Environmental Studies courses
ES 108: Environmental Chemistry
A working knowledge of most environmental issues facing us in the twenty-first century requires an understanding of some key geochemical principles. This course introduces chemistry concepts and skills as they arise in the context of current environmental issues, including chemical cycles in nature, air pollution, ozone depletion, global warming, acid rain, energy sources, water quality, and solid waste. Students will be asked to collect and interpret their own data, as well as to use simple models to explain environmental issues from a scientific perspective. (Under the Forester Fundamental Curriculum, this course meets the Natural Sciences requirement. Under the old GEC, this course meets the Natural Science & Mathematics requirement.)
cross listed: CHEM 108
ES 110: Intro to Environment and Society
(Introduction to Environment and Society) The environment is an ecological matrix in which all human societies are embedded. Solving current environmental problems therefore requires understanding how humans' social, political, and economic processes interact with natural processes, mutually influencing one another. This course's study of environmental problems is inherently interdisciplinary, blending perspectives from the social sciences and humanities; subject areas include environmental economics, ethics, politics, history, and literature. Specific topics and content may vary with the professor(s). This course is intended for students with a general interest in environmental issues as well as those interested in pursuing the Environmental Studies major. No prerequisites.
ES 116: Introduction to Geology
This course will launch participants into the study of Earth's physical history, from the creation of our planet to ways in which geologic processes occur all around us today. Students will learn to identify many different types of rocks, minerals, and fossils, explain the workings of plate tectonics, interpret ancient climates and environments by identifying a single rock, and understand how geologic processes have shaped the face of today's Earth and the life on it. Students will better understand the most important environmental and economic issues facing the world today - the formation, distribution, extraction, and effects of fossil fuels - and gain insight into water movement, access, and pollution. Students will be expected to take a dynamic role in the teaching of materials through presentations and in-class activities. Field trips, including a possible weekend field trip, will be a required part of the class. No prerequisites. (Under the Forester Fundamental Curriculum, this course meets the Natural Sciences requirement. Under the old GEC, this course meets the Natural Science & Mathematics requirement.)
ES 117: Geography and Demography
The most important issues facing the Earth and its people in the 21st century all have their basis in the geography of the planet, that is, the spatial distribution of land, water, languages, and economic activity. The course will address the following eight geographical concepts: the major forces driving population growth or decline; water scarcity, water pollution, and water management; food production and distribution systems; global flow of people, ideas, products, and resources; the drive toward urbanization and the response of cities to growth; global warming and the ways in which human activities in different regions contribute to greenhouse gas emissions; democratization, the history and current status of the form of government in different regions, how governmental form is tied to the geography; how gender roles influence societies in different regions. No prerequisites. (Under the Forester Fundamental Curriculum, this course meets the Social Sciences requirement. Under the old GEC, this course meets the Cultural Diversity requirement.)
ES 120: Intro to Environmental Sciences
Using the disciplines of the physical, biological, and chemical sciences, this course studies the entities, patterns, and processes of the natural world and their modification by human activity. We examine scientific knowledge and principles and the application of that knowledge and those principles to natural systems, and survey selected environmental issues to ultimately consider the sustainability of human activities on the planet. Topics may include climate change, biodiversity conservation, population growth, ecology, toxic pollution, and sustainable and unsustainable energy and agricultural systems. (Under the Forester Fundamental Curriculum, this course meets the Natural Sciences requirement. Under the old GEC, this course meets the Natural Science & Mathematics requirement.)
ES 200: Topics: Chicago Parks
(Spring 2021 Topic: Chicago Parks and the Politics of Landscape). This course examines Chicago's cultural heritage, race relations, class politics, and landscaped environments through the lens of its city parks from the nineteenth century to the present day. Students explore the ways Chicagoans and visitors experienced, constructed, thought about, discussed, fought over, and valued these public spaces in order to understand broader cultural and historical trends. Students employ interdisciplinary methodologies drawn from anthropology, sociology, history, politics, literary studies, and environmental studies to examine a wide range of source material including artifacts, photographs, maps, surveys, oral histories, fiction, poetry, and more. Special emphasis on and field studies to Chicago's South Side parks that hosted two World's Fairs. No prerequisites. (Under the Forester Fundamental Curriculum, this course meets the Humanities and Domestic Pluralism requirements.)
cross listed: SOAN 200
ES 203: Spring Flora of the Great Lakes
(Spring Flora of the Western Great Lakes.) This course introduces students to the identification, systematics, ecology, and natural history of the spring flora of the Western Great Lakes. This course includes extensive field work in the greater Chicago area and eastern Wisconsin. Students learn to identify between 150 and 200 species of wildflowers, grasses, trees, shrubs, and other plants, and learn the characteristics of 15 to 20 plant families. No prerequisites. This Summer Session course in 2022 is held in the afternoons on Tuesdays and Fridays plus full field days 8:00am-6:00pm on Wednesdays and Thursdays. An overnight trip to Wisconsin takes place on May 25-26. (Under the Forester Fundamental Curriculum, this course meets the Natural Sciences and Experiential Learning requirements. Under the old GEC, this course meets the Natural Science & Mathematics requirement.)
cross listed: BIOL 203
ES 204: Summer Flora of the Great Lakes
(Summer Flora of the Western Great Lakes). This course introduces students to the identification, systematics, ecology, and natural history of the summer flora of the Western Great Lakes. This course includes extensive field work in the greater Chicago area, eastern Wisconsin, and Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Students learn to identify between 150 and 200 species of wildflowers, grasses, trees, shrubs, and other plants, and learn the characteristics of 15 to 20 plant families. No prerequisites. This Summer Session course in 2022 will be held in the mornings on Mondays and Thursdays plus full field days 8:00am-6:00pm on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. (Under the Forester Fundamental Curriculum, this course meets the Natural Sciences and Experiential Learning requirements. Under the old GEC, this course meets the Natural Science & Mathematics requirement.)
