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BDIC students and their sponsors have
recommended the following courses for your consideration. Please note
that some of these courses have prerequisites. There are many other
courses at UMass and the Five Colleges that may be useful as you develop an
area of concentration related to Sustainability Studies. Courses listed
below are offered at UMass unless otherwise indicated. If you find
courses that should be on this list, please let me know.
Thanks…
John Gerber jgerber@psis.umass.edu NOTE: Be sure and check the Five
College web page and search on the key words “sustainability” or
“environment” or “social justice” etc. It is at…. http://www.fivecolleges.edu/sites/courses/searchcoursecatalogform.php
Also be sure and see the Mt. Holyoke
College Environmental Program here… http://www.mtholyoke.edu/ce/index.shtml
with specific courses listed here: And Smith College Courses related to
sustainability are here: http://people.umass.edu/jgerber/FiveC/SmithSustainability.htm
And here is a list of courses to
check: http://people.umass.edu/jgerber/BDIC/SustCourses.xlsx
See below for Courses in these categories: Integrative/Holistic/Sustainability Courses Social Systems Economic Systems Biophysical Systems Under 300 Level GenEds Integrative/Holistic/Sustainability Courses
COMMHLTH
602 Community Development Latest
approaches in community development and community organization procedures.
Exploratory readings, field assignments; emphasis on leadership development
and coordinated community action. COMMHLTH
603 Principles of Group Dynamics Review
of group process roles and responsibilities of public health professionals.
Group dynamics, principles related to theories and concepts underlying public
health community programs. Structured laboratory experience provided. ENVIRSCI
197G Sustainable Environment RAP Seminar A
Residential Academic Program for first year students only. This seminar
will introduce students to academic and employment opportunities in the area
of sustainability and environmental issues. GEO
392E Earth System Science A
look at the Earth system as a whole. Emphasis on the relationships
among biological, geological, climatolgical, and human systems on continental
and global scales. The links between these systems illustrated by
present-day processes and the geological record of selected events in Earth
system history. HONORS
292S - Engaging with the Community: An Introduction to Community Service
Learning
LSS
100 Issues in Landscape Studies – Smith College Through
readings, discussions, and a series of lectures by Smith faculty and guests,
we will examine the history and influences out of which landscape studies is
emerging. We will look at the relationship of this new field with literary
and cultural studies, art, art history, landscape architecture, history,
biology, and environmental sciences. What is Landscape Studies? Where does it
come from? Why is it important? How does it relate to, for instance,
landscape painting and city planning? How does it link political and
aesthetic agendas? Contact Dr. Anne Leone for information at…
ALEONE@email.smith.edu NATURAL
SCIENCES 0181 Sustainability Seminar – Hampshire College This
course is designed for the cohort of students involved in the sustainable
design/technology area. It will offer an arena for students to present their
own work and evaluate that of others, discuss advanced readings of interest,
write analytical papers on topics of their choice, and work with guest
speakers in the areas of sustainable development and technology. Class
members will have a large responsibility for determining the content and
direction of the course. Prerequisite: Div II or Div III student with a
connection to sustainability issues or instructor permission. NATURAL
SCIENCES 276 Elements of Sustainability – Hampshire
College Contact
Dr. Larry Winship for information or see the course listing at Hampshire
College at… http://essp.hampshire.edu/courses.html
and information on faculty interests at… http://essp.hampshire.edu/people.html#susag NATURAL
SCIENCES 0385 Sustainable Technology - Hampshire College The
structures and systems of the Hampshire Campus have both obvious and subtle
effects on our lives as individuals and as a community. In addition, their
design, construction, functioning, maintenance and eventual disposal have
long-term effects on the environment and the local and global ecology. We
will use these systems to examine a number of ways in which technological
decisions can be evaluated in a larger context, and in so doing, develop tools
for evaluating proposals for "greening" our campus. Students will
work problem sets, write two papers, read and present original literature to
the class, and develop original projects in fields of interest. Evaluations
will be based on class participation, problem sets and papers, class
presentations and a report on the final project. PLSOILIN
265 Sustainable Agriculture This
course is designed for agriculture and BDIC students who want to explore
ethical, practical and scientific aspects of the quest for long-term
agricultural sustainability in the U.S. The course will include field trips,
lectures, discussion of current topics, decision case studies, assigned
readings, weekly writing and individual research. A community
understanding of sustainable agriculture will be developed using observations
from field trips and systems tools. PLSOILIN
285 Sustainable Living Sustainable
Living introduces students to diverse global perspectives and practical
personal solutions related to environmental, economic and social
sustainability. The course presents a historical, ethical and technical
review of the impact that our daily decisions make on the global condition.
Students will learn from faculty, local practitioners of sustainable living,
and each other about energy, food, land use, water and air, waste, housing,
personal health, and community. Sustainable Living, will introduce students
to these global challenges, while helping them learn about practical and
research-based solutions that may be implemented in their daily lives. This
class is dedicated to helping students make personal and professional
decisions that support the three interconnected objectives of sustainability;
economic viability, environmental integrity, and social equity.
Includes an optional honors discussion section (recommended for all
students). PLSOILIN
390B Writing for Sustainability Have you ever looked at a job application and seen the words “provide evidence of your ability to communicate effectively in writing”? Has this phrase caused your stomach to knot and your knees to buckle? PLSOILIN 382 - Writing for Sustainability, not only satisfies the University’s Junior Year writing requirement, but will also generate ample evidence of your professional writing abilities. This class will help you prepare to present yourself as a qualified professional as you explore a career in sustainable farming, education, non-profit management, political advocacy, and related fields. Specifically, this class will allow you the opportunity to practice and improve your writing while learning critical skills such as letter writing, editorial writing, grant writing, development of a resume, and journaling. Spring only. PLS
397C Community Food Systems This
class will explore the movement of food from the grower to the consumer.
