This field-intensive course introduces students to scientific habits of mind and practice through the interdisciplinary field of environmental science. Environmental science helps us understand how humans have impacted Earth systems including interactions between Earth, water, air, and biological organisms, and how we can address the resulting environmental problems. Environmental science draws on knowledge, models, and methods from the natural sciences of geology, biology, physics, and chemistry, but also from other disciplines in the social sciences and humanities. The course emphasizes the intrinsic relationships between human societies and Earth and biologic processes, including hazard mitigation, and natural resource management. Students will learn foundational methods for observation and measurement in diverse field settings across the North American West. Required of and open only to students accepted to Semester in the West.
Acceptance to the Semester in the West program.