cross listed: BIOL 204
ES 205: Prairie Flora of the Great Lakes
(Prairie Flora of the Western Great Lakes.) This course introduces students to the identification, systematics, ecology, and natural history of the late summer flora of the Western Great Lakes. This course includes extensive field work in the greater Chicago area, northern Indiana, and eastern Wisconsin. Students learn to identify between 150 and 200 species of wildflowers, grasses, trees, shrubs, and other plants, and learn the characteristics of 15 to 20 plant families. No prerequisites. This Summer Session course in 2022 will be held in the afternoons on Tuesdays and Fridays plus full field days 8:00am-5:00pm on Wednesdays and Thursdays. An overnight trip to Wisconsin takes place on July 20-21. (Under the Forester Fundamental Curriculum, this course meets the Natural Sciences and Experiential Learning requirements. Under the old GEC, this course meets the Natural Science & Mathematics requirement.)
cross listed: BIOL 205
ES 206: U.S. Environmental Literature
(United States Environmental Literature) An historically organized survey of the various rhetoric through which nature has been imagined by writers from the Puritans to contemporaries: the Calvinist fallen landscape, the rational continent of the American Enlightenment, conservation and 'wise use,' preservation and biodiversity. (Under the Forester Fundamental Curriculum, this course meets the Humanities requirement. Under the old GEC, this course meets the Humanities requirement.)
cross listed: ENGL 206, AMER 206
ES 209: Terrorism and the Environment
Human injustice and the environment are deeply interlinked. Terror, war, disease, and slavery have environmental interconnections, and the current climate of terrorism has causes directly related to the availability and scarcity of natural resources. Both terrorists and counter-terrorist groups often deploy environmental weapons and strategies (such as dam breaching and oil field ignition) and make use of communication and supply chains that rely on the intimate knowledge of local geographies. Environmentalists have also employed terror tactics, often labeled as eco-terrorism, such as tree spiking and mailing bombs, to promote and protect environmental values. This interdisciplinary course weaves together geography, natural resource science, history, politics, and sociology to understand the connection between terrorism and the environment. No prerequisites. (Under the Forester Fundamental Curriculum, this course meets the Social Sciences and Writing requirements.)
cross listed: IREL 296
ES 210: Environmental Ethics
Examination of relationships between human beings and nature, drawing on literature, religion, and natural science as well as philosophy. What views have shaped our current perceptions, concerns, uses, and misuses of the natural world? What creative alternatives can we discover? How can these be applied to the practical problems of environmental ethics? (Under the Forester Fundamental Curriculum, this course meets the Humanities and Global Perspectives requirements. Under the old GEC, this course meets the Humanities requirement.)
cross listed: PHIL 210
ES 215: Environmental Psychology
Environmental psychology is the discipline concerned with interactions and relationships between people and their environments (including built, natural, and social environments). In this course we apply psychological methods and theories to a variety of issues and behaviors, considering such topics as landscape preference, wayfinding, weather, noise, natural disasters, territoriality, crowding, and the design of residential and work environments. We also explore images of nature, wilderness, home, and place, as well as the impact of these images on behavior. The course is grounded in empirical work, and incorporates observations and experiences in the local environment. No prerequisite. (Under the Forester Fundamental Curriculum, this course meets the Social Sciences requirement. Under the old GEC, this course meets the Social Science requirement.)
cross listed: PSYC 215
ES 217: Society, Climate Change, & Enviro.
(Society, Climate Change, and the Environment.) This course utilizes a sociological perspective and theories to explore the complex ways that society has both generated and is addressing environmental problems with an emphasis on global climate change. We will explore how the structure and culture of society influences the causes of climate change and other environmental harms, how the impact of climate change on societies varies greatly across social groups based on race, class, gender, and national context, and ways societies are responding to the crises through social movements, changes in culture, and political and economic institutions. No prerequisites. (Under the Forester Fundamental Curriculum, this course meets the Social Sciences requirement. Under the old GEC, this course meets the Social Science and Cultural Diversity requirements.)
cross listed: SOAN 217
ES 218: American Geographies
Lewis Carroll tells of a nation who made a map on the scale of one mile to the mile, but "the farmers objected: they said it would cover the whole country, and shut out the sunlight! So we now use the country itself, as its own map, and I assure you it does nearly as well." Similarly, American "Geographies" are plural because all geographies are multiple: the same location can be mapped in dozens of different ways, all of which can add to the richness of our understanding of place. "Mapped" denotes both physical maps and a range of mental and cultural constructs that describe place. These include urban geographies, agricultural geographies, natural geographies, and personal geographies as perceived by rulers, explorers, immigrants, recently freed slaves, mountain lions, and others. We compare American Geographies with other Geographies of the world (European and Chinese) to understand these American spatial experiences. (Under the Forester Fundamental Curriculum, this course meets the Humanities requirement.)
