  Text Size:
Colby College 2010-2011 Course Catalogue
Catalogue Archives
You are currently viewing an archived version of the catalogue.
View Current Catalogue
Catalogue ArchivesCourses of Study
ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIESThe Environmental Studies Program at Colby is one of the oldest in the country. From understanding the impacts of climate change to preventing biodiversity loss and unsustainable use of natural resources, environmental challenges are a national and international priority. Our students and faculty are active locally, nationally, and internationally in studying and helping to solve these challenges. Colby was one of the first colleges in the nation to use 100-percent renewable-source electricity. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the state of Maine have recognized Colby for its commitment to environmental sustainability as reflected in our curriculum and our actions. Recent examples of student-led environmental initiatives include establishment of an organic garden and organizing activities to reduce carbon emissions on campus, developing a climate change action in the local community, and raising awareness about the dangers of using hazardous chemicals in personal care products and children’s toys at the state and federal levels. Students with a major in biology, geology, or international studies considering a minor in environmental studies should consider electing a double major in biology and environmental studies, geology and environmental studies, or international studies and environmental studies because of the overlap in required courses. Interested students should discuss these possibilities with the Environmental Studies Program Director. Also available are environmental science concentrations in biology and chemistry majors. These are discipline-based programs intended to prepare students for positions in firms or government agencies concerned with environmental issues, for graduate study, or for roles as educated citizens in a world increasingly confronted with environmental problems. Students are encouraged to participate in relevant field study or internships to complement their academic work. Requirements are listed in the appropriate departmental section. A student cannot elect both the environmental studies minor and an environmental science concentration. Also, students cannot elect both the biology: environmental science concentration or chemistry: environmental science concentration and the environmental studies: science concentration. REQUIREMENTS +The interdisciplinary environmental policy major provides an extensive introduction to the study of domestic and international environmental policy. Students combine a foundation course in environmental studies with courses in environmental economics, domestic environmental policy and law, international environmental policy and politics, and courses in environmental science. Diverse electives allow students to explore topics from introductory Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to endangered species policy to environmental and human health. Students complete the Environmental Policy Practicum capstone seminar in the senior year. Environmental policy majors are encouraged
to take Environmental Studies 118 (spring) in their first year and
Environmental Studies 233 (fall) and Environmental Studies 334 (spring)
in their sophomore year. Students pursuing this major must complete at
least one course at the 300 level or above selected from category III
below. No more than one course at the 100 level may be used to fulfill
category III. No requirement for the major may be taken
satisfactory/unsatisfactory. AP credits can fulfill core course
requirements based on exam performance and coverage. Environmental
Studies 401 and 402 provide one credit for the year and typically are
taken in addition to a normal four-course semester. Courses not listed
below, such as those offered by some off-campus study programs, may
count toward the major pending prior approval by the program director. Requirements for the Major in Environmental PolicyI. Required Environmental Studies Core Courses
II. All of the Following Courses
III. Humans and the Environment (Four courses not all taken from the same discipline unless that discipline is environmental studies)
IV. Three of the Following Courses
V. One of the Following Capstone Courses
VI. Senior Colloquia
Requirements for the Major in Environmental ScienceThe interdisciplinary environmental science major also begins with the foundation course in environmental studies and is followed by core courses in environmental economics, biology and ecology, chemistry or physics, geology or GIS, and mathematics. Students select a focus area to explore in depth. Current focus areas include conservation biology, marine science, environmental chemistry, and environmental geology. Students can also propose well-structured alternative focus areas. The senior capstone seminar provides a hands-on approach to environmental science research. Environmental science majors are encouraged to enroll in Biology 163 (fall) and Environmental Studies 118 (spring) in their first year and Environmental Studies 271 (fall) in their sophomore year. Majors must complete at least two courses at the 300 level or above selected from categories III and IV below. No more than one course at the 100 level may be used to fulfill category III. No requirement for the major may be taken satisfactory/unsatisfactory. AP credits can fulfill core course requirements based on exam performance and coverage. AP credits also can provide advanced placement in focus areas, but in no case can AP credits reduce the number of required focus area courses below five. Environmental studies majors electing the science concentration should consult with the program director or the advisor for their selected focus area as early as their first year at Colby to identify any courses beyond the major requirements that may be desirable to meet their postgraduate goals, especially graduate or professional school. Environmental Studies 401 and 402 provide one credit for the year and typically are taken in addition to a normal four-course semester. I. Required Environmental Studies Core Courses
