Sweet Briar College

2010-2011 Catalog Prerequisite: ENVR 101 or ENVR 131. As lifestyles,technologies, and values have changedover time, the relationship between humansand the American landscape has also evolved.Through examination of the issues of foodand agriculture, urbanization, and wildernessprotection, this course analyzes how and whypeople’s connection with the land has changedthrough time. The emergence of the Americanenvironmental movement is also explored.Offered alternate years. V.1.Prerequisites: BIOL 324 and MATH 123. Anapplication of modeling techniques to ecologicalsystems and conservation problems. Studentslearn to examine ecological problems, determinethe critical elements for analysis, developquantitative models to perform the analysis,and generalize the results to address the originalproblem. The course begins with simple models,then progresses in complexity as studentsdevelop their modeling skills. Emphasis is placedon developing practical approaches to solvingreal-world problems. Offered alternate years.Prerequisite: BIOL 324. An examination of thesocial, economic, and ecological aspects of globalbiodiversity conservation. Students explore theroles of international institutions in biodiversityloss, the role of economic value in conservation,and the causes of conflicts between humans andwilderness in developing countries. Major internationalconventions, such as the Convention onBiological Diversity and CITES, are analyzed foreffectiveness in promoting biodiversity conservation.Offered alternate years. V.4, V.7.Prerequisites: 100-level ENVR course and permissionof the instructor. The study of an intermediatelevel topic by an individual student orby a small group of students under the immediatesupervision of a faculty member.Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor,department chair, and dean. This course isgraded P/CR/NC only.Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor. Afocused investigation of a particular area of environmentalstudies. Topics will vary.Prerequisite: ENVR 316. Hands-on explorationof topics in geographic information systems (GIS),including 3D visualization, spatial data models,raster analysis, and basic cartographic modeling.Involves application of ArcGIS software to a varietyof geographic problems. Offered alternate years.Prerequisites: BIOL 324, CHEM 226, ENVR202, ENVR 208, ENVR 220, and ENVR 244.Open to other senior non-majors by permission.Senior environmental science studentswill work in teams to address local and regionalenvironmental science problems, applying techniquesand theories learned in previous scienceand environmental studies classes. Attendanceon a one-day field trip during Reading Days isrequired. One two-hour lecture and one threehourlaboratory per week. III.W.Prerequisite: ENVR or ENVS majors or minorswith senior standing. A course designed to helpstudents synthesize knowledge gained in previouscourses with students’ analytical abilitiesand facilities for oral and written persuasiveargument. Students are provided with intractableenvironmental problems, about whichthey learn to perform independent research,develop clear positions, persuade others of theirpositions, and defend those positions againstcompeting views. III.O, III.W.