ES 220: Evolution, Ecology, and Environment
The diversity of life - the result of evolutionary and ecological processes - is a primary focus of environmental studies. In order to understand humans' effects on other species, ecosystems, and evolutionary and ecological processes and interactions, a deep knowledge of those entities and processes is critical. This course takes an interdisciplinary, theoretical approach to the evolution and ecology of human - environmental dynamics, including species concepts and speciation, extinction, conservation of biodiversity, political ecology, evolutionary ecology, the human dimensions of global change, demography, biogeography, human and non-human population ecology, and the status of evolutionary theory in the current political arena. Three lecture hours plus one four-hour laboratory per week. Prerequisites: ES 108 or Chem 115 and Math 150 or BIOL 150 or ECON/BUSN/FIN 130 or MATH 351 or PSYC 221 or SOAN 310 (Under the Forester Fundamental Curriculum, this course meets the Natural Sciences and Technology requirements. Under the old GEC, this course meets the Natural Science & Mathematics requirement.)
ES 221: History & Literature of Great Lakes
(History and Literature of the Great Lakes.) The Great Lakes contain 21 percent of the world's surface fresh water. They provided a passage for exploration and still provide a passage for commerce. They are the reason Chicago exists. This course explores the history of the Great Lakes (geological, Native American, and modern) and the literature and art that arose from human interaction with these vast waters. In this interdisciplinary course we read geological and geographical descriptions, Native American literature, journals of early European explorers, poetry, short stories, and histories of social, economic, and environmental issues concerning the Great Lakes. No prerequisites. (Under the Forester Fundamental Curriculum, this course meets the Humanities and Writing requirements.)
cross listed: ENGL 252
ES 222: The Lake by the College
(The Lake by the College: Geography, Ecology, History, and Current Environmental Issues of Lake Michigan). Lake Forest College calls itself the College by the Lake, yet most of us know very little about this vast inland sea. Geography is the study of physical places on the earth's surface and the relationships between people and those places. This course introduces students to the physical properties of the lake and its ecological and economic significance to Chicago, the City of Lake Forest, the Greater Chicagoland region, the United States, and the world. We explore current issues and policies about the lake's diverse and often conflicting uses as a dump site, a highway for transportation, a pristine recreational resource, and the source of our drinking water. No prerequisites. (Under the Forester Fundamental Curriculum, this course meets the Natural Sciences requirement. Under the old GEC, this course meets the Natural Science & Mathematics requirement.)
ES 224: Biodiversity
Biodiversity has commonly been defined as the diversity of genes, species, and ecosystems, and the interactions between them. This course explores the evolutionary and ecological causes and consequences of biodiversity and the models we use to conceptualize and conserve its components. We study and attempt to explain the unequal distribution of biodiversity over space (tropical rainforests have much greater biodiversity than temperate forests) and time (many more species of beetles have evolved than species of mammals). We pay special attention to diversity in the vertebrates, arthropods, molluscs, and flowering plants, and consider concepts such as the tree of life, ecological diversity indices, and definitions of genes, species, and ecosystems. Throughout the course we consider theoretical and practical approaches to conserving the biodiversity we have and restoring the biodiversity we've lost. (Under the Forester Fundamental Curriculum, this course meets the Natural Sciences requirement.)
ES 225: Philosophy of Science
Examination of issues such as the nature of scientific knowledge, what counts as a "true" scientific theory, the basis of observation, and empirical knowledge. Consideration of ethical issues generated by scientific practice, the politics of technology, and current work on the sociology of scientific knowledge. (Under the Forester Fundamental Curriculum, this course meets the Humanities requirement. Under the old GEC, this course meets the Humanities requirement.)
cross listed: PHIL 225
ES 229: Art and Environment
(Art and Environment: Exploring Landscapes and Sustainability.) In this course we explore the unique relationship and history of the arts and the environment. In recent times an increasing number of creatives in fields such as sculpture, sound art, and architecture have shifted their focus towards environmental awareness. Production methods and materials that embrace sustainability, repurposing and reutilization are making their mark around the world. We learn about these efforts and use them as inspiration to create new work. Students explore ways that artists can use social practice to create awareness, study western and non-western concepts of the landscape, and discuss the everlasting desire to look at nature for inspiration. We use a variety of recycled/repurposed materials and electronic media to produce artwork focused on our relationship with the environment and how we can create immediate and long-term positive impact on our habitats. No prerequisites; ES110 or ES120 recommended for Environmental Studies majors. Course Fee Applies. (Under the Forester Fundamental Curriculum, this course meets the Creative & Performing Arts requirement. Under the old GEC, this course meets the Humanities requirement.)
cross listed: ART 229
ES 232: Drawing from Nature
Close observation is the foundation of scientific inquiry. It is also key to making art. In this course, students use their surroundings—from microscopic organisms to the forests and prairies around the Lake Forest campus—as a source of discovery and inspiration for making drawings. Working with a variety of materials, students develop their abilities to observe and interpret nature. Students move between indoor and outdoor spaces, including the Shooting Star Savanna and biology laboratories. Students study scientific illustrations and learn how to create them. Field trips to local prairie and woodland restoration projects and sites such as the Chicago Botanic Garden are an important component of this course. The course is designed for all levels, beginning through advanced.
cross listed: ART 232
ES 236: Environmental Politics and Policy
Despite arguably leading the world in implementing environmental(ist) policies in the 1960s and 1970s, in 2022 the United States ranked just 43rd worldwide (of 180 nations) according to Yale’s Environmental Performance Index. Seeking answers for how and why this came to be, this course focuses on the United States’ historical record of environmental policymaking—not just from the 1960s to the present, but from the origins of environmental policymaking and values present at the country’s founding through the emergence of the “modern” environmental movement in the post-World War II era that led to the raft of legislation we have today. Explanations for environmental policy outcomes are sought, including through an examination of how policies have been developed and implemented at the national, state, and local levels. Special attention is paid to case studies which illustrate how a variety of actors—including legislators, administrators, scientists, civil society, and the private sector—have shaped and continue to shape the environment in which we live. (Under the Forester Fundamental Curriculum, this course meets the Social Sciences requirement. Under the old GEC, this course meets the Social Science requirement.)
