Environmental Studies
Undergraduate Admission
(630) 637-5800
admissions@noctrl.edu
Why choose environmental studies at North Central College?
Understanding our environment involves learning about the world around us from many different perspectives. The liberal arts curriculum at North Central is designed to allow students with diverse interests to learn how to be scholars, researchers and stewards of the environment. Situated in a complex landscape of urban, suburban, agricultural, prairie, wetland and woodland habitats, North Central students have an opportunity to gain experience with a wide variety of environments and ecological and environmental challenges. Environmental studies majors choose from three tracks within our curriculum: Sustainable Business, Science and the Environment, and Society and the Environment.
You can also:
- Use the campus as your laboratory, studying our green initiatives, such as geothermal heating systems, solar panel arrays and a restored prairie.
- Make connections to local resources. North Central interacts with two national laboratories, Argonne and Fermi, within 15 miles of campus. Students can gain experience working with the DuPage County Forest Preserve and local environmental nonprofit groups, government agencies and businesses.
- Make connections to the world. Through our award-winning Center for Global Education, students have many opportunities to study environmental issues around the world. North Central students can research and explore environmental issues in Costa Rica, Australia, Africa, China, Spain and Equatorial Guinea.
- Apply what you learn. An experiential component requires students to conduct independent research, participate in environmental advocacy or complete an internship to prepare for careers in an environmental or sustainability field.
Environmental Studies, Science and the Environment Track, B.A.
Environmental Studies gives students a detailed understanding of complex environmental issues at the local, regional, national and global level using the diverse tools and perspectives of the natural and social sciences, humanities and business.
For additional information and courses in this program, see
Major Requirements
Environmental Studies Core Courses
-
ENVI 105 - The Science of Climate Change
ENVI 105 - The Science of Climate Change
4.00 credit hours
Introduces the evidence for anthropogenic climate change, including how the global climate system works, the impact of human activities on climate, and climate modeling to predict future patterns. Examines physical, chemical and biological impacts of climate change and the pros and cons of options available to ameliorate the changes now underway. Includes integrated laboratory experience.
Cardinal Directions Designation(s)
Sciences. -
ENVI 120 - People and Nature
ENVI 120 - People and Nature
4.00 credit hours
Introduction to interdisciplinary approaches from humanities, social sciences, sciences and sustainable business to understanding the economic, scientific, social and cultural complexity of U.S., transnational and global environmental issues. Introduces basic principles of environmental science, core texts from American environmental writers and essentials for understanding US environmental policy.
Cardinal Directions Designation(s)
U.S. Power Structures. -
ENVI 230 - U.S. Environmental Issues
ENVI 230 - U.S. Environmental Issues
4.00 credit hours
The basics of U.S. environmental philosophy, politics and law are covered through the interdisciplinary examination of specific cases such as snowmobiling in Yellowstone National Park, the drought in California and the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
Prerequisite(s)
Cardinal Directions Designation(s)
Writing Intensive. -
ENVI 240 - Introduction to Environmental Economics
ENVI 240 - Introduction to Environmental Economics
4.00 credit hours
Examines impact of economic activity on the environment and shortcomings of the market system in valuing environmental costs and benefits. Traditional regulation of the U.S. economy, including command and control policies are briefly discussed. Recent development and application of new and potential economic instruments to improve environmental quality are the focus; other topics include the valuation of environmental resources and prospects for sustainable development.
Cardinal Directions Designation(s)
Social Sciences. -
ENVI 375 - Symposium in Environmental Experiential Component
*
ENVI 375 - Symposium in Environmental Experiential Component
0.00 credit hours
In this portion of the experiential requirement for the Environmental Studies major, students, faculty and occasional guest speakers present research, internship and activist experiences. Students taking this course observe, question, discuss and analyze presented research results. Environmental Studies majors take this course once prior to presenting their own work in
Prerequisite(s)
Junior standing.
-
ENVI 470 - Environmental Problem Solving
ENVI 470 - Environmental Problem Solving
4.00 credit hours
In this practice-based class, students draw upon their interdisciplinary knowledge of the values and motivations of a variety of stakeholders and methods of iterative, evidence-based, interdisciplinary problem solving, to serve as pro bono environmental consultants for local nonprofit organizations, local governments or businesses.
Prerequisite(s)
Junior standing.
-
ENVI 475 - Symposium in Environmental Experiential Component
*
ENVI 475 - Symposium in Environmental Experiential Component
1.00 credit hours
In this portion of the experiential requirement for the Environmental Studies major, students, faculty and occasional guest speakers present research, internship and activist experiences in the format of a professional meeting. Majors who have completed their experiential project take the symposium for one credit hour and present the results of their experiential project.
Prerequisite(s)
Completion of experiential project and
*Note: Experiential Component tied to ENVI 375/475
All students must complete an Experiential Component in order to gain hands-on experience in some aspect of Environmental Studies outside of the classroom, such as an independent research project, an activism project or an internship. A professor from the Environmental Studies faculty will serve as the faculty mentor for each project. See the Environmental Studies program coordinator for the proposal and project approval process.
Students enroll in
Electives
Twenty-four credit hours to include at least twelve at the 300-level from the following:
Science and Environment
Sixteen credits from the following, at least four of which are at the 300-level or above:
-
BIOL 106 - Introduction to Environmental Science
BIOL 106 - Introduction to Environmental Science
4.00 credit hours
An overview of biological and physical processes that affect the environment in the context of current environmental issues. Topics include population, community, and ecosystem ecology, conservation biology, water and air pollution and natural resource management. Includes integrated laboratory experience.
Cardinal Directions Designation(s)
Sciences, Global Understanding. -
BIOL 220 - Ecology and Evolution
BIOL 220 - Ecology and Evolution
4.00 credit hours
Introduction to evolutionary biology and ecology. Topics include forces affecting evolution, population genetics, life history evolution, interactions among diverse communities of living organisms and between organisms and their environment. Laboratory required: investigation of evolutionary and ecological problems including field observations, laboratory experiments and computer modeling.
Prerequisite(s)
-
BIOL 240 - Biostatistics
BIOL 240 - Biostatistics
2.00 credit hours
Introductory statistics course, centered on using statistical methods to design, analyze and interpret scientific data in the biological sciences. Examines types of data and variables, descriptive statistics, experimental design, hypothesis testing and the scientific method. Covers probability, analysis of variance/covariance, correlation, regression and non-parametric statistical methods. Throughout the course, the application of statistical techniques in biological science is emphasized, using data from laboratory and field studies.
Prerequisite(s)
-
BIOL 250 - Field Biology
BIOL 250 - Field Biology
1.00-3.00 credit hours
Field study in biology: students work off-campus in a field environment for research in ecology, zoology, botany, environmental science or related areas. Timing and location vary according to faculty interests and research opportunities. May be offered May term, summer or in conjunction with study abroad. Recent offerings include study of desert ecology in Arizona and estuarine ecology on the Gulf Coast. May be repeated once with different content and instructor consent.
Prerequisite(s)
-
BIOL 325 - Plant Interactions in a Changing World
BIOL 325 - Plant Interactions in a Changing World
4.00 credit hours
Plants are dynamic participants in their environment and with their neighbors and other organisms. Students are introduced to the foundations of plant interactions, such as plant distributions, nutrient cycling and natural selection. Students apply these principles to understand the products of plant interactions in populations, communities and ecosystems from the perspective of rapidly changing environments. Explores topics such as climate change, invasive species and deforestation. Laboratory required.
Prerequisite(s)
-
BIOL 350 - Conservation Ecology
BIOL 350 - Conservation Ecology
4.00 credit hours
Exploration of the fundamentals of conservation ecology, and the role of conservation in the world today. Topics include ecological modeling, exploration of biodiversity, changing landscapes, climate change and the role of humans in both destruction and preservation of ecosystems. Laboratory required, emphasizes experimental design and analyses of ecological experiments examining current topics in conservation.
Prerequisite(s)
-
BIOL 450 - Environmental Ecology Through Models and Experiments
BIOL 450 - Environmental Ecology Through Models and Experiments
4.00 credit hours
Much of current ecology depends on past natural history studies, scientific experiments and mathematical models that have simplified complex systems. This course examines topics in population and community ecology in depth, digging deep into literature and models. Students read deeply, think critically and work through models themselves. Issues in research ethics, authorship and peer review are discussed, focusing on the ethics and politics of ecological research, sustainability and anthropogenic effects on the environment. Laboratory required: students design, implement, analyze and present an independent experiment using the skills and knowledge from the course. Capstone course.
Prerequisite(s)
One of
-
CHEM 122 - General Chemistry II
CHEM 122 - General Chemistry II
4.00 credit hours
An introduction to chemical principles within the context of the environmental issues of fuel and energy, water treatment and acid rain. Major chemical topics include gas laws, aqueous reactions and solubility, equilibria, acid/base chemistry, buffers, thermochemistry, redox, electrochemistry and nuclear chemistry. Laboratory required.
Prerequisite(s)
-
CHEM 310 - Chemical Analysis
CHEM 310 - Chemical Analysis
4.00 credit hours
Discussion of analytical methods including sample collection and preparation, statistical analysis of data and quantitative analysis including theory and techniques for gravimetric, volumetric, spectrophotometric, chromatographic and electrochemical methods. Laboratory required.
Prerequisite(s)
-
CHEM 311 - Separation Methods
CHEM 311 - Separation Methods
2.00 credit hours
Theory and practice of instrumental analytical chemistry related to separation methods including HPLC, GC, ion chromatography and capillary electrophoresis and related sampling handling and data analysis. Laboratory required.
Prerequisite(s)
-
CHEM 312 - Spectrometry and Spectroscopy
CHEM 312 - Spectrometry and Spectroscopy
2.00 credit hours
Theory and practice of instrumental analytical chemistry related to atomic and molecular spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. Laboratory required.
Prerequisite(s)
-
CHEM 313 - Materials and Surface Analysis
CHEM 313 - Materials and Surface Analysis
2.00 credit hours
Theory and practice of instrumental analytical chemistry related to materials and surface characterization. Major topics include electrochemical analysis, microscopy techniques, and solid-state analysis.
Prerequisite(s)
-
CHEM 490 - Special Topics
(when appropriate)
CHEM 490 - Special Topics
1:00-4.00 credit hours
Advanced topics in chemistry. May be repeated with new content.
-
ENVI 260 - Introduction to Geographic Information Systems
ENVI 260 - Introduction to Geographic Information Systems
4.00 credit hours
Geographic Information Science (GIS) links data to locations to explore spatial relationships. GIS is a research and problem-solving tool used in sciences, social sciences, and business analytics for mapping and evaluating the relationship between different spatial information. This course introduces basic GIS concepts such as spatial data sources and structures, projections and coordinate systems, data editing and creation and geospatial analysis.
-
ENVI 290 - Topics in Contemporary Environmental Issues
(when appropriate)
ENVI 290 - Topics in Contemporary Environmental Issues
4.00 credit hours
Intensive study of a selected topic in environmental studies that integrates principles and approaches from a specific discipline or methodology to explore a particular environmental issue or perspective.
Prerequisite(s)
Sustainability or Society and the Environment Electives
Eight credit hours from the following:
-
ARTD 160 - 3D Design: Form and Space
ARTD 160 - 3D Design: Form and Space
4.00 credit hours
A studio foundation course focused on process, study, and application of core concepts of art and design through the form and structure of three-dimensional space. Course objectives explore creative problem solving through acquisition and development of conceptual and technical skills by using a variety of materials.
Cardinal Directions Designation(s)
Arts. -
ARTD 360 - Sculpture II: Installation, Site and Environment
ARTD 360 - Sculpture II: Installation, Site and Environment
4.00 credit hours
A sculpture/multimedia course investigating research-based and social art practices that includes the intersections of installation, site and the environment. Through lectures and discussions of existing works, students respond through experiential installations and approaches to their chosen site and location of artwork.
Prerequisite(s)
One of
-
ENVI 210 - Sustainability in a Changing World
ENVI 210 - Sustainability in a Changing World
4.00 credit hours
Students learn competing definitions of sustainability, study its practical application on campus and in the Chicago metropolitan area, and investigate what is required from all of us to achieve sustainability. Topics include management of water, waste, energy, food production and mitigation of effects on "people, planet, profit." The course includes community engaged learning and field trips to sustainable projects in action.
Cardinal Directions Designation(s)
Community Engaged Learning. -
ENVI 224 - Environmental Literature
ENVI 224 - Environmental Literature
4.00 credit hours
Encompasses the classics of nature writing from Anglo-American literary traditions to the practice of eco-criticism, through which a wider range of novels and other texts can be analyzed. With these texts, students explore how literature participates in cultural formations of the relations among humans, their environment and other forms of life. Readings include several genres: poetry, non-fiction and science-fiction from the 19th century to the present.
Prerequisite(s)
-
ENVI 225 - Environmental Ethics
ENVI 225 - Environmental Ethics
4.00 credit hours
After a brief examination of philosophical ethical frameworks, the following will be considered: the history of environmental ethics; the problem of the "moral status" of nonhuman animals and other aspects of nature: the environment and "the good life," ethical issues related to population growth, sustainability, diminishing/vanishing resources and the use of cost benefit analysis in environmental policy.
Cardinal Directions Designation(s)
Humanities, Ethical Dimensions. -
ENVI 248 - American Environmental History
ENVI 248 - American Environmental History
4.00 credit hours
This broad exploration of American history from an environmental perspective examines the ways that different groups of Americans adapted to and altered the landscape, and analyzes their changing ideas about nature. The course begins in the colonial era and examines nineteenth-century economic growth and twentieth-century environmental awareness. Key themes include the new perspective of environmental history, the role of region in America, and reading the landscape.
Cardinal Directions Designation(s)
Humanities, Ethical Dimensions, U.S. Power Structures. -
ENVI 255 - Agriculture and the Environment: Educating Tomorrow's Consumers
ENVI 255 - Agriculture and the Environment: Educating Tomorrow's Consumers
4.00 credit hours
Introduces economic and environmental considerations facing contemporary agriculture. Surveys the environmental impact of an array of past agricultural practices and present-day technologies and innovations from crops to livestock, conventional and precision farming to organic practices. Includes field trips to a variety of farms and agribusinesses in the region.
Cardinal Directions Designation(s)
Social Sciences, Global Understanding, Community Engaged Learning. -
ENVI 260 - Introduction to Geographic Information Systems
ENVI 260 - Introduction to Geographic Information Systems
4.00 credit hours
Geographic Information Science (GIS) links data to locations to explore spatial relationships. GIS is a research and problem-solving tool used in sciences, social sciences, and business analytics for mapping and evaluating the relationship between different spatial information. This course introduces basic GIS concepts such as spatial data sources and structures, projections and coordinate systems, data editing and creation and geospatial analysis.
-
ENVI 290 - Topics in Contemporary Environmental Issues
(when appropriate)
ENVI 290 - Topics in Contemporary Environmental Issues
4.00 credit hours
Intensive study of a selected topic in environmental studies that integrates principles and approaches from a specific discipline or methodology to explore a particular environmental issue or perspective.
Prerequisite(s)
-
ENVI 303 - Environmental Cost Analysis
ENVI 303 - Environmental Cost Analysis
4.00 credit hours
Accounting and business concepts are applied to sustainability projects within the greater College community. After covering a foundation of cost and managerial accounting concepts, students will work on teams to plan, implement and assess environmental opportunities available to the College. Projects may include cost-benefit analysis, capital budgeting or sustainability certification opportunities.
Prerequisite(s)
-
ENVI 305 - Cultural Ecology
ENVI 305 - Cultural Ecology
4.00 credit hours
Examines human engagements with the physical environment from early homo sapiens to the present. Topics include major adaptive strategies (foraging, horticulture, intensive agriculture, pastoralism and industrialism) and their social correlates and environmental consequences; factors that lead to collapse of complex societies in the archaeological past; mercantile and colonial engagements and resulting changes in resource use; and contemporary resource conflicts between small-scale societies and states and corporate interests.
