Vassar College: Environmental Science Courses

Environmental Science

Office: 222 Olmsted Hall, Website: faculty.vassar.edu/~fritz/ENVS_PAGE.html, Phone: (845)437-7418, e-mail: fritz@vassar.edu

Coordinator: R. Fritz, Biology; Faculty: see biology, chemistry, and geology.

Environmental Science is designed for students who are considering a career or further education in an area of environmental science. Environmental Science consists of a correlate sequence that is structured to allow students to enhance their knowledge in environmental science, to provide them with a solid foundation with which to pursue environmental science in the future, and to expose them to current issues in environmental science and public policy. The way a particular student satisfies the requirements for the correlate sequence is flexible, however, all students must participate in the Environmental Science seminar during their junior or senior year.

Students who elect the Environmental Science correlate sequence must choose a correlate sequence advisor in their correlate department and pursue a correlate option (see below) in one of the participating departments.

Requirements for the Correlate Sequence: 6 units, chosen as described below, are required to complete the correlate sequence. Ordinarily, no courses fulfilling the correlate sequence requirements may be used to satisfy requirements in the student's major.

One 100-level unit, two 200-level units, and one 300-level unit in one of the Correlate Departments: (Biology 151 and 152 and both Chemistry 108 and 109 are required before advancing to the 200-level courses in these departments)

Eligible Courses in Biology:

Biology 151 Evolution of Biological Diversity (1)

Biology 208 Plant Structure and Diversity

Biology 226 Animal Structure and Diversity (1)

Biology 241 Ecology (1)

Biology 280 Environmental Science Field Trip* (1)

Biology 298 Independent Work* (1)

Biology 350 Evolutionary Biology (1)

Biology 354 Plant-Animal Interactions (1)

Biology 356 Aquatic Ecology (1)

Eligible Courses in Chemistry:

Chemistry 108 General Chemistry (1)

Chemistry 109 General Chemistry (1)

Chemistry 244 Organic Chemistry: Structure and Properties (1)

Chemistry 245 Organic Chemistry: Reactions and Mechanisms (1)

Chemistry 298 Independent Research* (1)

Chemistry 335 Advanced Environmental Chemistry (1)

Chemistry 350 Physical Chemistry: Thermodynamics and Kinetics (1)

Chemistry 362 Instrumental Analysis (1)

Eligible Courses in Geology:

Geology 151 Earth, Environment, and Humanity (1)

Geology 152 The Evolution of Earth and its Life (1)

Geology 230 Soils and Terrestrial Ecosystems (1)

Geology 232 Earth Materials (1)

Geology 250 Sediments, Strata, and the Environment (1)

Geology 260 Surface Processes and Evolution of Landforms (1)

Geology 270 Structural Geology and Tectonics (1)

Geology 280 Environmental Science Field Trip (1)

Geology 298 Independent Work* (1)

Geology 320 Advanced Topics in Environmental Geology (1)

Geology 350 Advanced Sedimentology (1)

Geology 360 Paleoclimatology: Earth's History of Climate Change (1)

*With correlate adviser's permission

One unit to be chosen from the following courses or an alternative course approved by the correlate sequence adviser:

Geology 150 Earth System Science and Environmental Justice (1)

Biology 206 Environmental Biology (also Science, Technology, and Society 206) (1)

Geography 265 Population, Environment, and Sustainable Development (1)

Political Science 239 Public Policy Analysis (1)

Geography 355 Environment and Land-Use Planning (1)

Economics 267 Environmental and Natural Resource Economics (1)

The following course is required of all students:

Environmental Science 301 Environmental Science Seminar (may be completed in the junior or senior year) (1)

Students are urged to determine in advance if there are prerequisites for courses that will be part of their correlate sequence

Advisers: Biology: Mr. Fritz, Mr. Suter; Geology: Ms. Menking, Ms. Schneiderman; Chemistry: Ms. Begemann and Mr. Belli.

Course Offerings

(See biology, chemistry, and geology)

[254. Field Ecology and Geology of the Bahamas] (1)

Study of significant ecological, geological, and environmental areas on Andros Island, Bahamas. Students and faculty study karst geological features, including current deposition, blue holes, and fossil reefs, sands, coral reef structure and biological diversity, and ecology of mangrove, intertidal, and scrubland habitats. Field trips will study endemic and migrant birds and fish communities. The course involves readings, lectures, and videos for seven weeks prior to the field trip. During Fall Break students and faculty fly to Andros Town, Bahamas and spend from seven to nine days at the George Mason University Field Station studying the field sites. Mr. Fritz, Ms. Menking.

Prerequisites: Prior Biology or Geology coursework at the 200-level and permission of instructors is required.

Not offered in 2000/01.

301b. Environmental Science Seminar (1)

The Environmental Science Seminar, taken during the junior or senior year consists of critical analyses of current issues in the interdisciplinary field of Environmental Science. Approximately every other class meeting is given by a guest lecturer. Two instructors come from two of the participating departments. Mr. Fritz

One 2-hour period.

Prerequisite: Permission of instructor is required.

[280a. Environmental Science Field Trip] (1)

An integrated lecture and field course to selected regions of North America and elsewhere to study environmental science issues in relation to regional problems.

Prerequisite: Permission of instructors is required.

Not offered in 2000/01.

399. Senior Independent Research (1)

Execution and analysis of a field or laboratory study. The project, to be arranged with an individual instructor, is expected to have a substantial paper as its final product. Open to seniors only.

Prerequisite: Permission of instructor is required.