Courses
ESS-100 Introduction to Environmental Science (Fall & Spring; Yearly; 3.00 Credits; N) This course introduces students to the concept of systems, reviews ecological systems and then goes on to human systems as these impact the environment. The course will explore the two forces that are at the core of most environmental impacts (climate change, ozone depletion, air and water pollution, loss of biodiversity) will be explored as will the fundamental attributes of agriculture, food, soil and water. Throughout, the influence of culture, society, ethics and science on the environmental problems will be discussed. Prerequisites: None.
ESS-120 Art of Environmentalism (Spring; Yearly; 3.00 Credits; F,S) (See AR 120).
ESS-199 Special Topics (YVariable; 1.00-4.00 Credits) Allows departments to offer topics not normally scheduled. Prerequsites, corequisites, and fees vary by title.
ESS-209 Water Resources I (Spring; Yearly; 3.00 Credits; QS,N) This course provides the student with a working overview of the hydrologic cycle, providing the student with the basic concepts of all aspects of hydrology. Particular emphasis is placed on the integrative nature of ecosystems within the watershed, including the interdependencies and driving forces of energy, the atmosphere, the hydrosphere, and the land, and the biosphere. Prerequisites: ESS100 or EES100 and GL101.
ESS-210 Water (Either Semester; Variable; 3.00 Credits; N,S) All life needs water. And water is a resource under growing, myriad pressures. We'll look at the physical aspects of water, how its structure determines its function, at the micro scale (chemistry and snowflakes for example) to the macro scale (current flow and the hydrocycle). We'll then move on to the biological aspects of water again examining the micro scale (osmosis and cells) up through the macro scale (fish and dams, human domestic water uses). Issues of water quality and quantity will be studied, as well as case studies on water conflict. Lastly, we will examine human cultural perceptions of water. This course will not delve into all the details, but provides a broad view of the links of water for humans and other forms of life on Earth. We will take at least one field trip ($40.00 fee) to view waters effect on human and natural systems. Prerequisite: ESS-100.
ESS-224 Wildlife Management (Spring; Variable; 3.00 Credits; N) Wildlife management incorporates the science and management of wild animals, both rare and common species. Threatened species may require particular knowledge of population structure and processes for effective management, while common species may need control or might be exploited as novel production products. Prerequisites: ESS100 or EES-100 and BI105 and BI121. A special course fee is assessed.
ESS-269 Art As Sustainable Development (Spring; Yearly; 3.00 Credits; F,I) Art as a Sustainable Development:Pottery,Beadwork, Leatherwork, and Sculpture (3 Units). Where: Various locations (Auroville, Mahabalipuram, and Kodiakanal)-Local coastal industries in India are comprised of a wide variety of artisanship. When: February. Subjects: The arts of coastal India include pottery, beadwork, stonework, leatherwork, and jewelry. This course will provide the opportunity to work with the artists who train local people and produce these works for sale. This will cover introductory classes in these arts. The student will also visit the production factories and cottage industries where these products are produced for market. The student will also compare the economic structure of villages where the artesian communities operate with nearby villages dependent primarily on either agriculture or industry. This comparison will give the students clear perspective on the role of art in sustainable development. Students wishing to further their study in any of these fields may negotiate more time in the studios. Instructors: Angad Vohra (Pottery & Sculpture), Meena (Painting), Gillian (Beadwork & Leatherwork), Francois Grenier (Stonework). Prerequisite: ESS-100 or EES-100.
ESS-289 Environmental Science and Studies Seminar (Spring; Yearly; 1.00 Credit; S,N) A weekly seminar series, suggested for all ESS POEs in their sophomore year, consisting of seminars given by invited speakers (academic researchers, environmental consultants, environmental NGOs and government agencies representatives) and Juniata faculty. The course will focus on graduate school and career opportunities in ESS. Readings from a wide variety of ESS primary literature (journals and grey literature) will also be presented and discussed. Grading will be S (satisfactory) or U (Unsatisfactory) Prerequisite: ESS 100.
ESS-299 Special Topics (Variable; Variable; 1.00-3.00 Credits; N) Allows the departments to offer special topics no normally offered. Departments may offer more than one special topic. Prerequisites vary by title.
ESS-301 Environmental Methods (Either Semester; Yearly; 3.00 Credits; N) This course deals with a variety of environmental issues and problems. This includes the causes and the scientific and social backgrounds needed to understand them. It also introduces the student to the roles of scientists and engineers in dealing with them. The course involves both quantitative and qualitative assessments. Prerequisites: ESS100 or EES100 and 1 year of chemistry or permission of the instructor.
ESS-305 Environmental Economics (Spring; Yearly; 3.00 Credits; S) This course will cover the basics of microeconomic analysis as it applies to the environmental decision making and environmental policy with respect to pollution abetment, resource harvesting, and sustainability analysis. The course will also explore the strengths and weaknesses of economic models of human behavior. Finally, the course explores the growing concern of sustainable and resilient economies. Prerequisites: ESS100 or EES100 and EB105 or EB223 or permission of the instructor.
