This course is a survey course, exposing students in the environmental studies minor to several pressing themes in the field of environmental studies. Case studies will be drawn upon as examples of topics, and whenever possible, local examples will be used. Students will be expected to show their comprehension of course material through examinations and a term paper. Upon completion of the course students will be able to analyze environmental issues from a non-science perspective. In other word, they will have an understanding of the processes, laws, ethics and economics which are central in all environmental issues.
Environmental issues encompass cross-cultural problems.
Hence studying issues such as environmental justice for example will expose students to various cultural issues including race and income levels. Project Kaleidoscope, funded by the National Science Foundation has established guidelines for developing a program in environmental studies. Project Kaleidoscope also affords institutions the opportunity to have outside evaluators visit the campus and assess the program. We are presently in communication with Project Kaleidoscope to explore the possibility of having evaluators conduct such an assessment of our proposed program, including this proposed course. In addition, we have two NSF grants in which there is funding to have courses for the proposed environmental studies minor evaluated by professional evaluators.