II. Required Science and Mathematics Courses
For students electing the conservation biology or marine science focus area:
For students electing the environmental geology or environmental chemistry focus area:
III. Humans and the Environment (Two courses, not taken from the same discipline unless that discipline is environmental studies)
IV. Focus Area (Five courses from one of the following focus areas and an additional corresponding culminating experience chosen in consultation with advisor. The Environmental Studies Program will consider well-structured proposals for additional focus areas.) Advanced Placement credits can provide advanced placement in focus areas but cannot reduce the number of required focus-area courses below five. A. Conservation Biology
Two courses from the following:
Culminating Experience:
B. Marine Science
Two courses from the following:
Culminating Experience:
C. Environmental Geology
Students are encouraged to consider field courses offered by Colby or other approved programs such as: Biology 257j, 259j, Environmental Studies 358j, Geology 279j, SFS Sustainable Development in Costa Rica, and the Semester in Environmental Science at the Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole. Students electing the marine science focus area are strongly encouraged to consider a semester of off-campus study through programs offered by the School for Field Studies, the Duke University Marine Laboratory, the Maine Biological Laboratory, and other approved programs. An internship or research project in the discipline is strongly recommended. Students are strongly encouraged to participate in research projects, relevant field study, or internships to complement their academic work. Limited financial assistance is available to help environmental studies majors participate in research or internship opportunities. Also available are environmental science concentrations in the biology and chemistry majors. These are discipline-based programs intended to prepare students for positions in firms or government agencies concerned with environmental issues, for graduate study, or for roles as educated citizens in a world increasingly confronted with environmental problems. Requirements are listed in the appropriate departmental section. Students may not double major in environmental studies/science and biology/environmental science or chemistry/environmental science. Requirements for the Major in Environmental Studies-Interdisciplinary ComputationThe major in environmental studies–interdisciplinary computation provides an introduction to environmental studies as a discipline as well as training in computational techniques used in environmental policy and science. Students will become familiar with quantitative tools used to investigate environmental problems, especially GIS and remote sensing. No requirement for the major may be taken satisfactory/unsatisfactory. Advanced Placement credits can fulfill core course requirements based on exam performance and coverage. Students interested in this major should try to take Computer Science 151 in their first year (fall or spring) and Computer Science 231 (fall) and 251 (spring) in their second year. Students should consult with the Environmental Studies Program director or their computer science advisor when planning their capstone independent-study project. Environmental Studies 401 or 402 may be taken in addition to a normal four-course semester. I. Required Environmental Studies Core Courses
II. Required Environmental Studies Courses
IV. Required Computer Science Courses:
V. Capstone Courses
VI. Senior Colloquia
|
| Environmental Studies | 212 Introduction to GIS and Remote Sensing |
| 233 Environmental Policy | |
| 266 Environment and Human Health | |
| 268 Hazardous Waste and Environmental Justice | |
| 297A Global Health and the Environment | |
| 297B Sustainable Development | |
| 297C Environment and Social Inequality | |
| 298A History of American Environmental Policy | |
| 319 Conservation Biology | |
| 334 International Environmental Regimes | |
| 352 Advanced and Applied Ecology | |
| 358j Ecological Field Study | |
| 398A Diversity and Inequality in the Environmental Movement | |
| 398B World Religions and the Environment |
Group 2: If only one course is chosen from the environmental studies core group, then one additional course from:
| Biology | 211 Taxonomy of Flowering Plants |
| 237 Woody Plants | |
| 254 Marine Invertebrate Zoology | |
| 257j Winter Ecology | |
| 259j Plants of the Tropics | |
| 354 Marine Ecology | |
| 357 Physiological Ecology | |
| 452 Behavioral and Physiological Ecology | |
| Chemistry | 217 Environmental Chemistry |
| Economics | 341 Natural Resource Economics |
| Geology | 254 Principles of Geomorphology |
| Science, Technology, and Society | 253 Energy, Power, and the American Century, 1901-2001 |
| 298 Global Change Science: History and Public Policy | |
| 358 Climbing the Oil Peak |
If not used to satisfy the social science couplet:
| Anthropology | 256 Land, Food, Culture, and Power |
| 355 Development, Globalization, and Poverty | |
| Economics | 231 Environmental and Resource Economics |
| Environmental Studies | 334 International Environmental Regimes |
| History | 394 Ecological History |
| Science, Technology, and Society | 215 Weather, Climate, and Society |
Minors also are encouraged to have a hands-on environmental activity either of an experiential nature (internship or student teaching) or an academic nature (research paper or research lab). In many if not most cases, at least one of these may be required by one of the courses selected and thus satisfied automatically.
No requirement for the minor may be taken satisfactory/unsatisfactory. AP credits in a subject cannot replace more than one course toward the minor.
Colby College reserves the right in its sole judgement to make changes of any nature in its program, calendar, academic schedule, fees, deposits, or any other matters in this catalogue.