Environmental Studies spring 2014 course information

Dear Environmental Studies minors,

I hope you are all having a great fall. We are approaching time to register for courses for next semester. Below are some important items that you need to know about the registration process.

1. Seniors

ES minors graduating in 2014 need to take Environmental Seminar (GE580), the senior capstone course. The course is only offered to senior ES minors. (If you plan on graduating in the fall of 2014, you must take the seminar this spring.)  This year, we are offering the course in three sections at different times (all in Devlin 201):

GE58001, TTh 10:30-11:45, Prof. Tara Pisani Gareau

GE58002, TTh, 12:00-1:15, Prof. Gabrielle David

GE58003, TTh 3-4:15, Prof. TBA

Also for seniors, you need to make sure you have all six required courses done by the end of next semester. If you have questions about the requirements, first check the ES requirements for the class of 2014, and then get in touch with ESP grad assistant Kevin Brown (at this email or in Devlin 213) or any of the other contacts listed at the bottom of this email. Recall that only one course can count toward both your major and minor requirements. Also note that the Student Services computer system does not always apply this rule correctly, so you should check your degree audit carefully.

2. Foundation Policy courses for next semester

We have reserved some slots for ES minors in Environmental Economics (EC278). The class has three sections on TTh (noon, 9 and 10:30). Traditionally it has filled with Economics majors, so this is a great opportunity. Note that EC278 has EC131 as a prerequisite. To reserve one of the ES slots in the course, please email MaryEllen Doran (maryellen.doran@bc.edu) in the Economics Department ASAP and be sure to let her know that you are an ES minor and which section you want. Please do this even if you simply register for the course normally.

Other Foundation Policy courses offered next semester include: Environmental Management (MB145, 3 credits, TTh 3 pm) and Environmental Law and Policy (UN256, 3 credits, various TTh sections, see attached flyer for more information).

3. Environmental Systems courses for next semester (2 credits each)

We are offering Environmental Systems: Water Resources (GE203 and lab GE213) with Prof. Gabrielle David, which meets for the first half of next semester, and Environmental Systems: The Critical Zone (GE204 and lab GE214), with Prof. Rudi Hon during the second half of the semester. The lecture for both is MWF at 12 in Devlin 307. We are also offering Environmental Systems: Earthquakes (GE207 and lab GE217) with Prof. Alan Kafka, which meets for the first half of next semester, and Environmental Systems: Quantitative Methods (GE208 and lab GE218), with Prof. John Ebel during the second half of the semester. The lecture for both is TTh at 1:30 in Devlin 201. You can register for one or both courses that are taught in each time slot. Please note that the Student Services computer system does not allow you to register for two courses offered during the same time slot (even though in this case they will not meet at the same time during the semester). To register for both courses, register for one (and its lab) normally, and then email Ursula DellaPorta (sullivau@bc.edu) in Student Services and request that she register you into the other course and lab section. As a reminder, note that all Earth and Environmental Sciences (GE) courses (including GE202-208) can count toward the ES minor elective requirements for the classes of 2015-2017.

4. Electives

Here are a few other interesting courses that you might want to check out. All of these will count as electives for the ES minor:

Indigenous Rights and Natural Resources (IN261, 3 credits, Prof. A. Tirrell, W 4:30-6:45)

Society and Environmental Transformations (SC031, 3 credits, Prof. B. Gareau, MWF 2)

Animals and Society (SC360, 3 credits, Prof. L. Tov, T 3-5:30)

Environmental Ethics (PL534, 3 credits, Prof. H. Vandewall, MWF 2)

Climate Change and Society (GE174, 3 credits, Prof. J. Shakun, MWF 1)

Politics of Energy in US, Comparative and Global Perspective (PO531, 3 credits, Prof. D. Deese, TTh 1:30-2:45)

Of course, there are many other elective options, please consult the “Minor” page for more information.

5. Advising

If you have any questions, please be in touch with Prof. Tara Pisani Gareau, Prof. Gabrielle David, Kevin, or me. Prof. Pisani Gareau and I will be at the Earth and Environmental Sciences advising pizza lunch on Wednesday, November 6 from noon to 2 in Devlin 307. Our office hours are listed below:

Graduate Assistant: Kevin Brown
Devlin 213
M 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m., T 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m., W 4:00-5:00 p.m., Th 12:00-5:00 p.m.

Professor Noah Snyder
Devlin 320
Th 9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. and by appointment

Professor Gabrielle David
Devlin 301B
M W 2:00-4:00 p.m., T 1:30-2:30 p.m. and by appointment

Professor Tara Pisani Gareau
Devlin 203A
T Th 12:00-1:00 p.m. and by appointment

Have a great rest of the semester.

Noah

--

Noah P. Snyder

Director, Environmental Studies Program

Associate Professor, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences

Boston College

Devlin Hall 213

Chestnut Hill, MA 02467

http://www.bc.edu/envstudies/