Prerequisite(s)
One of:
Cardinal Directions Designation(s)
Social Sciences, Global Understanding. -
ENVI 310 - Energy and the Environment
ENVI 310 - Energy and the Environment
4.00 credit hours
Increasing worldwide demand for energy presents complex environmental, economic and political challenges. This course examines our current U.S. energy system and the political factors that govern it, the environmental and economic trade-offs for a variety of fossil fuels and alternative energy sources, the environmental and economic compromises necessary to power the world in the 21st century and possible paths to a sustainable energy future.
Prerequisite(s)
One of:
-
ENVI 315 - Global Environmental Perspectives
ENVI 315 - Global Environmental Perspectives
4.00 credit hours
This case-based class examines a range of international environmental issues and the basics of international environmental lawmaking, then asks students to apply their understanding in a simulated United Nations negotiation to develop an environmental treaty.
Prerequisite(s)
-
ENVI 325 - Environmental Justice
ENVI 325 - Environmental Justice
4.00 credit hours
Examines the concept of environmental justice through interdisciplinary lenses. Beginning by examining different definitions of "environmental justice," various frameworks are used to analyze environmental issues through the lens of social justice and human inequality. Through selected case studies, the course examines a number of topics and questions, which include the advantages and drawbacks of current systems of production and consumption, who bears the burdens and who enjoys the benefits of our current environmental and social system and what kinds of alternatives are available.
Prerequisite(s)
-
ENVI 362 - Topics in Business Sustainability
ENVI 362 - Topics in Business Sustainability
4.00 credit hours
An introduction to business sustainability, through readings and conversations about topics such as: the distinction between bolt-on versus integrated sustainability strategies, sustainability's effects on supply chains and the local and global communities, globalization's effect on sustainability, managing sustainability in services and in manufacturing industries, finally how sustainability efforts are perceived by other stakeholders.
Prerequisite(s)
Junior standing.
-
ENVI 380 - Urban/Suburban/Rural Environmental Nexus
ENVI 380 - Urban/Suburban/Rural Environmental Nexus
4.00 credit hours
The Chicago metropolitan locale provides an ideal location to study the intersections of urban, suburban and rural environmental issues such as regional environmental interdependence, urban ecology, sustainable cities, suburban sprawl, transportation, restoration/reuse of brownfields, green spaces in urban, suburban and rural environments and agriculture and the city. This course explores these issues with particular attention to their relationship to the local history and politics of Chicago.
Prerequisite(s)
-
ENVI 462 - Sustainability Performance Measurement
ENVI 462 - Sustainability Performance Measurement
4.00 credit hours
Sustainability performance measurement is analyzed in detail including its objective, importance, and the many conditions that affect the method employed for measurement. More specific topics covered include: various sustainability performance measurement frameworks, the challenges and opportunities of sustainability performance measurement, performance measurement differences in service/manufacturing and distinct industries, and performance measurement within different scopes: event, product, company, supply chain.
Prerequisite(s)
Junior standing.
-
FILM 223 - Film and the Environment
FILM 223 - Film and the Environment
4.00 credit hours
An examination of the environmental impact of film production (including the changes to production processes and oversight throughout history). Additional focus on representations of the environment in fiction and non-fiction films (including depictions of animals/animal life, human-animal relationships, nature, and human impact on the natural world).
Prerequisite(s)
-
LEAD 180 - Financial Intelligence for Social Entrepreneurs
LEAD 180 - Financial Intelligence for Social Entrepreneurs
4.00 credit hours
Social enterprises have unique financial management and reporting needs. To operate such businesses successfully, social entrepreneurs require clear and complete financial information, including budgeting and cash flow forecasting, to inform their decision-making and to support their efforts to produce investment in the business. This course will explore the accounting and financial management of social enterprises, focusing on basic accounting practices and principles in a hands-on, skills-oriented, case-study driven fashion.
-
MGMT 335 - Logistics and Supply Chain Management
MGMT 335 - Logistics and Supply Chain Management
4.00 credit hours
However large or small a business' operations might be, they are part of at least one supply chain. Recognizing this system, its counterparts and the level of control each member has on the operations constitute the foundations of effective management. Within this course, the distinction between the terms of logistics management and supply chain management are examined. The synergy created through partnerships in the supply chain, and the alignment of strategies for logistics and supply chain management are highlighted. Implications and impact of decisions made on the supply chain, the society and the environment are in focus.
Prerequisite(s)
-
MGMT 405 - Environmental Management
MGMT 405 - Environmental Management
4.00 credit hours
Provide students with an overview of how management of firms intersects with the environment. It examines purchasing decisions by consumers and production choices by firms and how these can be made to reduce the negative impact on the environment. Other topics covered include: how our market system contributes to global climate change, sustainability of our economy and ecology, production Life-Cycle-Analysis (LCA), Internal Rates of Return (IRR), Return on Investment (ROI) and 'green' products.
Prerequisite(s)
Additional Requirements for the B.A. Degree
Students must demonstrate elementary competence in a foreign language. For more information, see the
Environmental Studies, Society and the Environment Track, B.A.
Environmental Studies gives students a detailed understanding of complex environmental issues at the local, regional, national and global level using the diverse tools and perspectives of the natural and social sciences, humanities and business.
For additional information and courses in this program, see
Major Requirements
Environmental Studies Core Courses
-
ENVI 105 - The Science of Climate Change
ENVI 105 - The Science of Climate Change
4.00 credit hours
Introduces the evidence for anthropogenic climate change, including how the global climate system works, the impact of human activities on climate, and climate modeling to predict future patterns. Examines physical, chemical and biological impacts of climate change and the pros and cons of options available to ameliorate the changes now underway. Includes integrated laboratory experience.
Cardinal Directions Designation(s)
Sciences. -
ENVI 120 - People and Nature
ENVI 120 - People and Nature
4.00 credit hours
Introduction to interdisciplinary approaches from humanities, social sciences, sciences and sustainable business to understanding the economic, scientific, social and cultural complexity of U.S., transnational and global environmental issues. Introduces basic principles of environmental science, core texts from American environmental writers and essentials for understanding US environmental policy.
Cardinal Directions Designation(s)
U.S. Power Structures. -
ENVI 230 - U.S. Environmental Issues
ENVI 230 - U.S. Environmental Issues
4.00 credit hours
The basics of U.S. environmental philosophy, politics and law are covered through the interdisciplinary examination of specific cases such as snowmobiling in Yellowstone National Park, the drought in California and the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
Prerequisite(s)
Cardinal Directions Designation(s)
Writing Intensive. -
ENVI 240 - Introduction to Environmental Economics
ENVI 240 - Introduction to Environmental Economics
4.00 credit hours
Examines impact of economic activity on the environment and shortcomings of the market system in valuing environmental costs and benefits. Traditional regulation of the U.S. economy, including command and control policies are briefly discussed. Recent development and application of new and potential economic instruments to improve environmental quality are the focus; other topics include the valuation of environmental resources and prospects for sustainable development.
Cardinal Directions Designation(s)
Social Sciences. -
ENVI 375 - Symposium in Environmental Experiential Component
*
ENVI 375 - Symposium in Environmental Experiential Component
0.00 credit hours
In this portion of the experiential requirement for the Environmental Studies major, students, faculty and occasional guest speakers present research, internship and activist experiences. Students taking this course observe, question, discuss and analyze presented research results. Environmental Studies majors take this course once prior to presenting their own work in
Prerequisite(s)
Junior standing.
-
ENVI 470 - Environmental Problem Solving
ENVI 470 - Environmental Problem Solving
4.00 credit hours
In this practice-based class, students draw upon their interdisciplinary knowledge of the values and motivations of a variety of stakeholders and methods of iterative, evidence-based, interdisciplinary problem solving, to serve as pro bono environmental consultants for local nonprofit organizations, local governments or businesses.
Prerequisite(s)
Junior standing.
