Credits: 3

Study of the nature of the Earth and its processes. Cross-list: ESCI 101.

College: School of Natural Sciences

Department: Environmental Studies

Must be enrolled in one of the following Class(es):

Senior

Sophomore

Freshman

Junior

Credits: 3

Study of earth's systems over the past 4.6 billion years. Topics include evolution of life, continents, ocean basins and climate. Cross-list: ESCI 102.

College: School of Natural Sciences

Department: Environmental Studies

Credits: 1

Discussion of environmental crises. Topics vary annually. Cross-list: EBIO 113, ESCI 113.

College: School of Natural Sciences

Department: Environmental Studies

Credits: 1

Seminar topics vary by term. Cross-list: ESCI 114.

College: School of Natural Sciences

Department: Environmental Studies

Credits: 3

Students will learn the fundamentals of coastal and reef ecosystems, be introduced to underwater fieldwork and become PADI certified in the basics of SCUBA. An additional course fee that ranges from $425 to $725, depending on the equipment needs of the student, is associated with the class. Cross-list: EBIO 179, LPCR 179.

College: School of Natural Sciences

Department: Environmental Studies

Credits: 3

The course will introduce the students to the science behind last century Earth global warming in the context of the past records of global Earth climate variability and forecast of Earth climate in the next century. Cross-list: ESCI 201.

College: School of Natural Sciences

Department: Environmental Studies

Credits: 1

The course introduces the fundamentals of community garden design and practice. Responsibilities will center on developing and improving the Rice Community Garden. The semester will begin with a short series of lectures by successful growers from the Houston community. A strong emphasis will be on learning and applying ecological principles to the practice of community agriculture. Class has required meetings outside of regular class time. Cross-list: EBIO 204.

College: School of Natural Sciences

Department: Environmental Studies

Credits: 3

Students will work in teams to develop sustainable solutions for energy or environmental problems affecting our Houston and Rice communities. Emphasis will be placed on the integration of engineering fundamentals with societal issues, environmental and safety considerations, sustainability and professional communications. Prerequisities: introductory engineering courses, or permission of instructor. Cross-list: CHBE 281.

College: School of Natural Sciences

Department: Environmental Studies

Credits: 3

This course is intended as an introduction to environmental studies from all divisions of the campus. The course focuses on attitudes and values relating to the environment as represented in environmental history and environmental literature.

College: School of Natural Sciences

Department: Environmental Studies

Credits: 3

Students use the campus as a laboratory for learning about sustainability through group projects to reduce Rice's environmental impact or resolve environmental problem. Cross-list: SOCI 304.

College: School of Natural Sciences

Department: Environmental Studies

Credits: 3

This course explores the physical principles of energy use and its impacts on Earth's environment and climate. Topics will include energy mechanics, climate change, and the environmental impacts and future prospects of various fossil fuel and alternative energy sources. Cross-list: CEVE 307, ESCI 307. Recommended Prerequisite(s): MATH 101 and PHYS 101 or PHYS 111.

College: School of Natural Sciences

Department: Environmental Studies

Pre-requisities: MATH 101 AND (PHYS 101 OR PHYS 111 OR PHYS 125 OR PHYS 141)

Credits: 3

This course will examine Houston (and neighboring areas) as a vivid case study in a broad array of environmental issues that engage policymakers, business leaders, scientists and other researchers, environmentalists, and citizens, not just in Houston but also across the United States and in other nations. There will be a particularly strong focus on air pollution, given Houston's well-known air quality problems and the especially complicated challenges they present. As with other topics covered in the course, air quality will be addressed in a multi-faceted manner, with discussion of its scientific, political, economic, sociological and historical dimensions.

College: School of Natural Sciences

Department: Environmental Studies

Credits: 3

This course will explore sustainable design from initial sustainable facility concepts and team organizations, to enlisting community support and process assessment. The course will develop into details about sustainable design, lessons learned, processes and outcomes. Space is limited and registration does not guarantee a space in this course. The final course roster is formulated on the first day class by the individual instructor. Cross-list: ARCH 313.

College: School of Natural Sciences

Department: Environmental Studies

Credits: 3

An overview of environmental health issues including discussion of epidemiologic methods, illnesses caused or exacerbated by environmental exposures, and the role of research in driving effective policies to protect and promote public health. The class includes numerous guest lectures by area experts (physicians, researchers, community activists, policymakers and others); a bus tour featuring disproportionately affected neighborhoods as well as cutting-edge “green” initiatives; original student research projects; and an opportunity to address the Houston City Council. The dynamic between research and action, i.e., “making a difference,” is stressed. Cross-list: SOSC 314.

College: School of Natural Sciences

Department: Environmental Studies

Pre-requisities: (BIOS 201 OR BIOC 201) AND (BIOS 202 OR EBIO 202) or permission of instructor

Credits: 3

An overview of environmental health issues including discussion of epidemiologic methods, illnesses caused or exacerbated by environmental exposures, and the role of research in driving effective policies to protect and promote public health. The class includes numerous guest lectures by area experts (physicians, researchers, community activists, policymakers and others); a bus tour featuring disproportionately affected neighborhoods as well as cutting-edge “green” initiatives; original student research projects; and an opportunity to address the Houston City Council. The dynamic between research and action, i.e., “making a difference,” is stressed. FORMERLY ENST 314.

College: School of Natural Sciences

Department: Environmental Studies

Pre-requisities: (BIOS 201 OR BIOC 201) AND (BIOS 202 OR EBIO 202) or permission of instructor

Credits: 3

Explores the ways film represents the environment and environmental issues (food, water, energy, waste, environmental justice, sustainability), and both expresses and shapes environmental values. We will view and analyze a variety of genres, as well as reading supplementary material. Cross-list: SOCI 316.