Emphasis will be on how consumers get access to food from emergency and
non-emergency sources. Direct marketing, Community-Supported Agriculture,
farmers' markets, and small-scale farming will be discussed. Outside speakers
from area community food banks, CSA's, non-profit organizations, faith
communities, soup kitchens, and farmers' markets will lead discussions on
various topics related to food access. PLSOILIN
391A Sustainability Dialogue (formerly known as “Dialogue on Agricultural
Issues”) Sitting
in a circle, students will practice the technique of insight dialogue while
developing an individual and community understanding of current issues
affecting personal and societal sustainability. Issues that may be
included are; personal sustainability, organic agriculture, peak oil,
alternative economies, spirituality and transformation, consumerism,
industrialization of life, the purpose of higher education, social change,
and others suggested by students. The technique of Insight Dialogue will be
taught. Students will take responsibility for leadership and selection
of readings as the semester proceeds. This course is open to any interested
student. No prerequisites. 1 credit pass/fail (and you can take
this seminar class more than once for credit). PLSOILIN
398E (or 498E) Student Farming Enterprise §
Grow organic
crops at the UMass Research Farm §
Sell to
Earthfoods Café and other markets on campus REGIONPL 591B Sustainable Cities Contact
Professor Mark Hamin in LARP for information. REGIONPL 591G Housing and Public
Health Returning
to planning’s origins in the Public Health Movement, this class explores the
mutual interaction of the built environment, environmental health, physical
health, mental health, food security and nutrition, and social justice (do
not assume that many of these issues don’t cross economic lines). The
class will be conducted using an active learning community approach requiring
all participants to actively contribute both as teachers and learners. This
enables class members to focus on their particular interest within the larger
context of Housing and Public Health. Examples of topics might include:
zoning ordinances, demographic data, education, GIS, soil science/soil
remediation, urban design and walkable cities, discrimination,
transportation, law, public health, environmental neuropsychology,
environmental psychology, historical analysis, green design, sociocultural
interpretations, etc. There is room for individual students, and the
class as a whole, to create a multi-disciplinary exploration of housing and
public health. Contact Dr. Ellen Pader for information at; pader@larp.umass.edu Social
Systems
AFROAM 361 Revolution in the Third World Changing
nature of revolution in the Third World, from the "classical" revolutions
in Cuba, China, Algeria and Vietnam to the popular insurgencies of Grenada,
Iran, the Philippines and Haiti. Internal and external factors which have
contributed to the fall from grace of many of these once popularly supported
struggles. AFROAM
391/5 The Political Economy of Class and Race
Analysis of
foundations of political economy, with special reference to nature of capitalism, and an application of this analysis
to role of race in capitalist economy
and society. The theoretical framework drawn from the writings of Karl Marx
and the classical political economists; the applications based on
contemporary materials. ANIMLSCI
360 Farm Animal Care and Welfare The moral and ethical theories of animal rights and welfare as they pertain to farm animals. Exploration of the history of farm animal welfare and the assessment of the animal rights and welfare movement today. Special attention given to the economic, ethical, and welfare aspects of current animal husbandry practices. (Planned for fall) ANTHRO 336 Political Anthropology Anthropological approaches to the study of public power in various cultural settings. The rise and extension of state systems and their interactions with subnational bases of political power. ANTHRO
397H Grassroots Community Development This
course explores how grass roots organizations (that is, are constituted of,
by and for local people using local knowledge and assets) work to effect
social change that enhances the common good. In particular, we will be
focusing on grass roots solutions to rural poverty and political
disenfranchisement. The geographic focus of our investigations will be
primarily but not exclusively the rural south, a region that has known
profound poverty and violent political repression but which has also
engendered inspiring grassroots responses to these challenges. This class
differs from most others on campus in that it is a community service learning
course. We will study grass roots development in the classroom and then spend
our spring
break working side by side with members of a grassroots organization in a
week of direct service. COMM 287 Advertising as Social Communication Advertising from the viewpoint of social theory. Advertising's broad political, economic, social, and cultural role in modern society. The social role of advertising in consumer societies; focus on advertising's mediation of the modern person/object relationship, the satisfaction of needs, the constitution of popular culture, and the process of socialization. COMM 352 Small Group Communication The
dynamics of decision-making groups. Topics include: leadership, networks,
conformity, problem solving, mediation, and conflict resolution.