-
ENVI 475 - Symposium in Environmental Experiential Component
*
ENVI 475 - Symposium in Environmental Experiential Component
1.00 credit hours
In this portion of the experiential requirement for the Environmental Studies major, students, faculty and occasional guest speakers present research, internship and activist experiences in the format of a professional meeting. Majors who have completed their experiential project take the symposium for one credit hour and present the results of their experiential project.
Prerequisite(s)
Completion of experiential project and
*Note: Experiential Component tied to ENVI 375/475
All students must complete an Experiential Component in order to gain hands-on experience in some aspect of Environmental Studies outside of the classroom, such as an independent research project, an activism project or an internship. A professor from the Environmental Studies faculty will serve as the faculty mentor for each project. See the Environmental Studies program coordinator for the proposal and project approval process.
Students enroll in
Electives
Twenty-four credit hours to include at least twelve at the 300-level from the following:
Society and the Environment
Sixteen credit hours from the following, at least four of which are at the 300-level or above:
-
ARTD 160 - 3D Design: Form and Space
ARTD 160 - 3D Design: Form and Space
4.00 credit hours
A studio foundation course focused on process, study, and application of core concepts of art and design through the form and structure of three-dimensional space. Course objectives explore creative problem solving through acquisition and development of conceptual and technical skills by using a variety of materials.
Cardinal Directions Designation(s)
Arts. -
ARTD 360 - Sculpture II: Installation, Site and Environment
ARTD 360 - Sculpture II: Installation, Site and Environment
4.00 credit hours
A sculpture/multimedia course investigating research-based and social art practices that includes the intersections of installation, site and the environment. Through lectures and discussions of existing works, students respond through experiential installations and approaches to their chosen site and location of artwork.
Prerequisite(s)
One of
-
ENVI 224 - Environmental Literature
ENVI 224 - Environmental Literature
4.00 credit hours
Encompasses the classics of nature writing from Anglo-American literary traditions to the practice of eco-criticism, through which a wider range of novels and other texts can be analyzed. With these texts, students explore how literature participates in cultural formations of the relations among humans, their environment and other forms of life. Readings include several genres: poetry, non-fiction and science-fiction from the 19th century to the present.
Prerequisite(s)
-
ENVI 225 - Environmental Ethics
ENVI 225 - Environmental Ethics
4.00 credit hours
After a brief examination of philosophical ethical frameworks, the following will be considered: the history of environmental ethics; the problem of the "moral status" of nonhuman animals and other aspects of nature: the environment and "the good life," ethical issues related to population growth, sustainability, diminishing/vanishing resources and the use of cost benefit analysis in environmental policy.
Cardinal Directions Designation(s)
Humanities, Ethical Dimensions. -
ENVI 248 - American Environmental History
ENVI 248 - American Environmental History
4.00 credit hours
This broad exploration of American history from an environmental perspective examines the ways that different groups of Americans adapted to and altered the landscape, and analyzes their changing ideas about nature. The course begins in the colonial era and examines nineteenth-century economic growth and twentieth-century environmental awareness. Key themes include the new perspective of environmental history, the role of region in America, and reading the landscape.
Cardinal Directions Designation(s)
Humanities, Ethical Dimensions, U.S. Power Structures. -
ENVI 255 - Agriculture and the Environment: Educating Tomorrow's Consumers
ENVI 255 - Agriculture and the Environment: Educating Tomorrow's Consumers
4.00 credit hours
Introduces economic and environmental considerations facing contemporary agriculture. Surveys the environmental impact of an array of past agricultural practices and present-day technologies and innovations from crops to livestock, conventional and precision farming to organic practices. Includes field trips to a variety of farms and agribusinesses in the region.
Cardinal Directions Designation(s)
Social Sciences, Global Understanding, Community Engaged Learning. -
ENVI 260 - Introduction to Geographic Information Systems
ENVI 260 - Introduction to Geographic Information Systems
4.00 credit hours
Geographic Information Science (GIS) links data to locations to explore spatial relationships. GIS is a research and problem-solving tool used in sciences, social sciences, and business analytics for mapping and evaluating the relationship between different spatial information. This course introduces basic GIS concepts such as spatial data sources and structures, projections and coordinate systems, data editing and creation and geospatial analysis.
-
ENVI 290 - Topics in Contemporary Environmental Issues
(when applicable)
ENVI 290 - Topics in Contemporary Environmental Issues
4.00 credit hours
Intensive study of a selected topic in environmental studies that integrates principles and approaches from a specific discipline or methodology to explore a particular environmental issue or perspective.
Prerequisite(s)
-
ENVI 305 - Cultural Ecology
ENVI 305 - Cultural Ecology
4.00 credit hours
Examines human engagements with the physical environment from early homo sapiens to the present. Topics include major adaptive strategies (foraging, horticulture, intensive agriculture, pastoralism and industrialism) and their social correlates and environmental consequences; factors that lead to collapse of complex societies in the archaeological past; mercantile and colonial engagements and resulting changes in resource use; and contemporary resource conflicts between small-scale societies and states and corporate interests.
Prerequisite(s)
One of:
Cardinal Directions Designation(s)
Social Sciences, Global Understanding. -
ENVI 315 - Global Environmental Perspectives
ENVI 315 - Global Environmental Perspectives
4.00 credit hours
This case-based class examines a range of international environmental issues and the basics of international environmental lawmaking, then asks students to apply their understanding in a simulated United Nations negotiation to develop an environmental treaty.
Prerequisite(s)
-
ENVI 325 - Environmental Justice
ENVI 325 - Environmental Justice
4.00 credit hours
Examines the concept of environmental justice through interdisciplinary lenses. Beginning by examining different definitions of "environmental justice," various frameworks are used to analyze environmental issues through the lens of social justice and human inequality. Through selected case studies, the course examines a number of topics and questions, which include the advantages and drawbacks of current systems of production and consumption, who bears the burdens and who enjoys the benefits of our current environmental and social system and what kinds of alternatives are available.
Prerequisite(s)
-
ENVI 380 - Urban/Suburban/Rural Environmental Nexus
ENVI 380 - Urban/Suburban/Rural Environmental Nexus
4.00 credit hours
The Chicago metropolitan locale provides an ideal location to study the intersections of urban, suburban and rural environmental issues such as regional environmental interdependence, urban ecology, sustainable cities, suburban sprawl, transportation, restoration/reuse of brownfields, green spaces in urban, suburban and rural environments and agriculture and the city. This course explores these issues with particular attention to their relationship to the local history and politics of Chicago.
Prerequisite(s)
-
FILM 223 - Film and the Environment
FILM 223 - Film and the Environment
4.00 credit hours
An examination of the environmental impact of film production (including the changes to production processes and oversight throughout history). Additional focus on representations of the environment in fiction and non-fiction films (including depictions of animals/animal life, human-animal relationships, nature, and human impact on the natural world).
Prerequisite(s)
Science and the Environment or Sustainability
Eight credits from the following:
-
BIOL 106 - Introduction to Environmental Science
BIOL 106 - Introduction to Environmental Science
4.00 credit hours
An overview of biological and physical processes that affect the environment in the context of current environmental issues. Topics include population, community, and ecosystem ecology, conservation biology, water and air pollution and natural resource management. Includes integrated laboratory experience.
Cardinal Directions Designation(s)
Sciences, Global Understanding. -
BIOL 220 - Ecology and Evolution
BIOL 220 - Ecology and Evolution
4.00 credit hours
Introduction to evolutionary biology and ecology. Topics include forces affecting evolution, population genetics, life history evolution, interactions among diverse communities of living organisms and between organisms and their environment. Laboratory required: investigation of evolutionary and ecological problems including field observations, laboratory experiments and computer modeling.
Prerequisite(s)
-
BIOL 240 - Biostatistics
BIOL 240 - Biostatistics
2.00 credit hours
Introductory statistics course, centered on using statistical methods to design, analyze and interpret scientific data in the biological sciences. Examines types of data and variables, descriptive statistics, experimental design, hypothesis testing and the scientific method. Covers probability, analysis of variance/covariance, correlation, regression and non-parametric statistical methods. Throughout the course, the application of statistical techniques in biological science is emphasized, using data from laboratory and field studies.
