Course Offerings

Also see Earth Science and Geography

100[a.] and b. Earth Resource Challenges (1)

(Same as Geography 100, Environmental Studies 100, and Earth Science 100) As an introduction to the earth sciences and geography, this course combines the insights of the natural and social sciences. Geographers bring spatial analysis of human environmental change and its implications, while earth scientists contribute their skills and knowledge of the diverse natural processes shaping the earth’s surface. Together these distinctive yet complementary fields contribute to comprehensive understandings of the physical limitations and potentials, uses and misuses of the earth’s natural resources. Each semester the topic of the course changes to focus on selected resource problems facing societies and environments around the world.

Topic for 2008/09b: Food and Farming. Food production shapes our landscapes as much as any other phenomenon. Farming is also controlled by environmental, geographic, and economic forces. In this course, we examine the ways geology and geography affect, and are affected by, farming systems. We examine major themes in physical geography (biogeographic and climate patterns, landscape evolution and conservation) and geology (soil formation, geomorphology, water resources) as they affect farming. We also examine industrial and organic farming strategies and their effects on our land and water. We focus mainly on North America with added examples from other parts of the world. Ms. Cunningham.

Two 75-minute periods.

300b. Senior Thesis (1)

An original study, integrating perspectives of geography and earth science. The formal research proposal is first developed in Geography 302, the senior seminar, and then is presented to a faculty member in either geography or earth science, who serves as the principal adviser. A second faculty member from the other respective discipline participates in the final evaluation.

380a. Gender, Resources and Justice (1)

(Same as Women’s Studies 380) This multidisciplinary course acquaints students with the debates and theoretical approaches involved in understanding resource issues from a gender and justice perspective. It is intended for those in the social and natural sciences who, while familiar with their own disciplinary approaches to resource issues, are not familiar with gendered perspectives on resource issues and the activism that surrounds them. It is also appropriate for students of gender studies unfamiliar with feminist scholarship in this area.

Increasing concern for the development of more sustainable production systems has led to consideration of the ways in which gender, race, and class influence human-earth interactions. The course examines conceptual issues related to gender studies, earth systems, and land-use policies. It interrogates the complex intersections of activists, agencies and institutions in the global arena through a focus on contested power relations. The readings, videos and other materials used in the class are drawn from both the South and the North to familiarize students with the similarities and differences in gendered relationships to the earth, access to resources, and resource justice activism. Ms. Schneiderman.

One 2-hour period.

399a or b. Senior Independent Work (1)