Catalog 2015-2016

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

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.
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.

Literary Studies LS
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.

CHEM 120 or CHEM 150.
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.

senior standing.
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.

junior or senior standing.
Back to Program Course Listings

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