Prerequisite(s)
-
BIOL 250 - Field Biology
BIOL 250 - Field Biology
1.00-3.00 credit hours
Field study in biology: students work off-campus in a field environment for research in ecology, zoology, botany, environmental science or related areas. Timing and location vary according to faculty interests and research opportunities. May be offered May term, summer or in conjunction with study abroad. Recent offerings include study of desert ecology in Arizona and estuarine ecology on the Gulf Coast. May be repeated once with different content and instructor consent.
Prerequisite(s)
-
BIOL 325 - Plant Interactions in a Changing World
BIOL 325 - Plant Interactions in a Changing World
4.00 credit hours
Plants are dynamic participants in their environment and with their neighbors and other organisms. Students are introduced to the foundations of plant interactions, such as plant distributions, nutrient cycling and natural selection. Students apply these principles to understand the products of plant interactions in populations, communities and ecosystems from the perspective of rapidly changing environments. Explores topics such as climate change, invasive species and deforestation. Laboratory required.
Prerequisite(s)
-
BIOL 350 - Conservation Ecology
BIOL 350 - Conservation Ecology
4.00 credit hours
Exploration of the fundamentals of conservation ecology, and the role of conservation in the world today. Topics include ecological modeling, exploration of biodiversity, changing landscapes, climate change and the role of humans in both destruction and preservation of ecosystems. Laboratory required, emphasizes experimental design and analyses of ecological experiments examining current topics in conservation.
Prerequisite(s)
-
BIOL 450 - Environmental Ecology Through Models and Experiments
BIOL 450 - Environmental Ecology Through Models and Experiments
4.00 credit hours
Much of current ecology depends on past natural history studies, scientific experiments and mathematical models that have simplified complex systems. This course examines topics in population and community ecology in depth, digging deep into literature and models. Students read deeply, think critically and work through models themselves. Issues in research ethics, authorship and peer review are discussed, focusing on the ethics and politics of ecological research, sustainability and anthropogenic effects on the environment. Laboratory required: students design, implement, analyze and present an independent experiment using the skills and knowledge from the course. Capstone course.
Prerequisite(s)
One of
-
CHEM 122 - General Chemistry II
CHEM 122 - General Chemistry II
4.00 credit hours
An introduction to chemical principles within the context of the environmental issues of fuel and energy, water treatment and acid rain. Major chemical topics include gas laws, aqueous reactions and solubility, equilibria, acid/base chemistry, buffers, thermochemistry, redox, electrochemistry and nuclear chemistry. Laboratory required.
Prerequisite(s)
-
CHEM 310 - Chemical Analysis
CHEM 310 - Chemical Analysis
4.00 credit hours
Discussion of analytical methods including sample collection and preparation, statistical analysis of data and quantitative analysis including theory and techniques for gravimetric, volumetric, spectrophotometric, chromatographic and electrochemical methods. Laboratory required.
Prerequisite(s)
-
CHEM 311 - Separation Methods
CHEM 311 - Separation Methods
2.00 credit hours
Theory and practice of instrumental analytical chemistry related to separation methods including HPLC, GC, ion chromatography and capillary electrophoresis and related sampling handling and data analysis. Laboratory required.
Prerequisite(s)
-
CHEM 312 - Spectrometry and Spectroscopy
CHEM 312 - Spectrometry and Spectroscopy
2.00 credit hours
Theory and practice of instrumental analytical chemistry related to atomic and molecular spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. Laboratory required.
Prerequisite(s)
-
CHEM 313 - Materials and Surface Analysis
CHEM 313 - Materials and Surface Analysis
2.00 credit hours
Theory and practice of instrumental analytical chemistry related to materials and surface characterization. Major topics include electrochemical analysis, microscopy techniques, and solid-state analysis.
Prerequisite(s)
-
CHEM 490 - Special Topics
CHEM 490 - Special Topics
1:00-4.00 credit hours
Advanced topics in chemistry. May be repeated with new content.
-
ENVI 210 - Sustainability in a Changing World
ENVI 210 - Sustainability in a Changing World
4.00 credit hours
Students learn competing definitions of sustainability, study its practical application on campus and in the Chicago metropolitan area, and investigate what is required from all of us to achieve sustainability. Topics include management of water, waste, energy, food production and mitigation of effects on "people, planet, profit." The course includes community engaged learning and field trips to sustainable projects in action.
Cardinal Directions Designation(s)
Community Engaged Learning. -
ENVI 260 - Introduction to Geographic Information Systems
ENVI 260 - Introduction to Geographic Information Systems
4.00 credit hours
Geographic Information Science (GIS) links data to locations to explore spatial relationships. GIS is a research and problem-solving tool used in sciences, social sciences, and business analytics for mapping and evaluating the relationship between different spatial information. This course introduces basic GIS concepts such as spatial data sources and structures, projections and coordinate systems, data editing and creation and geospatial analysis.
-
ENVI 290 - Topics in Contemporary Environmental Issues
ENVI 290 - Topics in Contemporary Environmental Issues
4.00 credit hours
Intensive study of a selected topic in environmental studies that integrates principles and approaches from a specific discipline or methodology to explore a particular environmental issue or perspective.
Prerequisite(s)
-
ENVI 303 - Environmental Cost Analysis
ENVI 303 - Environmental Cost Analysis
4.00 credit hours
Accounting and business concepts are applied to sustainability projects within the greater College community. After covering a foundation of cost and managerial accounting concepts, students will work on teams to plan, implement and assess environmental opportunities available to the College. Projects may include cost-benefit analysis, capital budgeting or sustainability certification opportunities.
Prerequisite(s)
-
ENVI 310 - Energy and the Environment
ENVI 310 - Energy and the Environment
4.00 credit hours
Increasing worldwide demand for energy presents complex environmental, economic and political challenges. This course examines our current U.S. energy system and the political factors that govern it, the environmental and economic trade-offs for a variety of fossil fuels and alternative energy sources, the environmental and economic compromises necessary to power the world in the 21st century and possible paths to a sustainable energy future.
Prerequisite(s)
One of:
-
ENVI 362 - Topics in Business Sustainability
ENVI 362 - Topics in Business Sustainability
4.00 credit hours
An introduction to business sustainability, through readings and conversations about topics such as: the distinction between bolt-on versus integrated sustainability strategies, sustainability's effects on supply chains and the local and global communities, globalization's effect on sustainability, managing sustainability in services and in manufacturing industries, finally how sustainability efforts are perceived by other stakeholders.
Prerequisite(s)
Junior standing.
-
ENVI 462 - Sustainability Performance Measurement
ENVI 462 - Sustainability Performance Measurement
4.00 credit hours
Sustainability performance measurement is analyzed in detail including its objective, importance, and the many conditions that affect the method employed for measurement. More specific topics covered include: various sustainability performance measurement frameworks, the challenges and opportunities of sustainability performance measurement, performance measurement differences in service/manufacturing and distinct industries, and performance measurement within different scopes: event, product, company, supply chain.
Prerequisite(s)
Junior standing.
-
LEAD 180 - Financial Intelligence for Social Entrepreneurs
LEAD 180 - Financial Intelligence for Social Entrepreneurs
4.00 credit hours
Social enterprises have unique financial management and reporting needs. To operate such businesses successfully, social entrepreneurs require clear and complete financial information, including budgeting and cash flow forecasting, to inform their decision-making and to support their efforts to produce investment in the business. This course will explore the accounting and financial management of social enterprises, focusing on basic accounting practices and principles in a hands-on, skills-oriented, case-study driven fashion.
-
MGMT 335 - Logistics and Supply Chain Management
MGMT 335 - Logistics and Supply Chain Management
4.00 credit hours
However large or small a business' operations might be, they are part of at least one supply chain. Recognizing this system, its counterparts and the level of control each member has on the operations constitute the foundations of effective management. Within this course, the distinction between the terms of logistics management and supply chain management are examined. The synergy created through partnerships in the supply chain, and the alignment of strategies for logistics and supply chain management are highlighted. Implications and impact of decisions made on the supply chain, the society and the environment are in focus.
