Spring 2026 COURSES
Courses for the Environmental Studies Major
Courses for the Environmental Science Major
Courses for the ESS Minor
Special Topics Course Descriptions
COURSES FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES MAJOR
Foundation Courses:
- ES 100 Environmental Concerns in Perspective
ES 105 Field Studies in Environmental Science (Lab)
Core Courses:
- EC 104 Introduction to Microeconomics
ES 224 Political Ecology
Cluster A Courses:
- AN252 Food Politics Africa
- AN 351R Global Infrastructures and Urban Living
- AS 251C Asian Ecologies and Cosmologies
EC 104 Introduction to Microeconomics
EC 224 Environmental & Resource Economics
ES 224 Political Ecology
ES 303 The Politics of Food - ES 306 US Public Lands & Oceans Policy
- MB 341 Sustainable Finance
- PS 312 Environmental Psychology
- RE 209 Indigenous Religious Freedom
RE 225 Religion and Ecology
RE 230 Risk
Cluster B1 Courses:
- GE 101 Earth Systems Science (Lab)
GE 205 Energy Recourses
GE 215 Geo Engineering
ID 351D Advanced GIS
Capstone:
- ES 375 Environmental Studies Research Capstone
Methods:
- BI 235 Biostatistics
ID 210 GIS
MS 104 Introduction to Statistics
MS 204 Statistical Methods
SO 228 Statistics for the Social Sciences
COURSES FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE MAJOR
Foundation Course:
- ES 100 Environmental Concerns in Perspective
ES 105 Field Studies in Environmental Science (Lab)
Disciplinary Foundation Courses:
- BI 108 Organismal Biology (Lab)
CH 126 Principles of Chemistry (Lab)
GE 101 Earth Systems Science (Lab)
Core Courses
- ES 206 Environmental Engineering (Lab)
Cluster A Courses:
- AN252 Food Politics Africa
AN 351R Global Infrastructures and Urban Living
AS 251C Asian Ecologies and Cosmologies
EC 104 Introduction to Microeconomics
EC 224 Environmental & Resource Economics
ES 224 Political Ecology
ES 303 The Politics of Food
ES 306 US Public Lands & Oceans Policy
MB 341 Sustainable Finance
PS 312 Environmental Psychology
RE 209 Indigenous Religious Freedom
RE 225 Religion and Ecology
RE 230 Risk
Cluster B2 Courses:
- BI 224 Evolution (Lab)
BI 329 Marine Biology
BI 338 Plant Biotechnology (Lab)
BI 351 Environmental Microbiology
CH 232 Analytical Chemistry (Lab)
ES 206 Env. Engineering and Science of Sust. (Lab)
ID 351D Advanced GIS
GE 320 Global Biogeochemical Cycles (Lab)
CH 232 Analytical Chemistry (Lab)
Capstone:
- ES 375 Environmental Studies Research Capstone
Methods:
- BI 235 Biostatistics
ID 210 GIS
MS 104 Introduction to Statistics
MS 204 Statistical Methods
SO 228 Statistics for the Social Sciences
COURSES FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES AND SCIENCES MINOR
Foundation Courses:
- ES 100 Environmental Concerns in Perspective
ES 105 Field Studies in Environmental Science (Lab)
Cluster A Courses:
- AN252 Food Politics Africa
AN 351R Global Infrastructures and Urban Living
AS 251C Asian Ecologies and Cosmologies
EC 104 Introduction to Microeconomics
EC 224 Environmental & Resource Economics
ES 224 Political Ecology
ES 303 The Politics of Food
ES 306 US Public Lands & Oceans Policy
MB 341 Sustainable Finance
PS 312 Environmental Psychology
RE 209 Indigenous Religious Freedom
RE 225 Religion and Ecology
RE 230 Risk
SPECIAL TOPICS COURSE DESCRIPTIONS:
AS 251 C Asain Ecologies and Cosmologies
What is humanity鈥檚 place in the cosmos? What moral obligations do we have to animals and plants, ourselves and the planet? How have our ideas about the world shaped our history? In this interdisciplinary course we explore the connection between religion, philosophy, history, and the environment in Asia. The course begins by tracing early Asian conceptions of the cosmos and our place in it. We then investigate case studies in Asian environmental history, asking how unique visions of the cosmos have been realized in India, China, and Japan. (Designated a Global Cultural Perspectives course; counts towards Environmental Studies and Sciences.)
BI 351 Environmental Microbiology
A study of microorganisms in their natural environment. Students will learn about the ecology and diversity of microbial communities in soil, water and air and the importance of microorganism in nutrient cycling in these environments. In addition we will study microbial communities in extreme environments. Further topics include bioremediation, biofilm engineering, and other applications related to public health, agriculture, food science, and industry. Prerequisite: one 200-level BI course (except BI 275, 299) or ES 205.
DS 230 Public Science Communication
Partner with a local organization to communicate science to the general public. Project format will vary and will be determined by the partner organization; examples include (but are not limited to) educational signage, a webpage, or a podcast. Students will analyze example works to evaluate how language and design contribute to successful public science communication. They will translate scientific information into clear and understandable text or narration, and will identify or create appropriate images or video to convey their message. They will collaborate with the partner organization as they develop their project, ensuring that the final product meets the organization鈥檚 goals. There may be one required weekend field trip. The course is repeatable for credit with a different project.