Environmental Studies Courses

Semester specific course desciptions

A “PP” designation indicates that this course meets the pollution policy (PP) requirement for the environmental studies major.

101. Introduction to Environmental Studies.
This one-semester course is an introduction to the basic concepts and interrelationships needed to understand the complexities of environmental problems. A survey of the characteristics of natural environments and human populations is followed by a study of environmental degradation and alternative solutions to environmental problems. The student is introduced to the roles of many disciplines (including both the natural and social sciences) in the study of environmental problems. The emphasis of the course is on interdisciplinary thinking.

106. Chemistry and the Environment.
A one-semester course designed for non-science majors and environmental studies majors. Basic chemical concepts are examined with special reference to the environment. Topics include elements and compounds; atomic structure and the periodic table; chemical change; energy and entropy; oxidation and reduction; acidity; the ten questions a chemist needs to answer before fully characterizing a chemical reaction. These topics are related to pollution, waste management, recycling, energy sources and the limits to growth. Lecture plus one laboratory per week. Also offered as Chemistry 106 .

105,107. Energy.
This course explores the nature of energy, its application in modern society and a variety of issues associated with that use. The course will cover the physical principles of energy in general, and of electrical energy, electromagnetic (optical) energy, nuclear energy and thermodynamics in particular. Applications and related issues will include the role of energy in society, fossil fuels, electric power plants, automobiles, global warming and the ozone layer and energy conservation; other topics may include nuclear, solar and other sources of energy. This course makes extensive use of elementary algebra and scientific notation. Environmental Studies 107 has a lab component and fills the natural science with lab distribution requirement. Environmental Studies 105 is taught in a lecture format with shorter integrated lab activities and fills the natural science distribution requirement. Also offered as Physics 105, 107.

106. Chemistry and the Environment. (1.25 units)
A one-semester course designed for non-science majors and environmental studies majors. Basic chemical concepts are examined with special reference to the environment. Topics include elements and compounds; atomic structure and the periodic table; chemical change; energy and entropy; oxidation and reduction; acidity; and the 10 questions a chemist needs to answer before fully characterizing a chemical reaction. These topics are related to pollution, waste management, recycling, energy sources and the limits to growth. Lecture plus one laboratory per week. Also offered as Chemistry 106.

108. Economics for Environmentalists.
An introduction to the basic concepts, tools and theories of microeconomics that are applied to problems typically associated with the use of the environment. The course begins with basic microeconomic principles, advances to important economics theories that are commonly used to describe environmental resource allocation problems, and concludes with an examination of case studies. Case studies include air pollution and acid rain, destruction of rainforests, climate change, alternative sources of energy and waste disposal. This course does not count toward the major in environmental studies-economics and is not open to first-year students. Prerequisite: Environmental Studies 101 or permission of instructor. Also offered as Economics 108.

110. Environmental Geology.
This course relates geology, the science of the earth, to human activities and emphasizes the importance of geology in environmental affairs. The introduction of important geologic concepts and fundamental principles necessary to unite the cultural and physical environments are discussed. Topics covered include natural geologic hazards and interaction between people and the environment, including human modification of nature, geologic resources and energy. May not be taken following or in conjunction with Geology 103. Also offered as Geology 110.

112. Global Climate.
Climate is perhaps the single most important and pervasive factor controlling global ecosystems and human well-being. This interdisciplinary course examines global climate from a historical perspective, beginning with the formation of the solar system and continuing through geologic time to the present. Topics covered include the development of the atmosphere; the workings of the global “heat engine” of atmosphere, oceans and continents; evidence for past climate change; causes of global climate change; the effects of climate change on human evolution; and the effects of human evolution on the global climate system. This is a team-taught studio lab course satisfying the natural science distribution requirement. Also offered as Geology 112 and Physics 112 and through Global Studies.

187. Environment and Society.
How do natural systems shape social systems? Ho do social systems reshape natural systems? Who do these two types of systems conflict? Through exploration of these questions, this course introduces students to the theoretical and empirical study of the dynamic interaction of human society and the natural environment. Students will be asked to critically examine the social origins and ecological impacts of the production, consumption and distribution of goods, services and ideas domestically and transnationallly. The course will challenge a wide range of environmental myths including the widely held beliefs that environmental problems are being solved, that economic growth is compatible with environmental protection, that everyone is concerned with protecting the environment, that better science and technology will solve environmental problems and that social systems can be made compatible with natural systems without protracted political conflict. Also offered through Sociology.

