Contents
Additional Information
Candie C. Wilderman, Professor of Environmental Science, ChairMichael K. Heiman, Professor of Environmental Studies and Geography Brian S. Pedersen, Associate Professor of Biology and Environmental ScienceH. Eugene Wingert, Visiting Instructor in Environmental ScienceJulie D. Vastine, Director of the Alliance for Aquatic Resource Monitoring (ALLARM)Jennifer Halpin, Director of the Dickinson College FarmThomas M. Arnold, Associate Professor of Biology Jeremy R. Ball, Assistant Professor of HistoryBenjamin R. Edwards, Associate Professor of Geology (On leave Fall 2008)James G. Ellison, Assistant Professor of AnthropologyKjell Enge, Associate Professor of Anthropology Susan M. Feldman, Professor of Philosophy (On leave Spring 2009)Marcus M. Key, Jr., Professor of Geology (Director of the Dickinson Science Program in England, 2008-10)Neil Leary, Director of the Center for Environmental and Sustainability EducationAndrea B. Lieber, Associate Professor of Religion, Sophia Ava Asbell Chair in Judaic StudiesCarol Loeffler, Associate Professor of Biology B. Ashton Nichols, Professor of English Language and Literature, John J. Curley '60 and Ann Conser Curley '63 Faculty Chair in the Liberal ArtsJeffrey W. Niemitz, Professor of Geology Hans Pfister, Associate Professor of Physics (On leave Fall 2008)Theodore Pulcini, Associate Professor of Religion Nicola Tynan, Associate Professor of Economics Jeremy Vetter, Assistant Professor of HistoryAmy E. Witter, Associate Professor of Chemistry Environmental Studies Major: All majors take the core curriculum consisting of 111 or 215, 131, 132, 222, 330, 335 or 340, 406, ECON 100 or 111, and MATH 121. Environmental Studies majors must then take an additional lab science, an internship, independent study, or independent research, and four courses which form a focus cluster.
Environmental Science Major: ll majors take the core curriculum consisting of 111 or 215, 131, 132, 222, 330, 335 or 340, 406, and ECON 111. An Environmental Science major must also develop, in consultation with her or his academic advisor, a theme consisting of eight additional courses. The theme courses must be courses in the natural sciences, computer science, or mathematics that concern a particular challenge in environmental science (e.g., climate change, effects of pollution on human health). Required theme courses, which must be chosen for their relevance to the theme topic, are listed below:
At least one biology course numbered 300 or above;
At least one mathematics course;
At least one of these pairs of physical science courses:
CHEM 141 and another chemistry course that requires CHEM 141 as a prerequisite, including GEOL 231 (Chemistry of Earth Systems)
PHYS 131,132
PHYS 141,142
At least two of these integrative courses from different departments:
BIOL 314 (Ecology)
BIOL 324 (Plant Geography and Ecology)
CHEM 210 (Environmental Chemistry)
ENST 310, when approved by the department
ENST 335 or ENST 340 (a course may not fulfill requirements in both core curriculum and theme)
GEOL 207 (Paleontology)
GEOL 220 (Environmental Geology)
GEOL 221 (Oceanography)
PHYS 314 (Energy and Environmental Physics)
And other courses as approved by the department.
The following five courses: 111, 131, 132, 222, 406 and one of the following three courses: 330, 335 or 340.
Environmental StudiesFirst Year: 131, 132; ECON 100 or 111
Second Year: 111 and 222; MATH 121; 335 or 340
Third Year: Focus cluster courses (on campus or abroad); additional lab science; 330
Fourth Year: 406; focus cluster courses; internship
Environmental ScienceFirst Year: 131,132; ECON 111
Second Year: 222; 335 or 340; PHYS 131 and 132, OR PHYS 141 and 142; CHEM 141 and another Chemistry course that requires 141 as a prerequisite; one Math course
Third Year: one Biology course numbered 300 or above; other theme requirement courses (on campus or abroad); 111
Fourth Year: 330 and 406; other theme requirement courses
NOTE: Students considering either major are advised to consult with a member of the Environmental Studies Department. Since courses listed for any term may be offered at the same time or not offered due to faculty availability, it is essential to be flexible in planning and choosing courses. To minimize problems, satisfy major and distribution requirements as early as possible.
