Print Page

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.

All students majoring in environmental studies and sciences must take the following courses in the common environmental studies core.
   Environmental 110
   Environmental 112
Introduction to Environmental Studies or
Environmental Science
   Earth Science 110 Introductory Geology
   Economics 240 Environmental Economics
   Political Science 237 Public Policy and Administration
   Philosophy 250 Environmental Philosophy
   Environmental 370 Environmental Studies Seminar

The B.S. Track in Environmental Science

Students in the B.S. track in environmental science must take the following six courses in addition to those in the core.
   Biology 112 General Zoology
   or Biology 119 Introductory Botany
   Biology 360 Ecology
   Chemistry 113-114 General Chemistry I and II
   Chemistry 205 Environmental Chemistry
   Earth Science 210 Introductory Geographic Information Systems
Students in the environmental science track must also complete at least two of the following.
   Biology 225 Invertebrate Zoology
   Biology 235 Microbiology
   Biology 240 Biology of Mammals
   Biology 250 Animal Behavior
   Chemistry 211 Organic Chemistry I
   Chemistry 212 Organic Chemistry II
   Chemistry 222 Quantitative Analysis
   Earth Science 120 Meteorology
   Physics 109 Introductory Physics for the Life Sciences I
   Physics 110 Introductory Physics for the Life Sciences II
   Physics 111 Introductory Physics I
   Physics 112 Introductory Physics II
   Environmental 286,
      381-384
Independent Study
   Environmental 288,
      386-388
Internship
   Environmental 400-401 Honors
Appropriate advanced courses offered as special topics or by other LVAIC institutions may be substituted as electives with the prior approval of the program director.

The B.A. Track in Environmental Policy and Economics

Students who intend to pursue the B.A. track in environmental policy and economics must take the following three courses in addition to those in the core.
   Economics 241 Natural Resource Management
   Political Science 240 Environmental Policy
   Political Science 340 Energy Policy
They must also take two of the following electives:
   Economics 228 Economic Development
   Economics 330 Public Finance
   Economics 336 International Economics
   Earth Science 210 Introductory Geographic Information Systems
   History 260 Environmental History
   Political Science 110 The American Political System
   Political Science 115 International Politics: How the World Works
   Sociology 312 Environmental Law
   Environmental 286,
      381-384
Independent Study
   Environmental 288,
      386-388
Internship
   Environmental 400-401 Honors
Appropriate advanced courses offered as special topics or by other LVAIC institutions may be substituted as electives with the prior approval of the program director.

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

The Minor in Environmental Science

The minor in Environmental Science consists of five (5) courses including ENVR 110 (Introduction to Environmental Studies) OR ENVR 112 (Environmental Science)[1],[2] plus four (4) additional science courses currently approved for the Environmental Science (B.S.) major. These courses are to be selected by the student in consultation with and approved by the Director of the Environmental Studies & Sciences Program. At least three of these courses must be taken at Moravian or through cross registration at other LVAIC institutions. These courses can be from one department or selected from a number of different departments. At least two courses should be numbered 210 or above (excluding 300-309). In seeking to establish a minor, a student may count a course only once. For example, a student majoring in Environmental Policy & Economics may not count Introductory Geology (EASC 110) for both the major and a minor in Environmental Science. An alternate course must be substituted for the minor.

Courses that may be used to fulfill the Minor in Environmental Science:

   Biology 112 General Zoology
   Biology 119 Introductory Botany
   Biology 225 Invertebrate Zoology
   Biology 230 Field Botany
   Biology 235 Microbiology
   Biology 240 Biology of Mammals
   Biology 250 Animal Behavior
   Biology 360 Ecology
   Chemistry 113 General Chemistry I
   Chemistry 114 General Chemistry II
   Chemistry 205 Environmental Chemistry
   Chemistry 211

Organic Chemistry I

   Chemistry 212 Organic Chemistry II
   Chemistry 222 Quantitative Analysis
   Earth Science 110

Introductory Geology

   Earth Science 120 Meteorology
   Earth Science 210 Introductory Geographic Information Systems
   Environmental 286 Independent Study
   Environmental 288 Internship
   Environmental 381-384 Independent Study
   Environmental 386-389 Internship
   Physics 109 Introductory Physics for the Life Sciences I
   Physics 110 Introductory Physics for the Life Sciences II
   Physics 111 Introductory Physics I
   Physics 112 Introductory Physics II

Appropriate special topics courses and advanced courses offered by LVAIC institutions may be substituted with the prior approval of the Environmental Studies & Sciences Program Director.

The Minor in Environmental Policy & Economics

The minor in Environmental Policy & Economics consists of five (5) courses including ENVR 110 (Introduction to Environmental Studies) OR ENVR 112 (Environmental Science), Economics 240 or 241,  plus three (3) additional science courses currently approved for the Environmental Policy & Economics (B.A.) major, of which at least one must be a course in economics. These courses are to be selected by the student in consultation with and approved by the Director of the Environmental Studies & Sciences Program. At least three of these courses must be taken at Moravian or through cross registration at other LVAIC institutions.  These courses can be from one department or selected from a number of different departments. At least two courses should be numbered 210 or above (excluding 300-309). In seeking to establish a minor, a student may count a course only once. For example, a student majoring in Environmental Science may not count Environmental Economics (ECON 240) for both the major and a minor in Environmental Policy & Economics. An alternate course must be substituted for the minor.

Courses that may be used to fulfill the Minor in Environmental Policy & Economics:

   Earth Science 210 Introductory Geographic Information Systems
   Economics 152 Principles of Economics
   Economics 228 Economic Development
   Economics 240 Environmental Economics
   Economics 241 Natural Resource Economics & Policy
   Economics 330 Public Finance
   Economics 336 International Economics
   Environmental 286 Independent Study
   Environmental 288 Internship
   Environmental 370 Environmental Studies Seminar
   Environmental 381-384 Independent Study
   Environmental 386-389 Internship
   Political Science 110  The American Political System
   Political Science 115 International Politics: How the World Works
   Political Science 237 Public Administration and Public Policy
   Political Science 240 Environmental Policy
   Political Science 340 Topics in Political Science: Energy Policy
   Sociology 312 Environmental Law

Appropriate special topics courses and advanced courses offered by LVAIC institutions may be substituted with the prior approval of the Environmental Studies & Sciences Program Director.

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. Prerequisites: Not open to students who have completed Environmental 112.
Staff

112. Environmental Science.  (Same as Biology 107.)  Introduces non-major students to fundamental principles of ecology and the relationship of humans to their environment. Topics include agriculture and food production, water and air pollution, energy use and associated environmental effects, toxic waste, and renewable/nonrenewable resources. Prerequisites:  Not open to students who have completed Environmental 110. (F4)
Husic, Kuserk

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.