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This interdisciplinary course introduces students to the Earth and environment from a physical science perspective. We focus on the chemical interactions and geologic processes that shape the environment we know. Students learn fundamental chemistry concepts such as kinetics and equilibria to help them understand connections among rock, water, air and life. Then, they learn geology skills-like "reading" the landscape and identifying rocks and sediments-to interpret the past conditions and future possibilities of a given place.

Examination of environmental history at both the national and international level. This course examines environmental history in relation to economic, social, religious, cultural, and political forces. Special attention will be given to how everyday individuals shaped environmental consciousness. In addition, given that the environment is a global issue, this course will examine global environmental issues such as the Minamata (mercury) poisoning in Japan, the Bhopal Incident in India, the environmental damage in China, Agent Orange, and the issue of environmental injustice.

This course focuses on the ecology of conserving biodiversity and includes species, population, and ecosystem-level issues. Topics such as biodiversity, extinction, sustained yield, exotic species, and preserve design will be covered. Management implications are integrated throughout the course. Labs emphasize ecosystems and conservation problems of southern Minnesota.

Society is constantly interacting with the environment, transforming landscapes, harvesting materials, disposing of wastes, and setting aside areas for preservation. In this course we step back from particular environmental issues to study conceptual approaches that frame questions of society's relationship with the environment. Why do environmental problems exist? Does climate change, for example, result from misguided ethics, too many people, unquestioned social norms, market failures, unjust development, lack of cooperation, or something else? Students investigate diverse theoretical perspectives that attempt to explain our relationship with the natural world, and critically examine underlying assumptions, strengths, and limitations of each perspective.