Specialization Course Descriptions
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Ecology and Community-based Economics
Students use alternative economic models to achieve environmental and community sustainability. Three viewpoints – a no-growth macro economy, ecological market economics and local community economics – underlie most discussions of economic and environmental sustainability today. Using economic models from each of these paradigms, students study, compare and address social and environmental issues. This is the second of a two-course sequence in environmental economics.
Environmental Policy and Regulation
This is an examination of the social, political and scientific considerations inherent in environmental policy and regulation. Students develop a deeper awareness of how these factors interact with each other in environmental decision-making processes at all levels of government. Traditional approaches to environmental policy are contrasted with new and emerging approaches, including bioregionalism and participatory decision-making. Students explore current policy topics to enable them to develop ideas on how to facilitate socio-environmental change through policy and regulation. In particular, the course helps students acquire skills as agents for creative change inside and outside environmental policy-making institutions.
Theories of Social and Environmental Change
Students investigate interactions between contexts of social welfare and environmental quality and emerging change movements in pursuit of social and environmental justice. Moreover, students develop a deeper understanding of interactive socio-environmental issues facing contemporary human communities and institutions, and how such issues have been framed, engaged (or avoided), addressed and perhaps resolved. The course includes readings, class discussions, guest presentations, writing assignments and/or field trips.
Integrative Environmental Science
This course explores methods and techniques for bringing complex, interdisciplinary environmental problems into analytical focus. Students consider both quantitative and qualitative research methods by studying concepts and techniques in ecology, biology, physics and chemistry that are regularly invoked in a broad range of environmental analyses. Specific environmental issues and problems become examples throughout the course.
Sample Capstone Change Projects
Experiential Learning at Nathan Hale High School
This project focused on developing and implementing a system for students in ecology and biology classes to adopt and help restore creek banks along school grounds.
Sustainable Connections
A student created an enhanced pledge program designed to help small business owners commit to annual sustainability goals.
Teton County Planning Department
In conjunction with the staff of this Wyoming county governmental agency, students created a sustainable building guide.
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