Environmental Science Policy and Management

Critical analysis of the historical transformation of indigenous peoples and their environments in North America and the Third World. The origins and specific patterns of socio-economic problems in these areas, existing and alternative future development policies and their effects.

Comparative analysis of policy systems governing natural resource development in the rural Third World. Emphasis on organization and function of agricultural and mineral development, with particular consideration of rural hunger, resource availability, technology, and patterns of international aid.

Overview of the field of environmental justice, analyzing the implications of race, class, labor, and equity on environmental degradation and regulation. Environmental justice movements and struggles within poor communities and communities of color in the U.S., including African Americans, Latino Americans, and Native American Indians. Frameworks and methods for analyzing race, class, and labor. Cases of environmental injustice, community, and government responses, and future strategies for achieving environmental and labor justice.

Exploration of the ethical dilemmas arising from recent advances in the biological sciences: genetic engineering, sociobiology, health care delivery, behavior modification, patients' rights, social or private control of research

A critical analysis of human environments as physical, social-economic, and technocultural ecosystems with emphasis on the role of ideologies, beliefs, attitudes, and behavior. An examination of contemporary environmental literature and the philosophies embodied therein.

History of the American environment and the ways in which different cultural groups have perceived, used, managed, and conserved it from colonial times to the present. Cultures include American Indians and European and African Americans. Natural resources development includes gathering-hunting-fishing; farming, mining, ranching, forestry, and urbanization. Changes in attitudes and behaviors toward nature and past and present conservation and environmental movements are also examined

Sociological perspective on the relationship between societies and wildland resource management; social definition of natural resources, identification of publics, social organization of resource use, public involvement, and social impact analysis.

Issues, concepts, and processes pertaining to the diverse approaches to understanding the relationship between human society and the environment. Core ideas in and approaches to U.S. environmental policy and management; global environmental politics; environmental justice and development. Critical analysis and discussion of foundational and contemporary texts in the field. Required for the major in society and environment.

This laboratory course is intended to provide hand-on-training in techniques commonly used in molecular ecology and systematics. Techniques to be covered include DNA extraction, agarose gel electrophoresis, PCR amplification, RFLP and AFLP analysis, DNA sequencing, and microsatellite screening. The genetic basis of each technique will be discussed. Students also will gain experience in the analysis and interpretation of these types of genetic data. During the latter part of the course, students will work in small groups to complete an independent research project and present the results to the class. Grades will be based on laboratory notebooks, homework assignments, and independent projects

This course focuses on the use of molecular genetic information in ecology. Applications and techniques covered range from analysis of parentage and relatedness (DNA fingerprinting and multilocus genetic analysis) through gene flow, biogeographic history and community composition (comparative DNA sequencing) to analysis of diet and trophic interactions (biological isotopes). Grades are based on one final exam, problem sheets, and a critique of a recent research paper