Prerequisite(s)
-
MGMT 405 - Environmental Management
MGMT 405 - Environmental Management
4.00 credit hours
Provide students with an overview of how management of firms intersects with the environment. It examines purchasing decisions by consumers and production choices by firms and how these can be made to reduce the negative impact on the environment. Other topics covered include: how our market system contributes to global climate change, sustainability of our economy and ecology, production Life-Cycle-Analysis (LCA), Internal Rates of Return (IRR), Return on Investment (ROI) and 'green' products.
Prerequisite(s)
Additional Requirements for the B.A. Degree
Students must demonstrate elementary competence in a foreign language. For more information, see the
Environmental Studies, Sustainability Track, B.A.
Environmental Studies gives students a detailed understanding of complex environmental issues at the local, regional, national and global level using the diverse tools and perspectives of the natural and social sciences, humanities and business.
For additional information and courses in this program, see
Major Requirements
Environmental Studies Core Courses
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ENVI 105 - The Science of Climate Change
ENVI 105 - The Science of Climate Change
4.00 credit hours
Introduces the evidence for anthropogenic climate change, including how the global climate system works, the impact of human activities on climate, and climate modeling to predict future patterns. Examines physical, chemical and biological impacts of climate change and the pros and cons of options available to ameliorate the changes now underway. Includes integrated laboratory experience.
Cardinal Directions Designation(s)
Sciences. -
ENVI 120 - People and Nature
ENVI 120 - People and Nature
4.00 credit hours
Introduction to interdisciplinary approaches from humanities, social sciences, sciences and sustainable business to understanding the economic, scientific, social and cultural complexity of U.S., transnational and global environmental issues. Introduces basic principles of environmental science, core texts from American environmental writers and essentials for understanding US environmental policy.
Cardinal Directions Designation(s)
U.S. Power Structures. -
ENVI 230 - U.S. Environmental Issues
ENVI 230 - U.S. Environmental Issues
4.00 credit hours
The basics of U.S. environmental philosophy, politics and law are covered through the interdisciplinary examination of specific cases such as snowmobiling in Yellowstone National Park, the drought in California and the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
Prerequisite(s)
Cardinal Directions Designation(s)
Writing Intensive. -
ENVI 240 - Introduction to Environmental Economics
ENVI 240 - Introduction to Environmental Economics
4.00 credit hours
Examines impact of economic activity on the environment and shortcomings of the market system in valuing environmental costs and benefits. Traditional regulation of the U.S. economy, including command and control policies are briefly discussed. Recent development and application of new and potential economic instruments to improve environmental quality are the focus; other topics include the valuation of environmental resources and prospects for sustainable development.
Cardinal Directions Designation(s)
Social Sciences. -
ENVI 375 - Symposium in Environmental Experiential Component
*
ENVI 375 - Symposium in Environmental Experiential Component
0.00 credit hours
In this portion of the experiential requirement for the Environmental Studies major, students, faculty and occasional guest speakers present research, internship and activist experiences. Students taking this course observe, question, discuss and analyze presented research results. Environmental Studies majors take this course once prior to presenting their own work in
Prerequisite(s)
Junior standing.
-
ENVI 470 - Environmental Problem Solving
ENVI 470 - Environmental Problem Solving
4.00 credit hours
In this practice-based class, students draw upon their interdisciplinary knowledge of the values and motivations of a variety of stakeholders and methods of iterative, evidence-based, interdisciplinary problem solving, to serve as pro bono environmental consultants for local nonprofit organizations, local governments or businesses.
Prerequisite(s)
Junior standing.
-
ENVI 475 - Symposium in Environmental Experiential Component
*
ENVI 475 - Symposium in Environmental Experiential Component
1.00 credit hours
In this portion of the experiential requirement for the Environmental Studies major, students, faculty and occasional guest speakers present research, internship and activist experiences in the format of a professional meeting. Majors who have completed their experiential project take the symposium for one credit hour and present the results of their experiential project.
Prerequisite(s)
Completion of experiential project and
*Experiential Component tied to ENVI 375/475
All students must complete an Experiential Component in order to gain hands-on experience in some aspect of Environmental Studies outside of the classroom, such as an independent research project, an activism project or an internship. A professor from the Environmental Studies faculty will serve as the faculty mentor for each project. See the Environmental Studies program coordinator for the proposal and project approval process.
Students enroll in
Electives
Twenty-four credit hours to include at least twelve at the 300-level from the following:
Sustainability
Sixteen credits from the following, at least four of which are at the 300-level or above:
-
ENVI 210 - Sustainability in a Changing World
ENVI 210 - Sustainability in a Changing World
4.00 credit hours
Students learn competing definitions of sustainability, study its practical application on campus and in the Chicago metropolitan area, and investigate what is required from all of us to achieve sustainability. Topics include management of water, waste, energy, food production and mitigation of effects on "people, planet, profit." The course includes community engaged learning and field trips to sustainable projects in action.
Cardinal Directions Designation(s)
Community Engaged Learning. -
ENVI 260 - Introduction to Geographic Information Systems
ENVI 260 - Introduction to Geographic Information Systems
4.00 credit hours
Geographic Information Science (GIS) links data to locations to explore spatial relationships. GIS is a research and problem-solving tool used in sciences, social sciences, and business analytics for mapping and evaluating the relationship between different spatial information. This course introduces basic GIS concepts such as spatial data sources and structures, projections and coordinate systems, data editing and creation and geospatial analysis.
-
ENVI 290 - Topics in Contemporary Environmental Issues
(when applicable)
ENVI 290 - Topics in Contemporary Environmental Issues
4.00 credit hours
Intensive study of a selected topic in environmental studies that integrates principles and approaches from a specific discipline or methodology to explore a particular environmental issue or perspective.
Prerequisite(s)
-
ENVI 303 - Environmental Cost Analysis
ENVI 303 - Environmental Cost Analysis
4.00 credit hours
Accounting and business concepts are applied to sustainability projects within the greater College community. After covering a foundation of cost and managerial accounting concepts, students will work on teams to plan, implement and assess environmental opportunities available to the College. Projects may include cost-benefit analysis, capital budgeting or sustainability certification opportunities.
Prerequisite(s)
-
ENVI 310 - Energy and the Environment
ENVI 310 - Energy and the Environment
4.00 credit hours
Increasing worldwide demand for energy presents complex environmental, economic and political challenges. This course examines our current U.S. energy system and the political factors that govern it, the environmental and economic trade-offs for a variety of fossil fuels and alternative energy sources, the environmental and economic compromises necessary to power the world in the 21st century and possible paths to a sustainable energy future.
Prerequisite(s)
One of:
-
ENVI 362 - Topics in Business Sustainability
ENVI 362 - Topics in Business Sustainability
4.00 credit hours
An introduction to business sustainability, through readings and conversations about topics such as: the distinction between bolt-on versus integrated sustainability strategies, sustainability's effects on supply chains and the local and global communities, globalization's effect on sustainability, managing sustainability in services and in manufacturing industries, finally how sustainability efforts are perceived by other stakeholders.
Prerequisite(s)
Junior standing.
-
ENVI 462 - Sustainability Performance Measurement
ENVI 462 - Sustainability Performance Measurement
4.00 credit hours
Sustainability performance measurement is analyzed in detail including its objective, importance, and the many conditions that affect the method employed for measurement. More specific topics covered include: various sustainability performance measurement frameworks, the challenges and opportunities of sustainability performance measurement, performance measurement differences in service/manufacturing and distinct industries, and performance measurement within different scopes: event, product, company, supply chain.
Prerequisite(s)
Junior standing.
-
LEAD 180 - Financial Intelligence for Social Entrepreneurs
LEAD 180 - Financial Intelligence for Social Entrepreneurs
4.00 credit hours
Social enterprises have unique financial management and reporting needs. To operate such businesses successfully, social entrepreneurs require clear and complete financial information, including budgeting and cash flow forecasting, to inform their decision-making and to support their efforts to produce investment in the business. This course will explore the accounting and financial management of social enterprises, focusing on basic accounting practices and principles in a hands-on, skills-oriented, case-study driven fashion.
