Environmental and Technology Studies Concentration (ENTS)
Director: Professor Gary E. Wagenbach
Benedict Distinguished Visiting Professor: Daniel O'Brien
Visiting Assistant Professor: Tsegaye Nega
Lecturer: Richard B. Strong
Committee Members: Philip Camill, III, Debroah Gross, William E. Hollingworth, Julie A. Klassen, Kelly L. Kollman, Michael J. Kowalewski, Beverly Nagel, Mary E. Savina, Kimberly K. Smith
The Environmental and Technology Studies program grew out of the conviction that the College has a responsibility to prepare students to respond to the grave threats posed to natural ecosystems by patterns of human development. In the search for just and sustainable environmental solutions, ENTS brings faculty and students together from a broad range of academic departments and backgrounds to address scientific, economic, ethical, social, political, historical and aesthetic dimensions. This truly integrated, multidisciplinary commitment emphasizes not only critical thinking, but also hands-on laboratory and field research reaching across all divisions of the College. It values and facilitates opportunities for research projects, internships and other work experiences, and off-campus studies. The ENTS concentration is open to students in all majors. Concentrators are advised to contact the Educational Associate early in their academic career, and to work out their program in consultation with an ENTS faculty member.
Requirements for the Concentration:
1. One project-based introductory course: or BIOL 190;
ENTS 110 Introduction to Environmental and Technology Studies: Envisioning Landscapes, GEOL 120 Introduction to Environmental Geology or BIOL 190 Global Change Biology
2. Six courses in the following four categories, with at least one from each category:
Arts and Culture:
ARTS 113 Field Drawing
ENGL 234 Southern Literature
ENGL 236 American Nature Writing (not offered in 2004-2005)
ENGL 237 American Indian Literature
ENGL 280 Crafts of Writing: Creative Non-fiction
ENGL 330 Literature of the American West
GERM 228 Romanticism: Nature and the Supernatural (not offered in 2004-2005)
GERM 229 Science, Authority and Conscience in German Literature
GERM 232 The Forest in German Literature and Culture (not offered in 2004-2005)
HIST 183 Farm and Forest in African History (not offered in 2004-2005)
HIST 195 American Environmental History
HIST 227 History of the American West (not offered in 2004-2005)
HIST 305 Topics in American Environmental History
PHIL 234 Aesthetics (not offered in 2004-2005)
SOAN 234 Ecology, Economy, and Culture
SPAN 260 Topics in Hispanic Literature: Forces of Nature (not offered in 2004-2005)
Ethics and Values:
PHIL 242 Environmental Ethics
PHIL 243 Animals: Mind and Morals (not offered in 2004-2005)
POSC 257 American Environmental Thought (not offered in 2004-2005)
Science:
BIOL 112 Conservation
BIOL 160 Agroecology (not offered in 2004-2005)
BIOL 212 Marine Biology Program in Australia and New Zealand: Biology Field Studies and Research (not offered in 2004-2005)
BIOL 221/2 Ecosystem Ecology with Laboratory
BIOL 236 Plant Biology
BIOL 238 Entomology
BIOL 250 Marine Biology Program in Australia and New Zealand: Marine Biology (not offered in 2004-2005)
BIOL 275 Science and Society
BIOL 348/9 Paleoecology with Laboratory
BIOL 359/60 Plant Physiological Ecology with Laboratory (not offered in 2004-2005)
CHEM 128 Principles of Environmental Chemistry
CHEM 328/9 Environmental Analysis with Laboratory(not offered in 2004-2005)
CHEM 365 Global Biogeochemistry (not offered in 2004-2005)
ENTS 238 Marine Biology Program: Physical and Cultureal Environment of New Zealand and Australia(not offered in 2004-2005)
GEOL 210 Geomorphology
GEOL 258 Geology of Soils (not offered in 2004-2005)
GEOL 340 Hydrology (not offered in 2004-2005)
GEOL 370 Geochemistry of Natural Waters
GEOL 375 Oceans and Atmospheres (not offered in 2004-2005)
Society and Policy:
BIOL 258 Ecosystem Management
ECON 271 Economics of Natural Resources and the Environment
ECON 273 Water and Western Economic Development (not offered in 2004-2005)
ENTS 289 Climate and Society (not offered in 2004-2005)
ENTS 300 Practical Conservation
POSC 245 Comparative Environmental Politics and Policy (not offered in 2004-2005)
POSC 262 Environmental Policy and Politics
POSC 268 International Environmental Politics and Policy
POSC 318 The American Farm (not offered in 2004-2005)
SOAN 130 Population and Food in the Global System (not offered in 2004-2005)
SOAN 244 Biodiversity, Conservation, Culture and Development
SOAN 312 Actors and Issues in Contemporary Third World "Development" (not offered in 2004-2005)
3. Three credits of 298 and three credits of 398
4. Among the courses taken, at least one must be a lab course, lab courses include:
BIOL 221/2 Ecosystem Ecology
BIOL 252/3 Aquatic Biology (not offered in 2004-2005)
BIOL 348/9 Paleoecology
BIOL 359/60 Plant Physiological Ecology (not offered in 2004-2005)
CHEM 128 Principles of Environmental Chemistry
CHEM 328/9 Environmental Analysis (not offered in 2004-2005)
GEOL 120 Introduction to Environmental Geology
GEOL 210 Geomorphology
GEOL 258 Geology of Soils (not offered in 2004-2005)
GEOL 270 Remote Sensing (not offered in 2004-2005)
GEOL 340 Hydrology (not offered in 2004-2005)
GEOL 370 Geochemistry of Natural Waters
GEOL 375 Oceans and Atmospheres (not offered in 2004-2005)
5. Among the courses taken, at least one must primarily have an international perspective these courses include:
ENTS 238 Marine Biology Program: Physical and Cultural Environment of New Zealand and Australia (not offered in 2004-2005)
ENTS 289 Climate and Society (not offered in 2004-2005)
GERM 229 Science, Authority and Conscience
GERM 232 The Forest in German Literature and Culture (not offered in 2004-2005)
POSC 268 International Environmental Politics and Policy
SOAN 234 Ecology, Economy and Culture
SOAN 312 Actors and Issues in Contemporary Third World "Development" (not offered in 2004-2005)
