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Environmental Studies and Sciences

Director: Diane Husic

The Environmental Studies and Sciences (ESS) program at �����紫ý acquaints students with the myriad environmental issues that face us today. It seeks to develop a framework in which students can work closely with faculty and one another to analyze problems, test assumptions, and debate issues as they affect our lives as citizens of our community, our nation, and the world. The perspective we seek to develop is strongly interdisciplinary, incorporating the natural sciences as well as economics, history, philosophy, public health, literature and political science. In addition, it is
designed to transcend national boundaries. All students in the program will share important common experiences to build a comprehensive understanding of environmental issues.

Students who pursue environmental majors at �����紫ý have the option of earning either a B.S. in Environmental Science or a B.A. in Environmental Studies. All students in both majors will have a shared body of knowledge through common coursework before the upper-level courses in their respective majors, and through the capstone seminar course, which B.S. and B.A. students will take in combined sections. The balance of shared experience and field-specific knowledge is designed to foster cooperative work and learning among students and faculty.

Coursework 

As prerequisites to the program, all students must take ECON 152 and a course in statistics (MATH 107 or ECON 156), preferably before the spring term of the sophomore year. Additional coursework in mathematics is recommended, especially for those students interested in pursuing graduate education.

The Common Environmental Studies and Sciences Core

Students in both environmental majors are required to take six course units in a common core of study. Four of these courses are designed to create a foundation that fosters understanding of this interdisciplinary field. The final two courses are focused on integrating, applying, and communicating the knowledge that students have gained in their previous courses. 

Students majoring in either Environmental Science or Environmental Studies must take the following courses in the common environmental core.

The Major in Environmental Science (B.S)

Students majoring in Environmental Science must take the following five courses in addition to those in the core.

Students in the environmental science track must also complete at least two of the following.

Appropriate advanced courses offered as special topics  , as an ENVR 37x seminar,  or by other  LVAIC institutions may be substituted as electives with the prior approval of the  ESS  program  director.  Independent Research or Independent Study with a different department prefix may also  be substituted with prior approval. 

The Major in Environmental Studies (B.A)

In addition to the environmental core courses, students who intend to pursue the B.A. in Environmental Studies must take 8 elective courses, with at least 1 from each of the following  categories. At least 4 of these courses must be at the 200-level or higher. Appropriate courses may be substituted as electives with the prior approval of the program director. 

Natural Science Category

Math, Economics, and Policy Category 

Environmental Humanities Category  

Health Category

The Minor in Environmental Science

The minor in Environmental Science consists of five (5) courses including ENVR 112 (Environmental Science) plus four (4) additional science courses currently approved for the Environmental Science (B.S.) major. At least three (3) of these courses must be taken at �����紫ý or through cross registration at other LVIAC institutions. At least two (2) courses should be numbered 210, or above.

Appropriate courses can be substituted for the minor in Environmental Science with the prior approval of the ESS Program Director.

The Minor in Environmental Studies

The minor in Environmental Studies consists of five (5) courses including ENVR 112 (Environmental Science), Economics 240, plus three (3) additional courses currently approved for the Environmental Studies (B.A.) major. At least three (3) of these courses must be taken at �����紫ý or through cross registration at other LVAIC institutions. At least 2two (2) courses should be numbered 210 or above. 

Appropriate courses can be substituted for the minor in Environmental Studies with the prior approval of the ESS Program Director.

Courses

ENVR 111. Introductory Geology. An introduction to the study of the Earth since its origin 4.5 billion years ago. Readings, lecture, interactive labs, and field trips examine rocks and minerals, forces within the earth such as plate tectonics, and mechanisms sculpting the earth’s surface. Geologic time and human influence on the planet are also discussed. Three 50-minute periods, one 3-hour laboratory. (F4)

ENVR 112. Environmental Science. Introduces non-major students to fundamental principles of ecology and the relationship of humans to their environment. Topics include agriculture and food production, water and air pollution, energy use and associated environmental effects, toxic waste, and renewable/nonrenewable resources. Prerequisites:  Not open to students who have completed ENVR 110. (F4) (PTK: Scientific Process)

