Environmental Studies

Minor in Environmental Studies

The minor addresses the scientific, technical, social, and cultural issues raised by the conflicting needs of the worldwide complex of preindustrial, industrial, and postindustrial societies.

Some of the courses related to the minor, particularly those in Group A, have significant prerequisites; students planning an Environmental Studies minor should check catalog course descriptions carefully. Some credit toward the minor may be gained through independent study, field research, study abroad, the Academic Internship Program, and others (prior approval strongly recommended). Petitions for petitionable courses (noted with a # sign), transfer courses, and individual additions to the courses listed below must be approved by the chair of the Environ-mental Studies Steering Committee. For updates, individual advising, and quarterly lists of available courses, please come to the Environmental Studies Office: Muir Interdisciplinary Studies, 2073 HSS, mail code 0106, phone (858) 534-3589.

The minor is structured as follows:

Required:
Environmental Studies 30, usually offered in the fall quarter.
Environmental Studies 130, usually offered in the spring quarter (need not be taken consecutively).

Required:

Five additional courses, at least four in the upper-division, from the following two groups. At least one course must be taken from Group A and one from Group B.

Group A—Natural Sciences

Biology LD 3. Organismic and Evolutionary Biology
Biology EB 120. General Ecology
Biology EB 121. General Ecology Laboratory
Biology EB 130. Introductory Marine Ecology
Biology EB 140. Biodiversity
Biology EB 176. Conservation and the Human Predicament (cross-listed with ANBI 132)
Biology EB 178. Principles of Conservation Biology
Biology EB 179. Conservation Biology Laboratory
Chemistry 15. Chemistry of the Universe
Chemistry 149A. Environmental Chemistry
Chemistry 149B. Environmental Chemistry
Chemistry 173. Atmospheric Chemistry
Earth Sciences 10. The Earth
Earth Sciences 12. History of Earth and Evolution
Earth Sciences 20. The Atmosphere
Earth Sciences 30. The Oceans
Earth Sciences 40. Earth Sciences and the Environment
Earth Sciences 150. Environmental Perils
#Earth Sciences 101. Introduction to Earth and Environmental Science
Environmental Studies 102. Selected Topics in Environmental Studies (when taught from a natural sciences perspective)
Environmental Systems 101. The Living Earth
MAE 118A. Energy: Non-Nuclear Energy Technologies
Physics 12. Energy and the Environment
Science, Technology, Public Affairs 35. Society and the Sea

Group B—Social Sciences/Humanities

Anthropology GN 182. Origins of Agriculture and Sedentism (was ANGN 100)
Anthropology GN 160. Nature, Culture and Environmentalism
#Anthropology GN 163. Technical Revolutions and Evolution
Anthropology BI 132. Conservation and the Human Predicament (cross-listed with BIEB 176)
Communication CUL 148. Communication and the Environment
#Communication CUL 175. Advanced Topics in Communication: Culture
Economics 131. Economics of the Environment
Economics 132. Energy Economics
Economics 145. Economics of Ocean Resources
Environmental Studies 102. Selected Topics in Environmental Studies (when taught from a humanities/social sciences perspective)
Environmental Studies 110. Environmental Law
#History SC 100. Understanding the Earth/Historical Topics
#History SC 104. History of Popular Science
History SC 105A. History of Environmentalism: Ecology
History SC 105B. History of Environmentalism: Physical Systems
#History TO 121. Geographic Information Systems for Historians and Social Scientists
#History US 114. California History
#History US 117. History of Los Angeles
History US 137. The Built Environment in the Twentieth Century
History US 154. Western Environmental History (cross-listed with USP 160)
#History US 162. American West
#IRPS GN 257. Policy Analysis
#IRPS GN 290/490. Special Topics in Pacific International Affairs
IRPS GN 458. International Environmental Policy
IRPS GN 459. Conflict Resolution of Environmental Issues
#Literature EN 147. Metamorphoses of the Symbol
#Literature EN 148. Genres in English and American Literature
#Literature EN 149. Themes/English and
American Literature
#Literature GN 160. Specialized Genres in Literature
#Literature WR 122. Writing for the Sciences
#Literature WR 127. General Nonfiction Prose Workshop
#Literature WR 142. Forms of Written Discourse
Philosophy 148. Philosophy and the Environment
Philosophy 164. Technology and Human Values
#Political Science 154. Special Topics in International Relations
Political Science 162. Environmental Policy
Sociology D 184. Societal Evolution and Economic Development
#Sociology D 185. The Political Economy of
Development and Underdevelopment
Urban Studies & Planning 2. Urban World System
Urban Studies & Planning 105. Environmental and Urban Planning Problems: The U.S.-Mexico Border
Urban Studies & Planning 124. Land Use Planning
Urban Studies & Planning 144. Environmental and Preventive Health Issues
Urban Studies & Planning 160. Western Environmental History (cross-listed with HIUS 154)
Urban Studies & Planning 171. Sustainable Development
Urban Studies & Planning 175. Environmental Problems of Urban Studies
#Visual Arts 107G. Earthworks to Ecological Art
#Visual Arts 131. Special Projects in Media

# These courses satisfy minor requirements only when taught with an emphasis on environmental considerations. They must be petitioned for minor credit.

Instructor's approval required for enrollment.

Courses

30. Environmental Issues: Natural Sciences (4)
Examines global and regional environmental issues. The approach is to consider the scientific basis for policy options. Simple principles of chemistry and biology are introduced. The scope of problems include: air and water pollution, climate modification, solid-waste disposal, hazardous-waste treatment, and environmental impact assessment. Prerequisite: none.

90. Undergraduate Seminar (1)
Provides an introduction to environmental studies. Faculty members from departments in natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities offer perspectives on human interaction with the environment and the ways in which the interplay between nature and culture can be analyzed. May be repeated for credit as topics vary.

102. Selected Topics in Environmental Studies (4)
An interdisciplinary course focusing on one of a variety of topics related to environmental studies such as environmental policy and politics, foreign study in environmental problems, environmental history, nature writers, ethics and the environment. May be repeated for credit as topics vary. Prerequisite: upper-division standing or consent of instructor.

110. Environmental Law (4)
Explores environmental policy in the United States and the ways in which it is reflected in law. The social and political issues addressed include environmental justice and environmental racism, as well as the role of government in implementing environmental law. Prerequisite: upper-division standing or consent of instructor.

130. Environmental Issues: Social Sciences (4)
Explores contemporary environmental issues from the perspective of the social sciences. It includes the cultural framing of environmental issues and appropriate social action, the analysis of economic incentives and constraints, and a comparison of policy approaches. Prerequisite: upper-division standing or consent of instructor.

198. Directed Group Study (4)
Directed group research and study, normally with a focus on areas not otherwise covered in the curriculum. Prerequisite: upper-division standing or consent of instructor. Department stamp required.