Lower Level Coursework in Environ Sci & Sustainability

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Upper Level Coursework in Environ Sci & Sustainability

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This introductory course is designed to provide the core foundation for students majoring in environmental science or sustainability and resilience. Throughout the semester, student will learn about faculty-led research in the disciplines, professional networks that help students develop their skills, and other ways they can get involved in environmental issues on campus. In preparation for ENSS37, Case Analysis, students will develop basic skills associated with solving environmental problems by role playing in real world scenarios.

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Introduces students to short-term interactions between the atmosphere, oceans, and land, and how these interactions produce weather. The course covers various meteorological topics, including atmospheric structure and circulation, fronts and air masses, extreme events such as thunderstorms, tornadoes, and hurricanes, and forecasting.

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This course will provide a hands-on introduction to the methods of direct and indirect behavioral observation, including the development of observation techniques, ethogram construction, field methods, use of video and other technologies, appropriate data management and analysis. The course will have a significant component of experiential learning, including each student's individual design and execution of a substantial behavioral observation project.

Introduces basic ecological concepts before taking up human interactions with the earth and how science is a tool for environmental problem-solving. Includes discussion of models of population growth, the concept of the commons, thermodynamics, and complex policy issues such as biodiversity, risk-assessment, climate change and energy. An interdisciplinary course with special emphasis on critical thinking. Concurrent enrollment in ENSP 036 (laboratory) available.

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Hands-on lab and field exercises designed to enhance understanding of concepts discussed in ENSP 35. Includes environmental testing and data collection, visits to various sites of environmental interest, and an independent project. Concurrent enrollment in ENSP 35 required.

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Environmental Case Analysis is a team-based learning course designed for Environmental Science and Policy majors in their sophomore year. Students will develop scientific and policy responses to three major case studies, each focused on a problem in a different area of environmental studies. Students will be introduced to interdisciplinary analysis, the use of primary literature in problem-solving, and addressing complexity.

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Enrollment limited to students with a classification of Sophomore.

Enrollment is limited to students with an area(s) of study in Environmental Policy, Environmental Science or Environ Sustain & Resilience.

Introduction to the science of geology, its principles, methods and theories as they are employed in studying planet Earth. The importance of geological knowledge in understanding problems of natural resources, hazards, and land use is emphasized. No prereq. Laboratory required.

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The course will provide students with interactive exercises that explore geologic processes and dynamics ranging in scale from atoms to the solar system. Students will engage with each other in both laboratory and field environments employing common techniques and instruments used in the geosciences. Concurrent or previous enrollment in ENSP 041 required.

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A forum for new, introductory-level academic inquiries into environmental science and sustainability. Contact the ENSS director for details.

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This course focuses on the role of communication in shaping distinctions and relations between ""culture"" and ""nature"", in representing environments for audiences, and in advocating for or against particular environmental policies and practices. We will critically examine 1) how publics come to view environments through representations in a variety of media; 2) problems of efficacy and ethics in the public discourse, forums, and voices playing a part in environmental controversies and debates; 3) our own practices of advocacy. We also will be reflecting on the relationships between all of these arenas-- the theory, critique, and practice of environmental communication.

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Environmental sociology examines the relationship between human communitites and the natural environment in the modern world. In particular, it focuses on how political, economic, and cultural institutions shape our interactions with the natural environment. This course also considers how societies are responding to environmental problems on a global and local level, with special attention to the intersection of environmental problems and social inequality. Specific topics of study may include industrial pollution, environmental ideologies, global climate change, and natural disasters, among others.

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Introduction to Geographic Information Systems: This course is designed for students who wish to learn the basics or increase their knowledge of introductory concepts of this rapidly expanding field. GIS concepts and applications are discussed in a multi-disciplinary context. Students explore ESRI's Arc View software including the tools used to input, manage, analyze, and display geographic information.

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This course uses sociological concepts and methods to examine contemporary environmental movements. Students will learn about the idealogical and organizational diversity of environmental movements, consider beliefs and experiences that lead people to participate in these movements, and study the ways that environmental activism is shaped by social structure and social institutions. Movements considered may be ones that focus on wilderness protection, animal rights, anti-pollution activism, environmental justice, buying ""green,"" and others.

An introduction to the field of environmental psychology. Psychology needs ecology; ecology needs psychology. The field of psychology cannot continue to ignore the ecological context of human life, and environmentalists need psychologists to help them understand human behavior, which is the root cause of most contemporary environmental problems. The purposes of this course are to survey central issues in the emerging field of ecological psychology, to examine competing conceptions of this field, and to review our growing understanding of the relationship between human beings and the physical environment. We'll study global problems, their environmental effects and mechanisms, and explore possible solutions based on behavioral interventions. Prerequisite: PSY 001

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Teaches advanced field observational skills using pro- blems in plant biology, animal ecology, and physical geology in conjunction with an exploration of American environmental literature by Annie Dillard, Aldo Leopold, Henry Thoreau and John Muir. Students are challenged to develop new scienti- fic and outdoor skills and make deeper, personal connections to the land. Involves out-of-state travel to a wilderness setting, short hikes, stays in group cabins, journal keeping and a 24-hour solo camping experience.