Prerequisite: COMM 118 or consent of instructor. COMM 387 Advertising and Public Relations as Social Control A critical look at the following issues: the representations and mystification of value-producing activity in a capitalist economy; advertising as the official religion of consumer culture; the areas of social life obscured by advertising; the relationship of advertising to the media system in general; the valuation of time; and international advertising. Prerequisite: COMM 287. COM-HLTH 614 International Health, Population and Development Interrelationships of health, population, and social development policy in selected "developing" countries. Social issues in the context of these interrelationships, including: cultural barriers to technological adaptation, ethnocentricity, distribution of social services, international agency roles, equitable distribution of income, land reform, literacy campaigns, urban slums, changing roles of women, warfare and violence, malnutrition and hunger, influence of multinational corporations, and population participation in decision making. Selected community development and communication models; case studies; identification of political, institutional, and cultural barriers to social change. EDUCATION 377 Introduction to Multicultural Education Introduction to the sociohistorical, philosophical, and pedagogical foundations of cultural pluralism and multicultural education. Topics include experiences of racial minorities, white ethnic groups and women; intergroup relations in American society, sociocultural influences and biases in schools; and philosophies of cultural pluralism. EDUCATION 649 Training for Non-formal Education Development of knowledge and skills needed for successful design and implementation of training programs for personnel in nonformal education, human services, or community development. EDUCATION 766 Partnerships for Interorganizational Development Diagnostic
frameworks and underlying theories concerning interorganizational relations
among public and/or private organizations. Provides bases for further skill
building in interorganizational consulting. GEO
326 Spirit of Place The
meaning of place in our lives. Why some people are attracted to particular
kinds of environmental settings, while others are drawn to very different
kinds of places. How those who think seriously about places ranging from the
sacred to the profane have attempted to capture or describe a
"sense" or "spirit of place" in their writings and
research. GEO 444 Sense of Place and Environmental Perception Exploration
of the ways different cultural subgroups perceive, organize, and use their
space and environment. Emphasis on both individual and group behavior
concerning environmental perference and location, debates over "using
versus preserving" the environment, response to environmental hazards,
migration and adjustment into new environments, and other environmental
choices that contribute to the evolution of particular cultural landscapes
ranging from the urban built environment to the rural landscapes of the
world. HISTORY
301F (02) Colloquium on Food and Famine in African History - Mt. Holyoke College This course examines African patterns of production over the long term and the transformation of African food systems in the last century as a basis for critiquing current development and environmental management strategies. We will establish the links between famine, drought, and food entitlement using case studies and carefully examine sources on the colonial period and more recent development undertakings in order to document the consequences of various interventions on people's access to productive resources. Cross listed as Environmental Studies 301f, also. Contact Dr. Holly Hanson for information at… hhanson@mtholyoke.edu. HISTORY 397H -Nature, History, National Parks For well over a century, national parks have been important places for the public to learn about nature and history. Yet the ways that the parks have explained nature and history the public have changed dramatically over time. Students in this course will learn about the particular challenges and opportunities involved with presenting nature and history in public, as well as research the changing ways that nature and history have been represented in one park. Students should be prepared to go on field trips and conduct off-campus research at NPS sites. HIST
383 American Environmental History The
interaction of humans with the natural environment of North America since
European settlement; the ways in which American acted over four hundred years
to shape their environment, as well as shared their perceptions of the
environment through painting and photography, nature writing, travelers
accounts, fiction and material culture. HUMANITIES
ARTS AND CULTURAL STUDIES 0303-1 Beyond Crawl and Sprawl - Hampshire College Arguably,
no single 20th Century invention has so transformed the world as did the car.
The future uses of cars will determine how and where we live and work, the
condition of our environment, and -- as the recent experience in Iraq
tragically demonstrates -- the extent to which we experience war or peace.
This seminar format course will explore ways to develop transportation
systems and human settlements that are less car dependent. We will examine some
of the most innovative approaches to public transit, automobiles, and
alternative community design that are being used or proposed in this country
and abroad. It will include a broad analysis of the cultural, political, and
environmental impacts of the automobile through discussion, extensive
readings, and research. The course is based on the assumption that
establishing a smarter approach to city and transportation design in the
U.S., the world?s most car dependent country, could help to create a worldwide
model for a more rational future. Students will engage in term long research
and conceptual design proposals both individually and in teams. Emphasis will
be on clear analysis and innovative ideas. Technical design skills are not
necessary. LEGAL
391B Law and Social Activism This
class focuses on the relationship between law and social activism. Litigation
is often used by activists interested in creating social change. While they
often rely on court decisions to effect change, they also frequently use the
litigative process to mobilize support for their cause. This course will take
a critical look at such strategies, fleshing out if and when they are
effective in achieving activists' goals, as well as raising issues about how
sociolegal scholars should define social change and understand the role legal
professionals play in structuring movement practices. Some of the activisms
that may be considered include the Civil Rights movement, the labor movement,
as well as conservative legal activism. Readings, drawn from various
disciplines, will be on topics including cause lawyering, civil rights and
the language of rights, and a few readings on the structure of social
movements and how to understand their impact on society. LEGAL
497N Environmental Justice This
course examines issues central to the environmental justice movement in the
U.S.; environmental degradation and pollution and their relationship to
racism, poverty and health. We explore the history of this movement and
investigate the effect of globalization on a growing international
environmental justice movement. PHILOSOPHY
304 Colloquium in Applied Ethics: Sustainability – Smith
College An
examination of the conceptual and moral underpinnings of sustainability. Questions
to be discussed include: what exactly is sustainability?; what conceptions of
the world (as storehouse, as machine, etc.) does sustainability rely on, and
are these conceptions justifiable?; how is sustainability related to
conceptions of human progress into the distant future?; what values are
affirmed by sustainability, and how can we argue those are values that should
be endorsed?; and how does sustainability compare with environmental
objectives of longer standing such as conservation and integrity. See; http://catalog.smith.edu/detail.php?term=200801&crn=16679
POLSCI
380 Social Welfare Policy The
dynamics of social welfare policy, which encompasses a wide variety of public
policies aimed at ameliorating hunger, poverty, ill health, homelessness, and
other forms of human distress. Focus on the issues, problems, and
politics of contemporary social policy in the United States. POLSCI
382 Environmental Policy Analysis
of U.S. environmental policies shaping the human relationship with nature.
