Washington and Lee

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The following information summarizes Washington and Lee's efforts in environmental studies. A later message will provide detailed  descriptions of the scholarship and teaching interests among our faculty. This message (1) describes our program; (2) lists the  courses directly related to environmental studies; (3) provides preliminary and brief descriptions of faculty scholarship and  teaching interests; and (4) describes three co-curricular programs. 
Ken Ruscio
Associate Dean and Associate Professor of Politics
Washington and Lee University
Lexington, Va. 24450

(1) Environmental Studies Program

The interdisciplinary program resembles a minor or a concentration. The first course is an interdisciplinary freshman-sophomore seminar  Introduction to Environmental Studies. Students then take three discipline based seminars--one each in the social sciences (Environmental Policy); sciences (Water Resources); and Humanities (Philosophy of Nature). In their senior year, students take an  interdisciplinary, project-based capstone course. Each of the upper-level courses requires a certain prerequisite. For example  Philosophy of Nature requires Environmental Ethics, while Environmental Policy requires introductory politics and economics. The total number of courses required to complete the program is  therefore much more than five. All courses for the program are in  place, with the exception of the senior capstone course which is  being designed this year. 

Washington and Lee also offers a B.A. in Geology that focuses on environmental studies. It differs from the standard geology major.

(2) Listed below are the courses that relate directly to environmental subjects. I have omitted courses (such as Public Policy) that may touch upon environmental themes but actually are designed to address other issues more directly. 

Interdepartmental 110: Intro to Environmental Studies (Ruscio)
Politics 233: Environmental Policy (Ruscio)
Geology 135: Metereology (Spencer)
Geology 140: Geology of National Parks (Harbor)
Geology 150: Water Resources (Harbor)
Geology 201: Oceanography (Spencer)
Geology 397: Environmental Seminar (Spencer)
Philosophy 108: Ethics and The Environment (Boggs)
Philosophy 260: Philosophy of Nature (Boggs)
Physics 110: Energy and The Environment (Donaghy)
Economics 120: Economics, Ecology, and Resource Conservation (Gunn)
Biology 245: General Ecology (Hurd)
Law (graduate): Environmental Law (Halper, Wirth)
Law (graduate): International Environmental Law (Wirth)
Law (graduate): Land-Use Regulation (Brion)

(3) Faculty
More detailed descriptions will come in the near future.
Robert Akins, Physics and Engineering * (wind engineering)
Charles Boggs, Philosophy (environmental ethics)*
Louise Halper, Law (property, federal and state law)*
David Harbor, Geology (hydrology)*
Larry Hurd, Biology (ecology, population)*
Tyler Lorig, Psychology (neuroscience, olfactory processes)
John Knox, Biology (botany, evolution)
John McDaniel, anthroplogy (site preservation and restoration)
Tom Nye, Biology (botany)
Ken Ruscio, Politics (policy analysis, democratic theory)*
Ed Spencer, Geology (oceanography, metereology)
Jeanine Stewart, Psychology (neoroscience, effects of toxins)
Jim Warren, English (nature and literature)
David Wirth, Law (international environmental law)*
* are members of the environmental studies committee.

(4) Co-Curricular Activities
First, we have a very active speaker series which attempts to underscore the interdisciplinary features of environmental studies. Often, the speakers are co-sponsored with a department. This year,  philosophy, journalism, geology, biology, and English are co-sponsoring speakers with the Environmental Studies Program. 

Second, the students participate in increasing numbers in The Outing Club, an organization which sponsors community service projects as  well as outdoor activities, such as camping, biking, fly-fishing, rock-climbing, and so forth. They also attempt to raise the level of environmental awareness on campus by organizing events such as Earth  Day celebrations and lobbying for better campus operations. 

Third, The Environmental Law Digest and The Environmental Law Forum are two law student organizations that have been very active over the years in calling attention to enviromental issues.