Rollins College
ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES
Stephenson (Chair)
Lines
Allen
Siry
The Environmental Studies major is an interdisciplinary program for the study of natural and cultural systems essential for sustaining the quality of life on earth. Environmental subjects must be examined from many view points view-scientific, economic, ethical, historical, political, and sociological. Thus, the program includes disciplines and faculty from several departments. Students study the uses and protection of those resources that are essential for economic development and public well being.
This major offers a common curriculum that accomplishes two fundamental objectives. The first is to provide a sound basis of knowledge to enable the student to analyze and recommend actions on environmental issues, problems, and opportunities. The second is to provide more extensive course work across a number of disciplines, or more intensive course work within one discipline.
Environmental Studies classes may supply the student with (1) preparation for a career in environmentally-related areas of concern; (2) a broad background in several related areas of study in the tradition of a liberal arts education; (3) some concentration in a particular discipline combined with the environmental major; (4) a basis for further study on the graduate level.
An essential part of these courses is to involve students in real environmental problems existing beyond the campus. Florida has been in the forefront of environmental issues in guest lecturers associated with this major give a distinctive advantage to pursuing Environmental Studies at Rollins College.
Students should select an adviser who is associated with the Environmental Studies program. With the adviser’s consent, courses especially relevant to the student’s individual needs may be substituted for non-core courses. Students who intend to pursue graduate study in a different discipline should minor in that discipline.
MAJOR REQUIREMENTS
Students interested in Environmental Studies may choose to major in one of three tracks (Culture and the environment, Environmental Policy, or Science) or minor in Environmental Studies.
I. CULTURE AND THE ENVIRONEMENT / ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
TRACKS (Ten (10) core courses and six (6) electives required for each
track.)
A. CORE COURSES
BIO 234 Pant Kingdom
Required for CULTURE AND THE ENVIRONMENT TRACK:
Required for ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY TRACK:
B. ELECTIVES [Choose one of the tracks listed below]
CULTURE AND THE ENVIRONMENT TRACK
Complete six (6) courses, four (4) must be at the 300 level or above
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY TRACK
Complete six (6) of the following, four (4) must be at the 300 level or above
II. SCIENCE TRACK (Nine (9) core courses and seven (7) electives required.)
A. CORE COURSES
NOTE: The BIO 120/121 sequence is preferred, but ENV 120 (Biosphere) may be substituted for BIO 121.
B. ELECTIVE [Choose seven (7) courses, four (4) must be at the 300 level or above]
MINOR REQUIREMENTS
Complete the following six (6) courses and choose three (3) electives in Environmental Studies, two (2) must be at the 300 level or above.
ENV 413 Senior Seminar in Environmental Issues
Course of Study
ANT 355 Dynamics of Socio-Cultural Change: Basic anthropological approaches to the theory of socio-cultural change. This course covers: evolutionism, cultural ecology, diffusionism, historical and economic materialism, and technological determinism. Applications in recent research on tribal and peasant peoples, as well as modern industrial society, are emphasized. Basic methodology in applied anthropology and development is introduced. Students act as change agents and change analysts. Prerequisite: one ANT course or consent.
BIO 120/121 General Biology I and II: A two-term survey of modern biology for the science major. Topics include: cell structure and function, genetics, development, anatomy, physiology, diversity, ecology, and evolution. Laboratory required.
BIO 234 Plant Kingdom: An evolutionary survey of protist, fungi, and plant kingdoms. Topics include the origins and ordering of biological diversity, the structure of plant communities, anatomy, morphology, and reproductive biology. Fieldwork provides the opportunity to learn the use of taxonomic keys for identification of vascular plants. Laboratory and field work required. Prerequisite: BIO 120, BIO 121, or consent.
BIO 316 Ecology: A field-oriented course covering the fundamental processes and organization that characterize populations, communities, and ecosystems. Laboratory study emphasizes standard field methodology in the analysis of representative aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems of Central and South Florida, including the Keys and Everglades regions. Prerequisite: BIO 234 or 236 or consent.