205. Quantitative Analysis. (Env.)
An introductory course dealing with the chemical, physical and logical principles underlying quantitative chemical analysis. Among the broad topics treated are data evaluation, titrimetry, solution equilibria, potentiometry and absorption spectroscopy. Lectures plus one laboratory per week. Prerequisites: Environmental Studies 101; Chemistry 104 or 105 (with a 2.0 grade or higher) or permission of instructor. Also offered as Chemistry 205.

209. Vertebrate Natural History.
A field-oriented course that explores the biology of vertebrate animals, with emphasis on understanding the diversity, life history, evolution and unique adaptations of vertebrates. The laboratory focus is on developing scientifically sound skills in observation and on learning to identify local vertebrates. Some extra class meetings will be required for regional field excursions and for early morning bird-watching sessions. Prerequisites: Environmental Studies 101, Biology 101, 102 or permission of instructor. Also offered as Biology 209 and through Outdoor Studies.

211. Geomorphology.
Geomorphology, literally “earth-shape-study,” is the study of the landscape, its evolution and the processes that sculpt it. The purpose of this course is to enhance the student’s ability to read geologic information from the record preserved in the landscape. This is achieved through understanding the relationship between the form of the Earth’s surface and the processes that shape that form. Students combine quantitative description of the landscape with study of landscape-shaping processes into a comprehensive investigation of the dynamic landscape system. This investigation requires geological insight, application of basic physical and chemical principles and plain common sense in the study of glacia-tion, hills, rivers, mountains and plains. Library, laboratory and field research methods are emphasized; a field trip is required. Pre-requisite: Environmental Studies 101. Also offered as Geology 211.

213. Seeing History: Reading the Natural and Cultural Landscape. (PP)
How can we study history by looking at our surroundings? How can we interpret the past through what we see at present? Why does such an analysis help us understand contemporary environmental dilemmas? This field-oriented seminar will address these questions through a series of directed readings and experiential exercises. Students and faculty will construct the history of both natural sites and abandoned farms by identifying flora and fauna, as well as examining ecological relationships and agricultural artifacts; compose the history of cities by looking at urban design and patterns of development; determine how landscape painters reflect past and present on their canvasses; and, finally, use these historical investigations to inform debates over species introduction, urban sprawl and the social construction of nature. Extended trips to museums, cities and natural areas will be taken throughout the semester. Prerequisite: Environmental Studies 101. Also offered through Outdoor Studies.

216. Climate Change Policy and Advocacy. (PP)
This course focuses broadly on the way knowledge, worldviews and power are used in climate change decision-making. We will consider the dominant science-policy process and attendant critiques surrounding the United Nations’ climate change policy process, looking particularly at the Kyoto Protocol and its mechanisms. The course also surveys national and state-level climate change initiatives. Topics will include the role of civil society in the climate change policy process and advocacy focussing on what the individual can do to influence the policy process and promote more sustainable living. The class incorporates climate change science and impacts as they become known, and policy as it happens. Prerequisite: Environmental Studies 101.

221. General Ecology.
A study of the factors influencing the abundance and distribution of species, including interactions between individuals and their physical/chemical environment, population dynamics and the structure/function of communities and ecosystems and their responses to disturbance. Labs are field-oriented and emphasize characteristics of local communities or specific techniques such as estimation of population density. Lectures and one lab per week. Prerequisites: Environmental Studies 101; Biology 101, 102 or equivalent; or permission of instructor. Also offered as Biology 221 and through Outdoor Studies.

231. Health Effects of Pollution. (PP)
An introduction to the scientific study of environmental agents and their human health effects. Emphasis is on the environmental causes of disease, including biological agents, hazardous waste, radiation, pesticides, flame retardants, drinking water contaminants, food additives, housing, occupational hazards and stress. Case studies illustrate how health effects are investigated by epidemiology and how theories of disease have evolved. Procedures for establishing regulatory policy and health standards are also discussed. Prerequisite: Environmental Studies 101.

