Welcome!
Welcome to the Environmental Studies program! Our location—between the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic beaches—provides unique opportunities for environmental study. In a predominantly rural area projecting rapid growth, our students use the Chesapeake Bay region—its farms and waterways, its history and culture, its people and their environmental concerns—as a learning laboratory. The Chester River is at the College's back door, and several environmental research facilities are located nearby.
The interdisciplinary major for environmental studies is designed to educate students of diverse backgrounds and interests about the nature and complexity of environmental issues. Environmental studies encompass theories of global environmental change, how the change influences the quality of life, and our relationship to the world around us. Students are encouraged to participate in internships and summer research programs and complete a minor in an allied field of study.
Required Course Work
I. All of the following:
- ANT 107. Introduction to Environmental Archaeology
- BIO 206. Ecology
- ECN 117. Introduction to Environmental and Natural Resource Economics
- ENV 101. Introduction to Environmental Studies (to be completed by the end of the sophomore year)
- ENV 110. Chemistry of the Environment
- EITHER PHY 140. Exploring the Solid Earth OR PHY 141 Atmosphere, Ocean and Environment
- ENV 394. Seminar in Environmental Studies (at least two courses)
- MAT 109. Statistics
- PHL 303. Environmental Ethics
II. One introductory-level major's sequence in the Natural Sciences chosen from those courses listed below:
- BIO 111, 112. General Biology I, II
- CHE 111, 112. General Chemistry I, II
- PHY 111, 112. General Physics I, II
III. Additional Natural Sciences courses, to be chosen from those listed below, are recommended:
- BIO 203. Microbiology
- BIO 212. Botanical Diversity
- BIO 303. Parasitology
- BIO 308. Plant Physiology
- BIO 309. Marine and Estuarine Biology
- BIO 336. Ichthyology
- CHE 201, 202. Organic Chemistry I, II
- CHE 210. Environmental Chemistry
IV. At least one additional Humanities course, chosen from those listed below, is required:
- ENG 305. Romanticism
- ENG 311. Literary Romanticism in the United States
- ILC 391, 392. Topics in International Literature and Culture and the Environment
- PHL 310. Philosophy of Science
V. At least one additional Social Science course, chosen from those listed below, is required.
- ANT 235. Cultures of Latin America
- ENV/ANT 237. Cultures and Environments of the Chesapeake
- ECN 317. Environmental Economics
- ECN 318. Natural Resource Economics
- EDU 311. World Geography
- POL 365. International Political Economy
- PSY 319. Comparative Psychology
- SOC 350. City and Suburb
VI. One of the credit-bearing internships or research opportunities, as well as pertinent special topics courses, can substitute for a selection in the Humanities, Natural Sciences, or Social Sciences where appropriate. This decision is based on the approval of the Director of the Program in Environmental Studies.
- ENV 395. Summer Research
- ENV 490. Individualized Internships
- ENV 495, 496. Independent Research
VII. It is recommended that all majors take at least one of the following summer courses.
- ENV 221. The Bermuda Environment
- ENV 222. Summer Environmental Studies in Ecuador
Senior Capstone Experience
Every senior is required to complete a Senior Capstone Experience(SCE) in Environmental Studies. Students will enroll in the four credit SCE course during their final semester, although students must begin work on their SCE during the previous semester. The SCE can take the form of a laboratory or field research project or a monograph. Selection of the nature of the SCE will be based upon discussion with an Environmental Studies faculty member(s), and also will require the approval of the Director of the Environmental Studies Program. The SCE will be graded Honors, Pass, or Fail, and grading will be based on joint evaluation of the SCE by all Environmental Studies faculty.
Experiential learning is at the heart of the environmental studies major. Although not required for the major, internships and research opportunities help students directly apply the insight, theory, and research methodology they learn in class. The College sponsors 10-week summer research projects in the fields of biology, chemistry, environmental studies, psychology, and physics. Internships and research projects outside of the natural sciences are also encouraged. Students of environmental studies have completed internships with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation in Annapolis, the Wildfowl Trust of North America in Queenstown, the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center near Annapolis, the Center for Environmental and Estuarine Studies in Cambridge, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources in Annapolis, the Joint Cooperative Laboratory at Oxford and the Washington College Center for Environment and Society. Washington College has established cooperative relationships with the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in St. Michaels, the Pickering Creek Environmental Center in Easton, and the Sassafras River Natural Resource Management Area near Kennedyville.