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For centuries, the connection between humans and the natural world has been the focus of considerable philosophical and scientific debate, with authors such as Darwin, Thoreau, Leopold, Abbey, Dillard, and Wilson providing contrasting viewpoints of the role of nature in human constructs. This course will explore the writings of these authors and others, with an emphasis toward the development of modern environmentalism and the creation of conservation ethics based on student interpretations of historical and modern naturalist literature. Furthermore, students will be expected to analyze and critique the value that different authors place on natural history through a series of writing assignments and outdoor natural history exercises. Cross-listed with ENG 130.

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Civic Environmentalism and Smart Growth is a course about the social, political, economic, and environmental consequences of urban sprawl. Through the study of policy history and current debates, students learn about the patterns of auto-dependency that characterize urban growth in the United States.

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Analysis of allocative efficiency, sustainability, and policy consequences for different types of environmental and natural resources using microeconomic methods. Topics include market failure, valuation methods, water & air pollution, climate change, water, land, and ecosystem services valuation.

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Supervised experience in daily practices and routine protocols used in captive animal management. Conducted at off-campus locations.

The International Environmental Seminar enables students to gain an appreciation of the ecological and social aspects of environmental issues through an intense immersion experience in a developing country. Students will explore aspects of sustainable development and environmental justice within a specific national context. In general, discussion topics will include tropical ecology, the politics of land use, the effects of conflict on environmental systems, and the interaction between economic development and sustainability. Permission of the Instructor is required.

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Extended outdoor experience on an environmental topic. Contact ENSS department for details.

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An in-depth study of the ecology of a specified region or type of ecosystem, which will be specified on a per-semester basis. The course will analyze the ecological structure and function of the region, the interaction between humans and both the biotic and abiotic components of the ecosystem, and how our current understanding of conservation science and policy affects our ability to formulate management and regulatory strategies to facilitate sustainable development. May be repeated for credit once, with change of region.

Application of ecological theory to managing Earth's biodiversity. Includes consideration of ethical and political frameworks, definitions of species, population genetics, landscape ecology, design of parks and preserves, ecology, and sustainable development. Features case study approach, student-led discussions of primary literature, lab and field experiences including a required weekend trip. Prereqs.: BIO 117-118L or consent of instructor. Cross-listed with BIO 125. Laboratory required.

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This course addresses the challenges of species conservation, with a focus on endangered species, from a global perspective. Topics will include relevant treaties and laws (e.g., CITES and the U.S. Endangered Species Act), the development of the IUCN red list, and Species Survival Plans used in captive animal population management. This course will also study how scientists apply the principles of conservation biology in the developing world, and how emerging socioeconomic challenges place increasing pressure on biologists to find innovative ways to merge science and policy.

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This course will provide an overview of the field of zoo biology, with emphases on the role of zoos in conservation, species survival plans, captive management of small populations of exotic animals (especially including endangered species), and the use of behavioral research and environmental enrichment methods in captive animal welfare. The course typically will meet at Blank Park Zoo and will have a significant component of experiential learning.

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An interdisciplinary investigation of anthropogenic global change, using ""global warming"" as a semester-long case study. Students learn an effective approach to investigating a major environmental issue by first obtaining a strong scientific background in the issue, building computer and conceptual models to test scenarios, and finally investigating various policy options. Climate physics, paleoclimatology, biology, uncertainty analysis, economics, and risk assessment are some of the tools students will learn to apply to these issues.

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We will explore the management of water resources and policy in the United States, from the local to national level, and countries across the globe. The field of water resources and policy is inherently interdisciplinary, and we will be analyzing issues from legal, social, economic, and ecological perspectives. The course is designed to enhance the critical thinking skills of all students through readings, involved discussions, independent research paper, and a group synthesis at the end of the semester.

A forum for new, advanced-level academic inquiries into environmental science and sustainability. See ENSS director for details.

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Sustainable systems are those that can continue their core functions indefinitely without degradation; resilient systems are those that can continue their core functions in the face of rapid, and often unexpected, change. In this course we explore what makes something sustainable and resilient and develop techniques to measure and assess environmental, economic, and social sustainability and resilience in real-world systems and institutions.

In this course we will investigate interactions between ecological and economic systems. We will investigate the sources of environmentally-relevant market failures, and discuss under what circumstances different types of market mechanisms (such as taxes and cap-and-trade) might lead to more economically efficient outcomes. We will also investigate some of the basic assumptions of neo-classical economics (an ""empty world"" pre-analytic vision, utility maximization), and ask questions like ""Under what circumstances economic growth may be problematic?"" and ""What is the economy really for?""

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In this course, students will take a look at some of the most widespread quantitative techniques for environmental decision-making, including dynamic modeling, cost-benefit analysis, contingent valuation, and risk/uncertainty analysis. We will construct simple computer models and analyses to get a good sense of what these tools can do and where they break down. Students will learn how to use these tools and how to be a skeptical consumer of information provided by others. Along the way, we will explore ethical, scientific, and practical critiques of the use of these techniques, and explore how the worldviews of various disciplines clash when dealing with the application of various quantitative environmental policy tools.