First half of the course is historical, covering Native American nomadic
subsistence; transition to a European lifestyle based upon private property,
a fenced landscape, and capital accumulation; disposal of public lands;
creation of federal land management agencies; and Progressive
conservationism. Second half of the course covers contemporary
environmental policies, with specific attention to biological diversity
issues; implementation of major legislation, such as the National
Environmental Policy Act and the Endangered Species Act; environmental group
strategies; and currently evolving professional practices, such as ecosystem
management. POLSCI
383 Land and Resource Policy Analyzes
changing ideas about the human relationship with Nature, including how these
ideas have shaped public policy and transformed ecological systems.
Topics include private property, public land, conservation, preservation,
ecosystem management, ecofeminsim, deep ecology and place-based
politics. SOC 327 Social Change Focuses
on social and cultural change in American society since 1960. Changing roles
of women, young people, and minorities; expanded conceptions on virtually
everyone's part of rights and entitlements to greater justice and equity;
increasing social conflict; polarization of opinion; heightened
dissatisfaction with almost all institutions; and indications, by the early
1990s, of a reversal of many trends that began 30 years before and the beginning
of a new, more conservative era. SOC
329 Social Movements A
global perspective on social movements. Uses case studies to examine how
social movements around the world have responded to and been shaped by the
challenges of contemporary globalization. Movements such as those around
human rights, labor, trade, environmental and women's issues will be
examined. Prerequisite: 100-level Sociology course. SOC 565 Sociology and Ecology of Community Study
of local communities as settings for daily life; as biosocial organisms,
linking social life with environmental forces including the economy and
demographic change, and impact of technological innovations on daily life.
Growth and decline of urban and rural communities under deindustrialization,
multinationalism, the rise of megacities, economic restructuring and
deconcentration. Attempt to define underlying forces and responses to social
and economic change. SOCIAL
SCIENCE 0125-1 This Land is Your Land - Hampshire College Conflicts
over land use are among the most contentious in America. Much is at stake:
private property rights, the public good, the character of communities,
environmental quality? Even the very definition of nature itself. In this
class we will analyze recent land use controversies, including suburban and
rural sprawl, urban redevelopment, and conflicts over the management of
public lands. Readings will include essays on the contested meanings of land
and property as well as political economic analyses of the American land use
system. Students will be asked to write interpretive essays on the various
meanings attached to land as well as more analytical papers on the politics
of property and land use. Each student will also undertake independent
research on a specific land use controversy of his or her choice. SOCIAL
SCIENCE 0163-1 Consumption and Happiness - Hampshire College This
course will explore the increase in human consumption from a multi-
disciplinary perspective. Specifically, it will focus on the consequences of
this increased consumption (as well as exclusion from this consumption) on
the happiness of human beings, including the role of consumption on relative
well-being of individuals across cultures. It will also make connections
between economics and other disciplines including sociology, political
science, and psychology. The course topics and questions will include how
economic theory describes (or prescribes) the relation between consumption
and happiness. How the quest to satisfy (or create) consumption needs
influences production, labor, employment, and the environment both
domestically and internationally. Throughout the course, we will consider
methodologies from psychology and economics for assessing well being and examining
its relation to consumption. The course will also require students to reflect
on their own experiences and those of their peers. SOCIAL
SCIENCE 0220-1 Buddhism and Ecology – Hampshire College Scholars,
practitioners and activists worldwide debate the relationship between
Buddhism and ecology, some arguing that ecological sensitivities are inherent
in the teachings of the religion, while others see these as modern
aberrations. We will examine Buddhist perspectives on nature and Buddhist
responses to environmental issues. Looking at Buddhist activities in specific
settings, we will consider how the religion both informed and was influenced
by culture, politics, economics and concerns of local people facing
environmental issues. Cases studies will be drawn from Southeast and East
Asia and the United States. SOCIAL
SCIENCE 0285-1 Environment & Social Justice- Hampshire College This
course critically examines the relationship between concepts and use of
environment and social justice in numerous settings. Approaching landscapes
as cultural artifacts grounded in people146s beliefs, histories and
interactions with the land, conflicts and inequities arise as people lay
claim to the environment for particular uses. Debates surround definitions
and implementations of development and sustainability, whether
147community-based resource management148 is the most effective method for
promoting both social justice and environmentalism, and relationships between
scientific and traditional ecological knowledge. Students will write a series
of analytical essays on the different topics explored, and a longer research
paper on a particular question or case. Instructor permission required. SOCIAL SCIENCE 0273-1 Readings in Environmental History - Hampshire College Environmental
concerns have come of age*and will undoubtedly continue to intensify in the
future. But our rediscovered enthusiasm for the field sometimes obscures its
long intellectual heritage; too often we ignore the depth, range, and wisdom
of earlier writings in this field. Course readings will first explore some
classic works of environmental history, focusing on (but not exclusive to)
the US. We will then examine in depth the historical struggle over access to
water in the US west. How do individual needs, commercial demands, and social
values all intersect in determining access to water? And what do these
decisions reveal of the basic values of a society? In addition to short
papers on the readings, students will be asked to select a particular writer,
theme, or episode to examine in depth in light of the course readings.