240. Environment and Resource Use in Kenya.
The contrast in Kenya’s physical and human environment is addressed, between highland and lowland, cropland and rangeland, domestic livestock and wildlife, modern and traditional ways of life and land-use systems. The impact of the colonial regime on land ownership and resource use is studied with reference to certain ethnic groups. Responses to changing economic and political conditions in the postcolonial era are also discussed. Prerequisite: Environmental Studies 101. Also offered as Anthropology 240.

249. Contemporary Recreation Issues and Public Lands. (PP)
The popularity of outdoor recreation in the United States and worldwide continues to increase dramatically. Land managers are often charged with the contradictory responsibilities of allowing for an “unconfined” recreation experience while simultaneously maintaining a high degree of resource protection. From a land perspective, the management of recreation is a significant concern as much of the public land in the U.S. is available for outdoor recreation, including the National Forests, National Parks and the National Wilderness Preservation System. This course is an interdisciplinary investigation into the phenomenon of outdoor recreation on public lands and the social and ecological consequences of these activities. The emphasis is on wildland recreation — activities that are dependent on undeveloped settings. The course examines the biophysical and social science of recreation to inform policy and planning approaches. Examples of recreation issues are drawn primarily from North America and, where applicable, the course takes advantage of the nearby Adirondack Park for field experience and research. Prerequisite: Environmental Studies 101.

251. Independent Projects in Environmental Studies.
For students desiring to do individual research in environmental studies. May be elected only after submission of a written proposal during the prior semester and approval by core faculty of environmental studies. Prerequisites: Environmental Studies 101 and permission of instructor.

253. Race, Class and Environmental Justice.
This course focuses on the distributional dimensions of environmental degradation and environmental protection, both domestically and globally. The social processes that generate synergistic racism and class stratification, affecting the distribution of ecological cost and benefits, will be explored. Substantive areas of focus will include the siting of hazardous facilities in urban and rural minority communities, the socioecological conditions of migrant farm-workers, the extraction of resources from Native lands, the employment structure of hazardous industrial workplaces, population control initiatives directed at peoples of color, the siting of thermo-nuclear weapons testing, and the national and transnational export of toxic waste to the South. The course will also examine the origins and impacts of a distinct environmental justice movement that has emerged within minority and working-class communities and its relationships to civil rights, labor and mainstream environmental movements. Written and oral assignments will involve individual and collaborative quests for socially equitable solutions to environmental problems and ecologically sustainable solutions to racial and economic injustice. Prerequisite: Environmental Studies 101. Also offered as Sociology 253 and through Global Studies.

255. Environmental Perceptions and Indigenous Knowledge.
People in different cultures perceive their environment in different ways and have bodies of systematic knowledge relating to land, water, soil, plants and animals upon which they base their use of these resources. This course attempts to show how indigenous people understand the interrelationship of the different elements of their environments and have used them for sustainable livelihood. The impact of Western knowledge systems and commercial interests on indigenous communities is discussed, with reference to African and American case studies. Prerequisite: Environmental Studies 101. Also offered as Anthropology 255.

258.  Ethnobotany
Ethnobotany is an interdisciplinary field drawing upon concepts from both natural and social sciences to investigate human-plant interactions. This course will illustrate the importance of plants in our eveyday life and the influence of human activities on plant populations. Among the topics to be covered in this course are the history of ethnobotany; plant uses by native people; influence of plants on development of civilizations; bioprospecting; and conservation of ethnobotanically important plants. Independent projects will center around surveys and experiments on socio-economically important plants. Field trips and labs will explore Native American reservations, botanical gardens, greenhouses, nature reserves and plant population survey techniques. Prerequisite: General Biology (101). Also offered as Biology 258.

261. Sustainable Agriculture Systems. (PP)
This course introduces students to the ecological, economic and social dimensions of agricultural systems. Beginning with an exploration of the basic tenets of sustainability, we examine the ways in which modern industrialized agriculture degrades the resource base on which it depends, including issues of biological diversity , both domestic and wild. Drawing on interdisciplinary perspectives, we identify the links between agricultural policy, consumer choices and agricultural practice. We then examine a variety of models that might hold keys to a sustainable future for agriculture. As part of the course requirements, students will visit several local farming operations and evaluate them for sustainable features. Students also gain hands-on experience at the Ecological Sustainability Landscape adjacent to campus where the department maintains a small flock of rare breed sheep and has gardens which focus on heirloom varieties and low‑impact cultivation practices. Prerequisite: Environmental Studies 101.

