Environmental Studies

Environmental Studies (ENST)

Program Director: Thomas Kinnaman

Coordinating Committee: Maria A. Antonaccio (environmental ethics), Diana Di Stefano (history), Craig Kochel (geology), Thomas C. Kinnaman (economics), Michael Malusis (civil and environmental engineering), Ben Marsh (physical geography), Molly McGuire (chemistry), Matthew McTammany (biology), Peter Wilshusen (sustainable resource management), Amanda Wooden (politics and policy) 

Professor: Ben Marsh

Assistant Professor:  Diana Di Stefano, Matthew McTammany, Peter Wilshusen, Amanda Wooden

Environmental studies is the interdisciplinary examination of how natural sciences, policy studies, social sciences, humanities, and engineering combine to inform the consideration of humanity’s effects on the natural world. This program educates the student to appreciate the complexity of environmental issues and solve them by working with citizens and experts in many fields. With a major in environmental studies, students have the latitude to create a course theme in an area of specialization while they simultaneously develop a breadth of interdisciplinary and methodological knowledge in the environmental fields.

Specifically, the program has two major tracks: a bachelor of science and a bachelor of arts. Each requires the interdisciplinary study of environmental issues and an understanding of the complexity of the relationship between humanity and the environment, while they allow the student to concentrate his/her studies in a field of particular interest to that student. The bachelor of arts program is designed for those who want to develop core concentrations in the social sciences, policy and law, or the humanities, although a science concentration is also possible with this choice. The bachelor of science program is specifically designed for students who want a concentrated knowledge of environmental science as the core of their interdisciplinary environment education.

Most environmental studies majors benefit from studying abroad. Field-based programs – such as School for Field Studies or School for International Training – are especially appropriate for environmental students.

 

Bachelor of Arts. An interdisciplinary bachelor of arts major in environmental studies is offered for the student with an abiding interest in the general environmental problems faced by humans, and with special concern for their humanistic, policy, and social sciences aspects. The B.A. in environmental studies is a strong, broad, liberal arts degree. It also is a preparation for one of the growing numbers of environmental careers in planning, business, non-profits, law, administration, or education.

The bachelor of arts in environmental studies major requires 10 courses distributed as follows:

  •  ENST 201 Gateway to Environmental Studies (ENST 201 is preferred, ENST 100 can satisfy this requirement if taken prior to the third year.)
  • ENST 202 Research Methods (or MATH 216 with permission)
  • BIOL 208 Population and Community Biology or GEOG 332 Evolution, Ecology, and Human Impact (Ecology course)
  • GEOL 106 Environmental Geology (Earth Science course)
  • Humanities core course* (see list A)
  • Human-environmental systems science course* (see list B)
  • Three (3) environmental studies electives* (see list C)
  • ENST 411 Senior Clinic


Cluster of courses with a common theme have been designed from lists A, B, and C that fulfill the above *requirements while focusing on an area of environmental studies each student finds most interesting. See the environmental studies website for a full listing of these themes and their courses. All B.A. majors are expected to select a theme from this list, or consult with their academic adviser to design their own theme, by the fall of the third year.


Bachelor of Science. A bachelor of science in environmental studies is offered for the student particularly interested in technical aspects of human and natural systems. As a bachelor of science major, it is meant to provide substantial depth in environmental sciences and related fields within the context of a liberal education. A senior thesis culminates the B.S. major.

The bachelor of science in environmental studies major requires 19 courses distributed as follows:

  • ENST 201 Gateway to Environmental Studies (ENST 201 is preferred, ENST 100 can satisfy this requirement if taken prior to the third year.)
  • BIOL 208 Population and Community Biology (Ecology course)
  • GEOL 106 Environmental Geology (Earth Science course)
  • MATH 201 Calculus I
  • MATH 216 Statistics I
  • ECON 103 Economic Principles and Problems
  • CHEM 201and CHEM 202 General Chemistry
  • Humanities core* (see list A)
  • Social science core* (from among the social science course in list C)
  • Seven (7) science and technology courses* (from list D)
  • ENST 411 Senior Clinic
  • Senior Thesis: ENST 349 and ENST 350, preferably taken as one-half credit in each of junior and senior year.