CHM 120 Chemistry I: An introduction to the theory, practice, and methods of chemistry, including quantitative and qualitative analysis of empirical data and observation from demonstration and experimentation. Chemical principles covered include stoichiometry, kinetic molecular theory, descriptive chemistry, atomic structure and periodicity, and oxidation reduction. The integrated laboratory introduces chemical techniques skills, and methods for quantitative/qualitative analysis of data and their limitations. Intended for science majors. Laboratory required.
CHM 121 Chemistry II: Continuation of CHM120 as a one-year introduction to the principles of chemistry. Topics discussed include: modern chemical bonding theory, bonding in solids and liquids, chemical thermodynamics, chemical equilibrium, acid-base and solubility equilibria, phase equilibria and colligative properties, electrochemistry, coordination chemistry, chemical kinetics, and nuclear chemistry. Laboratory required. Prerequisite: CHM 120.
ECO 355 Environmental Economics: An examination of the economic approach to understanding resource use and pollution, with emphasis on the latter. Topics include: the economic impact of pollution, a critical examination of alternative proposals to deal with pollution problems, externalities, public goods, private and public property rights, and cost-benefit analysis. Prerequisite: ECO212 and ECO 213.
ENG 392 Expository Writing: Environmental Issues: An advanced composition course that focuses on environmental issues. The course teaches skills in writing of various kinds: the argumentative essay, the technical report, the book review, and the personal essay which is a "reading" of nature. Prerequisite: ENG 101 or consent.
ENV 101 Geography of Endangered Environments: An interdisciplinary approach to environmental science. Ideas and concepts from the natural sciences and social sciences are integrated to emphasize the systemic nature of contemporary environmental problems. Special attention is focused on a number of critical environmental regions including the Amazon, Southeast Asia, Madagascar, and the western United States. This course replaces ENV 100.
ENV 120 The biosphere with Lab: An survey of current biological principles, emphasizing the structure and function of cells, plant and animal physiology and anatomy, development, genetics, diversity, ecology, and evolution.
ENV 130 The Geosphere with Lab: An introduction to earth science that includes geology, oceanography, and meteorology.
ENV 189 The Environmental Crisis in its Cultural Context: An interdisciplinary view of humanity’s responsibility to nature, the technocratic drift of society, and the conflicts between material and environmental values. Emphasis is given to the development of the mechanistic worldview and the re-emergence of an organic or holistic perspective.
ENV 205 Introduction to Human Ecology: This course provides a general view of the field of human ecology and discusses contemporary global environmental issues. Students learn from a multidisciplinary perspective about the kinds of questions that the human ecologist asks and about the nature of the problems that the human ecologist views the world from. Students also learn about human ecology through case studies of human/environment interactions in different cultures and environments.
ENV 206 Caribbean Environmental History: A study of the clash between American, European, and African cultures in the East Indies, and how their conquest by Europeans changed the history of the modern world. Contemporary and historical geography of Florida, Mexico, and the Caribbean Sea are viewed in the light of Spanish conquest, native assimilation, and African colonization. Prerequisite: ENV 189 or LAC 200.
ENV 216 Ecology with Lab: A study of the interrelationships of organisms and their environments, including population, community, and ecosystem ecology. Emphasis is on aquatic and terrestrial systems of Central Florida. Laboratory required. Prerequisite: ENV 120, ENV 130.
ENV 220 Field Botany with Lab: An examination of the taxonomy, evolution, ecology, and environmental significance of local flora through directed observation, identification, and experimental analysis. Fieldwork emphasis is on developing proficiency in description and identification of plant specimens obtained and interpreting evolutionary and ecologic relationships among plant groups. Laboratory required. Prerequisite: BIO 121.
