Descriptions from the 2007-08 Course Catalog
Please check the Class Schedule for classes offered this year.
ENST 115
Energy Technology, Society, and the Environment
Explores energy production, storage, and usage as they are currently practiced. Certain emerging technologies will also be addressed. Environmental and socio-economic impact will be discussed in the context of limitations imposed by the laws of physics. 6 units. Also listed as Physics 112
ENST 150
Environmental Science
Presents principles of biology, chemistry, and geology that relate to such environmental issues as resource limitation, pollution, and environmental degradation. Designed to foster understanding of scientific measures of environmental quality. Four class meetings per week, including one discussion session. 6 units. Also listed as Geology 150
ENST 160
The Ice Ages
This course focuses on the dynamic environment of the ice age periods in Earth history. Emphasis on the historical discovery of the ice ages, their possible causes, and their global effects on ecosystems on land and in the sea. One-day field trip to local glacial deposits. 6 units. Also listed as Geology 160.
ENST 202
Geology and Health
A course investigating the links between geology and health, considering topics such as asbestos, natural and anthropogenic water contamination, and cycling of trace elements as both contaminants and necessary nutrients. Designed to illuminate the link between the seemingly disparate fields of geology and the health of life on earth. 6 units. Also listed as Geology 213. Prerequisite: GEOL 110
ENST 205
Readings in Nature
A course in reading and writing about the natural world. Readings will be of complete texts and may include such works as Wendell Berry’s The Memory of Old Jack, Barry Lopez’s Crossing Open Ground, and Gretel Erlich’s The Solace of Open Spaces. Discussion and analysis of texts will be combined with written reflections upon natural, urban-natural, or urban landscapes and individuals. 6 units. Prerequisite: Sophomore standing
ENST 206
East Asian Classics in Translation
This introductory course explores encounters with nature in East Asian texts through close reading of primary texts in English translation — Taoist philosophy, lyric poetry, personal memoirs, and fiction — from the traditional periods of China and Japan, ending with a contemporary Japanese novel from the mid-1990s. Particular attention is paid to literary form, voice, aesthetic concerns, and issues relating to humans’ relationship with nature. 6 units. Also listed as East Asian Studies 260, Chinese and Japanese 260. Prerequisite: Sophomore standing; EAST 140 recommended
ENST 210
Animal Behavior
A lecture and field-study course examining the principles and problems of animal behavior. Subjects include orientation, feeding, locomotion, communication, escape in time and space, biological rhythms, mate choice, and aspects of social behavior, examined from evolutionary, ontogenetic, physiological, ecological, and ethological perspectives. Lecture and laboratory. May be taken separately or as part of the Marine Biology Term. 6 units. Also listed as Biology 200. Prerequisite: BIOL 140
ENST 211
Biodiversity
The influence of climate on global habitats is considered. Selected terrestrial life zones, including neotropic, paleotropic, montane, desert, cold temperate, and warm temperate, are analyzed and stresses produced by climate and habitat evaluated. Adaptive responses at the morphological and physiological levels are investigated and scientific principles are applied to contemporary ethical issues, including restoration and conservation ecology. Lecture only. 6 units. Also listed as Biology 210.
ENST 212
Physiological Ecology
Biological stresses induced by environmental variables are described. Physiological and molecular responses associated with temperature extremes, drought, and nutrient and energy competition are discussed and investigated, using both field and laboratory experience. Lecture and laboratory. 6 units. Also listed as Biology 231. Prerequisite: BIOL 110
ENST 213
Evolutionary Biology
A study of biological evolution, including natural selection, adaptation, the evolution of sex, speciation, extinction, and constraints on evolutionary change. Readings include classic and current literature. Two lectures and one discussion per week. 6 units.
Also listed as Biology 235. Prerequisite: BIOL 120, BIOL 140, ANTH 140, or consent of instructor
ENST 214
The Vegetation of Wisconsin
The principles of plant-environment interrelationships are developed through extensive field study of Wisconsin vegetation. Emphasis is placed on the manner in which physical and biological factors influence competition, adaptation, and structure in major local habitats. Lecture and laboratory. 6 units. Also listed as Biology 250.
