Environmental Studies

Intro to the Environment: Virginia

This online course will immerse students in the study of Earth's ecosystems, natural resources, and today's pressing environmental challenges in Virginia. Students will explore the intricate web of life that sustains us, the delicate balance of our environment, and the impact of human activities on Earth's systems. Offered every summer.

Humans, the Environment, and Sustainability

Examines the interactions between our society and the environment, with the goal of achieving sustainability. Topics include society's energy and water requirements, biodiversity conservation, food production, urban planning, sustainable development, and other current topics. Although the course emphasis is a social systems perspective, environmental issues necessitate an interdisciplinary approach. Offered every spring and intermittently in other terms.

Environmental Biology

A study of fundamental ecological interactions and how environmental issues, such as water pollution, threats to biodiversity, human population growth, overfishing, and climate change ultimately impact organisms and ecosystems. This course is taught in an online format, but uses a combination of hands-on lab investigations, plus selected online simulations. Identical to BIO 107. Offered on demand.

Seminar in Alaska

The natural laboratory of SE Alaska, together with collaborations with local experts and native elders, provides opportunities for students to gain hands-on experience with environmental issues. Emphasis will be placed on understanding the complexity of environmental issues and the interdisciplinary nature of the search for appropriate solutions. May be repeated for credit as topics change. Course fee required. Offered intermittently.

Environmental Ethics

From ancient Sumer to the present, ecological realities have required human beings to reflect on their values and their responsibilities to nature. Students examine the relevance of philosophy to environmental questions and, in particular, explore the connection between the environment and ethics. Identical to PHIL 304.

Ecopoetry

An in-depth exploration of the various ways in which contemporary poets and critics seek to understand past and present poetries as negotiating the often-porous boundaries between the human and non-human in our experiences of the world. Prerequisite: ENG 105 with a grade of C or higher or consent. Identical to ENG 306. Offered intermittently.

Environmental Policy Analysis

Examines environmental politics and policy by studying a set of substantive environmental policy issues to establish the issue context, define the policy problems, and evaluate alternative solutions. Prerequisite: ENG 105 with a grade of C or higher. Identical to POLS 326. Offered every spring.

Environmental Writings

A study of the important environmental writings and how they have shaped our understanding of the relationship between humans and nature. Prerequisites: ENG 105 with a grade of C or higher and junior/senior status. Identical to ENG 410. Offered intermittently.

Topics in Sustainability

This course examines one or more topics related to sustainability and how society works to solve environmental problems that impact humans and ecosystems. Topics may include water quality, habitat restoration, food & agriculture, grassroots environmental organizations, climate resilience, urban habitats, alternative energy, sustainable business practices, green buildings, or other topics. Can be taken multiple times, as the topics change. Offered every fall.

Communicating Ocean Science to Informal Audiences (COSIA)

Helps students improve their ability to communicate scientific knowledge through presenting science activities in a museum setting. The course will combine instruction in inquiry-based science teaching methods with supervised teaching at the Virginia Aquarium, plus the preparation of an additional informal environmental education project. Prerequisites: junior or senior status, a major in BIO, EES, ENVS, or EDUC, and consent. This course meets at the Virginia Aquarium. Offered every spring.

Internship in Environmental Studies

An intensive study of the environment through on-site field experience. Placements involve hands-on experiences such as education, grassroots activism, public policy, and habitat management. Students may enroll for 2 or 4 semester hours in a given semester. A minimum of 80 hours devoted to the internship is expected for 2 semester hours, and a minimum of 160 hours is expected for 4 semester hours, but some placements may require more time. Pass/fail grading. Prerequisites: junior/senior status and consent. Offered intermittently.

Analytical Chemistry

Applies analytical techniques to inorganic, organic, and biochemical systems. The experimental methods include volumetric and gravimetric analysis, chromatographic, and spectroscopic techniques. Prerequisite: CHEM 120. Lecture three hours, laboratory three hours each week. Offered every fall.

Organic Chemistry I

A comprehensive survey of the chemistry of carbon compounds, including their structure, properties, reactions, reaction mechanisms, spectroscopy, and stereochemistry, with a focus on hydrocarbons, haloalkanes, and alcohols. Introduces modern organic laboratory techniques, including purification methods, organic synthesis, and product analysis. Lecture three hours, laboratory three hours each week. Prerequisite: CHEM 120. $50 lab fee. Offered every fall.

Principles of Biology I: Ecology and Evolution

CATALOG DESCRIPTION NOT FOUND IN SOURCE MATERIAL. BIO 130 is required by this major's requirements but no course description for it appears in this source file. Description previously confirmed via data-biology.php and data-earth-and-environmental-sciences.php sources. Flagged here for consistency check only — not fabricated.