263. Sustainable Development. (PP)
This course broadly considers the stability of how humans relate to the environment. The course examines how social systems can be organized to lessen their impact on natural systems, lessen inequalities within generations, and ensure the viability of natural resources for future generations. To do this, the course focuses on international policy as developed through the United Nations and affiliated institutions. National policy will be considered, where appropriate, as examples of leadership or obstruction to diminishing human impact on the environment. Students also consider various case studies at the local level that exude principles of sustainability. The concept of sustainability in the face of global change is critically examined as a key theme throughout the course, including issues of ecological integrity and social justice. Prerequisite: Environmental Studies 101.

275. Energy and the Environment. (PP)
An overview of the history of energy production and consumption and associated environmental effects is followed by a look toward the next 20 years. An analysis of energy production and consumption serves as the background for an in-depth study of energy alternatives for the future. Each option is viewed in terms of its effect on the natural and social environment. Special emphasis is given to regional energy concerns, such as hydroelectric power, appropriate technology and alternative sources, including wood, solar and wind. A large segment of the course details strategies for reducing energy consumption and the associated benefits. Practical applications of alternative technologies and conservation will be incorporated utilizing the program’s Ecological Sustainability Landscape and house as a laboratory. Prerequisite: Environmental Studies 101.

285. Canada-United States Environmental Issues. (PP)
Environmental problems, by their very nature, do not respect political boundaries, either within or between countries. This is of special concern to the United States and Canada, which share the world’s longest international border. This course focuses on Canada-U.S. trans-boundary environmental problems. Topics considered include Great Lakes pollution, water quality and supply across the border, and trans-boundary air pollution including acid rain. In addition, attention is paid to the mechanisms that are responsible for managing the Canadian-American environmental relationship: the International Joint Commission, agencies in the two federal governments and state/provincial governments. Prerequisite: Environmental Studies 101 or Canadian Studies 101 or permission of instructor.

295. Nature and Environmental Writing.
This is a course designed for students who want to explore the specific genre of nature writing-the intersection of self and the natural world. We will explore how this genre combines the observational, scientific “eye” with the personal, narrative “I” through readings in nonfiction anthologies, novels and/or memoirs. Students will also spend time writing their own essays on nature and the environment, which will reflect different objectives within the genre, such as the political essay, the literary field study and the personal essay. Students will write three essays and one revision in addition to keeping a “naturalist’s journal,” which will be due at the end of the semester. Our discussion of the reading will be interspersed with workshop sessions throughout the semester. Prerequisite: Environmental Studies 101. Also offered as English 295.

301. Pollution of Aquatic Ecosystems. (PP)
The first part of the course introduces major physical, chemical and biological aspects of the ecology of lakes, rivers and coastal waters. The main portion of the course focuses on the consequences of human activities on aquatic ecosystems, specifically cultural eutrophication, oxygen-demanding wastes, persistent toxic chemicals, acidification, oil and metal pollution, global climate change, increased UV radiation, and the effects of water diversions and impoundments. Students are also introduced to basic concepts in aquatic toxicology. In lab, we undertake field projects in the region emphasizing water quality sampling and analysis, stream assessment using biotic indices, analysis of contaminants in runoff and sediments, modeling phosphorus in lakes and modeling bio-accumulation of persistent toxic pollutants. We take several field trips to examine regional issues. Prerequisite: Environmental Studies 101.

302. Issues in Air Pollution. (PP)
In this course we examine the sources, chemical processes, transport, and ecological and social impacts of major air pollutants. Our scale of study moves from global to regional to local problems. The issues considered include global climate change, stratospheric ozone depletion, urban air quality, photochemical smog, acidification and local industrial sources. Emphasis is placed on consequences of industrialization and urbanization in both developed and developing countries. While primary focus is on ecological impacts, we also consider the equity issues, policy instruments and implementation strategies of agreements for protecting  air quality, climate and the ozone shield. Prerequisite: Environmental Studies 101.

