Course looks at the earth as an ecosystem composed of biological, chemical, and physical systems. Focus is on the interaction of these systems with each other and with human population, technology, and production. Students should acquire the fundamentals of a scientific understanding of the ecological implications of human activities. Specific topics treated within the context of ecosystem analysis include energy flows, nutrient cycles, pollution, resource use, climate changes, species diversity, and population dynamics.

Examines Western cultural values and personal beliefs toward the environment. Teaches critical thinking skills to analyze issues to make informed choices that may impact the earth, its resources and their management as consumers, leaders, professionals and moral agents.

Consideration of how human beings should act with regard to the non-human natural world in the context of complex societal needs. Students will use critical thinking skills to integrate insights from the sciences, social sciences, and humanities to make ethical decisions.

Prerequisite: ENVS 10 or ENVS 110, or equivalent recommended.

Global perspective on current problems of environmental protection and resource use. Population growth, food production, industrialization, technology and cultural change are considered, with heavy emphasis on the social dynamics of environmental problems. A variety of political views is studied, and an attempt is made to develop a perspective useful to students in personal and political decisions.

Prerequisite: GWAR certification before Fall 09; or WPJ score of 80+; or 3-unit placement in ENGL 109M/W; or 4-unit placement in ENGL 109M/W and co-enrollment in ENGL 109X; or WPJ score 70/71 and co-enrollment in ENGL 109X.

This field course includes the direct observation of human impact on specific environments and examples of mitigation strategies. Students will learn information gathering and data presentation methodologies useful in environmental impact assessment. Lecture three hours per week; one-day and weekend field trips will be arranged.

Note: Course also substitutes for ENVS 175.

Prerequisite: BIO 160, CHEM 1A or CHEM 6A or concurrent enrollment; or instructor permission.

Review of legislative and judicial requirements for environmental impact analysis. Students will be asked to review actual project environmental impact reports, analyze the methods employed, understand the relationship of the report to the planning process, and prepare such a document.

Note: It is recommended that students complete ENVS 128 or have some actual experience with environmental impact documentation before taking this course.

Introduction to environmental law, including: the evolution of environmental legislation, environmental issues in the court system, environmental regulation and administrative law, and environmental torts. Emphasis is on understanding legal process and the special challenges environmental problems present to the legal system.

Prerequisite: ENVS 110 or ENVS 111, or instructor permission.

Cross Listed: GOVT 128; only one may be counted for credit.

Focuses on the aspects of toxicology which enable us to study and explore environmental issues concerning human and ecosystem health. It will explore the impact of human activity since World War II in contributing to human disease and ecosystem disruption. Risk perception and communication as it concerns environmental toxicology will also be discussed.

Prerequisite: CHEM 1A or CHEM 6A, or instructor permission.

Overview of concepts and practices in restoration ecology, emphasizing the application of ecological principles to restoration design, implementation, and monitoring. Major course topics will include historical ecology, soils and hydrology, plant and animal ecology, exotic species, endangered species concerns, mitigation, monitoring, planning, and assessment as they apply in a restoration context. Students will work in local restoration projects; field trips required.

Evaluates sustainable management of ecosystems by local indigenous people, using traditional resource management, traditional ecological knowledge and Western science. Familiarizes students with the fields of ethnobiology, ethnoecology, and historical ecology. Students learn about the relationship between people and plants, with a focus on how traditional plant knowledge reflects and is reflected by environmental perceptions.

Prerequisite: Instructor permission.

Series of at least 10 seminars in ecological and environmental issues. Topics with each seminar will vary each semester.

Note: May be repeated for credit. No more than one unit of ENVS 186B may be counted toward the upper division major requirement.

Prerequisite: BIO 10 or both BIO 1 and BIO 2.

Cross Listed: BIO 186B; only one may be counted for credit.

Seminar on the political process involved in dealing with environmental problems. Includes consideration of the interaction of citizen organizations, government agencies, corporations, and interest groups.

Prerequisite: ENVS 128, or ENVS 171; or instructor permission; GWAR certification before Fall 09, WPJ score of 70+, or at least a C- in ENGL 109 M/W.

Explores social conflict involved in the pursuit of environmental protection, with special emphasis on the way environmental problems are related to questions of race, ethnicity, gender, class and neighborhood or locality.

Prerequisite: ENVS 128 or ENVS 171; passin or instructor permission; GWAR certification before Fall 09, WPJ score of 70+, or at least a C- in ENGL 109 M/W.

Supervised work experience in an approved legislative or administrative office at some level of local, state or federal government, or in a public or private organization that is concerned with the environment. Supervision is provided by the faculty instructor and responsible officials in the work situation.

Note: Open to majors only, subject to instructor permission.

This introductory work experience is designed for sophomores and juniors. The student must complete 45 hours of environmentally related work in a volunteer position with an environmental organization or participation in an environmentally focused event. Supervision is provided by the faculty instructor and responsible officials in the work situation.

Note: Open to majors only, subject to instructor permission.

Selection, design and implementation, and reporting of an approved environmental research project. For students in special circumstances. In this course, students will also complete and submit for evaluation their portfolio of work produced in selected courses. Written progress and final reports generally required.

Note: Generally students complete a senior thesis by enrolling in ENVS 190 A, B, or C.

Prerequisite: GWAR certification before Fall 09, WPJ score of 70+, or at least a C- in ENGL 109 M/W, and prior consent of a faculty member who will supervise the work.

Individual projects or directed reading.

Note: Open only to students who are competent to carry on individual work. Admission requires permission of the Director and the faculty member who will direct the work.