Environmental Studies

Catalog Year: 2015-2016

Teaching Faculty

Professors Čapek, Gron, Hardin, Hines, McDaniel, and Moran
Associate Professors Hatch (chair) and Hill
Assistant Professors Dow, Gess, Hancock, and McClung

Description

The Environmental Studies program is designed to provide an integrated and interdisciplinary approach to studying the environment. As such, it both complements and embodies the liberal arts aim of combining strengths of the natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities to prepare students to be well-equipped citizens in an increasingly globalized world. Core requirements for Environmental Studies majors are designed to fit requirements for graduate programs in Environmental Studies or related fields while the electives allow students to specialize in their particular interests.

Major in Environmental Studies

13 courses distributed as follows:

EVST 110 Introduction to Environmental Studies
BIOL 104 Environmental Biology
CHEM 101 Chemistry of the Environment
1 of the following:
ENGL 275 American Literature and the Environment
ENGC 306 Exploring Nature Writing
HIST 212 American Environmental History
POLI 235 Public Policy
or
POLI 365 Environmental Policy and Management
1 of the following:
PSYC 290 Statistics
BUSI 250 Principles of Statistics
MATH 215 Statistical Analysis
ANTH 335 Geographic Information Science
ECON 340 Environmental Economics
SOCI 375 Environmental Sociology
or
ANTH 330 Human Impact on the Ancient Environments
1 of the following:
RELI 270 Ecotheology
PHIL 270 Environmental Philosophy
PHIL 315 Ethics and Relations to Friend, Kin, and Community
EVST 497 Senior Seminar
Complete an internship with an environmental studies focus. The internship must be approved in advance by the Environmental Studies chair.
Choose from two possible concentrations for their remaining courses. Students desiring a Natural Science concentration may take either a biology or chemistry sequence. Students with a Socio-cultural concentration take three courses of their choice from the list below.

Natural Science Concentration

Biology Courses:

BIOL 150 Cell Biology
BIOL 190 Botany
or
BIOL 220 Zoology
BIOL 250 Genetics
BIOL 365 Ecology and Evolution
Students who complete the biology sequence will not take the core course BIOL 104 Environmental Biology

Chemistry Courses:

CHEM 110 General Chemistry I: Chemical Structure and Properties
and
CHEM 120 General Chemistry II: Chemical Analysis and Reactivity
or
CHEM 150 Accelerated General Chemistry
CHEM 240 Organic Chemistry I
EVST 280 Environmental Analysis
Students who complete the chemistry sequence will not take the core course CHEM 101 Chemistry of the Environment

Socio-cultural Concentration

3 of the following courses from three different disciplines:
ANTH 360 Globalization and Transnationalism
ENGC/SOCI 306 Exploring Nature Writing *
ENGF 275 Film and the Environment
ENGL 275 American Literature and the Environment *
HIST 212 American Environmental History *
HIST 308 Ecology in American Indian History
PHIL 270 Environmental Philosophy *
PHIL 330 Ethical Theory
PHIL 490 Special Topics **
RELI 270 Ecotheology *
SOCI 300 The Urban Community
SOCI 340 Food, Culture and Nature
SOCI 362 Images of the City

* If not taken in core requirements

** Must be approved by EVST chair. Some topics may not cover environmental concepts.

Senior Capstone Experience

The Senior Capstone Experience for the environmental studies major consists of participation in the Senior Seminar course. EVST 497 Senior Seminar is a one semester course that involves common readings, research methods, and both written and oral presentation of independent research. The grade for the Senior Capstone Experience is based on the oral presentation and defense of research components of the senior seminar.

Study-away Programs

Coursework undertaken through study-away programs (abroad or domestic) enhances the Hendrix environmental studies major, and is encouraged. Appropriate examples include Hendrix-in-Costa Rica, The Hendrix American Southwest Program, The Gulf Coast Research Laboratory, and the Semester in Environmental Science. Pre-approval by the EVST department chair is recommended. For more information, see the "Engaged Learning Opportunities".

Program Course Listings

The courses for this program are organized into the following categories:

Environmental Studies Courses

Environmental Studies Courses

EVST 110

Intro to Environmental Studies

An introduction to the study of environmental problems using an interdisciplinary approach with emphasis on the importance of sustainable solutions. The course combines scientific, economic, political, socio-cultural and ethical knowledge to examine selected topics such as human population, food, water, and energy.

Prerequisites
Recommended

EVST 275

Literature & the Environment

An examination of how literary and other representations have depicted their culture's relationship to the environment. The exact content varies from term to term, though the course studies various literary and representational forms, including some theoretical writing. While the course examines how writers have experienced, understood, and envisioned their environment and their place in it, other aspects of the texts studied (character, point of view, gender, race, economics, etc.). Cross-listed as ENGL 275.

Prerequisites
Recommended
Learning Domain	Literary Studies LS
Capacity	Writing Level 1 W1

EVST 280

Environmental Analysis

Study of environmental chemistry is united with the practical analytical methods necessary to understand and analyze environmental systems. Chemical cycles of the atmosphere, soil, and water are studied in class while effective sampling, preparation, and modern analysis methods are learned in the laboratory. Cross-listed as CHEM 280. Laboratory course. Prerequisite: CHEM 120 or CHEM 150.

Prerequisites	CHEM 120 or CHEM 150.
Recommended
Learning Domain	Natural Science Inquiry with Lab NS-L

EVST 497

Environ Studies: Senior Seminar

A capstone experience involving common readings, research methods and both written and oral presentation of independent research. Oral presentation and defense of research functions as the senior comprehensive exam. Prerequisite: senior standing.

Prerequisites	senior standing.
Recommended

EVST 498

Intern:AR Public Policy Panel

Provides opportunity for students to engage in an applied field experience. Focus of internship to be determined by the student’s Environmental Studies emphasis. Internship must be approved in advance by Environmental Studies faculty. Prerequisite: junior or senior standing.

Prerequisites	junior or senior standing.
Recommended

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