ENV 225 Introduction to Field Studies: Natural Habitats of Central Florida: Central Florida provides excellent opportunities for field-based exploration of the biophysical environment. Students learn vegetation mapping techniques while exploring the complex interactions influencing the distribution of habitats in Central Florida. The ultimate goal of this course is to go beyond simple mechanistic explanations and provide a deeper understanding of these habitats as dynamic integrated systems. Prerequisite: ENV 130 or ENV 120.
ENV 260 History of Technology: Tools of Toil: A history of mechanization and cultural change. This course combines a survey of tool evaluation, design, and application from the ancient world to this century with discussions concerning the social and psychological influences of numerous mechanical advances. An examination of modern industrialism’s roots and global influences on labor and resources is tied to the student’s personal use and daily dependence upon tools.
ENV 270 Environmental Literature: A study of poets, novelists, and essayists who have spoken out strongly for the preservation of the environment. Readings include: Whitman, Thoreau, Emerson, Burroughs, Muir, Austin, Carson, and Abbey.
ENV 280 American Environmental History: A study of the evolution of land and resource use from an ecological perspective. Topics may include: the destruction of Native Americans, colonial settlement, expansion of the frontier, the progressive conservation movement, and the evolution of the modern environmental movement. Prerequisite: ENV 189 and another ENV course.
ENV 284 Marine Biology: An introduction to the biology of the oceans. This course surveys the ecology, systematic, biogeography, and behavior of marine organisms from the floating (planktonic) organisms through the swimming and bottom dwelling forms. A major emphasis is placed on organisms of the Florida coasts and the Caribbean region. Laboratory work is incorporated into the scheduled class periods; some field work is included.
ENV 289 Nature in the City: For the past century, the search for natural experiences in an increasingly homogenous, urban society has occupied some of our greatest minds. The problem of alienation – the separation of humans from Nature-is the focus from which the American experience is examined. Beginning with Henry David Thoreau and Frederick law Olmsted, this course traces the efforts of writers and design professionals to harmonize the urban and natural worlds.
ENV 292 Political Economy of Environmental Issues: A study of the political and economic framework of contemporary environmental issues. This course traces the transformation of organic society into market society, and the resulting commodification of nature.
ENV 302 Traditional Town Planning: The surburbanization of America ahs fostered a host of problems: traffic congestion, accelerated pollution levels, visual blight, a profusion of strip malls, and vast tracts of housing designed for autos at the expense of pedestrians and children. Over the last decade, a group of planners and architects have introduced a traditional urban form that offers the potential to build pedestrian-friendly communities along natural lines. To better understand the Traditional Town Planning movement, students spend four days at Seaside, Florida: a new town designed by the noted architects Andres Duany and Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk.
ENV 308 Science and Policy in the Atomic Age: A critical look at the changes in modern physics, politics, and warfare as they relate to energy requirements. The class examines the role of sciences in society, economics, political processes, legal safeguards, and international relations. Readings integrate the history and philosophy of science with a history of international relations and studies emphasizing nuclear physics, energy policy making, impact of war, and human ecology. Prerequisite: ENV 120, ENV 130, ENV 189, and ENV 292.
ENV 323 Conservation of Biodiversity: An in-depth exploration of contemporary human impacts on global biodiversity. We are currently in the midst of a major extinction crisis. Natural habitats are being transformed on a scale that is unprecedented in human history. This course examines the crisis from an interdisciplinary perspective, assessing the value of specific conservation strategies such as wildlife corridors, extractive reserves, and national parks. Prerequisite recommended: ENV 101 or ENV 120.
ENV 325 Resource Management: A survey of the occurrence and management of natural resources. The primary focus is on the United States, the use and misuse of resources, and the management that is essential if basic elements of our environment are to be conserved for future benefit.
ENV 343 History of Science: A basic overview of the major ideas, issues, and personalities that shaped modern physics, chemistry, biology, earth, and behavioral sciences. The course studies the riddles that time, measurement, momentum, reproduction, disease, temperature, and death posed for ancient, medieval, and modern peoples. The course also examines the influences of craftsmanship, scholarly institutions, tools, intuition, and alchemy in the formulation of scientific theories, natural laws, and experimental research. Prerequisite: HIS 101-102 and junior standing, or consent.