ESS-306 Environmental Economics Lab (Spring; Yearly; 1.00 Credit; QM) This is the optional quantitative lab for ESS305 (Environmental Economics). We will advance our skills in economics analysis in EXCEL including cost benefit analysis, risk analysis, and linear programming. We will also use MathCAD or Mathmatica to explore optimality in resource extraction. Corequisite: EB305.
ESS-324 Natural Resource Management (Spring; Variable; 3.00 Credits; N) This course provides a comprehensive coverage of local, regional, national, and global resource and environmental issues from population growth to wetlands to sustainable agriculture and natural resource policies and legislation. It considers renewable and non-renewable resources such as water, land, soil, air, wildlife, and their associated habitats. Prerequisites: ESS100 or EES100 and BI105 and BI121. A special course fee is assessed.
ESS-325 Conservation Biology (Fall; Yearly; 3.00 Credits; S,N) Conservation Biology encompasses biology, politics, ethics, economics and anthropology. The major course objective is the exploration of conservation complexities--important for successful conservation efforts. Other objectives are to gain an understanding of extinction, community conservation, population genetics and demography. This course has a required weekend field trip with a fee added for the trip. Prerequisites: ESS100 or EES100 or BI113.
ESS-326 Conservation Biology Lab (Fall; Yearly; 1.00 Credit; N) An investigative laboratory companion to ESS325. Students, in teams and on their own, conduct field research on biodiversity conservation issues. Prerequisites: ESS100 or EES10.
ESS-330 Geographical Information Systems (Fall & Spring; Yearly; 4.00 Credits) This course is an introduction to a Geographical Information System (GIS), and the course objective is that students gain a basic, partial understanding of GIS concepts, technical issues, and applications using Arc View GIS. It encourages thinking in spatial context. A diverse array of hands-on computer applications and projects are used to understand how geographical data can be analyzed spatially. Students explore analysis techniques in a problem basis learning approach using small team projects. Note: A special course fee is assessed. Prerequisite: ESS100 or EES100.
ESS-350 Field Research Methods (Fall; Yearly; 3.00 Credits; CW,N) Field Methodologies is intended for students interested in gaining experience in conducting filed based ecological or environmental research. Students will be lead through the process of investigation, including the generation of research questions, research planning and design, analysis of data, and presentation methods, while giving them the opportunity to conduct independent projects. This is not a techniques/equipment training course; it will fulfill the independent study requirement of the ESS POE. This course will be particularly useful to students considering a field based senior research project. Prerequisites: Permission of instructor only. A course in statistics or ecology is highly recommended.
ESS-355 Ornithology (Summer; Yearly; 3.00 Credits; N) This course provides a comprehensive survey of the comparative biology, ecology, and behavior of birds with a special focus on issues pertaining to conservation management. Laboratory activites focus on field identification of birds and research and monitoring techniques. Prerequisites: BI113 or 1 college level organismal or ecology courses. Note: A special fee is applied. Course will run from June 1st to June 30th.
ESS-361 Field Methods in Marine Systems (Spring; Yearly; 4.00 Credits; N,Q) This is the methods portion of the course including field techniques, quantitative methods, and a scientific writing seminar. The student requirements will be a short paper, four section quizzes and a final exam Prerequisites: GL111 and ESS100 or EES100. Permission of instructor required. Course takes place in India.
ESS-362 Island Ecosystems (Spring; Yearly; 3.00 Credits; N) This course will introduce the students to island ecosystems from both applied and theoretical viewpoint. The course will run in the Andaman Islands in India. The topics covered will include island fauna, island flora, reef ecosystems, and a ridge to reef view of these complex biotas. Prerequisites: GL111 and ESS100 or EES100. Course takes place in India.
ESS-363 Upland Process and Estuaries (Spring; Yearly; 3.00 Credits; N) This course will introduce students to estuaries and upland processes. About 50% of the course will be on site with the discussion and activities intended to give a very close view of the processes, ecology, and issues in coastal watersheds and estuaries. Prerequisites: GL111. and ESS100 or EES100. Permission of instructor required. Course takes place in India.
ESS-364 Culture, Class and Gender (Spring; Yearly; 3.00 Credits; CAII,S,I,CA) This course will cover issue of gender and other disadvantaged groups in coastal management. Fishing villages' area often composed of people who are ethnically, religiously, or class wise distinct from upland populations. Women furthermore also have culturally distinct roles in the resource harvesting, production, and processing of natural resources. Course takes place in India. Prerequisites: Permission of the instructor and permission of the Center for International Education and ESS100 or EES100.
