Environmental Studies Requirements
The Environmental Studies major is an interdisciplinary program of study that transcends traditional divisional and disciplinary boundaries. The core includes an introductory course and courses in chemistry, ecology, philosophy, and environmental economics. The program also requires the student to take advanced courses in natural science and mathematics, social science, art, and humanities. Environmental Studies majors must do field work away from campus or elect an internship in addition
to a senior project. The core provides the necessary scientific and economic background for environmental decision-making. The advanced courses provide exposure to methodologies and provide a knowledge base important to environmentalists.
Requirements for a major in Environmental Studies: All students must take the basic core which includes Environmental Studies 120, 243, 247, 332, 500, Chemistry 100 or Chemistry 111/112, and one course from each of the following areas:
I: Natural Science and Mathematics — Biology 450, Chemistry 211, Mathematics 146 or 246;
II: Social Sciences — Economics 361, 461, Anthropology 300 (Appropriate Topics); Politics and Government 320 (Environmental Topics), 380 (Environmental Topics), Psychology 251/252;
III: Arts and Humanities — Philosophy 353, Art 372, Studio Art (nature subjects).
Students must complete either an internship (Environmental Studies 551 or 552) or an off-campus field semester. Several field semesters offered by the ACM are available to Ripon College students. These include the Costa Rica, Oak Ridge Science Semester, Urban Studies, Washington Semester, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe programs. Additional programs include Semester in Environmental Science at the Marine Biology Laboratory of Woods Hole and the Swansea Program in Wales. Other programs are available during the summer, if students qualify. Consult with Professor Wittler.
Students wishing to pursue graduate work in Environmental Studies are encouraged
to take additional courses in an area of specialty (e.g., biology, chemistry, economics, politics and government, sociology, anthropology).
Courses
120. Environmental Studies (Wittler)
Four credits. Correlation of ecological, ethical, political, legal, economic, social and historical aspects of the study of our environment. Lecture, discussion, required field trips.
243. Philosophy and the Environment (Jeffries)
Four credits. Offered in 2008-09 and alternate years. Exploration of the relationship of human beings to the natural world. Consideration of the conflicting claims about how we are interconnected with the rest of nature and also separate from it. An examination of such contested issues as what responsibilities, if any, do we have to the rest of nature and how we can weigh wisely competing claims about natural resources. Same as Philosophy 243.
247. General Ecology (Wallace)
Four Credits Interactive of aquatic and terrestrial plants and animals with their environment. Emphasis is placed on community structure, energy flow, nutrient cycling, competition, niche development
and population dynamics. Lecture, laboratory, required field trips. Prerequisite: Biology 121 or equivalent. Same as Biology 247.
300. Departmental Studies (Staff)
Three to four credits. Special subjects in environmental studies not covered by regular courses. Some topics have included: Environmental Toxicology; Global Information System/Global Positioning System. This course may be repeated for credit when topics change.
332. Resource and Environmental Economics (Hauge)
Four credits. Offered in 2007-08 and alternate years. Theoretical framework for the analysis of environmental pollution and renewable and nonrenewable resource management. Topics include public goods and common-property resources; private cost, social cost, externalities and market failure; designing and implementing environmental policies; benefit-cost analysis; the global environment. Prerequisite: Economics 212 or consent of the instructor. Same as Economics 332.
500. Senior Studies (Staff)
Variable credits Students who enroll in the Senior Studies in Environmental Studies must: 1) take a comprehensive exam administered by the Coordinator of Environmental Studies; 2) develop a portfolio; and 3) complete the senior capstone experience for a major offered at Ripon College.
For example, Environmental Studies students who are interested in public policy might elect to take the Politics and Government Senior Seminar course. Students will work with the Coordinator of Environmental Studies to determine the number of credits to be awarded. Students also may propose a self-designed capstone experience. Proposals for self-designed capstone experiences must be approved by the Environmental Studies Committee. Prerequisites: senior standing and consent of the Coordinator of Environmental Studies.
541, 542. Independent Study (Staff)
One to four credits each semester. Individual investigation of some aspect of environmental studies of special interest to the student. The study is carried out under the supervision of a staff member. Prerequisites: Junior or senior standing, consent of the Coordinator of Environmental Studies and a faculty adviser, and 12 credits toward the major.
551, 552. Internship (Staff)
Two to four credits. Supervised field study combined with scholarly achievement and practical experience with an industry, government agency or other institution. A paper is required. Approval must be obtained from the Coordinator of the Environmental Studies program and the faculty member coordinating the internship. Prerequisites: Junior or senior standing, consent of Environmental Studies Coordinator and faculty adviser, and 12 credits toward the major.
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