cross listed: POLS 237
ES 240: Religious Perspectives Environment
Our current environmental crises rest on philosophical and religious assumptions that are now being challenged. Are humans meant to dominate nature? Does nature belong to human beings or do human beings belong to nature? Addressing such questions requires an increasingly broad scope, as our ecological fates are interwoven on a planetary scale. This class therefore examines a diversity of religious teachings, old and new, to theorize cultural conceptions of “nature” and seek possible platforms for religious rhetoric to inspire conservation. We read primary and secondary sources across a range of traditions, including Jain, Buddhist, Hindu, and Christian, as well as indigenous tribes from North America, and scholars who suggest a new religious attention to earth sciences is needed to face the present climate crisis. By deconstructing conventional definitions of terms like religion and nature, we build an understanding of human entanglements in planetary processes and possible pathways toward sustainable futures. (Under the Forester Fundamental Curriculum, this course meets the Humanities and Global Perspectives requirements. Under the old GEC, this course meets the Humanities and Cultural Diversity requirements.)
cross listed: RELG 240
ES 260: U.S. Environmental History
(United States Environmental History) Introduction to the historical study of the relationship of people in the present-day United States with the natural world. Examination of the ways that 'natural' forces helped shape U.S. history; the ways human beings have altered and interacted with nature over time; and the ways cultural, philosophical, scientific, and political attitudes towards the environment have changed in the course of U.S. history, pre-history to the present. (Under the Forester Fundamental Curriculum, this course meets the Humanities and Domestic Pluralism requirements. Under the old GEC, this course meets the Humanities requirement.)
cross listed: HIST 232, AMER 261
ES 261: Global Environmental History
The Earth's environment has changed drastically over time. The first half of this course is a journey through the many phases of environment and climate on Earth in its 4.5-billion-year history from an atmosphere without oxygen to a warm lushly vegetated globe to a world with glaciers pushing toward the equator. In its second half, we will focus on the how environmental changes influenced human history. What was the world like when humans evolved and how did the Ice Ages determine where people migrated? Were the rise and fall of empires tied to the rise and fall of sea level? We will also examine humans as forces that shape and influence the environments they inhabit, for better or for worse. No prerequisite. (Under the Forester Fundamental Curriculum, this course meets the Humanities requirement.)
ES 263: US Cities
This course is an introduction to the political, economic, and social forces that have shaped US cities in the last 200 years, with a focus on the city of Chicago. We explore the growth of urban economies, migration and immigration into cities, racial/ethnic segregation and displacement, and struggles over power and resources. Students are introduced to multiple disciplinary approaches to understanding US cities, and visit relevant sites in Chicago. This course is the core course for the Urban Studies minor program. (Under the Forester Fundamental Curriculum, this course meets the Humanities and Domestic Pluralism requirements. Under the old GEC, this course meets the Humanities requirement.)
cross listed: HIST 235, AMER 263, URBS 120
ES 271: Technology & Human Values
Conditions and processes of industrialization in the Western world; problems related to economic development in emerging nations; impact of industry on lifeways of modern humans. Prerequisite: Sociology and Anthropology 110. (Under the Forester Fundamental Curriculum, this course meets the Social Sciences requirement. Under the old GEC, this course meets the Social Science and Cultural Diversity requirements.)
cross listed: SOAN 271
ES 273: Cultural Ecology of Africa
In this course, we will study the relationships between African peoples and their environments. We will consider the process of globalization and its relationship to the changing landscape of Africa in a historical context. By combining environmental studies and anthropology, we will bring a unique perspective to our study of the historical interaction of African cultures and environments, from pre-colonial times through the colonial period to the current post-colonial period. No prerequisites. (Under the Forester Fundamental Curriculum, this course meets the Social Sciences and Global Perspectives requirements. Under the old GEC, this course meets the Social Science and Cultural Diversity requirements.)
cross listed: SOAN 273, IREL 273, AFAM 273
ES 282: Lake Forestry
The subjects of Lake Forestry are the trees, shrubs, herbaceous plants, and terrestrial ecosystems of the Midwest. This course introduces students to the ecology of individual plant species and to the ecological assemblages of which they are a part. Also included in this course are forest and prairie history, the relationship between forest and prairie ecosystems and urban and agricultural ecosystems, and current conservation and restoration efforts. All classes are held outside. Speaking and collaboration are fundamental requirements of the course. There are three mandatory weekend field trips: the first Saturday of the semester to South Chicagoland ecosystems, the third weekend in September to Northern Wisconsin, and Friday afternoon through Tuesday night of the Fall Mid-Semester Break to Southern Illinois. (Under the Forester Fundamental Curriculum, this course meets the Natural Sciences and Experiential Learning requirements. Under the old GEC, this course meets the Natural Science & Mathematics requirement.)
