Environmental Studies - Earth System Science

This course is the introductory course for environmental science. An interdisciplinary study of environmental problems that considers world populations, energy, air and water pollution, sustainable agriculture, biodiversity and environmental health. Class discussion will center on solutions including technical and human behavioral modifications that can lead to the sustainable use of our environment.

This course will cover the fundamentals of Geographic Information System (GIS) technology, why it is important, and how it is being applied in such diverse fields as urban planning, marketing, health, criminal justice, political science, natural resources, and land conservation. The class will focus on practical applications of spatial research—such as data collection, utilizing local and global data, and analyzing spatial information to explore and investigate real-world applications of GIS. The overall goal of the course is to provide students with the theoretical and practical knowledge necessary to understand the uses and limitations of GIS, and conduct typical GIS operations and analyses.

Will future climate changes advance gradually, or abruptly and catastrophically, as they have in the past? Understanding processes that have affected climate in the past will help us predict future global warming. This course explores the mechanisms and indicators of global change, and treats topics such as the “snowball earth,” ocean fertilization, oceanic methane release and the ocean conveyor belt.