General Ecology

A study of the interrelationships between organisms and their environment. Topics will range from the individual level to the global scale, including both basic and applied ecological topics. Prerequisites: BIO 130, successful completion of ENG 105 with a grade of C or higher, and sophomore status or higher. Identical to EES 316. Offered every spring.

Field Studies in Coastal Environments

CATALOG DESCRIPTION NOT FOUND IN SOURCE MATERIAL. Referenced in requirements but no description appears in this source file. Flagged for Academic Affairs.

Ornithology

CATALOG DESCRIPTION NOT FOUND IN SOURCE MATERIAL. Referenced in requirements but no description appears in this source file. Flagged for Academic Affairs.

Urban Ecology

Investigation of urban environments as ecosystems heavily influenced by the human population and the consumption of natural resources. Examines the impacts of urbanization on biotic communities and the human population, including issues related to water, air, energy, food production, and urban green space. Additional fee required to cover travel costs. Offered intermittently.

Conservation Biology

Examines conservation at multiple levels (genes to ecosystems) from a biological perspective. Covers what is currently known about biodiversity loss and the consequences of that loss for ecosystems. Students build skills relevant to a conservation-related career, including review of scientific evidence and management planning. Prerequisites: BIO 130 and sophomore status or higher. Offered intermittently.

Tropical Marine Ecology

An introduction to major tropical marine habitats and ecological processes that control tropical marine ecosystems with a focus on coral reefs, mangroves, and tropical seagrass beds. Organisms' characteristic of these habitats and their symbiotic relationships will be examined. Prerequisite(s): BIO 130/131 or BIO 200 or consent. Offered intermittently.

Marine Ecology

CATALOG DESCRIPTION NOT FOUND IN SOURCE MATERIAL. Referenced in requirements but no description appears in this source file. Flagged for Academic Affairs.

Marine Invertebrate Zoology

A survey of the marine invertebrate phyla, emphasizing the classification, evolution, ecology, morphology, and life histories of these organisms. Includes laboratory examinations of representative groups and field sampling of local invertebrate fauna. Prerequisite: BIO 200 or consent. Lecture three hours, laboratory three hours each week. Offered fall of odd-numbered years.

Topics in Tropical Biology

An intensive field experience in neotropical ecosystems (rainforests, coral reefs, mangroves, caves, etc.). Descriptive studies of local flora and fauna will be combined with an in-depth investigation of a topic of interest. Field activities will include moderately strenuous exercise under a variety of weather conditions. Destinations may include Belize, Costa Rica, or other tropical sites. Course fee required. Identical to EES 375. Prerequisites: BIO 130 and sophomore status or higher, and consent. Offered intermittently. Runs concurrently with BIO 435.

Entomology and Arachnology

A comprehensive survey of the insects and arachnids of medical, economic, and ecological significance. Includes laboratory examinations of living and preserved specimens and field collections of select taxa. Prerequisite: BIO 200 or consent. Offered intermittently.

Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM)

Introduces the essentials and broad research applications of SEM. Topics include the preparation of biological and non-biological specimens, the use of secondary and backscattered electrons for imaging, and the operation of SEM in high vacuum and variable pressure modes. Hands-on training and independent operation of the SEM are mandatory. Identical to EES 393. Prerequisites: Sophomore status and consent. Offered intermittently.

Tropical Ecology

An intensive field experience in neotropical ecosystems (coral reefs, rainforests, caves, mangrove swamps, etc.), that links ecological phenomena with social and historical factors to examine the conservation of biodiversity. Field activities require moderately strenuous exercise and considerable hiking. Destinations may include Trinidad, Belize, Costa Rica, or other tropical sites. Prerequisites: Students must have completed a lab science course (L) and have junior or senior status. Course fee is additional. Student may take this course one additional time for credit. Runs concurrently with BIO 375.

Natural and Social History of the Chesapeake Bay

Provides a comprehensive view of one of the largest and most diverse estuaries in the world. Students examine the relationships between the natural history and the human history, including social and political aspects, use of the bay by various societies and their impact on and preservation of the bay. Saturday field trips required. Prerequisite: junior/senior status. Offered intermittently.

Research in the Natural Sciences

Offers students the opportunity to conduct original scientific research in an area of interest. Students work closely with one or more members of the natural science faculty to develop and conduct a research project, then present their findings orally during the semester's undergraduate research symposium and as a formal research paper. Students are encouraged to present their findings at a conference. Prerequisite: junior/senior status and a major in the natural sciences, prior approval by the project advisor, and consent of the instructor. Students may enroll for 2 or 4 hours in a given semester. May be repeated for a maximum total of 8 semester hours. Identical to CHEM 489, CS 489, and EES 489. Offered intermittently.

