26 courses with the subject ENSC, each shown exactly as we captured it from the college's catalog, with every element we hold. Where the wording looks broken, that is our reading of the catalog, not the college's text.
ENSC 100Professional and Educational Development for the Integrated Environmental Sciences Major1
This course introduces incoming Integrated Environmental Sciences (IES) majors to the knowledge and skills that promote success, both within the major and post-graduation. Students will learn about the IES curriculum, professional opportunities for environmental scientists, and research, writing, and presenting in the environmental sciences. Additionally, students will apply best practices in time management, goal setting, and study skills critical for a successful and meaningful college and professional experience. Open only to Integrated Environmental Sciences majors and minors.
ENSC 101Introduction to Integrated Environmental Sciences3
This seminar-style course overviews contemporary global issues in environmental science, including species extinction, pollution, resource depletion, and waste. Students examine behavior leading to environmental degradation; consider the scientific, ethical, and economic aspects of the resulting problems; and study policies intended to provide solutions. Students learn to recognize the integration of multiple disciplines in environmental issues and the complexity involved in environmental problem solving.
This course is an introductory-level survey course designed to provide an understanding of how science works to address environmental problems. Students will become familiar with the Earth’s major systems, how they function, and how they are affected by human activity. Fundamental concepts addressed by this course include ecosystems, biogeochemical cycles, population growth, air, water, and soil pollution, climate change, natural resources, and waste management. 2 lecture and one 2-hour lab periods.
This course introduces an interdisciplinary and investigative approach to the science underlying environmental issues and the analysis of environmental problems. Students engage in the process of science through guided inquiry, experiments, and field work, and they will practice design of experiments, analysis and presentation of quantitative data, and written and oral communication. 3 lecture and 1 lab period.
Completion of the FHBS pillar *Fulfills Civitae Core PHBS SI
ENSC 323Environmental Justice3
This course explores the history, applications, and future of environmental justice as a global concern with political and ecological implications. It addresses environmental justice as a social movement rooted in US civil rights struggles and as a framework for understanding justice in environmental contexts worldwide. Using case studies, students examine the costs of toxic disasters and resource crises. Students also examine emerging justice claims as responses to unevenly distributed environmental burdens and benefits. The course also connects concepts like sustainability and biodiversity to achieving environmental justice for both humans and nonhumans.
Crosslisted With: ( GEOG 340 ) This course requires students to apply the varied perspectives from the social sciences and natural sciences to gain a more integrated and multifaceted understanding of environmental issues at the global scale. It will examine the effects of globalization on the environment and economy in different parts of the world. Within the context of human population dynamics, the course will examine both physical and social sustainability issues associated with natural resource consumption and environment change.
ENSC 350Perspectives of Environmental Issues in Coastal Zones3
This course examines the major issues affecting United States coastal zones and wetland areas in the context of global legislation and practice. Using a multidisciplinary perspective, students will examine the management and governance themes that shape coastal behavior. Case studies of climate change will be used to explore a variety of questions through an environmental justice lens, such as: who is threatened by coastal issues, how do scientists share data with policy makers, and how can governments and individuals affect change to mitigate the effects of climate change?
This course serves as an introduction to the field of marine science and conservation. In this course, students will learn major principles of oceanography including: marine geology, seawater chemistry, diversity of life in the sea, air and ocean circulation, and marine sediments. We will then apply these principles to better understand modern issues that threaten our seas, such as overfishing, oil and gas, plastic, and anthropogenic climate change.
This course focuses on the quantitative analysis of nature and specifically the ways that the quantitative tools of data analysis and data visualization can be used to understand and communicate the Anthropocene . During the course we will evaluate how quantitative tools are used in the scientific evaluation of the impacts that humans have on the environment. In particular we will focus on ways that the scope and nature of human impacts can be revealed, understood, and communicated through data analysis and data visualization.
ENSC 380Introduction to Environmental Law and Policy3
This course provides an introduction to concepts, issues, and perspectives in national and international environmental law. In addition to discussing historical and evolving approaches to U.S. environmental regulation, students examine a representative selection of federal statutes, and explore how social, cultural, and political institutions, as well as human perspectives, opinions, and biases, influence the creation, enforcement, and modification of environmental policy. Students will also consider the expanding field of multi-nation treaties, laws, and politics governing the global environment as they relate to significant contemporary issues such as global climate change, sustainable development, biodiversity conservation, and transboundary air and water pollution. 3 lecture periods.
This course utilizes a comprehensive, interdisciplinary approach to examine issues related to natural resource management and their impacts on the environment. Principles of land use planning are considered within a broad framework that includes topics such as urban and rural development, natural hazard mitigation, ecosystem and watershed management, edaphic and hydrologic features, forest and wildlife management, and marine and coastal planning. The course integrates knowledge from previous coursework to consider the associated social, legal, economic, and scientific aspects, as well as the applications of skills involved in environmental impact assessment, such as GIS and analytical methods. Emphasis is placed on understanding the collaborative nature of approaches, methods, and techniques for sustainability. 3 lecture periods. One 2-hour lab periods.
In this interdisciplinary capstone experience, students develop an understanding of and identify potential solutions to current environmental problems. Through a collaborative approach to encourage synthesis and analysis from multiple perspectives, students will develop research, communication (both oral and written), and collaborative work skills. Exploration of focal problems requires the integration of knowledge and skills from students’ work in the natural and social sciences and the consideration of ethical, social justice, and economic perspectives. Further, a civic engagement component provides useful information to the community and provides students with real experience interacting with stakeholders. 3 lecture periods.
Crosslisted With: ( BIOL 430 ) This course provides the skills necessary to understand, implement, and analyze methods related to the field of bioassessment. Bioassessment is a research and enforcement tool for using macroinvertebrates, and physical habitat for assessing water quality and sources of pollution in lotic (streams and rivers) systems. Bioassessment’s use as a tool has its basis in federal and state legal theory in order to protect our watersheds against pollution. We will explore the ecological and legal basis for bioassessment, gain the necessary field skills, and analyze our data using modern analytical computational tools. 2 lecture hours, and 2 lab hours.
MATH 171 , BIOL 251 , and one of the following: ENSC 201 , BIOL 330 , or BIOL 341
Corequisite
None
ENSC 490Directed or Independent Study1-12
A directed project administered by qualified specialists in the department. By permission of instructor and must be approved by the head of the department.
A semester-long, on-the-job learning experience designed to apply the principles of environmental science. Maximum of 4 hours total for ENSC 492 and/or ENSC 496 . May be repeated.
ENSC 494Advanced Internship in Environmental Science1-4
A semester-long, on-the-job learning experience designed to apply the principles of environmental science. May be a continuation of ENSC 492 or a new internship experience that involves advanced responsibilities and application of knowledge. May be repeated.
With the approval of a faculty member and the department chair, a student may carry out an individual research project. Maximum of 4 hours total for ENSC 492 and/or ENSC 496. May be repeated.
ENSC 497Advanced Research in Environmental Science1-4
With the approval of a faculty member and the department chair, a student may carry out an individual research project. May be a continuation of ENSC 496 or a new research project that involves advanced application of knowledge and skills. Students are encouraged to share the findings of their research through a poster or oral presentation. May be repeated.
Students conduct an in-depth project in environmental science under the direction of a faculty member and the Longwood Senior Thesis Committee. May be repeated as 499.