Individual cases can be selected from fields outside the US (or addressed in
a comparative framework). Economic Systems
ECON
308 Political Economy of the Environment Application
of the theories of political economy to environmental problems and
issues. Topics include regulatory and market approaches to pollution
and natural resource depletion; cost-benefit analysis and its economic and
poitical foundations; and case studies of specific environmental problems
such as acid rain, deforestation, and global warming. Prerequisites:
any two of ECON 103, 105, 203 and 305. ECON 362 American Economic History Economic development in the U.S. from colonial era to present. America as a raw materials producer, an agrarian society, and an industrial nation. Possible topics: development of economic systems, demographic trends, industrialization, regional development, growth of large-scale enterprise and organized labor, changing role of government. Prerequisites: ECON 103, 104 and HIST 150-151 (or 140-141) or consent of instructor. (Gen.Ed. HS) ECON 366 Economic Development Theories of economic growth applied to Third World countries. Classical and Neoclassical economic theories and structural/historical theories. Topics such as the role of foreign investment and multinational corporations, and strategies of industrialization and employment creation, and rural development. Prerequisites: ECON 103 and 104, or consent of instructor. ECON 374 Capitalism, Socialism, and Democracy: 3 Utopias and their Critics Critically
examines formal models of three major systems of governance and allocation
using contemporary economic theory (including game theory) and political
philosophy. Includes the "marriage of capitalism and democracy,"
socialist feminism, the market as a cultural, political, and economic
institution, and economic democracy. Prerequisites: ECON 105 and 305. GEOSCI
360 Economic Geography Economic
activity around the world, from world market factories in Asia to industrial
co-ops in Spain to household in the U.S. and Australia. Paid and unpaid
labor, market and nonmarket transactions, capitalist and noncapitalist
enterprises. Emphasis on economic diversity and agency. GEOSCI
660 Rethinking Economy Theories
of globalization and post-Fordist models of industrialization, examined from
critical theoretical and epistemological perspectives. Alternative models of
economy, including collective, household, and community forms. New
possibilities for economic politics. MTKG 491A Marketing for Non-profit Organizations and Services
RESEC 324 Small Business Finance Economic analysis of the financial resource management for a small business. It examines issues such as financial statements and financial planning, capital budgeting and management, investment, risk, profitability, and forecasting. (Spring) Biophysical Systems
BIOLOGY
280 Ecological Diversity of Life-Time Process
of biological evolution and the evolutionary history of life on earth. Major
features of biological evolution including microevolution (the evolution of
biological populations), speciation (the origin of species), and
macroevolution (evolution above the species level). Microbial, plant, and
animal evolution. Primates and the evolution of humans. Origin of
major evolutionary innovations stressed, including evolution of
photosynthetic, oxygen-releasing bacteria, nucleated cells, sexual reproduction,
true roots and leaves, woody plants, the seed and flowers, animals with a
true body cavity, insects and their societies, and the vertebrate jaw, the
transition from fins to limbs, the evolution of the shelled land egg,
dinosaurs and bird origins, and the adaptive radiation of mammals.
Prerequisites: a grade of C or better in BIOLOGY 100 and 101. BIOLOGY 287 Intro to Ecology The
scope of ecology; how organisms cope with environmental challenges;
population dynamics; species interactions of competition, predation, and
mutualism; community ecology; biodiversity; biogeochemical cycles; selected
topics in evolutionary and behavioral ecology. Basic concepts related to
practical applications in harvesting, biological control, conservation,
pollution, and global change. Prerequisite: a grade of C or better in BIOLOGY
100 and 101 or in BIOLOGY 102 and 103. BIOLOGY 421 Plant Ecology With
lab. This fundamental ecology course emphasizes the quantitative skills
needed to understand and conduct field research. The lectures introduce
major ecological concepts, local vegetation types, and methods and techniques
of gathering and analyzing data. In laboratories, students collect
original data at sites in the Connecticut Valley and write an original
scientific paper. Prerequisite: an introductory biology or botany
course or consent of instructor. (Planned for Fall) BIOLOGY 426 New England Flora Identification of New England plants in the lab and on field trips. Emphasis on the minimum terminology needed to identify plants and to use keys. Students learn to recognize the common plant families in the area. Prerequisite: introductory biology or consent of instructor. (Planned for Spring) BIO 526 Plant Geography Principles
of plant distribution, basic characteristics, and literature on vegetation of
North America, with an overview of world vegetation. History of plant
geography, mechanisms of plant dispersal, and development of plant
communities in time and space. Emphasis on vegetation of New England.