ENST 220
General Ecology
An introduction to the interactions between organisms and the environment. Lectures and discussions will explore the role of physical, chemical, and biotic processes, including human activities, in determining the structure and function of populations, communities, and ecosystems. Topics will include resource availability, competition, predation, symbiosis, and natural and anthropogenic disturbances such as disease, biological invasions, pollution, and climate change. Lecture only. 6 units. Also listed as Biology 230.
ENST 230
History of the Earth and Life
A study of the physical, chemical, and organic evolution of the Earth since its origin 4.5 billion years ago, with emphasis on times of change and crisis. The course also examines the evolution of ideas about Earth’s history, illustrating how science and culture are inherently entangled. 6 units. Also listed as Geology 210. Prerequisite: GEOL 110
ENST 235
Weather, Climate, and Climate Change
A study of basic meteorologic principles and climate patterns. These phenomena will be discussed in relation to evidence of past climate change and implications of global warming on future climate. 6 units. Also listed as Geology 214. Prerequisite: GEOL 110 or 150
ENST 237
Remote Sensing of the Environment
Fundamentals of electromagnetic radiation and the interaction of radiation with matter are introduced as the basis of remote sensing. Interpretation and manipulation of remotely sensed images are used to demonstrate the wealth of information remote sensing provides. Applications and case studies from geology, environmental science, ecology, agronomy, and urban planning will be explored. 6 units. Also listed as Geology 220. Prerequisite: GEOL 110; high school physics recommended
ENST 240
Chemistry of the Earth: Low-Temperature Environments
A detailed introduction to properties of geologically and environmentally important minerals. Emphasis is placed on mineral properties, tools of mineral identification, mineral associations, and chemical reactivity of minerals in earth surface and near-surface environments. One lab per week. 6 units. Also listed as Geology 240. Prerequisite: GEOL 110 and CHEM 115
ENST 245
Conservation Biology
This course explores the scientific concepts related to the conservation and restoration of the Earth’s biological diversity. Topics include patterns of species and ecosystem diversity, the relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning, causes of extinction, assessing extinction risk, behavioral indicators, in-situ and ex-situ management strategies for endangered species, and ecosystem restoration. Lecture only. 6 units. Also listed as Biology 245. Prerequisite: BIOL 110 and one other course in the natural science
ENST 247
The Elements of Life
A seminar that introduces the biological chemistry of some 20 elements, mostly “inorganic,” that living systems incorporate and require, touching upon the topics of uptake, selectivity, compartmentalization, control, energetics, catalysis, structure, and toxicity. Students will draw from the text to elucidate in class the biological roles of individual elements. No laboratory. 6 units. Also listed as Chemistry 247. Prerequisite: CHEM 116 or 119 or consent of instructor
ENST 250
Analytical Chemistry
A course in the fundamental principles of quantitative analysis, stressing both chemical and instrumental techniques. Emphasis on application of analytical chemistry to practical problems, including environmental issues, food science, biochemical systems, and industrial processes. Opportunities for individually designed projects. Lectures and two laboratories per week. 6 units. Also listed as Chemistry 210. Prerequisite: CHEM 116 or 119 or consent of instructor
ENST 260
Research Methods in Archaeology
Presents the research process in archaeology and offers an overview of essential data-collection and analysis techniques, including site survey and excavation, settlement pattern analysis, lithic analysis, and ceramic analysis. Students work with material from the Lawrence University collections and take part in field research. 6 units. Prerequisite: ANTH 110, 120, or 140, preferably all three; non-anthropology majors must obtain consent of the instructor. Recommended for anthropology majors in the sophomore year; must be completed by the end of the junior year.
