Environmental Studies & Ecology

Introduction to Environmental Studies This course covers ecological principles and their application to current global environmental issues, such as human population growth, global warming, ozone depletion, changes in biodiversity, and energy issues. The importance of common property resources and their management are discussed. A laboratory is included for field trips to local areas of interest as well as in-class exercises. A good understanding of algebra is required, and some chemistry background is preferred.

Natural History of Berkshire County This interdisciplinary course is an introduction to the study of the natural history of Berkshire County, Massachusetts, beginning 1.2 billion years ago and ending with the changes Native Americans and the early colonists made to the natural environment. Topics include the development of the bedrock geology of the region, the natural vegetation and soils, glaciation, and the interpretation of quaternary landscapes. The course includes a lab and at least two required day-long Saturday field trips. Laboratory and field-trip fee.

Principles of Ecology This course examines the structure and function of ecosystems and the ecological bases of environmental problems through lectures, discussions, and laboratory work. Topics include the nature of the physical environment and its interactions with the biota, energy relationships within ecosystems, biogeochemical cycles, structures and dynamics of populations, and interactions within and among populations. Field trips to major Berkshire natural communities familiarize students with regional dominant species. Prerequisite or corequisite: Environmental Studies 100 or permission of the instructor.

Principles of Environmental Management Here we consider alternate energy technologies, air and water pollution, risk assessment, environmental law and impact assessment, and the ways in which this society attempts to manage our environmental issues. Frequent field trips during laboratory time are used to visit hydroelectric facilities, waste burning cogeneration plans, sewage treatment plants, and water treatment facilities. This course follows Environmental Studies 100, which is the prerequisite.

Human Geography of Nature Conservation and Protected Area Management This course begins with an examination of Western paradigms of nature conservation, preservation, and protected area management, focusing on the inherent assumptions of the “Yellowstone Model” of national park development. We then analyze case studies on the social and cultural dimensions of conservation in critical ecosystems within each of the earth’s major biomes. The studies describe local and regional environmental histories; subsistence and commercial land-use patterns; indigenous knowledge systems; local resource management practices; and how these socioecological factors often make traditional Western preservation schemes inappropriate or even dysfunctional. The case studies also underscore the need for new types of protected areas and conservation programs in the U.S. and abroad, highlighting those that protect biological diversity and meet the economic, social, and cultural needs of indigenous peoples.

Topics in Environmental Management This seminar examines problem solving, planning, and management schemes in various environmental areas. Topics change yearly and include land-use planning, management of common-property resources, campus energy management, environmental impact assessment, and pest management. Emphasis is placed on individual student research projects. Prerequisite: Environmental Studies 100/101.

Limnology An introduction to the study of inland lakes and rivers, this course covers the biological, chemical, and physical factors of the aquatic environment and their interactions. Emphasis is placed on the identification of aquatic organisms, methods of chemical analysis, interpretation of data, and critique of current literature. Laboratory fee. Prerequisites: high school biology and chemistry, and permission of the instructor.

Environmental Studies Tutorial Under these course numbers, juniors and seniors design tutorials to meet their particular interests and programmatic needs. A student should see the prospective tutor to define an area of mutual interest to pursue either individually or in a small group. A student may register for no more than one tutorial in any semester.