ES - Environmental Studies
An introductory course focusing on the scientific analysis of environmental issues. Using core concepts from physics, chemistry, biology and earth science, students will exam key issues associated with sustaining biodiversity, natural resources, environmental health, and human societies. Topics will include ecological principles; land, water and energy use; epidemiology and toxicology; air, water and solid waste pollution; ecological economics; and environmental policy, law and planning. The course includes a laboratory and fulfills the CORE requirement for Natural Sciences. Required for Environmental Studies: Environmental Policy and Project Management majors. Open to all Carroll students.
Special Topics courses include ad-hoc courses on various selected topics that are not part of the regular curriculum, however they may still fulfill certain curricular requirements. Special topics courses are offered at the discretion of each department and will be published as part of the semester course schedule - view available sections for more information. Questions about special topics classes can be directed to the instructor or department chair.
Environmental Beta is an experiential course designed to introduce students to the many perspectives from which they can engage with the natural world. The course begins with a week-long river trip down the Missouri River where students and faculty explore the integration of the scientific, social, political, historical and spiritual aspects of a wilderness landscape. Faculty from the Environmental program will be joined by faculty from anthropology, philosophy, English, other humanities and social sciences. Students will develop skills in the observation, description and interpretation of the natural world, building connections with the land, the Carroll faculty, and with each other. The second part of the course includes weekly meetings or field trips exploring the many and diverse environmental careers that students may pursue. From non-profits, to government agencies to outdoor education, student will hear from the different professional who have followed or found careers preserving, protecting, restoring, or teaching about the environment.
A practical exploration of an environmental issue on the Carroll College campus, or encompassing the campus and the local community, through class analysis of the issue and concrete engagement with its resolution. The course may be taken for credit of to three times in different semesters, with an exploration of at least two different topics/projects.
This class will focus on how humans interact with their environment, concentrating on biological, social and economic aspects. The course will investigate the principles of evolutionary theory with special emphasis on human behavior and cultural diversity. The class will examine adaptive design of traits, behaviors, and life histories of humans in an ecological context, including the role of social and cultural factors in the maintenance or disruption of ecosystems, contemporary ecological concerns and conservation ecology.
A course designed to improve the scientific literacy of students interested in solving the conservation/environmental challenges that result from overuse of natural resources. Using concepts and practices from taxonomy, ecology, genetics, and geography, conservation biology seeks the most effective strategies for addressing threats to biological diversity, ecological integrity and environmental health. The course will be divided into roughly 50 percent lecture/discussion and 50 percent laboratory and thus, fulfills the CORE requirements for Natural Science. The course will change geographic focus from year to year to allow students to take the course more than once and explore different bioregions. The neotropics (Latin America) will be the geographic focus in even numbered years and will fulfill a requirement for the Latin American Studies Minor.
With an ever-growing concern about the conservation of biodiversity, there is increasing emphasis on developing skills and techniques to inventory species distributions and to monitor population dynamics. Field sampling techniques and skills in taxonomy are crucial to conservation surveillance. This course is an introduction to basic field and curator skills necessary to collect, manage and maintain specimen data for biological inventory and monitoring. The specific aims for this ten-week experience are: 1) to develop collection techniques in a field setting; 2) to practice processing and management of specimens and associated data; 3) to communicate findings to Montana stake holders. Topics vary and will rotate through Entomology, Ichthyology, Herpetology, Mammalogy, and Ornithology.
With an ever-growing concern about the conservation of biodiversity, there is increasing emphasis on developing skills and techniques to inventory species distributions and to monitor population dynamics. Field sampling techniques and skills in taxonomy are crucial to conservation surveillance. This course is an introduction to basic field and curator skills necessary to collect, manage and maintain specimen data for biological inventory and monitoring. The specific aims for this ten-week experience are: 1) to develop collection techniques in a field setting; 2) to practice processing and management of specimens and associated data; 3) to communicate findings to Montana stake holders. Topics vary and will rotate through Entomology, Ichthyology, Herpetology, Mammalogy, and Ornithology.
Special Topics courses include ad-hoc courses on various selected topics that are not part of the regular curriculum, however they may still fulfill certain curricular requirements. Special topics courses are offered at the discretion of each department and will be published as part of the semester course schedule - view available sections for more information. Questions about special topics classes can be directed to the instructor or department chair.