ENST 270
Global Environmental Politics
This course provides an examination of the environment as an issue in world politics. Emphasis will be placed on the role of both state and non-state actors (i.e., the UN, NGOs) in global environmental regimes that are designed to deal with global warming, ozone depletion, and other environmental issues. Particular attention will be paid to the positions taken by both developed and developing countries. As part of the course, students will participate in a simulation of an international negotiation on an environmental issue. 6 units. Also listed as Government 270. Prerequisite: Sophomore standing or ENST 150 or GOVT 110
ENST 280
Environmental Economics
An analysis of the problems associated with market and governmental allocation of natural and environmental resources. The course explores the use of externalities, cost-benefit analysis, and various governmental policy tools to analyze actual effects (efficiency and equity implications) of environmental policies on our economy. The course includes extensive analyses of ongoing environmental issues through a group project. 6 units. Also listed as Economics 280. Prerequisite: ECON 100; sophomore standing recommended
ENST 285
Natural Resource Economics
This course explores the economics of both exhaustible and renewable natural resource extraction. Topics include oil and mineral extraction, fisheries, forest and water management, and biodiversity. The course includes extensive study of current issues associated with the use of natural resources through a group project 6 units. Also listed as Economics 285. Prerequisite: ECON 100, sophomore standing recommended
ENST 300
Symposium on Environmental Topics
The heart of this course is an annual symposium organized around a well-defined topic with both scientific and policy components — e.g., nuclear waste disposal, global warming. Each year, two or three nationally recognized experts on the selected topic are brought to campus. In the weeks before a visit by one of the major speakers, students, together with environmental studies faculty instructors from at least two different disciplines, read and discuss papers suggested by the speaker. The speakers meet with students in the seminar following their public lecture, providing students with an opportunity to interact directly with scientists and policy makers at the forefront of environmental issues. 3 units, repeatable for up to 6 units. Prerequisite: ENST 150, sophomore standing
ENST 310
Aquatic Ecology
The principles of the ecology of fresh waters, developed through discussions, laboratory, and field investigations of the functional relationships and productivity of biotic communities as they are affected by the dynamics of physical, chemical, and biotic parameters. Lecture and laboratory. 6 units. Also listed as Biology 330. Prerequisite: BIOL 120, 140, or 230
ENST 330
Advanced Geochemistry
Overview of the chemistry of geological processes in aqueous environments. Includes review of thermodynamics, chemical kinetics, phase equilibria, mineral solubility, redox reactions, and stable isotopes with geologic examples. One lab per week. 6 units. Also listed as Geology 340. Prerequisite: GEOL 240 and CHEM 115, or consent of instructor; CHEM 116 recommended
ENST 335
Physics of the Earth: Surface Environments
This course studies the movement of water, solute, and sediment through the landscape and the resulting properties and distribution of surficial earth materials and landforms. Topics include weathering; soil development; runoff; mass movement; river, glacial, and coastal processes; and deposition in sedimentary environments. One lab per week. 6 units. Also listed as Geology 360. Prerequisite: GEOL 110 and 240 or consent of instructor. PHYS 120 or 150 recommended
ENST 345
Terrestrial Field Ecology
A hands-on course intended to demonstrate basic ecological principles using local terrestrial ecosystems. Field research projects will introduce students to methods in hypothesis development, experimental design, data collection, statistical analysis, and scientific writing and presentation. Research topics will include estimating population size, community structure, plant-animal interactions, and foraging behavior. Lecture and laboratory. 6 units. Also listed as Biology 345. Prerequisite: BIOL 120 or BIOL 140 and sophomore standing
ENST 350
Islands and Isolation