ES 315: Soc Ethics Energy Production & Use
(Social Ethics of Energy Production and Use.) The course will explore the ethical implications of possible future energy initiatives. Emphasis will be given to the global implications of interdependency on primary resources and the technological initiatives of nuclear power and alternative sources. Students will focus on independent research projects, with both domestic and international components, surrounding the environmental, social, and ethical issues of future energy production and use. Prerequisite: junior standing or permission of instructor. (Under the old GEC, this course meets the Social Science requirement.)
cross listed: SOAN 315, PHIL 315
ES 316: Sustainable Energy
This course focuses on energy and the associated resources needed to sustain human life and prosperity. We examine existing and emerging energy technologies, addressing their environmental strengths and weaknesses, technical and economic viability and compatibility with evolving public and regulatory expectations. Among the technologies addressed are oil, gas, nuclear, hydroelectric, wind, geothermal, solar and ocean-based systems. The approach is quantitative and the course is suitable for those comfortable with science and mathematics, although calculus will not be required. Prerequisite: ES 220, BIOL 220, ES 271, or permission of instructor. (Under the old GEC, this course meets the Natural Science & Mathematics requirement.)
ES 322: Freshwater Ecology
(Freshwater Ecology of the Great Lakes Region.) This course offers a detailed exploration of the biological, physical, geographical, and economic properties of Lake Michigan and aquatic habitats connected to this system. We focus on the methods for assessing habitat condition, the factors that contribute to a habitat's health, the development of conservation plans, and the economic costs of pollution and mitigation. Prerequisite: ES 220 or BIOL 220.
ES 323: Black Environmental Culture
Until the environmental justice movement rose to prominence over the past few decades and invited a more critical perspective on the connection between race and the environment, popular understanding of the American environmental (and environmentalist) tradition had effectively been whitewashed. But why? This course works to find answers to that question while unearthing the deeper roots of Black environmental culture in conversation with key moments in Black history in the United States--from slavery to sharecropping, from migration and urbanization to environmental justice. Interdisciplinary approaches examine sources as diverse as slave narratives, fiction, poetry, songs, photographs, maps, and ethnographies. Black intellectuals, writers, visual and musical artists, and everyday citizens not always associated with environmental thought are considered, from W.E.B. Du Bois and Zora Neale Hurston to the Black Panthers and the victims of Flint, Michigan's, water crisis. Prerequisite: ES 110 or AFAM 110 (Under the Forester Fundamental Curriculum, this course meets the Humanities and Domestic Pluralism requirements. Under the old GEC, this course meets the Cultural Diversity requirement.)
cross listed: AFAM 323
ES 324: Medieval Disasters & Climate Change
In the fifth century, a cooling climate and epidemics accelerated the collapse of the western Roman state; while in the fourteenth century, worsened by the onset of the "Little Ice Age," the Black Death reduced populations in Eurasia by half and laid the groundwork for the changes of the early modern world. This course teaches the history of environmental transformations and human adaptation through an exploration of some of the natural disasters and climate changes that impacted Europe and the Mediterranean world c. 300-1500 CE. Using specific case studies (including episodes like the so-called "mystery cloud" that troubled Levantine communities in 536 and the unusually well-documented 1348 earthquake in central Europe), the course evaluates how medieval people thought about nature, and how moments of crisis shaped individuals, communities, and larger ecosystems. Students learn to use Geographic Information System (GIS) software to analyze, track chronologically, and map spatially a specific disaster or environmental event. No prerequisites. (Under the Forester Fundamental Curriculum, this course meets the Global Perspectives and Technology requirements. Under the old GEC, this course meets the Humanities requirement.)
cross listed: HIST 324
ES 325: Economics of Land
(The Economics of Land: Valuation, Use, and Taxation) The course examines several different roles of land in the economy; as a productive asset, as an investment, as a store of value, and as a base for taxation. Topics to be covered include various definitions of property rights, regulatory policy toward land use and land preservation, models of land valuation, and the theory and practice of property taxation and tax preferences. We examine policies across different states, countries, and eras. Prerequisite: ECON 210 or permission of instructor
cross listed: ECON 325
ES 326: Interrogating the Ecology of Place
(Interrogating the Ecology of Place: From Generative AI to Regenerative Neighborhood Development) This course explores the nexus of Sweet Water Foundation’s (SWF) practice of Regenerative Neighborhood Development (RND) and emerging artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. RND’s social justice methods transform the urban ecology of neighborhoods long subjected to disinvestment and discriminatory policies, embodying the idea that only through proximity to the ecology of a particular place - its land, people, and flows across seasons - can one acquire the knowledge required to design interventions capable of sustained impact. AI, by contrast, is almost wholly detached from these specific ecologies of place. But how might AI tools be used critically and strategically to foster protopian rather than utopian visions, staying connected to environmental realities and a community’s lived experience and needs? This course features significant hands-on field-based work, both on campus and at SWF’s bio-dynamic campus, known as The Commonwealth, on Chicago’s South Side. Co-taught with SWF leadership and team members. Prerequisite: Junior Standing
ES 332: Environmental Writing
This course focuses on writing about the environment. Students will explore different approaches to the environmental essay, including adventure narrative, personal reflection, and natural history. Poetry and fiction will also play a role as we explore the practice of place-centered writing. We will also use the immediate surroundings of the Chicago area as an environment for our writing. Prerequisite: English 235 or a lower-level Environmental Studies course. (Under the old GEC, this course meets the Humanities requirement.)
cross listed: ENGL 332
ES 335: Environmental Justice
Environmental justice movements contest environmental inequalities (disproportionate exposure to environmental ills like pollution and inadequate access to environmental goods like nature-based recreation) that manifest themselves along lines of race, ethnicity, class, and gender. This course employs a variety of disciplinary perspectives - including history, literature, sociology, political science, and philosophy - to examine the origins and evolution of these social movements worldwide, but especially emphasizes the environmental battles waged by African American, Latinx, and Native American communities in the United States. From climate change's rising seas that threaten developing nations to the toxic waste dumps that threaten the health of communities of color, case studies are used to explore how local struggles help shape a global consciousness about environmental injustices. Chicago-area environmental justice movements are given special attention and are incorporated into field studies. Prerequisites: ES 110 or permission of instructor. (Under the Forester Fundamental Curriculum, this course meets the Social Sciences and Domestic Pluralism requirements. Under the old GEC, this course meets the Social Science requirement.)