Designed as a field immersion experience followed by an open-ended project experience, students will practice basic field techniques, collect original data and complete at least one analytical project. Examples of field experiences include: Winter Ecology in Yellowstone, Alaska Landscape Dynamics, Tropical Ecology, and Natural History of Montana.
Designed as a field immersion experience followed by an open-ended project experience, students will practice basic field techniques, collect original data and complete at least one analytical project. Examples of field experiences include: Winter Ecology in Yellowstone, Alaska Landscape Dynamics, Tropical Ecology, and Natural History of Montana. Global Diversity may apply when it is offered as a study abroad.
This course is designed to introduce students to the various field methods employed in the broad field of environmental science. Interdisciplinary in nature, environmental problems often require understanding and integration across disciplines and an understanding of how data is collected and analyzed. Environmental scientists may find themselves interpreting geologic maps, sampling soils, or designing inventory or monitoring projects. An understanding of the concepts and practices in each of these disciplines will prepare students to evaluate and use existing data, or to design new field-based investigations.
Prerequisites: EAS 101, MA 207 or permission of instructor.
Special Topics courses include ad-hoc courses on various selected topics that are not part of the regular curriculum, however they may still fulfill certain curricular requirements. Special topics courses are offered at the discretion of each department and will be published as part of the semester course schedule - view available sections for more information. Questions about special topics classes can be directed to the instructor or department chair.
An analysis of selected environment-related writings and a discussion of selected environmental themes with presentations by students and faculty and invited lectures as available.
Environmental Omega is a senior capstone experience where students compile a final portfolio of the work they have completed over the course of their degree, reflect on internship/research and/or field experiences, and chart a path for the future. Meeting once a week, students will come together as a peer -working group as they prepare applications for graduate school or employment.
This class is designed to provide an analytical overview of the theory and practice of National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), which is used to identify potential environmental impacts of various activities and to propose means to avoid or reduce the significant impacts. The class will concentrate on understanding the role of NEPA in regards to environmental management, including the strengths and limitations. The class will utilize application exercises and expert guest speakers to present examples of current NEPA practices.
A one-semester focus on an environmental issue explored through a working association with a federal or state agency, a private enterprise, a community group, or a non-profit organization.
Independent study is open to junior and senior students only. At the time of application, a student must have earned a 3.0 cumulative grade point average. A student may register for no more than three (3) semester hours of independent study in any one term. In all cases, registration for independent study must be approved by the appropriate department chairperson and the Vice President for Academic Affairs.
Special Topics courses include ad-hoc courses on various selected topics that are not part of the regular curriculum, however they may still fulfill certain curricular requirements. Special topics courses are offered at the discretion of each department and will be published as part of the semester course schedule - view available sections for more information. Questions about special topics classes can be directed to the instructor or department chair.
A senior year research paper or research project, in lieu of an honors thesis, focused on a specific environmental issue; the paper or project should provide evidence of scholarship in and integration of scientific, social scientific, and humanities analyses of or perspectives on the issue; presented to the department faculty and student peers.
The senior thesis is designed to encourage creative thinking and to stimulate individual research. A student may undertake a thesis in an area in which s/he has the necessary background. Ordinarily a thesis topic is chosen in the student's major or minor. It is also possible to choose an interdisciplinary topic. Interested students should decide upon a thesis topic as early as possible in the junior year so that adequate attention may be given to the project. In order to be eligible to apply to write a thesis, a student must have achieved a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.25 based upon all courses attempted at Carroll College. The thesis committee consists of a director and two readers. The thesis director is a full-time Carroll College faculty member from the student's major discipline or approved by the department chair of the student's major. At least one reader must be from outside the student's major. The thesis director and the appropriate department chair must approve all readers. The thesis committee should assist and mentor the student during the entire project. For any projects involving human participants, each student and his or her director must follow the guidelines published by the Institutional Review Board (IRB). Students must submit a copy of their IRB approval letter with their thesis application. As part of the IRB approval process, each student and his or her director must also complete training by the National Cancer Institute Protection of Human Participants. The thesis is typically to be completed for three (3) credits in the discipline that best matches the content of the thesis. Departments with a designated thesis research/writing course may award credits differently with approval of the Curriculum Committee. If the thesis credits exceed the full-time tuition credit limit for students, the charge for additional credits will be waived. Applications and further information are available in the Registrar's Office.