Environmental Awareness and
Responsible Action
Freshman Seminar
Tuesdays and Thursdays
9:40-10:50; Broad Hall 209
|
Instructor:
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Paul Faulstich, Broad Center 214, ext. 18818 Office Hours: Mondays 10:00-12:00 |
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Student Facilitators:
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Amanda Crosby |
Objectives
and Organization
During your years as a student at the Claremont
Colleges you will have significant impact on the environment, both locally and
globally. This course, in order to
facilitate ecological awareness and responsibility, critically examines the
lifestyle choices that face each of us daily.
Topics covered in this course include pollution, recycling and
composting, organic farming, alternative energy, bioregionalism, consumerism,
environmental activism, and social aspects of ecology.
Environmental Awareness and Responsible
Action is designed and facilitated by
the professor in conjunction with advanced Environmental Studies students. We examine personal choices, as well as
federal and state policies, in relation to waste management, water usage,
energy conservation, and plant and animal habitat. The seminar is designed to help each of us understand the
pervasion and significance of ecological problems, as well as their causes and
solutions.
This
a survey course, in which we explore a diverse range of environmental
topics. Theoretical investigations of
biodiversity, sustainability, bioregionalism, environmental ethics, and other
topics provide the foundation for informed action in which students participate
in finding solutions to environmental problems at the Colleges and beyond.
Through examination and discussion of critical issues,
this course allows students to:
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Environmental
Awareness and Responsible Action will
help us gain comprehension of the range of ecological issues that impact our
environment and our lives. Through
interdisciplinary investigation, we weave together an understanding of where
environmental concerns intersect with broad aspects of our social lives. Class sessions incorporate a variety of
"hands-on" projects and field trips, designed to help us apply our
knowledge to real world circumstances.
Since this course emphasizes student perspectives and analysis, the
engaged participation of each student is essential. Through your own active involvement, this seminar will help
provide you with the intellectual foundation and passionate commitment for
informed environmental action.
Course
Requirements and Evaluation
Semester evaluations will be based on participation,
papers, and projects. Grades will be
calculated roughly as follows:
•
Class participation in discussions; 40%
• Short papers: four 2-page papers on
any four topics covered before
April
11 (due one week after the topic is covered in class); 20%
• Mandatory field trips: Usually schedule during class time; 10%
•
Final project: Group project
culminating in a research paper and a
presentation of approximately 30
minutes. Projects should combine
theoretical and practical dimensions
of the class; 30%
| Required Texts: |
Green Essentials, Geoffrey C. Saign The Ecology of Commerce, Paul Hawken Practice of the Wild, Gary Snyder The Green Reader, Andrew Dobson (ed.) |
SCHEDULE
| Date | Topic | Readings |
| Sept. 5 | Introduction and Class Overview | |
| Sept. 10 |
Ecology of Southern California |
Green Reader, 25-8 Practice of the Wild, "The Etiquette..." |
| Sept. 12 |
Population |
Practice of
the Wild, "The |
| Sept. 17 |
Field Trip; Experiencing Nature |
Ecology of Commerce, Ch 1 Green Essentials, C, G |
| Sept. 19 |
Energy: Use and Alternatives Focus: San Diego Horned Lizard Phrynosoma platyrhinos |
Ecology of Commerce, Ch 2 Green Reader, 121-27 Green Essentials, B, F |
| Sept. 24 |
Agribusiness & Pesticide Use Alternative Agriculture Focus: Yerba Santa Eriodictyon |
Ecology of Commerce, Ch 3 Green Reader, 116-20 |
| Sept. 26 |
Species Extinction Biodiversity Focus: White Sage Salvia apiana |
Practice of the Wild, Tawny Grammar..." Green Essentials, E |
| Oct. 1 |
Experiencing Nature Focus: Merriam's kangaroo rat Dipodomys merriami |
Ecology of Commerce, Ch 4 |
| Oct. 3 |
Consumerism Focus: California Buckwheat Eriogonum fasciculatum |
Green Reader, 145-83 |
| Oct. 8 |
Green Lifestyles Focus: Mountain Lion Felis concolor |
Green Reader, 29-54 |
| Oct. 10 |
Pollution/Toxic Waste Deadline for Research Topics Focus: Great Horned Owl Bubo virginianus |
Practice of the Wild, "Good, Wild, Sacred" Green Essentials, A |
| Oct. 15 |
Sustainability Dysfunctional Society Focus: California Gnatcatcher Polioptila californica |
Green Reader, 73-115 |
| Oct. 17 |
Field Trip; Center for Regenerative Studies |
Ecology of Commerce, Ch 5 |
| Oct. 22 | Fall Break; No Class | |
| Oct. 24 |
Consumerism & the Market Nature and the Media Focus: Red -tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis |
Ecology of Commerce, Ch 6 |
| Oct. 29 |
Activism Environmental Movements Focus: Mojave Yucca Y ucca schidigera |
Practice of the Wild, "Blue Mountains..." Green Reader, 187-232 |
| Oct. 31 |
Concepts of Wilderness Focus: Black Bear Ursa americanus |
Practice of the Wild, "Ancient Forests..." |
| Nov. 5 |
Environmental Education Focus: Coyote Canis latrans |
Practice of the Wild, "On The Path..." |
| Nov. 7 |
Environmental Ethics Focus: Poison Oak Toxicodendron diversilobum |
Green Reader, 235-68 |
| Nov. 12 |
Deforestation/Desertification Focus: Sugar Pine Pinus lambertiana |
Ecology of Commerce, Ch 7 Green Essentials, D |
| Nov. 14 |
Environmental Justice |
Practice of the Wild, "The Woman..." Green Reader, 59-70; 128-141 |
| Nov. 19 |
Preserving Diversity Field Trip; Ranch Santa Ana Botanical Garden |
Ecology of Commerce, Ch 8 Practice of the Wild, "Survival and Sacrament" |
| Nov. 21 |
Environmental Law and Policy Focus: Western Rattlesnake Crotalus viridis |
Ecology of Commerce, Ch 9 |
| Nov. 26 |
Creek Clean Up Focus: California Poppy Eschscholiza californica |
Ecology of Commerce, Chs 10, 11, 12 |
| Nov. 28 | Thanksgiving; No Class | |
| Dec. 3 | Student Presentations | |
| Dec. 5 | Student Presentations | |
| Dec. 10 | Student Presentations | |
| Dec. 12 | Student Presentations |