ENV 347 Islands in the Stream: An introduction to island nature study through the examination of the literature and natural history of the United States’ most tropic isles. Reefs, mangroves, fisheries, and wildlife are studied together with literary sources to more fully understand the issues in tropical island preservation and conservation. A primary objective is the discussion of the cultural and natural values enhanced by the protection of rare island ecosystems.
ENV 348 Sustainable Development: A study of the development of an alternative path to economic development that is consistent with the laws of nature. This course explores theoretical and actual development strategies that are ecologically and socially acceptable. Prerequisite: ENV 292 or consent.
ENV 353 National Parks and Protected Areas: A study of the role of protected areas in sustaining society. The course examines the uses of national parks as pleasuring grounds, genetic banks, working ecosystems and symbols of our heritage, looking most closely at the national park systems of the United States, Great Britain, France, and Costa Rica. Each of these countries approaches management of its parks from a different socio-economic position, with the need to protect different resources for different reasons.
ENV 362 Environmental Politics: An examination of the political institutions, economic structures, and social conditions that have diminished the biological diversity of plant and animal species to the point where Earth’s ecological life support systems are breaking down. Through analyzing the limits of ideological politics, the course demonstrates the national and international dimension of acid rain, drought, atmospheric contamination, toxic wastes, extinction, and mass starvation. Policies and priorities are examined from both an ecological and humane perspective. Prerequisite: ENV 292 or HIS 242 or HIS 243 or POL 160.
ENV 372 Images of the Environment as Seen Through Film: An examination of the various aspects of society’s involvement with the environment and how it has been depicted and often shaped by film-makers. The course is divided into four topics: attitudes toward nature and wilderness, attitudes toward technology, the exploitation of nature, and visions of the future. Films may include: Modern Times, Koyaanisquatsi, Jeremiah Johnson, The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz, Local Hero, Them, The Birds, Metropolis, Never Cry Wolf, Wild River, and Man in the White Suite. Prerequisite: one ENV course or consent.
ENV 377 Wilderness and the American Mind: An exploration of the American perception of wilderness and the effects of that perception on the use and abuse of wild nature.
ENV 383 History of Conservation in the U.S.: A study of the evolution of ecological thought from the romanticism of John Muir to the scientific underpinnings provided by Leopold. This course explains what it mans to have an ecological orientation to the world, or in the words of Aldo Leopold, what it means to "think like a mountain."
ENV 386 Environmental Law: A generalist’s perspective on the interpretation and application of federal, state, and local environmental regulations in the U.S.. Attention is given to major federal environmental legislation, focusing mainly on national land use planning and the federal judicial response to past and present environmental problems. Topics include: air pollution, water pollution, dredge and fill laws, historic preservation, and toxic waste regulations. Prerequisite recommended: ENV 120, 189, 292.
ENV 389 Environmental Planning: A practical, interdisciplinary approach to managing limited environmental resources. Course work emphasizes an understanding of the competing demands for urban growth and development and the need to conserve and protect the natural environment. The course concludes with an examination of environmental issues in Central Florida. Prerequisite: ENV 189. Recommended: ENV 120 and ENV 292.
ENV 390 Culture and Landscape: A study of American landscapes and the human cultures that have created them. Special emphasis is placed on the intensive development that defines the American experience and has radically altered natural systems.
ENV 399/499 Independent Study / Environmental Research: Field and problem-oriented independent research topics in the area of specialty. Prerequisite: sophomore or junior standing or ENV 399; senior standing and consent of adviser for ENV 499.
ENV 413 Senior Seminar in Environmental Issues: An interdisciplinary capstone experience. Students are responsible for researching an environmental issue related to a common theme. Research is conducted under the guidance of the Environmental Studies faculty and presented in both oral and written form in an open seminar format.