College: School of Natural Sciences

Department: Environmental Studies

Credits: 3

The course is designed to give students a broad overview of conservation biology. Lecture and discussions will focus on conservation issues such as biodiversity, extinction, management, sustained yield, invasive species and preserve design. Cross-list: EBIO 323.

College: School of Natural Sciences

Department: Environmental Studies

Pre-requisities: (BIOS 201 OR BIOC 201) AND (BIOS 202 OR EBIO 202) or permission of instructor

Credits: 3

The course considers the major issues in the increasingly important public policy area of the environment. It emphasizes the American experience, but also considers certain international aspects of these issues.

College: School of Natural Sciences

Department: Environmental Studies

Credits: 3

This course considers the phenomenon of "clean energy," using a social scientific approach to analyze the various forces and interests involved in the development of renewable energy projects (such as biomass, hydropower, solar and wind) in both the global North and South. No prerequisites required. Cross-list: ANTH 332.

College: School of Natural Sciences

Department: Environmental Studies

Credits: 3

This course introduces students to the coupled nature of the biosphere, atmosphere and hydrosphere using as focal points elemental cycles such as those of carbon and nitrogen. This is a writing-intensive class, and will include 3 required Saturday field trips. Biosciences Group B. Cross-list: EBIO 340, ESCI 340.

Department permission required

College: School of Natural Sciences

Department: Environmental Studies

Credits: Hours Variable

Provides enrollment credit for approved internships with environmental organizations or agencies. Students must seek approval prior to beginning the internship. Weekly progress reports and a final paper are required.

Instructor permission required

College: School of Natural Sciences

Department: Environmental Studies

Credits: 3

This course focuses on the foundations of environmental sociology and takes a social and historical approach to examine how humans affect the environment and the environment affects humans. Topics include: agricultural sustainability, resource extraction and climate changes; environmental racism/sexism; globalization and development; population, and consumption, and environmental movements. Cross-list: SOCI 367.

College: School of Natural Sciences

Department: Environmental Studies

Credits: 3

A course that asks the question: How does literature express or shape environmental values? In this class we will read American fiction and nonfiction exploring the relationship between human and nonhuman nature. Cross-list: ENGL 368.

College: School of Natural Sciences

Department: Environmental Studies

Credits: Hours Variable

Instructor permission required

College: School of Natural Sciences

Department: Environmental Studies

Credits: 3

Introduction to Environmental Law is intended to introduce the student to the methods used by the United States and the international community to regulate and/or allocate air, water and land resources. A key focus of this course will be the emerging area of the law of sustainable development, including the implementation of full price costing, life cycle analysis, carbon cycle analysis, allocation of assimilative capacity and other similar issues. Cross-list: CEVE 406.

College: School of Natural Sciences

Department: Environmental Studies

Credits: 3

Examines the environmental movement in the U.S. and globally. After a historical overview, we will use a social movement perspective to examine mobilization, organizations and tactics, ideologies and identities, as well as exploring aspects of contemporary environmentalism (e.g. green building and slow flood, wildlife management/biodiversity, sustainable development, environmental justice). Cross-list: SOCI 415.

College: School of Natural Sciences

Department: Environmental Studies

Credits: 3

This course covers the organic geochemistry of the natural environment. Topics include: production, transport, decomposition, and storage of organic matter in the marine and terrestrial environments, use of isotopes to track biogeochemical processes and natural and perturbed carbon cycle issues, including past and recent climate shifts. Cross-list: CHEM 425, ESCI 425.

College: School of Natural Sciences

Department: Environmental Studies

Credits: 3

Discussion of key aspects in the supply and demand of energy. Topics include optimal extraction of depletable resources, transportation, storage, end-use and efficiency, and the relationship between economic activity, energy, and the environment. Cross-list: ECON 437.

College: School of Natural Sciences

Department: Environmental Studies

Pre-requisities: ECON 301 OR ECON 370

Credits: 3

Common Property Resources (CPRs), such as fisheries, aquifiers, and the Internet, appear in many guises and pose a fundamental problem for governing. Exploration of theoretical underpinnings for CPRs, their growing literature, and the political and economic institutions mediating CPR dilemmas. Included is an original research project in conjunction with the instructor. Cross-list: POLI 441.

College: School of Natural Sciences

Department: Environmental Studies

Pre-requisities: POLI 395

Credits: 3

The economic theories of externalities and common property resources are used to analyze how markets, legal institutions, regulations, taxes and subsidies, and voluntary activity can affect the supply of environmental amenities, such as clean air, clean water, and wilderness areas. We also discuss methods for determining the demand for environmental amenities. Cross-list: ECON 480.

College: School of Natural Sciences

Department: Environmental Studies

Pre-requisities: ECON 301 OR ECON 370

Credits: Hours Variable

Open to environmental science or engineering majors with permission of instructor. Written report required. Cross-list: CEVE 490.

Instructor permission required

College: School of Natural Sciences

Department: Environmental Studies

Credits: Hours Variable

Seminar topics may vary. Readings and discussions about current topics related to the processes governing the Earth's deep interior. General themes include mantle convection, thermal evolution, and volatiles.

College: School of Natural Sciences

Department: Environmental Studies

Credits: 3

Seminar on contemporary research on the biomedical aspects of human health and disease. Includes topics from medical ecology and epidemiology. Cross-list: ANTH 646.

College: School of Natural Sciences

Department: Environmental Studies

Pre-requisities: ANTH 381 or permission of instructor