-
MGMT 335 - Logistics and Supply Chain Management
MGMT 335 - Logistics and Supply Chain Management
4.00 credit hours
However large or small a business' operations might be, they are part of at least one supply chain. Recognizing this system, its counterparts and the level of control each member has on the operations constitute the foundations of effective management. Within this course, the distinction between the terms of logistics management and supply chain management are examined. The synergy created through partnerships in the supply chain, and the alignment of strategies for logistics and supply chain management are highlighted. Implications and impact of decisions made on the supply chain, the society and the environment are in focus.
Prerequisite(s)
-
MGMT 405 - Environmental Management
MGMT 405 - Environmental Management
4.00 credit hours
Provide students with an overview of how management of firms intersects with the environment. It examines purchasing decisions by consumers and production choices by firms and how these can be made to reduce the negative impact on the environment. Other topics covered include: how our market system contributes to global climate change, sustainability of our economy and ecology, production Life-Cycle-Analysis (LCA), Internal Rates of Return (IRR), Return on Investment (ROI) and 'green' products.
Prerequisite(s)
Science and the Environment or Society and Environment
Eight credit hours from the following:
-
ARTD 160 - 3D Design: Form and Space
ARTD 160 - 3D Design: Form and Space
4.00 credit hours
A studio foundation course focused on process, study, and application of core concepts of art and design through the form and structure of three-dimensional space. Course objectives explore creative problem solving through acquisition and development of conceptual and technical skills by using a variety of materials.
Cardinal Directions Designation(s)
Arts. -
ARTD 360 - Sculpture II: Installation, Site and Environment
ARTD 360 - Sculpture II: Installation, Site and Environment
4.00 credit hours
A sculpture/multimedia course investigating research-based and social art practices that includes the intersections of installation, site and the environment. Through lectures and discussions of existing works, students respond through experiential installations and approaches to their chosen site and location of artwork.
Prerequisite(s)
One of
-
BIOL 106 - Introduction to Environmental Science
BIOL 106 - Introduction to Environmental Science
4.00 credit hours
An overview of biological and physical processes that affect the environment in the context of current environmental issues. Topics include population, community, and ecosystem ecology, conservation biology, water and air pollution and natural resource management. Includes integrated laboratory experience.
Cardinal Directions Designation(s)
Sciences, Global Understanding. -
BIOL 220 - Ecology and Evolution
BIOL 220 - Ecology and Evolution
4.00 credit hours
Introduction to evolutionary biology and ecology. Topics include forces affecting evolution, population genetics, life history evolution, interactions among diverse communities of living organisms and between organisms and their environment. Laboratory required: investigation of evolutionary and ecological problems including field observations, laboratory experiments and computer modeling.
Prerequisite(s)
-
BIOL 240 - Biostatistics
BIOL 240 - Biostatistics
2.00 credit hours
Introductory statistics course, centered on using statistical methods to design, analyze and interpret scientific data in the biological sciences. Examines types of data and variables, descriptive statistics, experimental design, hypothesis testing and the scientific method. Covers probability, analysis of variance/covariance, correlation, regression and non-parametric statistical methods. Throughout the course, the application of statistical techniques in biological science is emphasized, using data from laboratory and field studies.
Prerequisite(s)
-
BIOL 250 - Field Biology
BIOL 250 - Field Biology
1.00-3.00 credit hours
Field study in biology: students work off-campus in a field environment for research in ecology, zoology, botany, environmental science or related areas. Timing and location vary according to faculty interests and research opportunities. May be offered May term, summer or in conjunction with study abroad. Recent offerings include study of desert ecology in Arizona and estuarine ecology on the Gulf Coast. May be repeated once with different content and instructor consent.
Prerequisite(s)
-
BIOL 325 - Plant Interactions in a Changing World
BIOL 325 - Plant Interactions in a Changing World
4.00 credit hours
Plants are dynamic participants in their environment and with their neighbors and other organisms. Students are introduced to the foundations of plant interactions, such as plant distributions, nutrient cycling and natural selection. Students apply these principles to understand the products of plant interactions in populations, communities and ecosystems from the perspective of rapidly changing environments. Explores topics such as climate change, invasive species and deforestation. Laboratory required.
Prerequisite(s)
-
BIOL 350 - Conservation Ecology
BIOL 350 - Conservation Ecology
4.00 credit hours
Exploration of the fundamentals of conservation ecology, and the role of conservation in the world today. Topics include ecological modeling, exploration of biodiversity, changing landscapes, climate change and the role of humans in both destruction and preservation of ecosystems. Laboratory required, emphasizes experimental design and analyses of ecological experiments examining current topics in conservation.
Prerequisite(s)
-
BIOL 450 - Environmental Ecology Through Models and Experiments
BIOL 450 - Environmental Ecology Through Models and Experiments
4.00 credit hours
Much of current ecology depends on past natural history studies, scientific experiments and mathematical models that have simplified complex systems. This course examines topics in population and community ecology in depth, digging deep into literature and models. Students read deeply, think critically and work through models themselves. Issues in research ethics, authorship and peer review are discussed, focusing on the ethics and politics of ecological research, sustainability and anthropogenic effects on the environment. Laboratory required: students design, implement, analyze and present an independent experiment using the skills and knowledge from the course. Capstone course.
Prerequisite(s)
One of
-
CHEM 122 - General Chemistry II
CHEM 122 - General Chemistry II
4.00 credit hours
An introduction to chemical principles within the context of the environmental issues of fuel and energy, water treatment and acid rain. Major chemical topics include gas laws, aqueous reactions and solubility, equilibria, acid/base chemistry, buffers, thermochemistry, redox, electrochemistry and nuclear chemistry. Laboratory required.
Prerequisite(s)
-
CHEM 310 - Chemical Analysis
CHEM 310 - Chemical Analysis
4.00 credit hours
Discussion of analytical methods including sample collection and preparation, statistical analysis of data and quantitative analysis including theory and techniques for gravimetric, volumetric, spectrophotometric, chromatographic and electrochemical methods. Laboratory required.
Prerequisite(s)
-
CHEM 311 - Separation Methods
CHEM 311 - Separation Methods
2.00 credit hours
Theory and practice of instrumental analytical chemistry related to separation methods including HPLC, GC, ion chromatography and capillary electrophoresis and related sampling handling and data analysis. Laboratory required.
Prerequisite(s)
-
CHEM 312 - Spectrometry and Spectroscopy
CHEM 312 - Spectrometry and Spectroscopy
2.00 credit hours
Theory and practice of instrumental analytical chemistry related to atomic and molecular spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. Laboratory required.
Prerequisite(s)
-
CHEM 313 - Materials and Surface Analysis
CHEM 313 - Materials and Surface Analysis
2.00 credit hours
Theory and practice of instrumental analytical chemistry related to materials and surface characterization. Major topics include electrochemical analysis, microscopy techniques, and solid-state analysis.
Prerequisite(s)
-
CHEM 490 - Special Topics
CHEM 490 - Special Topics
1:00-4.00 credit hours
Advanced topics in chemistry. May be repeated with new content.
-
ENVI 224 - Environmental Literature
ENVI 224 - Environmental Literature
4.00 credit hours
Encompasses the classics of nature writing from Anglo-American literary traditions to the practice of eco-criticism, through which a wider range of novels and other texts can be analyzed. With these texts, students explore how literature participates in cultural formations of the relations among humans, their environment and other forms of life. Readings include several genres: poetry, non-fiction and science-fiction from the 19th century to the present.
Prerequisite(s)
-
ENVI 225 - Environmental Ethics
ENVI 225 - Environmental Ethics
4.00 credit hours
After a brief examination of philosophical ethical frameworks, the following will be considered: the history of environmental ethics; the problem of the "moral status" of nonhuman animals and other aspects of nature: the environment and "the good life," ethical issues related to population growth, sustainability, diminishing/vanishing resources and the use of cost benefit analysis in environmental policy.