cross listed: AFAM 335
ES 340: Environ & Natural Resource Econ
(Environmental and Natural Resource Economics) Examines different economic theories regarding optimal use of renewable and nonrenewable resources, why market responses to pollution are typically unsatisfactory, and optimal pollution control. These theories are then applied to the real world, taking into consideration political and technological constraints. The impact of past and current policy on the environment will be studied, as will the potential impact of proposed legislation. Prerequisite: ECON 210 or permission of the instructor. (Under the old GEC, this course meets the Social Science requirement.)
cross listed: ECON 340
ES 350: Marine and Island Ecology
This summer school course, offered by the Shedd Aquarium and the Associated Colleges of the Chicago Area, includes a field experience in the Bahama Islands. Students learn how oceanography and water chemistry affect marine habitats and island environments. Students develop identification techniques for fishes, reptiles, plants and invertebrates while gaining knowledge of field research. The capstone experience is a nine-day excursion on Shedd's research vessel, the R/V Coral Reef II, studying tropical marine and island flora and fauna and surveying marine and terrestrial communities of the Exuma Islands. Prerequisite: Biology 220. Credit: one Lake Forest College credit. (Under the Forester Fundamental Curriculum, this course meets the Natural Sciences requirement. Under the old GEC, this course meets the Natural Science & Mathematics requirement.)
ES 358: U.S. Enviro in Great Depression
(U.S. Environmental Culture in the Great Depression) This course explores the many ways people in the United States understood and shaped their diverse local environments during the crisis of the Great Depression. Although the Dust Bowl is perhaps the most iconic of these environmental upheavals during the 1930s, this course examines diverse geographical regions: from the Appalachian mountains to the (de)forested Upper Midwest, from the agricultural South to the Dust Bowl plains and the water-starved West. In each region, interdisciplinary approaches (including literary, historical, sociological, and visual media studies methods) trace the impacts of economic turmoil on the environment and the people who depended on it for their livelihoods, as well as the way economic disaster paved the way for the government's unprecedented intervention in environmental matters. This course fosters critical examination of U.S. subcultures during the Great Depression, including African-Americans, the Southern poor, the Range culture of the American West, and the immigrant experience. Prerequisite: Any 200-level ES course or permission of instructor. (Under the old GEC, this course meets the Cultural Diversity requirement.)
cross listed: AMER 358
ES 361: Environmental Law
This course will explore basic issues of law and policy involved in the consumption, conservation, and regulation of natural resources. In particular, we will consider how various competing public and private interests in the use and protection of the environment affect legislative, administrative, and judicial decision making. Topics to be discussed include: agency management of environmental risk; civil suits as a means of environmental law enforcement; wilderness and the use of public land; takings and other private property rights concerns; federalism and the environment. Among other statutes, we will examine the National Environmental Policy Act, the Clean Air Act, the Wilderness Act, the Endangered Species Act, and the Toxic Substances Control Act.
cross listed: POLS 368
ES 363: Environmental Apocalypse
One dominant strain of environmental imagination in the United States—particularly after World War II, a period of rapid environmental change often referred to as the anthropocene, or Great Acceleration—has been fear of imminent environmental apocalypse, which manifests itself on a spectrum from diffuse anxiety to paralyzing terror. This course explores this culture of fear through a variety of topics in postwar environmental consciousness in the U.S., including the specter of nuclear annihilation, carcinogenic chemicals, runaway population growth and food scarcity, climate change, and global pandemics. Texts and methodological approaches are literary, historical, anthropological, and sociological.
cross listed: AMER 367
ES 365: Poetry and Nature
This course explores the relationship between poetry and the natural world, from its roots in Classical Asian and European poetry to its postmodern manifestations. Understanding natural processes that served as inspiration and subject matter of nature poetry will enrich student understanding of the poem and the processes of both poetry writing and nature observation. Particular attention is paid to the poetry of William Wordsworth, Emily Dickinson, and Robert Frost. Prerequisite: One 200-level English course or 200-level Environmental Studies course. (Under the Forester Fundamental Curriculum, this course meets the Creative & Performing Arts requirement.)
cross listed: ENGL 365
ES 367: Environmental Writing
This course focuses on writing about the environment. Students will explore different approaches to the environmental essay, including adventure narrative, personal reflection, and natural history. Poetry and fiction will also play a role as we explore the practice of place-centered writing. We will also use the immediate surroundings of the Chicago area as an environment for our writing. Prerequisite: English 135/235 or a lower-level Environmental Studies course. Not open to students who have completed ENGL 332. (Under the old GEC, this course meets the Humanities requirement.)
cross listed: ENGL 367
ES 368: Endangered Species and Languages
(Endangered Species and Endangered Languages). Both species and languages can become endangered and go extinct. This course examines the similarities and differences between species and languages in their formation, their evolution, their relationships to each other, and their extinction. We will ask what it means to save a species or a language. We will consider whether some species are of higher conservation value than others and whether the same is true of languages. Prerequisite: One 200-level Environmental Studies course, or one 200-level Biology course, or one 200-level Sociology/Anthropology course, or Linguistics 201. (Under the Forester Fundamental Curriculum, this course meets the Natural Sciences and Global Perspectives requirements.)