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The objectives in this course are to present theoretical models and case studies that familiarize students with the fundamental processes that produce environmental policy. Environmental Politics and Policy provides an analytical framework for making sense of the origin and limitations of landmark legislation. Prereq.: POLS 001 or ENSS 035 or instructor's consent. Cross-listed with POLS 156.

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Environmental justice explores the hypothesis that hazardous industrial activity occurs disproportionately in lower income and/or minority neighborhoods. We will look first at the way that knowledge about toxic hazards enters the public sphere, as well as the role of experts and citizens interpreting that information. Then we examine the history of the environmental justice movement, current policy choices and numerous case studies.

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Supervised practical experience in husbandry, management, and research in a captive animal setting. Involves progressively greater responsibility and probable involvement in research, depending on the performance of individual student. Specific work assignments will vary based on the needs of the host institution and the individual professional goals of the student.

The study of hydrology investigates the movement and cycle of water throughout the Earth system, from the flow of water in streams and aquifers to evaportransportation and precipitation within Earth's atmosphere. We will discuss the foundational theories and concepts governing the movement of water, investigate how water forms landscapes, and explore our role in the global water cycle.

This course explores how concerns about social equity, environmental welfare, and resilience in the face of rapid and disruptive change are shaping the character of human communities in the 21st century. Using ideas from the interdisciplinary fields of urban studies and community planning, students will investigate how processes of political advocacy, decision making, and sustainable design are occurring in cities, suburbs, and towns. The course also includes a community-engaged learning component that will bring students into dialogue with planners and residents in the city of Des Moines.

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This course acquaints students with ""real world"" GIS solutions by taking a project from concept to completion; this includes generating project proposals, acquiring and creating data, performing spatial analysis, project pre- sentation, and product delivery. Students learn to identify issues at all phases of a GIS project and work with the client and fellow team members to creatively solve problems. Client and consultant relationships are established by working with Central Iowa agencies and organizations. Students are exposed to internship opportunities and are able to network with professionals in a variety of fields.

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Dynamic models are critical tools in the analysis of time-dependent systems. Many environmental systems are dynamic in this way: local populations may fluctuate in response to the appearance of a nonnative species; the risk associated with a pulse of pollutants may depend upon how quickly downstream mixing can occur; and the adaptation ability of species might be a function of the rate of change in ecological conditions. In this course, we will construct dynamic models, learn how to parameterize them even in the face of imperfect data, and discuss generalized patterns exhibited by complex environmental systems, such as overshoot, resilience, oscillations, and chaos. Prereq: any college-level mathematics or statistics course.

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The environmental history of the continent and nation stretches from geologic time to the present. This course begins by defining different aspects of environmental history and introduces ways that the environment has been influential in shaping past human experience, as well as how humans have in turn shaped the environment. While surveying the sweep of American history through the lens of environment, special attention will be paid to historicizing present-day topics. Themes include the interconnectedness of people and nature, health (ecological and social health is an environmental issue), and the link between local and global. The course balances the physica (rocks, conservation and ecology) and the cultural (ideas, perceptions and images) environment.

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Earn your urban ranger patch! study the history of urban environments, the place of the city in American cultyre, the development of cities and suburbs, and the city's role in regional and global environmental issues. With the class, explore urban ecology and the evolution of infrastructure, like sewers, waterworks and transportation networks. Potential main topics include urban planning, campus sustainability. New Orleans and historicizing Hurricane Katrina, and Midwestern flooding. Subjects engaged over time and in multiple cities include: environmental justice, tension over resource management, industrialization, food supply, and geography's relation to social structure. Includes a research project.

A seminar that brings aspects of biology, chemistry, geology and policy formulation to bear on a contemporary environmental topic such as energy, soil conservation, hydrology, climate change, land use planning, sustainability or ecosystem ecology. May involve construction of models, performance of simulations or empirical tests. Open as an elective to all Drake seniors; required capstone for ENSS seniors.

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Directed experience in laboratory instruction. May involve helping staff with set-up, conducting and evaluating of lab and field experiences. In preparing to help students learn material, assistants have the opportunity to re-examine their own knowledge and acquire practical experience alongside a teaching mentor. By invitation or approval of instructor for specific ENSS offerings.

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Extended, usually off-campus experience involving an environmental theme. May include work in local or state government, with law or consulting firms, conservation groups, nature centers or news agencies. Written report or public oral presentation upon completion. Prereqs: BIO 001 or equivalent, CHEM 002/004, ENSS 035-036, and consent of director.

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Extended experience developing a particular scientific question concerned with the environment. May be of independent design or part of larger projects mentored by academic, government, or industry scientists. Collaborative, but student must take the lead in acquisition and analysis of data. Written report or public oral presentation upon completion. Prereqs: BIO 001 or equivalent, CHEM 002/004, ENSS 035-036, and consent of director.

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Involves student-led inquiry into an environmental topic of interest as approved by the director and in association with at least one faculty mentor. Culminates in written report; other details arranged.

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