303. Solid Waste Management. (PP)
This course is a study of alternatives for handling, transporting and disposing of solid waste. It emphasizes environmental impacts and governmental policy of waste management. In addition to issues of waste disposal, the course uses a multidisciplinary approach in an analysis of waste reduction possibilities on both local and national levels. Specific topics include landfills, incineration, recycling, composting and source reduction. Several solid waste management facilities will be visited. Prerequisite: Environmental Studies 101.

306. Environmental Chemistry and Toxicology.
This course is designed for chemistry majors and students in environmental studies who have a strong background in chemistry. It explores the sources and levels of chemical pollutants, the pathways along which they move through the environment and the toxicological effect they have on humans and other living things. A laboratory program accompanies the lecture. Prerequisites: Environmental Studies 101 and Chemistry 221 or permission of instructor. Also offered as Chemistry 306.

308. Environmental Economics.
An analysis of deficiencies in the market system and the existing property rights structure that generate pollution problems in industrial society. Alternative policy options are considered, including incentive-based approaches and cost-benefit analysis. Prerequisites: Environmental Studies 101 and Economics 251. Also offered as Economics 308.

310. Philosophy of the Environment.
Our current environmental problems are due primarily to the total volume of human consumption. This course focuses on the problem of high consumption in developed countries and possible solutions for it. Is this high consumption necessary for our happiness, or could we be just as happy while doing less damage to the natural world? If we could, as many environmentalists argue, why do so few of us live as though we truly believe it? Is it possible to consume less, either as individuals or as a society? What kinds of changes are feasible in society to reduce our damage to the natural world? The course offers a theory of happiness intended to make it possible to answer these questions. Prerequisite: Environmental Studies 101. Also offered as Philosophy 310 and Outdoor Studies 304.

312. Environmental Law and Politics.
This course deals with legal and governmental reactions to problems of environmental protection, including population, crowding, noise, air and water pollution, depletion of resources and land use. A survey of private law and of public law at federal, state and local levels, with stress on the representation of interest groups in legislative, administrative and judicial processes. Prerequisites: Environmental Studies 101 and Government 103; junior or senior standing. Also offered as Government 312.

318. Environmental Psychology.
This lecture-lab course studies the relationships between humans and physical environments, both natural and built. Topics include environmental assessment, attitudes and behavior toward the environment, and the psychological effects of such environmental factors as crowding, architectural design, extreme environments, pollution and natural disasters. Prerequisites: Environmental Studies 101 and Psychology 100 or 101. Also offered as Psychology 318.

319. Hydrology and Hydrogeology.
This course provides an introduction to the movement and storage of water on the Earth’s surface (hydrology) and in the subsurface (hydrogeology). We will begin with a discussion of the fundamentals of the water cycle and hydrologic processes at the surface. The transfer of this water in and out of the subsurface and the processes of groundwater flow will form the second half of the course. Human impacts upon water will also be examined, including water resources, contamination, changing land use and climate change. The laboratory component of the course will rely heavily on field research in a nearby drainage basin, as well as computer modeling of groundwater flow. Prerequisite: Environmental Studies 101. Also offered as Geology 319.

321. Land-Use Planning. (PP)
An interdisciplinary approach to land-use planning that both satisfies human needs and protects the environment. Specific topics include human settlement patterns, urban development and sprawl, farmland preservation, habitat and groundwater protection and coastal zone management. Procedures of traditional land-use planning and neo-traditional design are emphasized, including zoning, site plan review, preferential tax policies, acquisition of easements and transfer of development rights. The course integrates theory and methods within an applied context. Prerequisite: Environmental Studies 101.

333. Principles of Environmental and Outdoor Interpretation. (PP)
An examination of environmentalism formulated by naturalists and writers in North America. Emphasis is on a historical understanding of attitudes toward the natural world. Format is primarily seminar. A brief review of global environmental history looks at the rise and fall of various civilizations at different times in different parts of the world. Discussion then focuses on the writings of Thoreau, Muir, Leopold, Carson, Abbey and other naturalists of historical significance, as well as contemporary writers emphasizing indigenous knowledge and current issues. Problems of industrialization, limits to growth, sustainability and public land programs are also covered. Prerequisite: Environmental Studies 101. Also offered through Outdoor Studies.