This course examines islands and the situation of isolation across the fields of geology, evolutionary biology, and human geography. Topics include island formation, dynamics of isolated natural and human populations, and the historical importance of islands in the study of natural history. The course includes laboratories and field trips. 6 units. Also listed as Biology 350, Geology 350. Prerequisite: Any of the following: ANTH 120, ANTH 140, BIOL 210, BIOL 235, BIOL 245, GEOL 210, GEOL 260 or consent of instructor
ENST 355
History of the American Environment
North Americans have transformed the environment while being shaped by nature in turn. This course surveys the changing relationships between Americans and their physical environment in historical context from the 17th century to the present. Topics include the “Columbian exchange,” agriculture, urbanization, conservation, and the emergence of contemporary environmentalism. 6 units. Also listed as History 355. Prerequisite: Sophomore standing
ENST 360
Environmental Ethics
An examination of some ethical assumptions that might figure in discussions of environmental policy by economists, legal experts, philosophers, and policy scientists. 6 units. Also listed as Philosophy 360. Prerequisite: One course in economics, government, or philosophy; junior standing; or consent of instructor
ENST 365
Ecological Anthropology
A study of relationships between human communities and their natural environments (i.e., humans studied as members of ecosystems). Topics include the interactions between environment, human biology, and social organization and anthropological perspectives on global environmental problems. 6 units. Also listed as Anthropology 310. Prerequisite: One anthropology course or consent of instructor
ENST 380
Ecological Modeling
An introduction to the process of developing mathematical descriptions of the interactions between components of a population, community, or ecosystem, and the use of computer simulation as a tool for understanding ecology and natural resource management. Topics include population growth, predator-prey and competitor interactions, and mass balance in ecosystems. 6 units. Also listed as Biology 380. Prerequisite: BIOL 230, 245, 330, or 345
ENST 410
Ecological Energetics
Field and laboratory experimental investigations of the transfer and transformation of energy or energy-containing materials between and within organisms and populations of aquatic ecosystems. Part of the Marine Biology Term. Lecture and laboratory. 6 units. Also listed as Biology 434. Prerequisite: BIOL 330, concurrent enrollment in BIOL 505 and 200, and consent of instructor
ENST 425
Prehistoric Human-Environment Interactions
This course focuses on the interrelationships between prehistoric humans and their environment on a variety of temporal and geographic scales. Topics include the detection and analysis of prehistoric environmental degradation, the possible impacts of natural and anthropogenically induced environmental change on prehistoric humans, and the modern significance of such interrelationships. 6 units. Also listed as Geology 425. Prerequisite: GEOL 110 or GEOL 150 or ENST 150 or ANTH 120
ENST 430
Watershed Hydrology
An introduction to the basic components of the hydrologic cycle, focusing on surface water and groundwater systems. Measurement and analysis of hydrologic data are emphasized. Application to contemporary issues such as flooding, watershed development, and groundwater contamination will be discussed. One lab per week. 6 units. Also listed as Geology 430. Prerequisite: GEOL 110. PHYS 120 or 150 recommended
ENST 435
Contaminant Transport and Fate
Hydrology and chemistry of dissolved contaminants in surface waters, groundwaters, and their associated media. Introduction to principles of reactive transport modeling and use of current computer models with relevant examples. 6 units. Also listed as Geology 440. Prerequisite: GEOL 240 and MATH 120 or 140 or consent of instructor
ENST 449
Nature and the Environment in German Literature
This course examines the literary, philosophical, and sociological history of ecological issues in Germany. Students investigate the formulation of the specifically German concept of nature and study the roles of Romanticism and of the early 20th-century youth movement in shaping contemporary environmental debates. Taught in English. German majors and minors may participate in a two-unit tutorial in which discussions and some course readings will be in German. 6 units. Also listed as German 449.
