Courses

Below are the core Environmental Studies courses.

Browse the college catalog to see a list of current courses (offered within 3 years) that apply toward the Environmental Studies program.

College Catalog of Current ES Courses

ENV 200 - Introduction to Environmental Studies Research Methods

This course is designed to provide an introduction to environmental studies research methods and design, including widely used techniques in natural and social sciences. Specific topics include spatial analysis, statistical modeling, document coding, case study, and archival research; students will also learn about and practice field study design and oral and visual data presentation. This course is designed for first- and second-year students.

Unit(s): 1

Prerequisite(s): One semester of either BIOL 101 or BIOL 102 or CHEM 101, and one semester of HUM 110

Instructional Method: Conference

Grading Mode: Letter grading (A-F)

ENV 300 - Junior Seminar

This is a project-based course for ES majors that gives students an opportunity to experience and practice the way environmental themes can be analyzed from interdisciplinary perspectives by working on a stakeholder-identified environmental problem related to climate change.

Unit(s): 1

Prerequisite(s): Completion of or concurrent enrollment in ENV core requirements

Restriction(s): Environmental Studies majors only

Instructional Method: Conference

Grading Mode: Letter grading (A-F)

ENV 470 - Thesis

Unit(s): 2

Instructional Method: Independent study

Grading Mode: Letter grading (A-F)

Notes: Yearlong course, 1 unit per semester.

Examples of ES300 Class Projects

Bringing Negawatts Home: a weatherization program proposal for the Portland Climate Action Plan (2013)
Biomass to Boardman: a feasibility assessment of replacing coal with agricultural waste (2014)
Reed College Climate Impact Assessment: reducing Reed's carbon footprint, one watt at a time (2015)
Vulnerability and Climate Change Adaptation Planning: Heat and Floods in Portland, Oregon (2017)
Green Infrastructure Distribution in Portland, Oregon (2018)
A Two-Part Investigation: Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Portland's Urban Forests (2019)

Students on junior seminar fieldtrip.

2017 fieldtrip to the Boardman power plant and wind energy farms.