328. Geology of Energy Resources

Prerequisite: GEOL 1303 or GEOL 3324. Origin, distribution, and exploitation of geological resources of energy, with emphasis on hydrocarbons, coal, and nuclear energy.

GIST 3300. Geographic Information Systems.

An introduction to geographic information systems (GIS) for thematic mapping and spatial analysis. Laboratory emphasizes experience with professional GIS software.

GIST 3301. Remote Sensing of the Environment.

Prerequisites: GIST 3300; and either MATH 1451, MATH 2300, MATH 3342, or SOC 3391. An introduction to the use of satellite data to monitor our environment, including physical processes, sensors, analysis methods, and applications.

HIST 3327. Earth, Wind, and Fire: Nature and History in America

Surveys nature's role in American history from pre-Columbian Indian societies to the present, including such areas as natural disasters, global warming, wildlife, resources, health, and recreation. 

HIST 4323. Nature and Americans

Prerequisite: Junior standing or consent of instructor. History of the relationship between Americans and their land from prehistory to the present.

HLTH 2302. Environmental Health and Awareness

Examines critical issues and relationships affecting biospheric health including personal, community, and international ecology.

LARC 2302. History of Landscape Architecture

History of landscape architecture. Design as expression of culture and society's relationship to nature. Geographical, historical, and cultural context of major movements in landscape architecture. Fulfills core Language, Philosophy, and Culture and multicultural requirements.

NRM 1300. Environmental Science as a Social Pursuit

Application of scientific methods to global and environmental issues. Explores the impact of culture and science on core natural resources such as food and clean air. Fulfills core Social and Behavioral Sciences requirement.

NRM 1401. Introduction to Natural Resources Management

Observe, describe, and understand phenomena in the natural world. Examines the roles of natural and social science in understanding interactions among humans and natural resources. Partially fulfills core Life and Physical Sciences requirement.

NRM 2305. Introduction to Freshwater Ecology and Fisheries

Survey and management of freshwater habitats: types of organisms, adaptations, and ecological interactions; and effects of solar radiation, temperature, currents, dissolved gases, chemicals, and pollution.

NRM 2307. Diversity of Life

Principles of evolution, genetics, and biodiversity as related to conservation and management of natural resources at scales ranging from genes to the biosphere.

NRM 3302. Range Plant Ecology

The basic principles of autecology and synecology and their relationship to management of the range ecosystem.

NRM 3307. Principles of Conservation Science

A survey of the theory and practices of conservation biology. Emphasis is placed on methods used to maintain plant and animal biodiversity.

PHIL 3325. Environmental Ethics

Discussion of conceptual and moral questions surrounding human population and consumption of resources, loss of biodiversity and wilderness areas, and human use of nonhuman animals.

POLS 3328. Energy Politics and Policy

Students will learn traditional and untraditional energy-related politics and law and the challenges associated with energy resource development in the United States and foreign countries.

POLS 3329. Environmental Politics and Policy

Examines American environmental policy from the perspective of political science and the influence of theory, history, and politics on domestic environmental policymaking processes.

POLS 3334. Sustainability: Energy, Environment, and Society

Students will learn the key concepts of sustainability and the challenges with energy resource management, climate change, and environmentalism in developed and developing countries.

RE 1300. Introduction to Wind Energy

Provides a basic understanding of the wind energy industry and discusses the basic meteorology of wind, extraction of energy from wind, wind plant development, and the environmental and ecological impact of wind energy plants.

RE 2300. Social Impacts of Wind Energy

Provides an in-depth look at environmental, economic, national security, health benefits, and issues of wind energy vs. traditional fuels.

RE 3315. Renewable Energy and the Environment

Provides an overview of society's needs and future energy demands. Examines conventional energy sources and systems. Provides in-depth analysis of renewable energy sources.

SOC 3355. Global Food Issues: On Bread and Water

Explores contemporary global circumstances and problems through food-related topics, including public policy, conflict, water issues, climate change, inequalities, cultural imperatives, consumer demands and concerns.

SOC 4312. Population and Environment

Focuses on the relationships between human population and the environment. Topics include demographic phenomena, policies, population, and environment degradation.