340. Conservation Biology.
This course examines the problem of maintaining biological diversity in a changing world. Emphasis is on the biological concepts involved in population biology, genetics and community ecology, and their use in conservation and management of biodiversity. Labs will be a mixture of local projects and trips to sites of interest for conservation. Prerequisites: Environmental Studies 101; Environmental Studies 221 or Biology 245/246 or permission of instructor. Also offered as Biology 340.

343. Famine.
Physical, economic and cultural factors give rise to famines. Cultural factors include the ways different societies respond to food shortage and the role of cultural conflicts and misunderstandings in contributing to famine or preventing adequate response to food shortage. These issues are discussed as they relate to famines in Europe, Asia and Africa during the 19th and 20th centuries. Films and print media sources are used to evaluate the cultural image of famine prevalent in this society. Also offered through Anthropology, African Studies and Global Studies.

346. American Literature and the Environment.
A study of the literary response to the taming of the American wilderness. The course focuses on the close association of nature and art in American literature, examining how American writers, in shaping story and poem, have tried to reconcile the processes and values associated with “wilderness” and “civilization.” Some attention is given to the historical and cultural backgrounds of the wilderness theme. Writers such as Crevecoeur, Jefferson, Cooper, Thoreau, Melville, Twain, Whitman, Jewett, Frost, Faulkner, Cather, Steinbeck, McPhee and Dillard are studied, but an effort is made to choose works not usually taught in the surveys of American literature. Prerequisites: Environmental Studies 101 and two lower-level courses in English or permission of instructor. Also offered as English 346 and through Outdoor Studies.

347, 348. Special Topics.
An in-depth consideration of some area of environmental studies not covered in regular course offerings. The specific topic normally is an advanced study of some interdisciplinary problem.

351. Internships in Environmental Studies.
Student-arranged study with an environmental organization. The internship comprises three parts: contact with daily operations; intensive work on one particular project; and extensive reading in appropriate areas. May be elected only after submission of a written proposal during the prior semester and approval by core faculty of environmental studies. A letter of support must be received from the sponsoring organization. Prerequisites: Environmental Studies 101 and permission of instructor.

352. Contemporary Literature and the Environment.
A study of the contemporary literary response to rising national interest in the natural world and rising awareness about the danger to natural resources. Although readings will be predominantly in prose (novels and essays), some poetry will be included. Among the questions the authors ask: As we approach the natural world, how can we move beyond metaphors of dominion? What are the biases of gender, geography and culture that we bring to our inquiry? What is the relationship between the human and the “natural”? What does it mean to fully invest ourselves in our local environment? Prerequisite: Environmental Studies 101. Also offered as English 352 and through Outdoor Studies.

361. Research Seminar in Environmental Studies.
Faculty-directed research designed for small groups of advanced students. The focus is often on environmental problems of northern New York. Topics for the course are usually defined in response to needs identified by local communities. The course draws together the expertise of students from different majors. Basic concepts and methodologies of field research are applied in practice. Prerequisites: Environmental Studies 101 and permission of instructor.

362. International Law.
A study of the development of the rules and principles of international law and of their current applications. Examination of the contributions of international organization to the development of conventional international law. Preparation of topics for class presentation. Prerequisites: Environmental Studies 101 and Government 108 or permission of instructor. Also offered as Government 362 and through Global Studies.

363. Tourism and the Environment (PP)
Nature-based tourism has long been heralded as a way for communities to avoid the apparent perils of extractive industries while reaping the benefits of economic uses of their natural resources. Internationally, ecotourism has often been promoted as a way to preserve natural environments and native cultures while fostering economic development. In recent years it has become more apparent that the relationships between tourism and the natural and cultural landscapes upon which it depends are more complex, and indeed, more contested than originally thought. In the extreme, some have suggested that tourism could be defined as the next extractive industry, with impacts on the natural resources and cultures on a scale similar to that of mining and logging. This course examines the practice of nature-based tourism and the resultant consequences on the environment and local cultures. The extensive literature on this topic is examined from managerial, industry and participant perspectives. Examples are drawn from the United States and internationally, with a special emphasis on the practice and management of ecotourism. Prerequisite: Environmental Studies 101.