Prerequisites: BIOLOGY 103 or 104 or 100, and BIOLOGY 221 or 297B or 421, or
consent of instructor. (Spring, alternate years). BMATWT
211; Energy Efficient Housing Energy
conservation in contemporary residential construction. Emphasis on: energy
efficient building materials, products and construction technology;
alternative energy sources; passive solar design; environmental concerns,
regulatory issues and building codes. ENV-HLTH 565 Environmental Health Practices Concepts of control methods used by environmental health and engineering practitioners. Topics include water, wastewater, solid wastes, food sanitation, vector control, housing, and accident control measures. ENV-HLTH 660 Issues in Environmental Health Policy & Law Describes and analyzes a range of major environmental policy and law issues. Subjects include the National Environmental Protection Act, the Clean Air Act, and the Clean Water Act. ENVIRDES 553 Resource Policy & Planning Examination of natural resource policy formation and the planning process at the local, state, and regional levels; the role of congress, the bureaucracy, and citizens' interest in policy formation; the interplay among forces of economics, technology, ecology, and design in the determination of policy goals and planning horizons. ENVIRDES 575 Environmental Law & Resource Management Concepts of nuisance, police power, zoning, eminent domain, and growth management. Their application to management of environmental resources, including riverine, coastal, and wetland areas. Includes introduction to legal research. Prerequisite: consent of instructor. ENVST
497G Environmental Problem Solving in the Community Provides
students with in-depth experience in identifying and planning solutions for
environmental problems in a community setting. An inquiry-based
learning approach stressing collaborative learning techniques used to address
community environmental problems. ENT
342 Pesticides, the Environment and Public Policy Current
issues associated with pesticide use; includes discussion of role of
pesticides in agriculture, public health and other related areas; fate of
pesticides in the environment; and public perception of pesticides. ENT 581 Integrated Pest Management Theory
and application of the principles of insect, disease, and weed pest
management; emphasis on insects. Focus on pest and natural enemy sampling
techniques, properties of available control strategies, underlying ecological
and behavioral principles, model pest management systems and societal
concerns. Prerequisite: ENTOMOL 326 or MICROBIO 530 or equivalent or consent
of instructor. (Fall). ENT 585 Toxicology of Insecticides All
aspects of insecticide chemistry, including toxicity, classification,
pharmaco- dynamics and metabolism, mechanisms of action, resistance, and
environmental toxicology. For those with toxicological, agricultural, or
environmental interests. Prerequisite: organic chemistry. (Fall, odd years). ENT 592 Chemicals and the Environment Contact department for description. (Planned for Fall, even years) ENVIRONMENTAL
SCIENCE & POLICY 300 Seminar – Smith College Current patterns of human resource consumption and waste generation are not ecologically sustainable. Effective solutions require a working knowledge of the scientific, social, political, and economic factors surrounding environmental problems. This seminar examines the impact of human activities on natural systems; the historical development of environmental problems; the interplay of environmental science, education, and policy; and efforts to build a sustainable society. Discussions will center on conflicting views of historical changes, ecological design and sustainability, biodiversity, environmental policy, media coverage of environmental issues, ecological economics, and environmental justice. An extended project will involve active investigation, analysis, and presentation of an environmental issue of local or regional importance with the explicit goal of identifying sustainable alternatives. Prerequisite: all courses completed or concurrent for the Environmental Science and Policy minor or by permission of the instructor. See: http://catalog.smith.edu/detail.php?term=200803&crn=34743 GEO-SCI 285 Environmental Geology With field trips. Principles of geology and hydrology applied to regional planning in conservation and land use. Ground and surface water resources, water pollution problems, slope stability and mass wasting, geological catastrophes with prevention planning. Environmental geology related to broader environmental and social problems. Participation in field trips. Prerequisite: introductory geology course. Students needing or wanting a laboratory component may register for GEO-SCI 131. (Gen.Ed. PS) (Planned for Spring) GEO-SCI 360 Economic Geography Economic activity around the world, from world market factories in Asia to industrial co-ops in Spain to households in the U.S. and Australia. Paid and unpaid labor, market and nonmarket transactions, capitalist and noncapitalist enterprises. Emphasis on economic diversity and agency. (Gen.Ed. SB, U) (Planned for Spring) GEO
362 Land Use and Society The
meaning of land in past and present societies, and the evolution of public
involvement in land use management. Land use data and concepts; review
of historical emergence of land use controls in response to social needs;
current methods and issues of land use management in the U.S. GEO-SCI 364 Geography of Development Examines the geographic structure and process of social, economic, and environmental change associated with `development' in the `Third World'. Issues addressed at a global and local scale include population, food production, and the Green Revolution, gender, population mobility and urbanization, and environmental costs of growth. GEO-SCI 444 Sense of Place and Environmental Behavior Exploration of the ways different cultural subgroups perceive, organize, and use their space and environment. Emphasis on both individual and group behavior concerning environmental preference and location, debates over "using versus preserving" the environment, response to environmental hazards, migration and adjustment into new environments, and other environmental choices that contribute to the evolution of particular cultural landscapes ranging from the urban built environment to the rural landscapes of the world. GEO 370 Urban Geography Survey
of urban geographical analysis and the development of the world's cities.
Theoretical and methodological approaches of urban geography used to explore
cities as they shape and are shaped by their social, cultural, economic, and
physical contexts. Topics include pre-industrial cities, industrial cities,
the evolution of American cities, and contemporary urban issues in both
developed and developing countries. (SB) (Fall) GEO
420 Human Impact on the Environment Human
geographical perspectives on the historical human transformation of the earth
and current environmental issues. Cultural and historical geography,
cultural ecology, political ecology and environmental history used to explore
the diverse, regionally variable, and historically dynamic conditions and processes
that have shaped past and present human impacts on the environment. GEO
497S Indigenous People and Conservation Indigenous
peoples' conservation values and practices and their importance for global
conservation. Emphasis on indigenous knowledge, cultural values, sacred
places, community management of natural resources, and the role of indigenous
peoples in the establishment and management of new kinds of inhabited
national parks and protected areas. GEO
530 Population and Environment Population-resource
relationships in context of social science theory and debates over
sustainability, theories of population change, political economy of
resources, institutional factors in resource management and carrying capacity
concepts applied to conditions in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. LANDSCAPE
STUDIES 105 – Introduction to Landscape Studies – Smith
College Landscape Studies is a burgeoning new field at Smith College and is the first program of its kind at a liberal arts college in this country. This introductory course will be a chronological and thematic exploration of the issues that define the evolving field of landscape studies. Topics will range from ancient to contemporary, scientific to artistic, cultural to political, theoretical to practical. We will consider corporate, domestic, industrial, post-industrial, tourist, landfill, and agricultural landscapes from around the globe. Much of this course is new terrain, so be prepared for impromptu readings, discussions, and guest lectures as topics become topical, issues develop into debates, and events get announced. Priority given to LSS minors, and first and second years. Enrollment limited to 30. See: http://catalog.smith.edu/detail.php?term=200801&crn=15999 MICROBIO 515 Management and Ecology of Plant Disease The
ecology of plant, microbe, and human interactions in plant diseases, from
wilderness to industrial farms. Epidemics, traditional farming, environmental
impacts and sustainability issues. Ways in which agriculture, particularly
plant production and plant disease management, change ecosystems. Independent
project. BIOLOGY 100 or equivalent recommended. NATURAL
SCIENCE NS 0106 Earth Resources - Hampshire College Are
humans currently "living dangerously"? Are we destroying our nest?