6. No more than three 100-level courses will be counted towards the concentration.
Environmental and Technology Studies Courses
ENTS 110. Introduction to Environmental and Technology Studies: Envisioning Landscapes An introductory course on the topic of landscape that will provide an opportunity to think in an interdisciplinary way. In what ways do we interact with real and imagined landscapes? In what ways are our interactions defined by our perceptions and experience? We will explore the ecological, geological, social, and esthetic dimensions of a variety of landscapes. Perspectives from science, the humanities and public policy will be utilized in a search for understanding. The course will involve classroom, laboratory, and field study. Open only to first and second year students or by permission of the instructors. 6 credits cr., ND, Fall—T. Nega, G. Wagenbach
ENTS 228. Eco-House Design and Construction Exploration of a design for a small "foot print," energy efficient, cost effective, and aesthetically pleasing student housing. Course goal is to learn about good design and plan for construction. Seminar format will be used along with demonstrations, field trips, guest speakers, and practical work on initial phases of construction. Lab required. ENTS 228 does count toward the total of six courses required to obtain an ENTS concentration. However, this class does not satisfy one of the four ENTS distribution categories that must be covered in pursuit of the required six-course total. 6 credits cr., ND, Spring—R. Strong, G. Wagenbach
ENTS 238. Marine Biology Program: Physical and Cultural Environment of New Zealand and Australia The geologic and natural history of the landscape will be explored by examining how New Zealand and Australia were settled by early and later settlers. Study will focus on how the physical landscape has been changed through agriculture and the importation of non-native species, as well as the unique social and political climates of two countries which share a history of colonization. The course will use readings, writing, meetings with visiting lectures, and visits to cultural centers. 2 credits cr., S/CR/NC, MS, Not offered in 2004-2005.
ENTS 289. Climate and Society The close connection between climate and food security has been apparent since Biblical times. With the advent of science and technology, climate is no longer the old enemy, at least in much of the developed world. On the contrary, climate itself has become a subject of concern and protection as the evidence for anthropogenic climate change has continued to grow. However, for much of the developing world, climate is still the old enemy. We will discuss various theoretical questions about how human agency mediates between climatic events and food security through the exploration of various case studies. 6 credits cr., HU, Not offered in 2004-2005.
ENTS 298. Ethics and Values Colloquium This class explores specific problems related to environmental or technological change, through discussion of a common reading and/or a group project. The class meets several times during the term for discussion, and each student is required to attend several other relevant events on campus or in the community. A short, integrative essay or final project report will be required at the end of the term. Open only to juniors and seniors. 1 credit cr., S/CR/NC, ND, Fall,Winter,Spring—T. Nega
ENTS 300. Practical Conservation This course will be based upon the instructor’s real-world experience restoring prairie environments through the reintroduction of American bison to their original habitat near the Black Hills. Students will study the process of habitat recovery on one ranch and take part in the analysis and planning of the recovery in process on a second ranch. Relations and negotiations with local, tribal, and federal government agencies, other grazers in the area, and several non-governmental organizations will be included on the syllabus. Visitors from such organizations as the Forest Service and the Nature Conservancy will also be featured. 6 credits cr., ND, Winter—D. O’Brien
ENTS 398. Senior Colloquium Independent or group research, education projects, internships, nature writing, or other culminating experiences for the Environmental and Technology Studies concentration. Each Environmental and Technology Studies concentrator will register for three credits of Environmental and Technology Studies 398 during the junior or senior year. Projects must be approved by the instructor. Projects will be presented in public. 3 or 6 credits cr., S/CR/NC, ND, Fall,Winter,Spring—T. Nega