ESS-370 Environmental Policy Law (Spring; Yearly; 3.00 Credits; S,CW) This course will examine the major environmental laws in the United States and major Supreme Court cases covering these statutes. The status covered will be National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), The Clean Water Act (CWA), The Clean Air Acr (CAA), The Endangered Species Act (ESA), Federal Insecticide Fungicide and Rodenicide Act (FIFRA), and The Toxic Substances Control Act (TOSCA), The Forest Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA), Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), and the Superfund Amendment and Reauthorization Act (SARA). Prerequisites: PS101 and ESS100 or EES100.
ESS-375 Sustainability (Fall & Spring; Yearly; 3.00 Credits; N,CW,CA) Students study sustainability, considering the triad of environment, economics and society, with a systems-view, connecting cultural practices to the concept of limits. Energy and Policy and topics focusing on the challenges of cultural change will be studied in depth with lecture, discussion, writing, simulations, field trips and integration with the Sense of Place seminar. This course takes place at the Raystown Field Station. Prerequisite: EN-110 and ESS100 or EES-100. Corequisites: PACS180 and ESS232 and ESS380.
ESS-380 Sense of Place Seminar (Fall & Spring; Yearly; 2.00 Credits) This is the " cornerstone " of the Sense of Place semester, managed by one faculty, but comprised of a series of modules taught by various faculty and guest speakers. Module topics cover a range of environmental, ecological, and societal issues connecting to the region. Students will be expected to journal their experiences at RFS as well as complete other writing assignments. Note: There is a course fee assessed. This course takes place at the Raystown Field Station. Prerequisites: EN110 and ESS100 or EES100. Corequisites: ESS375 and PACS180.
ESS-399 Special Topics (Variable; Variable; 3.00 Credits; S,N) Topics vary from year to year. They will focus one or more special environmental skills, methods, approaches or technologies. A laboratory fee will be assessed.
ESS-400 Senior Capstone (Fall; Even Years; 3.00 Credits; CW) The Senior Capstone course is intended to provide a real-world, project-based experience working on an advanced-level project. The student teams utilize skills they have acquired in their academic career to evaluate and provide potential solutions to realistic environmental tasks. The project will be chosen each semester based on needs and opportunities in local agencies to provide an advanced project that can be done in one semester. Prerequisite: ESS200 and Senior Standing or permission of the instructor.
ESS-401 Senior Capstone II (Spring; Yearly; 3.00 Credits; CW,N,S) This course is the second semester of the Senior Capstone. It is intended to provide a real-world, project-based experience working on an advanced- level project. The student teams utilize skills they have acquired in their academic career to evaluate and provide potential solutions to realistic environmental tasks. The project will be chosen each year based on needs and opportunities in local agencies to provide and advanced project that can be done in one year. Prerequisites: ESS100 and ESS400 and Senior standing or permission.
ESS-410 Water Resources II (Spring; Odd Years; 3.00 Credits; QS,N) This is an advanced hydrology course aimed at furthering the students understanding of the complex interactions of the hydrologic cycle. Particular emphasis will be placed on mathematically modeling the process including precipitation, runoff, infiltration, soil moisture and stream flow. Prerequisites: ESS310 and MA130
ESS-450 Environmental Research (Fall & Spring; Yearly; 2.00-6.00 Credits; CW,S) An independent research experience that includes the preparation of a research proposal. Students present research results during weekly meetings with instructor. A research paper is the end point of the research experience. Presentation of results at national meetings is encouraged. May be repeated for up to 15 credits. Prerequisite: ESS100 or EES100 and ESS300 and permission of the instructor.
ESS-460 Coastal Zone Management (Spring; Yearly; 3.00 Credits; S,CW) This course will cover the current legal status, international treaties, state and central government coastal zone management regulations, and the history and current status of conflict and the attempts to overcome that conflict in India. This includes shrimp farming, over fishing, pollution, shipping, oil spills changes in beach morphology and coastal topography from weirs dams, etc. Prerequisites: GL111 and ESS100 or EES100.
ESS-490 Environmental Science and Studies Internship (Fall & Spring; Yearly; 2.00-9.00 Credits; N) Note: May be repeated up to a total of 9 hours of credit. Prerequisite: Permission and Jr. or Sr. Standing. Corequisite: ESS495. May count as F, I, S, H or N depending on the emphasis of the internship.
ESS-495 Env.Sci.Res./Seminar (Either Semester; Yearly; 2.00-6.00 Credits; N) Requires students to reflect on experience and/or pursue relevant research. Corequisite: ESS 490. Prerequisite: Permission. May count as F,I,S,H, or N depending on emphasis of internship.
ESS-499 Special Topics (Variable; Variable; 3.00 Credits; S,N) Allows the departments to offer special topics not normally offered. Departments may offer more than one special topic. Prerequisites vary by title.
ESS-TUT ESS Teaching Assistant (Variable; Variable; 1.00-3.00 Credits; N)