The ENST Department encourages students who demonstrate maturity, motivation and academic preparedness to undertake independent research and independent study projects.
Independent study allows a student to pursue an academic interest outside the listed course offerings. The study may include experimental (lab or field) work, library research and reading, and may culminate in several short papers, a single paper, or any other project acceptable to the supervising faculty member and the student.
Independent research, like independent study, allows a student to pursue an academic interest outside the listed course offerings, but it involves primary research which is largely self-initiated and self-directed. Typically the results of independent research are presented at a professional conference, regional meeting, or other public forum.
Students interested in pursuing independent study or independent research should make arrangements with supervising faculty no later than the course request period.
The distinction of Honors in Environmental Science and Environmental Studies is awarded by the Department to graduating seniors who have met the requisite academic standards. These include completion of a two-credit independent research project under faculty guidance and maintenance of a minimum GPA of 3.0 in all courses required or applied toward the major (including courses from other departments and thematic focus courses). The student's final GPA must be certified at the end of the Senior year just prior to graduation.
The honors project must have an oral and a written component. The oral component is presented before a faculty review committee consisting of the Environmental Studies Department Faculty and the Faculty Research Adviser (if not from the Department). The written component may be done with acknowledged assistance from the Faculty Research Advisor and must be in a format suitable for peer review at a professional meeting and/or for a peer-reviewed journal in the appropriate field of inquiry.
Detailed guidelines for department honors are available through the Department Chairperson.
Environmental Studies students are encouraged to participate in the following programs abroad: School for Field Studies, where students can participate in a field-based integrated environmental studies curriculum in one of five locations around the world; the Dickinson Science Program in Norwich, England, where environmental studies and science majors can take courses at an internationally-known environmental science center at the University of East Anglia; the Semester in Environmental Science at the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, Massachusetts, where students can participate in a rigorous field-based program in aquatic sciences; and the Dickinson Program in Queensland, Australia, which offers a wide variety of excellent Environmental Studies and Science courses. Information on many other opportunities for Environmental Studies students is available at the Office of Global Education.
ALLARM :The Alliance for Aquatic Resource Monitoring (ALLARM) is a department-sponsored professional organization that partners with Pennsylvania communities who are working to document and mitigate the effects of water pollution through volunteer-based water quality monitoring programs. Founded in 1986 by Professor Candie Wilderman, ALLARM is staffed by Dickinson students under the supervision of the Director, Julie Vastine and Assistant Director Jinnie Woodward. ALLARM staff provide technical support, training and assistance to community-based watershed organizations. Staff are responsible for water quality training assistance, development of laboratory and field sampling protocols, maintenance of a quality control/quality assurance program, publicity, community presentations, office management, data management, data analysis and interpretation, and publication of a newsletter. ALLARM also supports the academic curriculum by providing opportunities for community-based research and course work. Contact Julie Vastine,
vastine@dickinson.edu, Director of ALLARM, for internship and employment opportunities.
Dickinson College Farm : The Dickinson College Farm was started in 2007 to address the growing interest in sustainable agriculture and renewable energy on campus. The College farm is an expansion of the Student Garden (started in 1999) and continues to increase campus and community awareness on issues relating to food, health, and alternative energy. The Dickinson College Farm is located on 30 acres in the town of Boiling Springs, just six miles from campus. Students work with farm staff to raise produce for the College dining hall through field work and greenhouse production. The farm employs organic agricultural practices to ensure sustained land stewardship, as well as to support the area's biodiversity. In addition to its focus on food production for campus use, the farm serves as a living laboratory for students, faculty and local community. The farm supports academic interests through student and faculty research, hosting labs and field trips, as well as serving as an off-campus class site. For more information on this exciting Dickinson program, please contact Jennifer Halpin, Director of the College Farm Program
halpinj@dickinson.edu.