In the past few years, scientists have begun to view Earth as a holistic
system of interacting components. In this course students will investigate
how the natural world operates and examine how society interacts with Earth.
Class discussions and weekly projects will introduce the major concepts and
techniques of earth science (geology), environmental sciences, and resource
management. This course will emphasize a hands-on, field- and lab-oriented
approach to earth and environmental science in which students will learn to
observe, pose questions, build hypotheses, and develop answers. Through local
field trips, students will explore the history of our planet, and
earth-shaping processes such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and erosion.
By learning how our planet evolves, students can then evaluate the current
state of Earth and solutions to environmental ills. NATURAL
SCIENCE NS 0120 Alternative Medicine - Hampshire College Health
involves all aspects of our lives. The mind, body, spirit, and environment
all interact to influence a person's sense of wellbeing. High-quality health
care must support the whole person. Complementary and alternative medicine
(CAM) is a group of diverse medical and health care systems, practices, and
products that are not presently considered to be part of conventional
medicine. While some scientific evidence exists regarding some CAM therapies,
for many there are important unanswered questions that might be answered
through well-designed scientific studies. In this class, we will identify
questions to pursue by reading and critiquing the primary scientific
literature. The acceptance of these therapies is influenced by politics,
history, personalities, and even their effectiveness. We will carefully
evaluate some of these alternative therapies by examining their successes and
failures. NATURAL
SCIENCE NS 0150-1 Agriculture, Ecology and Society - Hampshire College This
course will examine agriculture as a set of ecological systems and issues,
including related social aspects. It refers to ecology in both the sense of
interactions between organisms (e.g., crops and pests) and their environment,
and in the larger-scale sense of environmental impacts. A broad range of topics
will include crop pests, pesticides and alternative methods of pest control,
soil erosion vs. conservation, agricultural inputs and water pollution, the
problems of local farmers and of developing countries in food production, the
advantages of buying local, community-supported agriculture (CSA), and more.
Students will spend time in the field at our own Hampshire College farm and
CSA, as well as visit some nearby farms. The course work will consist of
readings, discussion, short assignments, field work, and group and
independent projects. NATURAL
SCIENCE 0163-1 Biomass Energy - Hampshire College From
fireplaces to woodstoves to industrial boilers, people have long used biomass
as a source of heat. Now, we hear that biomass, in the form of corn or grass,
may be the solution to the "oil crisis." In this small,
research-based class we will investigate claims about biomass energy and
biofuels. What are realistic yields and net energy conversion rates for woody
plants, herbaceous perennials or oil crops? How can we convert plant-derived
oils, cellulose and starch into usable, practical fuels? What are the
environmental and social impacts of using farmland for fuel instead of food,
or of converting potentially fragile ecosystems (deserts with irrigation or wetlands)
to biomass production? What might be the appropriate mix of crops and
technologies for a small community like Hampshire College? Each student will
propose and carry out literature and laboratory research on their chosen
topic. We will meet twice per week, once for critical examination of the
literature and for planning and assessment and once for lab and fieldwork. NATURAL
SCIENCE 0229-1 Forest Ecology - Hampshire College How
do forests grow and change over time? How do various kinds of disturbance,
natural and anthropogenic, affect the structure and composition of forests?
Is there such a thing as sustained yield? Is the New Forestry just a new way
of doing the same old thing harvesting timber? What are the consequences of
various fire management strategies? If oil prices cause a massive shift to
biomass fuels, can our woodlands meet the demand? What about forest
ecosystems makes them unique and what common principles apply to trees as
well as other organisms in their environment? We will explore these and other
questions through reading and discussion of two books and research articles.
