Environmental Studies and Sciences

Director: Frank T. Kuserk

The environmental studies and sciences program at Moravian College acquaints students with the myriad environmental issues that face us today. It seeks to develop a framework in which students can work closely with faculty and one another to analyze problems, test assumptions, and debate issues as they affect our lives as citizens of our community, our nation, and the world. The perspective we seek to develop is strongly interdisciplinary, incorporating the natural sciences as well as economics, history, philosophy, and political science. In addition, it is designed to transcend national boundaries. All students in the program, regardless of their area of concentration, will share important common experiences, including a unique capstone course in which they will work in teams to investigate environmental issues.

Students who pursue environmental majors at Moravian have the option of earning either a B.S. in environmental science or a B.A. in environmental policy and economics. All students in both majors will have a shared body of knowledge through common coursework before the upper-level courses in their respective tracks, and through the capstone seminar course, which B.S. and B.A. students will take in combined sections. The balance of shared experience and field-specific knowledge is designed to foster cooperative work and learning among students and faculty.

Coursework

As prerequisites to the program, all students must take Economics 152 and a course in statistics (Mathematics 107 or Economics 156), preferably before the spring term of the sophomore year.

The Common Environmental Studies and Sciences Core

Students in both tracks are required to take six course units in a common core of study. Five courses are designed to create a foundation that fosters understanding of this interdisciplinary field. The final writing-intensive course, which should be taken in the senior year, is intended specifically to teach and demonstrate research methods through integrative group research projects and presentations.

The B.S. Track in Environmental Science

The B.A. Track in Environmental Policy and Economics

A cooperative program with Duke University in natural resource management is available. Please see the section on Natural Resource Management in this catalog.

Courses

110. Introduction to Environmental Studies. Introduction to the principles of ecology and the relationship of humans to their environment. Emphasis on scientific, social, philosophical, and economic factors related to global environmental issues. Topics include agriculture and food production, water and air pollution, energy use and its environmental effects, toxic waste, and renewable/nonrenewable resources.
Staff

370. Environmental Studies Seminar. Designed to apply research methods to current environmental issues. Students will research and present written and oral reports on the general topic. Emphasis is on the development of skills in using primary literature, analysis and interpretation of data, and the communication of ideas. Writing-intensive.
Staff

190-199, 290-299, 390-399. Special Topics.

286, 381-384. Independent Study.

288, 386-388. Internship.

400-401. Honors.