Cardinal Directions Designation(s)
Humanities, Ethical Dimensions. -
ENVI 248 - American Environmental History
ENVI 248 - American Environmental History
4.00 credit hours
This broad exploration of American history from an environmental perspective examines the ways that different groups of Americans adapted to and altered the landscape, and analyzes their changing ideas about nature. The course begins in the colonial era and examines nineteenth-century economic growth and twentieth-century environmental awareness. Key themes include the new perspective of environmental history, the role of region in America, and reading the landscape.
Cardinal Directions Designation(s)
Humanities, Ethical Dimensions, U.S. Power Structures. -
ENVI 255 - Agriculture and the Environment: Educating Tomorrow's Consumers
ENVI 255 - Agriculture and the Environment: Educating Tomorrow's Consumers
4.00 credit hours
Introduces economic and environmental considerations facing contemporary agriculture. Surveys the environmental impact of an array of past agricultural practices and present-day technologies and innovations from crops to livestock, conventional and precision farming to organic practices. Includes field trips to a variety of farms and agribusinesses in the region.
Cardinal Directions Designation(s)
Social Sciences, Global Understanding, Community Engaged Learning. -
ENVI 260 - Introduction to Geographic Information Systems
ENVI 260 - Introduction to Geographic Information Systems
4.00 credit hours
Geographic Information Science (GIS) links data to locations to explore spatial relationships. GIS is a research and problem-solving tool used in sciences, social sciences, and business analytics for mapping and evaluating the relationship between different spatial information. This course introduces basic GIS concepts such as spatial data sources and structures, projections and coordinate systems, data editing and creation and geospatial analysis.
-
ENVI 290 - Topics in Contemporary Environmental Issues
(when applicable)
ENVI 290 - Topics in Contemporary Environmental Issues
4.00 credit hours
Intensive study of a selected topic in environmental studies that integrates principles and approaches from a specific discipline or methodology to explore a particular environmental issue or perspective.
Prerequisite(s)
-
ENVI 305 - Cultural Ecology
ENVI 305 - Cultural Ecology
4.00 credit hours
Examines human engagements with the physical environment from early homo sapiens to the present. Topics include major adaptive strategies (foraging, horticulture, intensive agriculture, pastoralism and industrialism) and their social correlates and environmental consequences; factors that lead to collapse of complex societies in the archaeological past; mercantile and colonial engagements and resulting changes in resource use; and contemporary resource conflicts between small-scale societies and states and corporate interests.
Prerequisite(s)
One of:
Cardinal Directions Designation(s)
Social Sciences, Global Understanding. -
ENVI 315 - Global Environmental Perspectives
ENVI 315 - Global Environmental Perspectives
4.00 credit hours
This case-based class examines a range of international environmental issues and the basics of international environmental lawmaking, then asks students to apply their understanding in a simulated United Nations negotiation to develop an environmental treaty.
Prerequisite(s)
-
ENVI 325 - Environmental Justice
ENVI 325 - Environmental Justice
4.00 credit hours
Examines the concept of environmental justice through interdisciplinary lenses. Beginning by examining different definitions of "environmental justice," various frameworks are used to analyze environmental issues through the lens of social justice and human inequality. Through selected case studies, the course examines a number of topics and questions, which include the advantages and drawbacks of current systems of production and consumption, who bears the burdens and who enjoys the benefits of our current environmental and social system and what kinds of alternatives are available.
Prerequisite(s)
-
ENVI 380 - Urban/Suburban/Rural Environmental Nexus
ENVI 380 - Urban/Suburban/Rural Environmental Nexus
4.00 credit hours
The Chicago metropolitan locale provides an ideal location to study the intersections of urban, suburban and rural environmental issues such as regional environmental interdependence, urban ecology, sustainable cities, suburban sprawl, transportation, restoration/reuse of brownfields, green spaces in urban, suburban and rural environments and agriculture and the city. This course explores these issues with particular attention to their relationship to the local history and politics of Chicago.
Prerequisite(s)
-
FILM 223 - Film and the Environment
FILM 223 - Film and the Environment
4.00 credit hours
An examination of the environmental impact of film production (including the changes to production processes and oversight throughout history). Additional focus on representations of the environment in fiction and non-fiction films (including depictions of animals/animal life, human-animal relationships, nature, and human impact on the natural world).
Prerequisite(s)
Additional Requirements for the B.A. Degree
Students must demonstrate elementary competence in a foreign language. For more information, see the
Environmental Studies Minor
An Environmental Studies Minor provides a basic interdisciplinary understanding of national and global environmental issues. Students study a core of four environmental courses that combine the disciplinary perspectives of the humanities, social sciences, sciences and business and take two upper-level courses in any other environmental studies course of their choice. Students who choose an Environmental Studies Minor typically use it as a complement to a minor in a related academic discipline, such as political science, history, biology, chemistry or business.
For additional information and courses in this program, see
Minor Requirements:
A minimum of 24 credit hours, including:
Core Courses
-
ENVI 105 - The Science of Climate Change
ENVI 105 - The Science of Climate Change
4.00 credit hours
Introduces the evidence for anthropogenic climate change, including how the global climate system works, the impact of human activities on climate, and climate modeling to predict future patterns. Examines physical, chemical and biological impacts of climate change and the pros and cons of options available to ameliorate the changes now underway. Includes integrated laboratory experience.
Cardinal Directions Designation(s)
Sciences. -
ENVI 120 - People and Nature
ENVI 120 - People and Nature
4.00 credit hours
Introduction to interdisciplinary approaches from humanities, social sciences, sciences and sustainable business to understanding the economic, scientific, social and cultural complexity of U.S., transnational and global environmental issues. Introduces basic principles of environmental science, core texts from American environmental writers and essentials for understanding US environmental policy.
Cardinal Directions Designation(s)
U.S. Power Structures. -
ENVI 230 - U.S. Environmental Issues
ENVI 230 - U.S. Environmental Issues
4.00 credit hours
The basics of U.S. environmental philosophy, politics and law are covered through the interdisciplinary examination of specific cases such as snowmobiling in Yellowstone National Park, the drought in California and the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
Prerequisite(s)
Cardinal Directions Designation(s)
Writing Intensive. -
ENVI 240 - Introduction to Environmental Economics
ENVI 240 - Introduction to Environmental Economics
4.00 credit hours
Examines impact of economic activity on the environment and shortcomings of the market system in valuing environmental costs and benefits. Traditional regulation of the U.S. economy, including command and control policies are briefly discussed. Recent development and application of new and potential economic instruments to improve environmental quality are the focus; other topics include the valuation of environmental resources and prospects for sustainable development.
Cardinal Directions Designation(s)
Social Sciences.
Electives
Two Environmental Studies courses, with at least one at the 300-level.
Environmental Studies Internships and Jobs
A North Central education integrates career preparation with rich academic study. Our faculty encourages you to refine and apply your knowledge in an interconnected world. Here you'll learn to think independently and work globally to solve problems and lead.
Internships
Recent graduates in environmental studies interned at:
- Brookfield Zoo, Brookfield, IL
- Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL
- Forest Preserve District of DuPage County, Naperville
- U.S. Park Service, Grand Canyon and Yellowstone National Parks
- The Shedd Aquarium, Chicago
- Willowbrook Wildlife Center, Glen Ellyn, IL
Careers
Recent graduates in environmental studies served as:
- Biologist/ecologist
- Urban and regional planner
- Sustainability coordinator
- Teacher/environmental educator
- Environmental lawyer
- Engineering
Invest in your future
Choosing the right college is a big decision. Don’t make it alone. North Central’s admission and financial aid team is here to help you design a financial aid solution that works best for you and your family.
Merit scholarships, grants, loans, campus employment - these are just some of the resources available to you. Over 95 percent of students and 100 percent of all eligible students receive aid. Let our team partner with you in finding the best value for your education.
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The first step to becoming a North Central Environmental Studies student is reading the application instructions specific to you. Find out everything you need to know about applying by selecting the group you belong to below.