Environmental Geology with Laboratory

Investigates the interaction between people and the earth. Acquaints students with issues surrounding the origin, distribution, and exploitation of water, mineral, and energy resources. Natural hazards and their mitigation and issues surrounding Earth's climate are investigated. Intended for those seeking laboratory general education credit and/or those interested in pursuing a major in EES. Offered every spring.

Oceanography

Explores the geology of the ocean basins and the physical and chemical nature of seawater. Topics studied include ocean waves, tides, and currents. Links between the oceans and the atmosphere are explored with special emphasis on the effect of oceans on climate, El Nino, and climate change. Lecture three hours, laboratory three hours each week. Designed for science and non-science majors. Prerequisite or Corequisite: math placement level H, A, or B, or MATH 104. Course fee of $50 required. Offered every fall.

Meteorology

An introduction to the atmosphere and the science behind weather phenomena such as clouds, hurricanes, and tornadoes. Students practice weather forecasting, use meteorological instrumentation, and analyze global meteorological datasets. Designed for science and non-science majors. Prerequisite or Corequisite: math placement level H, A, or B, or MATH 104. Lecture three hours, laboratory three hours each week. Course fee of $50 required. Offered every spring.

Field Experiences in Earth and Environmental Sciences

Provides students with an intensive field experience in selected habitats as they conduct studies to examine various geological sites and sample particular habitats. May be repeated for credit as topics change. Lab fee. Prerequisite: consent. Offered intermittently.

Environmental Chemistry

An exploration of the Earth system and human perturbations to that system from a chemical perspective. Topics covered include ozone depletion, persistent organic pollutants, wastewater treatment, and toxicity of environmental contaminants. Laboratory exercises give students experience in environmental sampling and analysis. Prerequisites: CHEM 120. Lecture three hours, laboratory three hours each week. Identical to CHEM 270. Offered every fall.

Introduction to Geographic Information Systems

Introduces the computer-literate student to the underlying theory and practical applications of Graphic Information System (GIS) technology. Lectures are interwoven with hands-on computer exercises that illustrate the principles, develop technical competence, and demonstrate the versatility of GIS. Individualized projects reinforce concepts and help students acquire the knowledge and confidence required to use GIS outside the classroom. Prerequisites: math placement level H, A, or B, and junior/senior status, or MATH 104, or consent. Offered every fall.

Energy and the Environment

An introduction to the fundamental physical concepts underlying energy, its conversion, and its impact on the environment. Topics include fossil fuels, nuclear-fueled power plants, renewable forms of energy, pollution, and energy conversion. Prerequisite: math placement level H or A, or MATH 135 or MATH 170. Lecture three hours, laboratory three hours each week. Offered fall of even-numbered years.

Advanced Topics in Geology

An in-depth study of some aspect of geology. Topics may include structure and evolution of mountain belts, paleontology, earth materials, and sedimentology. May be taken multiple times for credit as topic varies. Prerequisite: EES 131 or consent. Course fee of $50 required. Offered every spring.

Climatology

An examination of the earth's climate system and the science of climate change. Topics include the dynamics and feedbacks of the climate system, ocean and biosphere influences on climate, reconstruction of past climate, predictions of future climate, and human influences on global and regional weather patterns. Prerequisites: ENG 105 with a grade of C or higher, and EES 200 or EES 210. Offered every spring.

Physical Hydrology

An introductory class covering the hydrologic cycle including groundwater, precipitation, surface water, the vadose zone, and coastal hydrology. Topics include flow to wells, runoff processes, floods, capillarity, unsaturated flow, saltwater intrusion and effect of sea level changes. Laboratory and field exercises will illustrate aspects of the hydrological cycle. Lecture three hours, laboratory three hours a week. Prerequisites: EES 133 and math placement H or A, or MATH 135 (C- or higher) or MATH 170 (C- or higher). Offered fall of odd-numbered years.

Biogeochemistry

Explores the connections among the atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere, and biosphere through exploration of global cycling of nutrients and pollutants. Students investigate these biogeochemical cycles through analysis of primary research articles, field measurements, chemical analysis, and a self-designed research project. Prerequisites: senior status and any 200-level chemistry course. Lecture three hours, laboratory three hours each week. Identical to CHEM 450. Offered every spring.

Research in the Natural Sciences

Offers students the opportunity to conduct original scientific research in an area of interest. Students work closely with one or more members of the natural science faculty to develop and conduct a research project, then present their findings orally during the semester's undergraduate research symposium and as a formal research paper. Students are encouraged to present their findings at a conference. Prerequisites: junior/senior status and consent. Students may enroll for 2 or 4 hours in a given semester. May be repeated for a maximum total of 8 semester hours. Identical to BIO 489, CHEM 489, CS 489, MATH 489, and PHYS 489. Offered intermittently.