Courses

Research in a chosen area of environmental studies with a final written report. Presentation of research findings are also made by the student in a seminar.

The course is designed to introduce students to the broad concept of rural development, to the relationship between rural communities and their environments, and to the critical issues of rural restructuring and sustainability. This course examines the theoretical underpinnings, principles, and practices of rural development as well as the problems and challenges facing rural communities in both developed and developing countries. It is expected that, by the end of the course, students gain and/or broaden their knowledge of contemporary domestic and international rural development processes, practices, and issues.

Research in a chosen area of environmental studies with a final written report. Students present research findings in a seminar. Allows students with larger projects to gain extra credit.

Human interaction with the environment is the most fundamental of all relationships. This course examines the different ways in which societies have defined, understood, and used their non- human surroundings and the processes through which the environment influences culture and adapts to human communities. Students explore the historical context of the human-nature interaction in global perspective and compare the ways in which the concepts of politics, nationalism, race, ethnicity, gender, religion, etc. inform and guide the relationship.

A survey of the origin and development of those streams of geographic thought reflecting people's relationship to the natural environment. The course includes discussions within the context of Christian and non-Christian alternatives, of the development of a responsible Christian environmental ethic and its application to global environmental issues.

An introduction to the underlying principles and methods of 3D modeling within ArcGIS 3D Analyst. It provides experience with 3DE tools as well as opportunities for practical, real-life applications through a series of examples and exercises, which include: constructing the 3D environment/landscape, analyzing spatial data, and creating outputs (e.g., 3D maps), based on real-life modeling examples such as urban landscapes, parks, business locations, and housing.

An exploration of various practical applications of biology in environmental management, monitoring, and remediation. Topics include many important areas of concern such as wildlife management, fisheries, forestry, agriculture, water and air pollution, and protection of endangered ecosystems. Various biological approaches to these are considered, such as population modelling, ecophysiology, microbiology techniques, biomonitoring, ecosystem health, and biodiversity inventories. The implications of environmental ethics and the role of Christian environmental stewardship are discussed.

An introduction to the materials and processes of the physical earth: rocks and minerals, earth structure and composition, plate tectonics, volcanology, seismology, crustal deformation, weathering and erosion, slope movement, sedimentation, wind and water processes, glaciation, and geologic time. Earth materials and processes are studied in the laboratory and in the field. This course is an environmental studies core requirement.

An overview of the fundamental earth science processes responsible for the creation, transformation, and ongoing physical development of western North America. These processes are studied in the context of the building of the North American continent through tectonic forces and surface dynamics. Topics include: geologic time, tectonics, volcanology, seismology, stratigraphy, glaciation, erosion, paleontology, paleoclimatology, and environmental issues. The objective of the course is to familiarize students with the physical environment around them so they may take a more active role in the stewardship of the earth. Field trips and field studies are included.