The Program in Environmental Studies regularly conducts summer courses abroad. Students are accompanied on these courses by Washington College faculty. Summer Study in Bermuda is based at the Bermuda Institute of Oceanographic Sciences in St. George. In field trips, lectures, and labs, students study the ecology and history of the island, exploring mangrove swamps, coral reefs and much more. Summer Study in Ecuador, jointly run with the Universidad de San Francisco in Quito, takes participants through a variety of ecosystems, from the Pacific coast and highlands to the rain forests of the Amazon, and to the Galapagos Islands. These trips allow students to relate their coursework to new parts of the world, to meet professionals and students from other countries, and to see a wide variety of ecosystems and related social systems.
Environmental studies is a growing field. In response to the scientific investigation of the environment and the high level of social concern for the preservation of the environment, professional and academic specializations in the environmental arena have multiplied. All large companies employ environmental attorneys. Private foundations and governmental agencies employ Washington College graduates as environmental educators and land management planners. All of these positions require people with training that is both scientifically sound and steeped in the social, political, ethical, and humanistic dimensions of environmental issues.
Course Descriptions
101. Introduction to Environmental Studies
This course is an introduction to the discipline of environmental studies. A multidisciplinary, international view of human responsibility toward the natural world will be emphasized, focusing on significant contemporary environmental issues. Topics to be covered include environmental literature (both historical and current), economic and ethical environmental concerns, scientific methods of assessment and analysis of environmental problems, and possible solutions to representative environmental problems. The laboratory/recitation section will be utilized for field trips, guest lectures, demonstrations, and discussions. This course is a prerequisite for all upper-level courses entitled environmental studies. The course should be completed by the end of the sophomore year if it is going to be counted toward the major.
107. Introduction to Environmental Archaeology
Exploration of the variety of past human societies and cultures through archaeology, with an emphasis upon the interplay between environment and culture. The course covers a wide time span, from the biological evolution of hominids and the origins of culture to the development of complex civilizations and the more recent historical past. (Also ANT 107)
110. Chemistry of the Environment
An introductory course focusing on the chemical dimensions of current environmental problems such as global warming, ozone depletion, water and soil contamination, and non-renewable fuel consumption. Fundamental principles of chemical bonding, equilibrium and kinetics are studied as they arise in connection with each environmental issue. Inter-disciplinary aspects are explored to further understand the multiple dimensions of the problems. Intended for students planning to major outside the sciences. Three hours of lecture and two hours of laboratory each week. (Also CHE 110)
140. Exploring the Solid Earth
This course investigates the composition, structure, and dynamics of the solid Earth. The course reviews prominent theories for the origin of matter, the accretion and differentiation of the planets, and the structure of the Earth's interior. The role of plate tectonics in driving the exchange of matter and energy between Earth systems is a central theme of the course, providing the theoretical context for understanding geological phenomena such as seismic activity, volcanism and mountain building. The course is designed to provide the necessary scientific and intellectual background for understanding a wide range of Earth phenomena, and to give students a greater appreciation for the origin and evolution of their planet. Includes three lecture-hours per week plus lab. (Also PHY 140)
210. Environmental Chemistry
A study of the chemical reactions controlling the cycling of both natural chemical species and anthropogenic pollutants in the water, soil and air environments of our earth system. The chemical processes operating in the natural environment, including acid-base, complexation, redox, photochemical and biotic degradation phenomena are examined. Intermittently throughout the course, the chemistry underlying current issues of water, soil and air pollution, focusing on nutrient, metal and organic contaminants are studied. Three hours of lecture and three hours of laboratory each week. Prerequisite: Chemistry 112. (Also CHE 210)
221. The Bermuda Environment
This summer course will investigate the complex ecology of the Bermuda Islands, the impact that human habitation has had on their natural history, and current environmental concerns and means of mitigating those concerns. Major areas of study will include (but not be limited to) coral reef ecology/symbioses, mangrove community ecology and environmental relevance, architectural and military influences during colonization, fisheries practices (past, present and future) and current concerns and problems, and ecotourism and associated environmental impacts.(Also BIO 221) Prerequisite: Environmental Studies 101, or Biology 111-112, or permission of the instructor.