111 Environment, Culture, and Values A study of the effects of scientific, religious, and philosophical values on human attitudes toward the environment and how these attitudes may affect our way of life. By focusing on a particular current topic, and by subjecting the basis of our behavior in regard to that topic to careful criticism, alternative models of behavior are considered together with changes in lifestyle and consciousness that these may involve.
This course satisfies the Division I.a. distribution requirement.131, 132 Environmental Science An integrated, interdisciplinary study of natural environmental systems and human impact on them. Basic concepts of ecology and energy will be examined and utilized to study world resources, human population dynamics, pollution, and human environmental health. Field study will be emphasized.
Three hours classroom and three hours laboratory a week.202 Energy Resources See course description with
GEOL 202 listing.
Prerequisite: any 100-level course in GEOL or ENST132.205 Global Environmental History Examines the interaction between humans and the natural environment in long-term global context. Explores the problem of sustainable human uses of world environments in various societies from prehistory to the present. Also serves as an introduction to the subfield of environmental history, which integrates evidence from various scientific disciplines with traditional documentary and oral sources. Topics include: environmental effects of human occupation, the origins of agriculture, colonial encounters, industrial revolution, water and politics, natural resource frontiers, and diverse perceptions of nature.
This course is cross-listed as HIST 205.214 Ecological Anthropology See course description with
ANTH 214 listing.
215 Jewish Environmental Ethics See course description with
JDST 215 listing.
Offered every three years in rotation with the offering of ENST 111. This course is cross-listed as JDST 215 and RELG 215.220 Environmental Geology See course description with
Geology 220 listing.
Prerequisite: Two 100-level GEOL courses OR ENST 131 and 132. This course is cross-listed as GEOL 220.221 Oceanography See course description with
GEOL 221 listing.
222 Environmental Economics See course description with
ECON 222 listing.
Prerequisite: ECON 100 or 111.230 International Environmental Challenges Environmental problems, human perceptions of environmental problems, and approaches to solving environmental problems differ around the world. This course will compare environmental challenges in different countries and examine the factors that make each country's environmental situation unique. The international nature of many environmental problems and their solutions will also be explored.
Prerequisite: Two natural science courses or permission of the instructor. Generally offered in Spring in a two-year alternating sequence with 390. 260 Contemporary Science: Energy and the Environment See course description with
SCIE 260 listing.
310 Special Topics in Environmental Science An interdisciplinary intermediate-level approach to the study of environmental problems and policy analysis. The course is project-oriented, with students bringing the experience and perspective of their own disciplinary major to bear on a team approach to the analysis and proposed resolution of an environmental problem. Topics vary depending on faculty and student interests, and on the significance of current affairs.
Three hours of classroom and three hours of laboratory a week. Prerequisite: Dependent upon topic or permission of instructor.311 Special Topics in Environmental Studies An interdisciplinary course on special environmental studies topics to be offered on the basis of faculty interest, need, and demand. Recent topics have included loss of biodiversity, sustainable agriculture, forests, air pollution, and climate change.
No laboratory. Prerequisite: Dependent upon topic or permission of the instructor.313 Geographic Information Systems Geographic Information Systems (GIS) involves the collection, analysis, and display of spatially referenced information. It is used in a wide variety of fields involving the natural and social sciences. This course will introduce students to the fundamental concepts of computerized geographic information systems. It will combine an overview of the general principles of GIS and spatial data management with training on one of the most widely used GIS software packages, ArcView (Environmental Systems Research Institute). Students will work on independent problem-based projects related to environmental issues throughout the semester.
Three hours of classroom and three hours of laboratory per week. This course will count as an elective for Geology majors.314 Ecology See course description with
BIOL 314 listing.
Prerequisite: any two 100-level BIOL courses numbered between 120 and 129, or ENST 131, 132.320 Hydrogeology See course description with
GEOL 320 listing.
Prerequisite: GEOL 220, 231 or permission of instructor.322 Plant Systematics See course description with
BIOL 322 listing.