ES 369: Species
This course provides an in-depth examination of the concept of species as it is used in biology, especially in evolutionary biology, ecology, and conservation biology. Each student chooses a difficult native plant species complex, such as the oaks, the sunflowers, or the asters, to investigate in the field and in the laboratory. Using the literature on species concepts, students attempt to delineate species boundaries within their complex applying two or more of these concepts. Prerequisite: Any 200-level Environmental Studies, Biology, or Philosophy course. (Under the old GEC, this course meets the Natural Science & Mathematics requirement.)
ES 370: Ecology
This course examines current concepts and research in ecology at the levels of populations, communities, landscapes, ecosystems, and global processes. Emphasis will be placed on field research methods and reading of the primary literature. Lectures, discussions, and other classroom activities will be combined with field and laboratory exercises. Three classroom and four laboratory/field hours per week. Prerequisites: Biol 220, and either Biol 221 or Junior status.
ES 375: Conservation Biology
This course will examine how biological principles and information can be applied to conservation of species, ecosystems, and natural resources. Topics may include endangered species, conservation genetics, landscape and ecosystem-level conservation, restoration, biodiversity in human-influenced systems, and others. This course is scheduled to allow extended field trips and will also include lecture, discussion, and other classroom and laboratory activities. Prerequisites: Biol 220, and either Biol 221 or Junior status.
cross listed: BIOL 375L
ES 376: Animal Conservation
(Animal Conservation: Ecology, Behavior, and Genetics) This course examines the conservation of biodiversity - genes, species, ecosystems, and the interactions between them - through the lens of animals, and large animals in particular. Elephants, whales, rhinos, giraffes, gorillas, and bison are among the groups of animals studied. Feeding and mating ecology, mutualisms and parasitisms, and the particular behavioral and genetic problems of small population sizes are the key concepts applied to each of these groups. Political, agricultural, and socio-economic barriers to conservations are also examined. Prerequisite: ES 220.
ES 381: Lake Forestry
The subjects of Lake Forestry are the trees, shrubs, herbaceous plants, and terrestrial ecosystems of the Midwest. This course introduces students to the ecology of individual plant species and to the ecological assemblages of which they are a part. Also included in this course are forest and prairie history, the relationship between forest and prairie ecosystems and urban and agricultural ecosystems, and current conservation and restoration efforts. There is a lecture component and a field component; all field classes are held outside. Speaking and collaboration are fundamental requirements of the course. There are three mandatory weekend field trips: the first Saturday of the semester to South Chicagoland ecosystems, the third weekend in September to Northern Wisconsin, and Friday afternoon through Tuesday night of the Fall Mid-Semester Break to Southern Illinois.
ES 382: Politcal Ecology Infectious Disease
(The Political Ecology of Infectious Diseases.) An infectious disease, COVID19, is in the process of disrupting the social, political, economic, ecological, and medical systems that we have relied on, and in some ways taken for granted, up to now. Infectious diseases, like all things — animals, plants, genes, rivers, petroleum, planets, and molecules — have the ability to exert influence on their environments; that is, they have something like agency. In this course, we investigate what the nature of this quasi-agency is, and what the political, social, and economic consequences of accepting the agency of things might be. Our focus is on infectious diseases: where they come from, how humans discovered them and how we combat them, and how they have affected and are affected by international economic and political systems, environmental degradation, medical technology, ideas of sovereignty, and the prosecution of war and terrorism. Prerequisite: ES 110, ES 120, ES 220, BIOL 220, or any Politics or History course, or permission of the instructor. (Under the Forester Fundamental Curriculum, this course meets the Social Sciences requirement.)
ES 383: Herpetology
This course provides a thorough knowledge and understanding of reptiles and amphibians, their evolutionary relationships, taxonomic classification, and identifying characteristics, anatomy, physiology, behavior, and ecology. Special attention is paid to local species in Illinois. An emphasis on experiential learning allows students to design experiments and work with topics pertaining to conservation and care of reptiles and amphibians. Three 50-minute lectures and one four-hour lab per week are required. Prerequisite: Biol 220 or ES 220. (Under the Forester Fundamental Curriculum, this course meets the Experiential Learning requirement. Under the old GEC, this course meets the Natural Science & Mathematics requirement.)
cross listed: BIOL 383
ES 384: Plant Biology
This course aims to provide a thorough knowledge and understanding of land and aquatic plants, photosynthetic protists and fungi, including: molecular biology; chemical organization and genetics; structures and functions of plant cells, tissues, and organs; principles of systematic botany, nomenclature, and classification; evolutionary relationships among the major groups; and the relationship between plants and their environments. An emphasis on hands-on experimentation will allow students to design experiments, analyze data, and present their results. Three 50-minute lectures and one 3-hour lab per week are required. Biol 220, and either Biol 221 or Junior status. Students must also register for a lab. (Under the old GEC, this course meets the Natural Science & Mathematics requirement.)
cross listed: BIOL 384
ES 385: Plants & Insects of Great Lakes
(Plant and Insect Systematics of the Great Lakes.) This course explores the origin and diversification of vascular plants and insects through the sub-disciplines of taxonomy (identification, nomenclature, and classification), evolution (speciation, reproductive biology, adaptation, convergence, and biogeography), and phylogenetics (likelihood analysis, cladistics, morphology, and molecules). Lab emphasizes learning representative plant families and insect orders and families and use of keys and manuals. Prerequisites: ES 220 or BIO 220 or ES 203 or ES 204 or ES 282 or BIO/ES 284 and CHEM 108 or Chem 115. (Under the Forester Fundamental Curriculum, this course meets the Natural Sciences requirement.)
