Course Schedule and Catalog

Department: Environmental Studies

Grade Mode: Standard Letter

Course Type: Lecture

Distribution Group: Distribution Group I

Distribution Group: Distribution Group III

Credit Hours: 3

Description: THE SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENT ***** This course is intended as an introduction to environmental studies and the concept of a sustainable environment for students from all divisions of the campus. The course will focus on the scientific basis for our current environmental situation, on social and cultural attitudes and values relating to the environment as represented in literature, history, and public policy, and on the constant interaction amoung these various approaches. ***** Open only to freshmen. ***** Enrollment limited to 15. ***** Also offered as UNIV 111. ***** Instructor(s): Isle, Sass.

Department: Environmental Studies

Grade Mode: Standard Letter

Course Type: Seminar

Credit Hours: 1

Description: ENVIRONMENTAL CRISIS SEMINAR: WATER ***** Water - one of the most basic and important components of the environment. But how is the water cycle changing and what are the current issues? In this semester's course we will discuss water from an interdisciplinary perspective, from reservoirs, and flow, thorugh life and uses, to pollution and rights. ***** Also offered as BIOS 113 and ESCI 113.

Department: Environmental Studies

Grade Mode: Standard Letter

Course Type: Lecture

Distribution Group: Distribution Group III

Credit Hours: 3

Department: Environmental Studies

Grade Mode: Standard Letter

Course Type: Lecture

Credit Hours: 3

Description: INTRODUCTION TO THE ENVIRONMENT: ENVIRONMENTAL HISTORY AND ENVIRONMENTAL LITERATURE ***** 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. ***** Also offered as UNIV 300.

Department: Environmental Studies

Grade Mode: Standard Letter

Course Type: Lecture

Distribution Group: Distribution Group II

Distribution Group: Distribution Group III

Credit Hours: 3

Description: ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES: RICE INTO THE FUTURE ***** This course addresses science, technology, and policy elements of environmental issues. Students use the campus and local community as a laboratory in which to do projects to reduce eviron-mental impacts, enhance sustainability, or resolve environmental problems.

Department: Environmental Studies

Grade Mode: Standard Letter

Course Type: Lecture

Distribution Group: Distribution Group II

Credit Hours: 3

Description: ENVIRONMENTAL BATTLES IN THE 21ST CENTURY: HOUSTON AS MICROCOSM ***** 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 would 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 would be addressed in a multi-faceted manner, with discussion of its scientific, political, economic, sociological and historical dimensions.

Department: Environmental Studies

Grade Mode: Standard Letter

Course Type: Independent Study

Credit Hours: 3

Description: INDEPENDENT STUDY ***** Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor.