Environmental Studies (EVST)

EVST 2004 Causes and Solutions of Environmental Problems: Explanations from the Social Sciences    3 Credits

Attributes: EVME Environmental Studies Major Elective, EVPE Environmental Studies Elective, EVSS Environmental Studies: Social Science, MSID Magis Core: Interdisciplinary

Why is it difficult to prevent or fix environmental problems? What can we do? This interdisciplinary course examines important approaches for understanding the causes of and potential solutions for environmental problems; in particular approaches from economics, political science, international relations theory, sociology, and paradigms for understanding the relationship between humans and the environment. Issues considered include why humans create or allow serious environmental problems to occur, inherent difficulties of addressing environmental problems effectively, and what types of policy and tools are available to address them.

EVST 2005 Campus Sustainability    3 Credits

Attributes: EVME Environmental Studies Major Elective, EVPE Environmental Studies Elective, EVSS Environmental Studies: Social Science, MSID Magis Core: Interdisciplinary

Sustainability has become a nearly unassailable catchphrase for the 21st century. But what does it really mean? Not in a book but in practice? This course uses the Fairfield University campus and the expanding literature on best practices to explore key sustainability issues facing colleges, corporations, small towns, cities, and private citizens. The class will include off-campus site visits, guest speakers, and free ranging discussions of cutting edge readings. Students will also conduct semester-long individual or group interdisciplinary projects that analyze specific sustainability issues. Previously EV 0303.

EVST 2900 Special Topics (Shell)    3 Credits

EVST 3980 Internship    1-3 Credits

Attributes: EVPE Environmental Studies Elective

Prerequisites: Completion of three environmental studies courses.

Environmental studies minors gain firsthand experience working off campus in fields related to environment science, policy, economics, education, and other issues. Typically, an internship requires 8 to 12 hours per week on site and a journal or summary report for credit. An on-site supervisor and an environmental studies professor evaluate student work. Students must have a GPA of 3.0 or higher. Enrollment by permission only. Previously EV 0298.

EVST 3990 Independent Study    1-3 Credits

Attributes: EVPE Environmental Studies Elective

Prerequisites: Three environmental studies program courses; junior or senior standing.

A student may conduct a one-semester independent study on a defined research topic or field of study under the supervision of a professor in the Environmental Studies Program. Credit requires prior approval by the Professor which whom the student will work as well as the Director of the Environmental Studies Program. Students must have a GPA of 3.0 or higher. Enrollment by permission only. Previously EV 0299.

EVST 4001 Environment Workshop    3 Credits

Attributes: EVCA Environmental Studies: Capstone, EVPE Environmental Studies Elective

Prerequisite: Junior standing.

This course is a capstone course for students in the Environmental Studies program but is also open to all juniors and seniors. It centers on a semester-long interdisciplinary project that examines a particular environment-related issue and proposes practical solutions. Previously EV 0301.