ENST 450
Nature and the Environment in German Literature
This course examines the literary, philosophical, and sociological history of ecological issues in Germany. Students investigate the formulation of the specifically German concept of nature and study the roles of Romanticism and of the early 20th-century youth movement in shaping contemporary environmental debates. Taught in German. 6 units. Also listed as German 450. Prerequisite: GER 312 or consent of instructor
ENST 460
The Environment, Community, and Education
A study of education, the creation and maintenance of community, and the development of ecological intelligence. Emphasis on how schools respond to their surroundings, the extent to which modern forms of education “fit” students to live in local communities, and the idea of community as a sense of place. Emphasis will also be placed on cultural assumptions about the environment implicit within the curriculum, the effect of schooling on students’ understanding of and relationship to the environment, and the role of education in promoting ecological and social sustainability. 6 units. Also listed as Education Studies 400. Prerequisite: Sophomore standing or consent of instructor
ENST 470
Environmental Politics
An examination of the politics of environmental policy in the United States, including the organization and demands of the environmental movement and its opponents, the ways in which major actors and institutions in the U.S. system treat environmental issues, and such specific topics as environmental justice and the application of cost-benefit reasoning to environmental policy making. 6 units. Also listed as Government 465. Prerequisite: GOVT 380 or consent of instructor
ENST 480
Advanced Environmental Economics
Course content incorporates the substantive topics raised in Economics 280 but with more analytical breadth and depth. Students use microeconomic tools to understand the existing academic literature and to address the efficient use of natural and environmental resources. 6 units. Also listed as Economics 480. Prerequisite: ECON 300
ENST 505
Coral Reef Environments
Examines the ecology of coral reef environments. Lecture, laboratory, and field components. Part of the Marine Biology Term. Lecture and laboratory. 6 units. Also listed as Biology 505 Prerequisite: BIOL 330 and concurrent enrollment in BIOL 220 and BIOL 434
ENST 550
Seminar: Drawn to Nature: Art and Landscape
A seminar that examines how artists from antiquity to the present have approached and interpreted landscape. Students will consider several historical case studies, including the debate over when and why artists first turned to nature studies and how landscape painting and photographs articulate cultural notions of wilderness, pastorale, and the frontier. The seminar will also examine how contemporary artists have used landscape as a site for environmental awareness and activism. 6 units. Also listed as Art History 554. Prerequisite: One 200 or 300 level Art History course
ENST 560
Practicum in Environmental Studies
Practical experience working in either environmental policy development or environmental science fieldwork in a community. For example, students might work with businesses, trade organizations, state or local government, or non-profit advocacy groups. Students spend a minimum of ten hours per week at assigned settings and attend weekly supervision meetings with instructor. Practica can be done during the academic year (at local placements or on campus) or during the summer (at off-campus placements). 6 units. Also listed as Government 550. Prerequisite: Sophomore standing and one course on environmental policy or law, including GOVT 206/ENST 302 or GOVT 306/ENST 301
ENST 570
Senior Seminar in Government: Parks in Peril: People, Politics, and Public Lands
This course will examine how industry, interest groups, and government debate what is the best strategy for handling parks in the United States at the national, state, and local levels. The class will include a broad analysis of current trends in park management and implications for biodiversity and conservation for future generations. 6 units.
ENST 650
Environmental Studies Senior Seminar
A seminar on issues and methods of environmental studies and a focal point of the environmental studies major. Topics include scientific measures of environmental quality, natural resource management, pollution, prices, and public policy and ethical considerations. Students employ data and models to address a chosen environmental problem. Faculty members from contributing disciplines participate. 6 units. Prerequisite: ENST 150, ENST 300, and senior standing; or consent of the instructor
ENST 190, 390, 590, 690
Tutorial in Environmental Studies
Advanced study and analysis of a particular topic or case related to environmental issues, viewed from the perspective of more than one academic discipline. Variable units. Prerequisite: Counter registration required
ENST 195, 395, 595, 695
Internship in Environmental Studies
An opportunity for environmental studies students to gain practical experience in the commercial, government, or nonprofit sectors. The internship is supplemented by readings and discussions with a supervising faculty member. At the conclusion of the internship, the student must submit a summative report that considers the internship experience in the context of the student’s other academic work. Variable units, repeatable for up to 12 units. Prerequisite: Counter registration required
ENST 199, 399, 599, 699
Independent Study in Environmental Studies
Advanced independent research, under the guidance of a faculty mentor or mentors, on a particular topic related to the environment. The student is required to produce a formal paper or equivalent (e.g., poster session, Web page, presentation at a professional meeting) as a tangible record of the work carried out. Variable units.
Prerequisite: Counter registration required