222. Summer Environmental Studies in Ecuador
This three-week-long summer course, offered in conjunction with the Universitad San Francisco de Quito, will investigate many of the world's most distinctive species of plants, animals, and marine life that inhabit the richly diverse ecosystems of Ecuador. In addition to learning about natural history in one of the most species-rich countries in the world, students will gain an understanding of Ecuador's social and economic issues and the challenges it faces as a developing country while attempting to conserve its natural resources. Topics investigated include (but are not limited to) conflict between conservation of the Amazon rain forest and oil exploration, the ecotourism debate, deforestation and biodiversity concerns, shrimp farming versus mangrove conservation and the fate of Galapagos tortoises and the Galapagos fisheries. Prerequisite: Environmental Studies 101 or permission of the instructor.
237. Cultures and Environments of the Chesapeake
An examination of prehistoric and historic societies in the Chesapeake Region. Archaeological, historical, and environmental evidence is used to understand cultural development and the relationships between people and their environment. Topics include the arrival of humans in the region, Native American groups, colonial settlement in the Tidewater, and the 19th Century. (Also ANT 137)
308. Reconstructing Past Environments
The study of scientific principles and methods in archaeology, with special emphasis upon earth sciences. Environmental reconstruction and site formation processes will be explored, along with methodologies such as remote sensing, geophysical prospecting, soil science, palynology, floral and faunal analysis, and radiometric dating. Pleistocene and post-Pleistocene geomorphology and environmental change in the Chesapeake will be examined, with field trips to local sites and local research projects. (Also ANT 308.) Prerequisite: Anthropology 208, Environmental Studies 101, or permission of instructor.
195, 295, 395, 495. On-campus Research
On-campus courses currently available in this category are offered by the Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Psychology Departments. The course is comprised of a ten-week summer project guided by a faculty member. The student and the faculty mentor develop a research project, supported by a reading list and involving theoretical laboratory or field investigations supervised by the faculty mentor. Participants will produce a final report detailing the findings of their research.
399. Environmental Studies Seminar
This is an interdisciplinary special topics course that extensively examines any number of current environmental issues utilizing both texts and original sources. The course is available to junior and senior Environmental Studies majors only.
190, 290, 390, 490. Internships
A number of these have recently been offered. Students have received academic credit for summer work carried out at the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, The Wildfowl Trust of North America, The Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, and the Joint Cooperative National Marine Fisheries Service/Maryland Department of Natural Resources Laboratory at Oxford, Maryland. Available to declared Environmental Studies majors only. Not open to first-year students. Internships receiving academic credit must first be approved by the Director of the Program.
190, 290, 390, 490. Special Topics
196, 296, 396, 496. Off-campus Research
197, 297, 397, 497. Independent Study
Courses in this category are currently available in most disciplines. The course consists of an individualized research project chosen by the student in consultation with a faculty member. The student will, with the help of the faculty mentor, design a project to be implemented during the course of the semester. The student will conduct an appropriate literature search, carry out the research, and submit a written report by the end of the semester.
SCE. Senior Capstone Experience
Courses Offered In The Washington College Abroad Programs
292. Natural Systems, Processes, Resources and Management
This course examines the basic processes operating in the physical environment and the resulting resource base, with particular reference to South Africa. Offered at Rhodes University Geography Department.
392. People in the Environment
This course examines the relationship between people and the environment in two very different ways. The first part of the course looks at both rural and urban environments in sub-Saharan Africa; the second part examines how geographic information systems can be used in environmental management. Note: this course may not be taken with Education 311. Offered at Rhodes University Geography Department