Fieldwork will be central to our learning and we will get out into the woods
and explore examples of the phenomena we have studied in class. As the
semester develops we will narrow our focus to a few research-based questions,
to be pursued either as a group, in small teams or as individuals. NATURAL
SCIENCE 0335-1 Natural Science Frontiers - Hampshire College This
course will explore the leading frontiers of earth and environmental science
and their implications for the environmental issues confronting society
today. Using recent primary scientific literature, students will investigate
issues such as water resource management, global climate change, and natural
resource depletion. We will also scrutinize current governmental policies and
potential solutions related to these issues. NRC 382 Human Dimensions in Natural Resource Management Introduction
to the human dimension of resource management. Topics include social
values, demographics, outdoor recreation, agency history and mandates,
economic valuation, resource allocation, stakeholder groups, the commons
dilemma, and other topics. (Planned for Fall) NRC 409 Natural Resource Policy & Administration An
introduction to the processes of natural resource policy formulation,
administration of public lands, and social values related to managing the
nation's renewable natural resources. History of current federal laws,
policies, and programs, and discussion of the roles of various resources
management agencies. (Planned for Spring) NRC 549 Ecosystem Management Ecosystem
management and how it is defined by various organizations. The
historical context and key contributing ecological concepts of ecosystem management
and alternative approaches for its implementation. (Planned for Spring) PLS
280 Herbs, Spices and Medicinal Plants Introduction
to the growth, culture, and science related to the production and use of
herbs, spices, and medicinal plants. Emphasis on plants used in the home with
discussions on bioactivity of plant extracts. Laboratory practice in seeding,
growing, oil extraction, and utilization of these plants. Examinations,
project and identification of selected herbs. PLNTSOIL 297B Medicinal Botany An exploration of plants as botanical remedies and the principles underlying the resurgence of plant materials for medicinal use. Focus on scientific evidence in support of traditional herbalism. Discussion topics include medical studies and reassessments of botanical medicines that have been discarded by conventional medical practices, but which may be helpful in treating human ailments. Demonstrations of traditional techniques for producing herbal extracts are used to relate botany to medicine. (1 credit) PLS
300 Deciduous Orchard Science Principles
and practices involved in the establishment and management of deciduous
orchards. PLS
305 Small Fruit Production Principles
and practices governing the establishment and management of small fruit
plantings. PLS
325 Vegetable Production Principles
of production of vegetable crops; emphasis on cultural practices used in home
gardens and in commercial operations. Prerequisite: Introductory Plant
Science or Biology course. PLS
350 Crop Science An
examination of sustainable farming systems for food, fiber, and forage crops
including cultural requirements and physiological responses.
Illustrations of concepts, discussions of topics and examination of
distinguishing morphological characteristics of selected crop species during
laboratory sessions. Quizzes, mid-term, final. Prerequisites: BIOLOGY103 or
equivalent, or consent instructor. PLS
370 Tropical Agriculture Tropical
regions of the world, their environment and classification; influence of
climate, population, and socio-economic conditions on agriculture; major
crops and cropping systems of sub-humid tropics; introduction to dry land
agriculture; importance of rainfall and irrigation on productivity; green
revolution; desertification; present and future research needs of region and
state of agricultural technology. PLS
375 Soil and Water Conservation Soil
management related to water and wind erosion control. Environmental
aspects of erosion. Cropping, tilling and management effects on erosion and
water quality. Landscape and soil sustainability. Principles of soil
drainage. Midterm and final exams, term paper, class presentations.
Prerequisite: PLNTSOIL 105 or equivalent. PLNTSOIL 397A Ethnobotany I: The Shaman's Pharmacy Explore
traditional, plant-derived medicines among various world cultures, based by
first-hand knowledge from field research. Learn about beneficial compounds in
plants, and about medicinal plant preparation. See, touch, smell, and taste
herbal potions. View extraordinary slides from the Amazon, India, China, and
other cultures, and learn about environmental preservation, shamans, medicine
men and women, and nature's bounty of beneficial plants. (1 credit) PLS
397D Soils and Land Use Principles
of on-site sewage treatment; evaluating the suitability of soils for on-site
sewage disposal. Identification of soil types, geological deposits, and
hydrology in relation to wastewater disposal. Identification of soil types,
geological deposits, and hydrology in relation to wastewater disposal in
non-sewered areas. Design of conventional and alternative Title 5
systems. Course meets the basic requirements for the Massachusetts Soil
Evaluators training program. Prerequisites: knowledge of chemistry. PLNTSOIL 497A Natural Products Industry Investigate the natural products industry through lectures, field trips, and interviews. Students talk to small independent business owners and representatives of large scale companies, coming to an understanding of the various ways that a business can be built. Students create a potential business of their own and develop plans for its success. Prerequisites: PLNTSOIL 280 or other medicinal plant program course; RES-ECON 141 or 241 or similar marketing/economics course, or permission of instructor. (2-3 credits) Under
300 Level GenEds
CE-ENGIN
211-02 Perspectives on the Evolution of Structures; Gen-Ed (SI) Why
do structures look the way they do? What makes a bridge or building
beautiful? Is engineering creative? How do structures behave? What is the
future of the built environment? Can we build sustainably? Write, research, draw, build, analyze, and
calculate (simple math) as we work on these questions together. See; http://www.ecs.umass.edu/perspectives/
BMATWT
191A: The Built Environment (GenEd status pending) The
course will explore the issues of sustainability from the perspective of the
built environment, our history of construction and expansion, and
buildings and how their environmental impacts. Course objective is to
expose students to the issues of human impact on natural systems through the
built environment and the disciplines that are working to create a more
sustainable future. PHYSICS
190E: Energy and Society This
course concerns the following questions: Where does energy come from?
What is the science behind it? How is it consumed? What are the
effects on the environment and society? The topics are discussed by
building an understanding from the underlying science. The physical
forms of energy. Energy generation, storage, conversion,
consumption. Both quantitative and qualitative methods are used. Some
of the course offered at Greenfield Community College might be suitable as
GenEds (get approval from the registrar first) and see: http://www.gcc.mass.edu/site_media/gcc/docs/spotlight/ree08.pdf Other miscellaneous GenEd’s are listed here. For more information, contact John Gerber at jgerber@psis.umass.edu,
or 308 Bowditch Hall and say hello! |
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©2008 John M. Gerber |
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