PHI 309 Environmental Ethics: An examination of the kinds of reasons that can be offered for treating aspects of the environment in an ethical manner. The course explores our duties to and the value of animals, plants, entire species, ecosystems, and the earth as a whole. It also considers how being ethical in relation to non-human nature might affect the way we do business and live our lives. Prerequisite: ENV 189.
REL 324 Contemporary Religious Thought and the Environment: A course examining traditional and contemporary Judeo-Christian thought to see to what extent the claim that Western religious beliefs and practices (in comparison with that of some Eastern and Native American traditions) are among the major causes of current environmental crises. The focus is on how beliefs about God, the created world, and human nature, purposes, and salvation shape human attitudes and behavior toward the environment.
Additional Courses Counted as Environmental Studies – Elective Science Track
BIO 229 [1.5 C.U.]: An introduction to the biology of microorganisms. Primary emphasis is on the metabolism, reproduction, genetics, and ecology of bacteria. Sections on immunology, virology, biology, and infectious disease are also included. The laboratory provides an opportunity to learn basic microbiological techniques and to observe principles discussed in class. Laboratory required. Prerequisite: BIO 120.
BIO 284/394 Marine Biology [1.5 C.U.]: An introduction to life in the sea. Directed field-oriented studies are conducted in the ecology, diversity, biogeography, and behavior of marine plankton, benthos, and nekton. Emphasis is placed on representative field areas of Florida coasts and the Caribbean. Laboratory required. Prerequisite: BIO 121 or consent. Winter term, every third year.
Richard/Small
BIO 287/387 Tropical Field Biology [1.5 C.U.]: Directed field-oriented studies in the ecology, diversity, biography, and behavior of terrestrial and aquatic organisms of the American Tropics. Emphasis is given to representative ecosystems of Central America (e.g. lowland and mountain rain forest, mangroves, cloud forest, paramo) and the Caribbean (e.g. coral reefs, turtle grass, intertidal). Prerequisite: BIO 121 or consent. Winter term, every third year.
Richard
BIO 288/388 Marine Biology of the Pacific [1.5 C.U.]: An introduction to the marine life of the Pacific Ocean. Directed field-oriented studies are conducted in the ecology, diversity, and behavior of Pacific marine biota. Emphasis is placed on the study of coral reef ecosystems, biogeography, and the development of shallow marine communities. This course is conducted at the Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology of the University of Hawaii on Oahu, and on Hawaii. Laboratory required. Prerequisite: BIO 121 or consent. Winter term, every third year.
Richard/Small
BIO 311 Plant Physiology [1.5 C.U.]: A study of the functions and processes associated with the life of higher plants. Topics include: water relations, mineral nutrition, cellular and long distance transport, photosynthesis, carbon and nitrogen metabolism, and control of physiological response. Plant environment interactions are emphasized. The laboratory involves various investigations emphasizing problem-solving in plant physiology. Laboratory required. Prerequisite: BIO 121 or consent. Winter term, every third year.
Schmalstig
BIO 312 Animal Physiology [1.5 C.U.]: A study of the major processes relating to function of animals at both the cellular and organismic levels. Topics include the functions of the nervous, muscular, endocrine, excretory, circulatory, respiratory, digestive, and reproductive systems. Emphasis is given to vertebrate, particularly mammalian, systems but aspects of lower vertebrate and invertebrate physiology are covered. Laboratory required. Prerequisite: BIO 121 or consent.
Small
BIO 316 Ecology [1.5 C.U.]: A field-oriented course covering the fundamental processes and organization which characterize populations, communities, and ecosystems. Laboratory study emphasizes standard field methodology in South Florida, including the Keys and Everglades regions. Laboratory required. Prerequisite: BIO 234, BIO 236, BIO 237, or consent.
Richard
BIO 351 Population Biology [1 C.U.]: A study of elementary population genetics, ecology, and evolution. This course covers the models and biological applications of these disciplines. Papers in several scientific journals are discussed in order to apply the theoretical models and statistical tests. Classes are devoted to lecture, problem solving, and discussion. Proficiency in algebra is required.