Prerequisite: any two 100-level BIOL courses numbered between 120 and 129, or ENST 131, 132.330 Environmental Disruption and Policy Analysis This course examines the interrelationships of people with their environments in advanced industrial societies, specifically the science behind regulation and the U.S. regulatory response on air and water pollution, toxic and solid waste management, and workplace hazards. It considers the conflicts and compatibility of economic growth, social justice, and environmental quality under capitalism. Local and extended field trips emphasize the students' analysis and interpretation of social and physical parameters at waste repositories and environmental management facilities.
Three hours classroom and four hours laboratory a week. NOTE: This is a Writing Intensive Course. Prerequisite: 131 and 132, or a 130-level with lab Environmental Studies course, or permission of instructor.335 Analysis and Management of the Aquatic Environment An interdisciplinary study of the aquatic environment, with a focus on the groundwater and surface waters of the Chesapeake Bay drainage basin. This course provides a scientific introduction to the dynamics of rivers, lakes, wetlands, and estuarine systems as well as an appreciation of the complexity of the political and social issues involved in the sustainable use of these aquatic resources. Students conduct an original, cooperative, field-based research project on a local aquatic system that will involve extensive use of analytical laboratory and field equipment. Extended field trips to sample freshwater and estuarine systems and to observe existing resource management practices are conducted.
Three hours classroom and four hours laboratory a week. Prerequisite: 131 or science major. Generally offered in the fall in a two-year alternating sequence with 340. 340 Forest Ecology & Applications An exploration of the structure and function of forests with a focus on trees. Levels of organization from organs to the biosphere are considered. A set of topics, such as leaf-atmosphere interactions, whole-tree physiology, stand dynamics, energy flows, and biogeochemical cycles, are examined in depth. The effects of human interventions in forests are considered as these provide insights into the processes operating within forests. The course includes quantitative analysis and a substantial field component.
Three hours lecture and four hours laboratory each week. Prerequisite: Any combination of two courses from among the 100-level BIOL courses and ENST 131, 132. This course is cross-listed as BIOL 320. Generally offered in the fall in a two-year alternating sequence with 335.348 Computer Simulation Modeling Computer simulation modeling is a way to develop scientific understanding. A key element of computational science, computer simulation modeling is the representation of systems with mathematics; computers do the mathematical calculation. This course considers biological, chemical, and physical systems, with interdisciplinary applications in environmental science and other fields. For the course project, students model systems related to their individual interests. No experience with computer programming or calculus is required.
Six hours of integrated lecture and laboratory each week. Prerequisites: Any three courses in natural science and/or mathematics. This course is cross-listed as BIOL 348. This course fulfills the lab-science distribution requirement.406 Seminar in Advanced Topics in Environmental Studies A keystone seminar designed to integrate and apply students' past coursework, internships, and other educational experiences, and to provide a basis for future professional and academic endeavors. The course format varies depending on faculty and student interests, and scholarly concerns in the field. Course components may include developing written and oral presentations, reading and discussing primary literature, and defining and performing individual or group research. Students in this course will be particularly responsible for acquiring and disseminating knowledge. This course is not equivalent to an independent study or independent research course.
Prerequisite: Senior standing or permission of the instructor. Normally offered in Spring semester.The following course is offered during Summer School only.
110 Wild Resource Management This course will examine the management of natural resources (the manipulation of the environment to achieve human goals) at the state, national, and global levels. The course will examine natural resource management in Pennsylvania by studying the role of the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources as managers of Pennsylvania's 17 million acres of state forest and park land. The course will also examine the nature of wildlife management conducted by the Game Commission and the Fish and Boat Commission. These state management practices and policies will be compared with national and global trends. Other topics will include: soil resources, farming technologies, water resources, and the current political controversy over water and wetlands at the state and federal levels. Other issues pertaining to natural resources will be discussed as appropriate.
The following course is offered during January term only.
304 Field Study of Marine Carbonate Environments. See course description with
GEOL 304 listing.
For more information visit the
Environmental Studies Department web site.
