BIOLOGY

352    Advanced and Applied Ecology      The theoretical aspects of population and community ecology, emphasizing population regulation, demography, trophic relationships, community structure and organization, and succession. Co-evolutionary interactions between plants and animals. Relevance of ecological theory to the solution of environmental problems. Lecture and laboratory. Prerequisite: Biology 271. Four credit hours. COLE, FIRMAGE

EDUCATION

493B    Senior Seminar in Environmental Education     The intersections between mainstream environmental and environmental justice issues and U.S. educational discourses and practices. Various approaches to environmental education, such as formal and informal environmental education, environmental education for "at risk" youth, outdoor or adventure education, holistic, and experiential education. Students will research and develop environmental curriculum plans and lead environmental education activities with school-age youth. Four credit hours.    BARNHARDT

ECONOMICS

231    Environmental and Natural Resource Economics    An introductory survey course using economic analysis to explain the underlying behavioral causes of environmental and natural resource problems and to evaluate the policy responses to them. Topics include air and water pollution, toxic substances, the allocation of renewable and exhaustible resources, and sustainable development. Prerequisite: Economics 133. Three credit hours.    TIETENBERG

ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES

118    Environment and Society     An interdisciplinary course focusing on the human relationship with and impact on the environment. A look at some of the environmental problems that have arisen as a result of the growth of society in various areas of the world. The causes of each problem, methods for investigating the problem, and possible solutions investigated from a scientific and a public-policy perspective. Lecture and discussion. Four credit hours.   FACULTY  

126   Environmental Activism     An introduction to the history, theory, and practice of environmental activism, incorporating both global and local perspectives. Students explore what drives people to act, how environmental activism has evolved, and how it can lead to meaningful social and political change. Examples of environmental activists include individuals, groups, indigenous people, passionate intellectuals, scientists, so-called extremists, and the students themselves. Part of the three-course Integrated Studies 126, "The Green Cluster." Prerequisite: Concurrent enrollment in Biology 131 (lab section C) and Philosophy 126. Four credit hours. S.    CARLSON

173    Environmental Law and Indian Tribes: The "Rez" and the "Hood"    An examination of environmental decision making in the context of the most regulated lands in the United States--Indian reservations. An overview of Indian law and policy will be followed by a look at layers of government involved in federal environmental regulation. Will consider environmental justice issues in the context of a solid waste proposal for a reservation. Readings include edited judicial opinions that illustrate the historic threads of national environmental and Indian policies. For the final project students will consider an environmental issue involving a selected tribe and its neighbors. Three credit hours. S.    SLY January 2007.

212    Introduction to GIS and Remote Sensing    A comprehensive theoretical and practical introduction to the fundamental principles of geographic information systems and remote sensing digital image processing. Topics include data sources and models, map scales and projections, spatial analysis, elementary satellite image interpretation and manipulation, and global positioning systems. Current issues and applications of GIS will be discussed with emphasis on environmental topics. Students will develop and carry out independent projects using GIS. Prerequisite: Sophomore standing. Four credit hours.    NYHUS

233    Environmental Policy     A comprehensive and interdisciplinary introduction to the process and challenges of developing, implementing, and evaluating environmental policy. The roles of costs and benefits, uncertainty and risks, science and technology, and attitudes and ethics are explored. Historic and contemporary case studies are used to examine major institutions and actors, laws and regulations, incentives and enforcement approaches, and their role in addressing our nation's most pressing environmental problems. Prerequisite: Environmental Studies 118. Four credit hours.    NYHUS

298B    Tools for Environmental Justice     How environmental policy and law have affected minority and low-income communities. Institutions and the arenas within which environmental justice claims have been advanced, beginning with public interest law in the 1970s. Specific examples are used to learn about the National Environmental Policy Act, the Clean Air Act, the Toxic Substance Control Act, and other legal tools. Environmental justice aspects of sustainable economic development. Includes a case study of a recent environmental justice issue in Maine. Four credit hours.    SLY

319    Conservation Biology      Concepts of conservation biology are examined in detail. Topics include patterns of diversity and rarity, sensitive habitats, extinction, captive propagation, preserve design, and reclamation of degraded or destroyed ecosystems. Interdisciplinary solutions to the challenges of protecting, maintaining, and restoring biological diversity are discussed. Offered in alternate years. Prerequisite: Biology 271 or Environmental Studies 118. Four credit hours. COLE

391A    Reading Seminar in Environmental Studies     Discussions and presentations on topics of current interest in selected areas of environmental studies. Focus will be land use paradigms--the balance of public and private interests. Students will read primary literature, make presentations, and complete writing assignments on articles discussed. May be repeated once. Nongraded. Prerequisite: At least junior standing in the major. One credit hour.    SLY

398B    Fluid Choices: Watershed Policies and Governance     In every era, agencies and courts struggle to define "control" and "use" of water. Relationships between various watershed governments are often strained by disputes about defining a watershed and its issues. What role should government play in encouraging water extraction and use? Which level of government should make a tough decision that may affect our grandchildren? What is the role of the courts? Court decisions are used to explore environmental regulation, government, constitutional federalism, philosophy, political theory, sociology, economics, anthropology, and religion. Four credit hours.    SLY

493   Environmental Policy Practicum    An in-depth analysis of current issues and policies affecting the environment. Students work individually and collaboratively on a project with a common theme and are assigned unique role as researchers, editors, and technical coordinators. Reading and discussion of primary literature is augmented with invited speakers, field trips, and student presentations. NYHUS

GOVERNMENT

210    Interest-Group Politics    Organized interests have always been an important constituent of American political life. How have changes in government and electoral politics affected the role of interest groups? Are these groups an essential aspect of good government? Do they exert too much influence in modern politics? An examination of the activities of interest groups in American politics, including their formation, behavior, and evolution in recent decades. Formerly offered as Government 310. Prerequisite: Government 111. Four credit hours.    CORRADO

INTEGRATED STUDIES

126    The Green Cluster    A three-course cluster (all required) on environmental ethics and literature, with biological science. See Biology 131 (lab C is designated for this cluster), Environmental Studies 126, and Philosophy 126 for course descriptions. Twelve credit hours.    BEVIER, CARLSON, CHRISTENSEN, EDELGLASS