ENVR 113. Changes in the Land: Lessons in Sustainability From Early American History. This course examines the more nature-sensitive practices of early America including a tendency toward minimalist consumption practices, thoughtful repurposing and recycling of materials, and more land-centered ways of life. Students will explore the complexities of sustainable human uses of environments by examining and comparing, as case studies, �����紫ý’s own sustainability practices as compared to sustainability practices throughout local history (including that of the �����紫ýs and throughout the period of Lehigh Valley industrialization). Topics include: environmental effects of human occupation, past and modern-day agriculture, colonial practices, changes to people's relationship to land over time, diverse perceptions of nature, and evolving concepts of sustainability. Prerequisites:  None. (M4)(Critical Reading)

ENVR 210. Introductory Geographic Information Systems. Geographic information systems are a primary tool for analysis of spatial data. ArcGIS desktop software is used to edit, query, and analyze spatial databases and display the results of analysis. Both vector and raster data are considered. Emphasis on applications of GIS to the lecture/laboratory sessions. Sophomore standing required. Spring.

ENVR 240. Environmental Policy.  After considering  the history of environmental legislation in the U.S., contemporary policy and decision-making processes related to  environmental issues at the local, state, national and international levels will be examined. Current controversies in legislative and regulatory issues will be discussed. (U1) 

ENVR 242. Environmental Writing. This writing course will survey a broad spectrum of environmental literature, from Thoreau’s Walden to Cheryl Strayed’s recent bestseller Wild, as well as images, music, and cinema that address environmental themes. Through writing, class discussion, and other assignments, students will reflect on our changing relationship with the natural world and consider what the engagement has meant for both the planet and its human inhabitants. The course follows a workshop format, so reading and critiquing other students’ writing is required. (M6)

ENVR 244. Climate Science and Policy. This interdisciplinary course explores the science behind climate change and the global, regional and local policy responses aimed at addressing its effects. Students will examine key climate concepts such as tipping points, feedback loops, and adaptation versus mitigation strategies. The course delves into real-world climate impacts at both international and local levels, with guest lectures and case studies providing insight into community-based resilience and policy initiatives. Through debates, artistic responses, discussions, and engagement with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), students will develop a comprehensive understanding of climate negotiations, finance, and sustainability initiatives. Special attention will be given to diverse perspectives—such as those of indigenous communities, developing nations, and gender-related concerns—and how these shape policy outcomes.  Prerequisites: Sophomore or higher standing required. (PTK: Global Connections) (Equity and Inclusion) (Critical Reading)

ENVR 246. Communicating Science. The course will explore the principles, strategies, and practices of effective science communication to diverse audiences, including the public, policymakers, and the media. Students will examine how to translate complex scientific information into accessible narratives, tackle misinformation, and address ethical considerations in communication. Prerequisites: Junior or higher standing required.

ENVR 255. Lehigh Valley Landscape, Culture, and Story of Place. (Also IDIS 255) This course offers tools for interpreting the landscape and narrating historical change since pre-colonial times. Beginning with an orientation to the geography of the Lehigh Valley, particularly those features that have the greatest influence on human lives, the course examines the physical, cultural, and economic changes of the Lehigh Valley through the lens of its landscape features and natural resources with an eye toward the future. Students learn to think spatially and geographically about cultural change and the local environment, including work on a multimedia project that includes ways to visualize and document the unique story of the region and to consider the future.

ENVR 264. Dying to Go Green: The Green Burial Movement. This writing course will consider the emerging movement in “natural” – or “green” – burials, both in this country and abroad. Our primary text will be Grave Matters, which tells the stories of families who stepped outside the doors of their local funeral parlors and laid their loved ones to rest in natural cemeteries, backyard grave sites, memorial reefs, and at sea. You’ll also read about cremation, home funerals, and “eco-coffins,” as well the history of American burial and the benefits of going out green. By way of contrast, you will learn about the embalming process and the ecological consequences of our modern funeral practices. 

ENVR 370. WI: Environmental Studies Seminar. Designed to apply research methods to current environmental issues. Students will research and present written and oral reports on the general topic. Emphasis is on the development of skills in using primary literature, analysis and interpretation of data, and the communication of ideas. Writing-intensive. 

ENVR 190-199, 290-299, 390-399. Special Topics.
ENVR 286, 381-383. Independent Study.
ENVR 384. Independent Research.
ENVR 288, 386-388. Internship.
ENVR 400-401. Honors.