Coleman
BIO 408 Genetics [1.5 C.U.]: Molecular and Mendelian genetics as it applies to prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms. Lectures and laboratories cover such fields as molecular, cellular, developmental, Mendelian, and population genetics. A quantitative approach is emphasized, both in the presentation of concepts and genetic analysis. Laboratory required. Prerequisite: CHM 121, senior status, or consent.
Coleman
BIO 462 Evolution [1 C.U.]: A "capstone" seminar devoted to the most important unifying theme of biology. The prime emphasis is placed upon processes and mechanisms rather than the products of organic evolution. This course covers new material as well as the opportunity to integrate knowledge accumulated in other courses within the major. Prerequisite: senior status.
Coleman
Policy Track:
SOC 320 Social Change [1 C.U.]: A study of social change processes and how they affect the organization of societies; the relationship of human beings to their environment; and the nature of future lifestyles. Attention is given to violence and comprehensive public planning as alternative means to direct social change. Prerequisite: one Sociology course or consent.
Van Sickle
ENG 206 Topics in American Literature: Poetry of Earth: American poetry since Whitman’s Leaves of Grass has been celebrating what Keats described as the "poetry of the earth." This course explores the works of modern and contemporary poets in the Whitman tradition of nature writing: Williams, Stevens, Cummings, Snyder, Swenson, Oliver, and Ammons.
Phelan
Culture and the Environment Track:
ANT 205/305 Topics in Anthropology [1 C.U.]: Studies of subdisciplines of Anthropology, varied from year to year as to focus. May be repeated for credit.
Staff
ECO 221 Statistics for Economics [1 C.U.]: An introduction to statistics for economics students. Areas examined include: descriptive statistics, probability, and inferential statistics with an emphasis on the latter. Topics covered include: measures of central tendency, dispension, skewness, probability distributions, interval estimation, hypotheses tests, correlation, and regression. Computer projects are integral to the course. Prerequisites: sophomore status
Staff
MAT 120 Statistics for the Natural Sciences [1 C.U.]: A survey of applied statistical inference emphasizing estimation and testing of hypotheses; an introduction to regression, correlation, analysis of variance, and design of experiments. Intended for students in Health Science, Physics, Chemistry, and Biology. Prerequisite: MAT 109, MAT 110, or MAT 111.
Staff
ENV 130 Geosphere [1.5 C.U.]: An introduction to earth science which explores the complex interactions between climate, landforms, soil, water, and organisms. The field component of this course emphasizes the diverse physical environments of Central Florida. The ultimate goal of this course is to go beyond simple mechanistic explanations and provide a deeper understanding of the earth as a dynamic integrated system.
ENV 322 Conservation of Biodiversity [1 C.U.]: An in-depth exploration of contemporary human impacts on global biological diversity. We are currently in the midst of a major extinction crisis. Natural habitats are being transformed on a scale which is unprecedented in human history. This course examines the crisis from an interdisciplinary perspective, assessing the value of specific conservation strategies such as wildlife corridors, extractive reserves, and national parks. Recommended: ENV 100 or ENV 120.
ENV 225 Introduction to Field Studies: Natural Habitats of Central Florida: [1.5 C.U.]: Central Florida provides excellent opportunities for field-based exploration of the biophysical environment. Students learn vegetation mapping techniques while exploring the complex interactions influencing the distribution of habitats in Central Florida. The ultimate goal of this course is to go beyond simple mechanistic explanations and provide a deeper understanding of these habitats as dynamic integrated systems. Prerequisites: ENV 130 or ENV 120.
ENV 101 Geography of Endangered Environments [1 C.U.]: An interdisciplinary approach to environmental science. Ideas and concepts from the natural sciences and social sciences and social sciences are integrated to emphasize the systemic nature of contemporary environmental problems. Special attention is focused on a number of critical environmental regions including the Amazon, Southeast Asia, Madagascar, and the western United States.