375.  Environmental Movements.
In the past 200 years environmental concerns have generated diverse social movements and organizations, both domestically and globally. These environmental movements range widely from conservation to deep ecology, from preservationism to environmental justice, from animal rights to anti-nuclear, from labor struggles to indigenism, from anti-corporate globalization to Wise-Use movements, from the neo-Luddites to the ecological modernizationists. This seminar course will explore the social origins and impacts of these distinct movements and organizations with an emphasis on their conflicting and converging goals, tactics, strategies, ideologies and constituencies. We will discuss the extent to which this eclectic assortment of interests and ideologies can be defined as a coherent social movement on regional, national and transnational levels, and explore the coalitions and conflicts generated by a changing global political economy. Each student’s research will focus on a specific movement, a specific organization within that movement, and the relationship of that movement to the larger array of environment-related efforts to generate sociological change. As a group, the class will develop, design, implement and analyze an environmental political action whose focus, goals, and tactics will be determined by the students. Also offered as Sociology 375.

380. Tropical Ecology.
A seminar course based on current research in tropical biology. Emphasis is on the structure, function and biology of tropical organisms and ecosystems, especially as compared to temperate systems. Lectures will include South American, Australasian and African tropical ecosystems. The course will address the role of plant-animal interactions, mutualisms, sustainable development, conservation measures and the roles of indigenous cultures in tropical ecosystems. Prerequisites: Environmental Studies 101 and 221. Also offered as Biology 380 and through Global Studies and Outdoor Studies.

384. Natural Resource Economics.
This course complements Environmental Studies 308 (Environmental Economics). The main focus is on non-polluting human uses of the natural world, such as resource extraction, recreation and wilderness preservation. Standard economic approaches to problems of natural resources are presented and criticized from a variety of different perspectives to give students a deeper appreciation of the role of economic analysis in coping with natural resource scarcity. Specific topics covered include economics and population growth, economics and environmental ethics, ecological economics and sustainability, biodiversity and water resources. Prerequisites: Environmental Studies 101; Economics 200 and 251 or permission of instructor. Also offered as Economics 384.

404. SYE: The Green Backlash: Science and Politics of Environmental Opposition. (PP)
Over the past several decades, a broad-based environmental movement has mobilized strong and widespread public support for ecological protection. Successful incorporation of environmental concerns into the mainstream political agenda in industrialized countries has spurred an active opposition from diverse interests. Are environmentalists really scare-mongering, elitist, anti-progress, anti-human tree-huggers? Socialist doom-and-gloom-sayers who exaggerate and misinterpret scientific studies and threaten to abolish capitalism in order to serve self-interested purposes? In seminar format we will read and evaluate the works of selected environmental opponents and critics. We will analyze the origins, agenda, actions and interconnection of these critics, and assess strategies for environmentalists to use in response. Students will undertake a major individual research project evaluating the underlying science and the environmentalist and oppositional stances on selected controversial topics. Prerequisites: senior standing and permission of instructor.

421. SYE: Directed Readings.
Directed study for an individual or small group of students, based on an in-depth exploration of the literature. The topic is usually an extension of normal offerings in the curriculum. Prerequisites: senior standing and permission of instructor.

451. SYE: Senior Internship.
Student-arranged study with an environmental organization. The internship comprises three parts: contact with daily operations; intensive work on a particular project; and extensive reading in appropriate areas. May be elected only after submission of a written proposal during the prior semester and approval by core faculty of environmental studies. A letter of support must be received from the sponsoring organization. Prerequisites: senior standing and permission of instructor.

461. Research Seminar.
Faculty-directed research designed for small groups of advanced students. The focus often is on environmental problems of northern New York. Topics for the course are usually defined in response to needs identified by local communities. The course draws together the expertise of students from different majors. Basic con-cepts and methodologies of field research are applied in practice. Prerequisites: senior standing and permission of instructor.

489/490. SYE: Senior Research.
Special research designed by senior students on an individual basis with the faculty sponsor. Specific topic is normally a detailed study of some interdisciplinary environmental problem. Prerequisites: senior standing and permission of instructor.

499. SYE: Honors Project.
Special research designed by senior students on an individual basis. Specific topic is normally a detailed study of some interdisciplinary problem. The project is usually undertaken in the fall semester of the senior year as an honors thesis. Requires minimum GPA of 3.5, submission of a written proposal in the junior year and approval by core faculty of environmental studies. Prerequisites: senior standing and permission of instructor.