Clusters of courses with a common theme have been designed from lists A, B, C, and D that fulfill the above *requirements while focusing on an area of environmental studies each student finds most interesting. See the environmental studies website for a full listing of these themes and their courses. All B.S. majors are expected to select a theme from this list, or consult with their academic adviser to design their own theme, by the fall of the second year.

The minor in environmental studies requires five courses distributed as follows:

  • ENST 201 Gateway to Environmental Studies (ENST 201 is preferred, ENST 100 can satisfy this requirement if taken prior to the third year.)
  • BIOL 208 Population and Community Biology, GEOG 113 Human Impact on the Environment, GEOG 332 Evolution, Ecology, and Human Impact, or GEOL 106 Environmental Geology
  • Three electives from list C.

Course lists

The environmental studies degrees are based on these lists of courses:

List A: Humanities Courses
ENGL 120 Literature and the Environment, ENGL 210 Nature Writing/Writing Nature, ENST 205 Green Utopias, ENST 207 American Environmental History, ENST 229 Environmental Thinkers, ENST 247 Environmental History of the Ancient World, ENST 255 Environmental Justice, ENST 371 Environmental History, PHIL 218 Ecology, Nature and the Future, RELI 226 Environmental Ethics, RELI 234 The End of the Nature and the Post-human Future, RELI 234 The Ethics of Consumption.

List B: Human-Environment Systems Science Courses
BIOL 415 Conservation Biology, GEOG 113 Human Impact on the Environment (first-year and sophomore students only), GEOG 257 Global Environmental Change, GEOG 332 Evolution, Ecology, and Human Impact, GEOG 345 Food and Environment, GEOL 310 Applied Environmental Geomorphology.

List C: Electives
All course with the ENST course designation, all courses in list A and B, ANTH 260 Anthropological Perspective on Human-Environmental Relations, ANTH 410 The Environment in Cross Cultural Perspectives, CAPS 407 Politics and Economics of International Environmental Aid, ECON 231 Resources and the Environment, GEOG 231 Weather and Climate, GEOL 205 Introduction to Geochemistry, GEOL 207 Environmental Geohazards, GEOL 210 Geomorphology.

List D: BS Science courses
BIOL 206 Organismal Biology, BIOL 245 Tropical Marine Biology, BIOL 266 Animal Behavior, BIOL 312 Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy, BIOL 313 Mammalogy, BIOL 318 Comparative Physiology, BIOL 321 Behavioral Ecology, BIOL 334 Limnology, BIOL 341 Organic Evolution, BIOL 353 Ecosystem Ecology, BIOL 354 Tropical Ecology, BIOL 355 Social Insects, BIOL 356 Plant-Animal Interactions, BIOL 357 Ornithology, BIOL 358 Invertebrate Zoology, BIOL 359 Entomology, BIOL 370 Primate Behavior and Ecology, BIOL 415 Conservation Biology, CENG 320 Water Resources Engineering, CENG 421 Hydrology, CHEG 455 Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, CHEM 211 Organic Chemistry I, CHEM 212 Organic Chemistry II, CHEM 360 Advanced Environmental Chemistry, ENST 211 Environmental Pollution and Control, ENST 221 Hazardous Waste and Society, GEOG 204 Applied GIS, GEOG 231 Weather and Climate, GEOG 235 Marine Environment, GEOG 257 Global Environmental Change, GEOG 332 Evolution, Ecology and Human Impact, GEOL 205 Introductory Geochemistry, GEOL 207 Environmental Geohazards, GEOL 210 Geomorphology, GEOL 230 Environmental GIS, GEOL 310 Applied Environmental Geomorphology, GEOL 324 Hydrogeology, UNIV 298 Stream Restoration, UNIV 299 Watershed Systems Science.

100. Introduction to Environmental Studies (I; 3, 0)
A survey of environmental issues intended for non-majors (majors should take ENST 201). Students will understand the cultural, political, historical, economic and ethical complexities of environmental problems and their responses. Not available to students who have complete ENST 201.

201. Gateway to Environmental Studies (I; 3, 0)
Develops a working understanding of the core concepts linked to environmental studies and introduces skills such as posing researchable questions, gathering data, presenting oral arguments, and applying these skills in group projects. Prerequisite: students having completed ENST 100 admitted only with permission of the instructor.

202. Environmental Studies Research Methods (I; 3, 0)
Students will learn quantitative and qualitative research methods related to environmental studies including research design, data collection, and analysis.