ES 386: Experimental Plant Ecology
This course examines the ecology of plants at population, community, and ecosystem levels. We examine the interactions of plants with each other, with other organisms, and with their environments. Topics discussed include competition among plants for common resources, how plants adapt to environmental stressors, relationships between plants, pollinators, herbivores and pathogens, and the ecology of plants in urban environments. Lab projects include experimental testing of various aspects of plant ecology using greenhouse and field experiments. Prerequisites: BIOL 220 OR ES 220 (Under the old GEC, this course meets the Natural Science & Mathematics requirement.)
cross listed: BIOL 386
ES 387: Who Speaks for Animals?
This course explores the aims, motives, and achievements of those who either intentionally or unintentionally speak for animals - scientists, natural historians, philosophers, animal trainers, legal scholars, veterinarians, conservationists, nature writers, and artists, among others. This course investigates the meaning of animals to humans, the meaning of humans to animals, and the meaning of animals to each other. These investigations raise questions about the nature of equality, reason, feeling, justice, language, the social contract, and sentimentality. Prerequisites: Politics 260, or any Environmental Studies or Philosophy course at the 200 level or above, or junior standing. (Under the Forester Fundamental Curriculum, this course meets the Writing requirement.)
ES 481: Biological & Social Life of Paper
This course explores the historical origins of paper; the biological organisms - cotton, linen, trees - we get paper from; the environmental effects of the production, use, and disposal of paper; and the cultural meaning of paper. We will follow paper from cradle to grave, cutting a tree and making paper ourselves, and learning to recycle paper. We will consider the pros and cons of a 'paperless future.' We will visit a plantation grown for paper-making, a paper-making factory, and the Newberry Library. We will also consider the history, production, circulation, and use of paper in the social production of knowledge, the shared imagination of value, and the mutual relations of consumers and commodities. There will be a semester-long 20-25 page research paper. Each student will be expected to lead one class session based on his or her research-paper topic.
ES 482: 2010 Blowout in Gulf of Mexico
This course explores many aspects of the 2010 ecological disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, including the geology of the Gulf, the engineering techniques used to drill for oil and gas, uses of and possible substitutes for oil in the past, present and future, the environmental problems created by oil spills and the various cleanup and remediation techniques used, the effect of the leak on oil markets, and comparisons to other oil spills (notably those in Nigeria). Students will spend their fall break at sites along the Gulf, observing the effects of the leak and participating in cleanup efforts. Each student will choose a semester-long research project and be responsible for leading a class session based on their project as well as submitting a significant paper summarizing their research and conclusions.
ES 483: Env Connections Chicago-New Orleans
(Senior Seminar: The Environmental Connections between Chicago and New Orleans) This course explores the environmental issues associated with the greater Chicago area and compares and connects them to the environmental issues associated with New Orleans and the lower Mississippi Delta. The connection between the two areas goes back to the mid-19th century decision to reroute the Chicago River and build a canal system that effectively connected the Great Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico. This geographical change provided a trade route from Chicago to the Gulf, enabling Chicago to be a major distributing center for both major trade routes from the Midwest - the Mississippi and the Great Lakes. Other comparisons that the course addresses are: energy issues of coal and oil, migration routes from the Delta to Chicago, and urbanization. Prerequisite: senior standing and a major in ES or permission of instructor. There will be an optional Spring Break trip down the Mississippi to New Orleans, as well as shorter field trips around the Chicago area.
ES 484: Conserving/Restoring Native Species
(Senior Seminar: Conserving and Restoring Native Species.) This course examines how biological principles and knowledge, as well as social, political, legal, and economic principles, can be applied to conservation and restoration of species and their ecosystems. This course covers a variety of different conservation and restoration efforts, looking at reasons that the species disappeared, arguments for and against conservation and restoration, methods used, and the successes and failures of the projects. We review key factors that are likely to determine the outcome of projects. The course also discusses the dual relationship between wildlife and habitat restoration projects. Case studies may include urban peregrine falcon release programs, the Eastern Whooping Crane Partnership, wolf projects in Yellowstone National Park and nearby areas, and prairie restoration in Illinois, as well as other projects. Students are expected to participate in several field trips, at least one of which includes multiple days.Prerequisites: Senior standing and a major or minor in Environmental Studies, or permisssion of instructor.
ES 485: The Science and Literature of Trees
A discussion of trees from scientific and humanities perspectives. Topics include tree anatomy and physiology, trees in American history and literature, forest ecology, forests and civilization, trees and climate change. Every student completes an independent research project in consultation with the instructors. Students are expected to participate in several field trips, at least one of which includes multiple days. Prerequisites: Senior standing and a major or minor in Environmental Studies, or permission of instructor. (Under the Forester Fundamental Curriculum, this course meets the Senior Studies requirement.)
ES 486: Birds: Interdisc. Perspective
(Birds: An Interdisciplinary Perspective) An interdisciplinary discussion of birds and their various relationships to the environment and to humans. Students learn principles of taxonomy, physiology, and natural history using examples from around the world; discuss issues of conservation and extinction, species restoration, ethics and legal protections; and consider the roles birds have played in the work of writers and visual artists. Optional spring break trip to the Platte River to observe the internationally famous spectacle of the Sandhill Crane migration, along with many other species. Prerequisites: Senior standing and a major or minor in Environmental Studies, or permission of instructor.