205. Green Utopias (II; 3, 0)
Introduction to literary utopias and to the cultural writings of various ecological movements offering alternative concepts to the increasing destruction of nature.

207. American Environmental History (II; 3, 0)
Explores American environmental history by asking; "How did Americans interact with their landscape?" and "What were the consequences?". The course proceeds both chronologically and topically. Crosslisted as HIST 212.

211. Environmental Pollution and Control (I; 3, 3)
Introduction for non-engineering students to the major areas of environmental engineering. Topics include air, noise, and water pollution, solid, hazardous, and radioactive waste and methods to treat and dispose of these pollutants. Not open to students in the College of Engineering.

215. Environmental Planning (I; 3, 0)
Explores the main approaches to planning theory and their environmental applications. Considers how environmental planning can promote the socio-ecological health and sustainability of democratic communities.

221. Hazardous Waste and Society (II; 3, 3)
Hazardous waste regulation, risk assessment and toxicology, overview of treatment technologies and site investigation, environmental audits, facilities siting and public participation, pollution prevention. Not open to students in the College of Engineering.

226. Water Politics and Policies (I; 3, 0)
Examines the evolution and philosophical foundations of water use as well as the politics surrounding current issues in water use.

228. The Loire. A Cultural Heritage or a “Wild” River of the Anthropecene? (I or II; 3, 0)
This course includes in-class lectures and on-site discovery of the river aboard traditional boats. Goals of the course are: to develop a good understanding of the links between a-biotic and biotic dynamics and human activities, to understand the importance and the necessity of the river management, especially on rivers like the Loire (wild aspects, hydrology, etc.) Prerequisite: Open only to students enrolled in the Bucknell en France program.

229. Environmental Thinkers (I or II; 3, 0)
Course explores environmental thought and the debate over America’s nature resources. Topics include: land use, environmental ethics, wise-use arguments, green politics, and current trends. May be crosslisted as HIST 229.

230. Introduction to Ecological Design (II; 3, 0)
The application of basic ecological principles to the design of buildings, landscapes, communities, and cities. Emphasis is placed on real situations in the local environment.

245. Environmental Policy and Politics (I; 3, 0)
An introduction to understanding the role of political institutions, stakeholders and policy processes (in the U. S and internationally) in addressing environmental problems.

250. Environmental Policy Analysis (II; 3, 0)
Focuses on problem-oriented policy analysis of domestic and international issues including ecosystem management, endangered species, protected areas, and community-based conservation.

255. Environmental Justice (II; 3, 0)
Utilizing the literature of moral, social and political philosophy, we will analyze how variations in our definition of justice dictate distinct public policies toward nature.

260. Environmental Law (I; 3, 0)
This course will examine the statutes, regulations and common law pertaining to risk and pollution abatement. We will both analyze current law and propose changes to better address the environmental problems involved.

295. Topics in Environmental Studies (I or II; R; 3, 0)
Topics can vary each year. Consult the course guide for more information.

298. Stream Restoration (II; R; 3, 4)
Scientific principles to integrate physical and biological approaches to stream restoration in watershed management. Team-taught field course highlights developing restoration plan for Bucknell's Miller Run. Crosslisted as BIOL 298, GEOL 298, UNIV 298.

299. Watershed Systems Science (I; R; 3, 4)
Watersheds regulate water flow and ecosystem health on our landscape. Team-taught field course integrating physical, chemical, and biological processes in watersheds, using the Susquehanna and tributaries. Crosslisted as BIOL 299, GEOL 299, UNIV 299.

319. Directed Research (I and II; R) Half or full course.
Supervised research or thesis work on environmental issues. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor.

349 and 350. Senior Thesis (I and II; R) Half to full course.
Independent thesis work under adviser’s supervision. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor.

371. Environmental History (I or II; 3, 0)
Intensive study of selected issues. Topics vary. Crosslisted as HIST 371.

411. Environmental Community Projects (I or II; 3, 0)
Community-based "clinic" course on environmental problems or projects for local stakeholders, based on integrative, interdisciplinary research and design. Preference to senior ENST and GEOG majors.

Course offered occasionally: 240 Sustainable Resource Management, 242 Enviromental History of the Developing World, 247 Environmental History of the Ancient World, 325 Seminar in Environmental Topics