To see a complete list of courses offered and their descriptions, visit the online course catalog.
The courses listed below are provided by Student Information Services (SIS). This listing provides a snapshot of immediately available courses within this department and may not be complete. Course registration information is available on the SIS website.
Column one has the course number and section. Other columns show the course title, days offered, instructor's name, room number, if the course is cross-referenced with another program, and a option to view additional course information in a pop-up window.
Course # (Section)
Title
Day/Times
Instructor
Room
PosTag(s)
Info
AS.217.425 (01)
Latin American Ecocriticism
TTh 12:00PM - 1:15PM
Bedran, Marina
Bloomberg 176
INST-GLOBAL, MSCH-HUM, ENVS-MAJOR, ENVS-MINOR
Latin American Ecocriticism AS.217.425 (01)
Increased awareness of climate change has led to a shift in the way we address and intervene in environmental issues in the new millennium. Yet the interest in making sense of the environment has a long history in literature and the arts. How have Latin American writers and artists understood and depicted their environments and environmental questions? How do the form and content of texts and cultural artifacts influence our understanding of the non-human world? Can works of fiction shape ecological transformations? In this course we will discuss texts from the early colonial period to the present, including the literary works of Graciliano Ramos, Horacio Quiroga, and Clarice Lispector; political ecology; film; Ana Mendieta’s earth-body art; contemporary experiments in bio-art; postcolonial theory; and the intersection of environmental justice with such topics as nationalism and human rights. Going beyond ecocriticism’s original focus on the Anglo-American world, we will engage recent scholarship on Latin America that sheds light on the region’s cultural and geopolitical importance to the global climate, with particular attention to Brazil. This course aims to introduce students to current debates in Latin American Ecocriticism and the Anthropocene and thus contribute to an incipient but expanding field.
An introduction to planetary science and planetary exploration primarily for non-science majors. A survey of concepts from astronomy, chemistry, geology, and physics applied to the study of the solar system.
Credits: 3.00
Level: Lower Level Undergraduate
Days/Times: TTh 3:00PM - 4:15PM
Instructor: Burgess, Jerry, Lewis, Kevin, Sing, David Kent
Room: Olin 305
Status: Open
Seats Available: 38/110
PosTag(s): n/a
AS.270.202 (01)
Introduction to Ecology
TTh 10:30AM - 11:45AM
Avolio, Meghan Lynn
Shaffer 302
ENVS-MINOR, ARCH-RELATE, BEHB-BIOBEH
Introduction to Ecology AS.270.202 (01)
Ecology is the study of organisms and their environment. This course focuses on the patterns of distribution and abundance of organisms. Topics include population dynamics and regulation, competition, predation, host-parasite interactions, patterns of species diversity, community succession, the flow of energy and matter through ecosystems. We will also discuss the role of natural and human disturbances in shaping communities.
Credits: 3.00
Level: Lower Level Undergraduate
Days/Times: TTh 10:30AM - 11:45AM
Instructor: Avolio, Meghan Lynn
Room: Shaffer 302
Status: Waitlist Only
Seats Available: 0/45
PosTag(s): ENVS-MINOR, ARCH-RELATE, BEHB-BIOBEH
AS.270.205 (01)
Introduction to Geographic Information Systems and Geospatial Analysis
M 1:30PM - 4:00PM
Staff
Wyman Park W112
ARCH-RELATE, ENVS-MINOR
Introduction to Geographic Information Systems and Geospatial Analysis AS.270.205 (01)
The course provides a broad introduction to the principles and practice of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and related tools of Geospatial Analysis. Topics will include history of GIS, GIS data structures, data acquisition and merging, database management, spatial analysis, and GIS applications. In addition, students will get hands-on experience working with GIS software.
Credits: 3.00
Level: Lower Level Undergraduate
Days/Times: M 1:30PM - 4:00PM
Instructor: Staff
Room: Wyman Park W112
Status: Open
Seats Available: 2/24
PosTag(s): ARCH-RELATE, ENVS-MINOR
AS.270.222 (01)
Mineralogy
WF 9:00AM - 9:50AM, W 3:00PM - 6:00PM
Wicks, June K
Olin 206B
Mineralogy AS.270.222 (01)
Introduction to the classification, crystallography, and physical properties of minerals. Weekly lab topics include field identification, crystal morphology and symmetry, optical microscopy and Raman spectroscopy. One field trip to the Smithsonian National Museum of History and Research Archives is planned.
Credits: 4.00
Level: Lower Level Undergraduate
Days/Times: WF 9:00AM - 9:50AM, W 3:00PM - 6:00PM
Instructor: Wicks, June K
Room: Olin 206B
Status: Open
Seats Available: 10/15
PosTag(s): n/a
AS.270.224 (01)
Oceans & Atmospheres
MWF 1:30PM - 2:20PM
Haine, Thomas, Waugh, Darryn
Olin 304
ENVS-MAJOR, ENVS-MINOR
Oceans & Atmospheres AS.270.224 (01)
A broad survey of the Earth’s oceans and atmospheres, and their role in the environment and climate. Topics covered include waves, tides, ocean and atmosphere circulation, weather systems, tornadoes and hurricanes, El Niño, and climate change. For science and engineering majors
Credits: 3.00
Level: Lower Level Undergraduate
Days/Times: MWF 1:30PM - 2:20PM
Instructor: Haine, Thomas, Waugh, Darryn
Room: Olin 304
Status: Open
Seats Available: 11/32
PosTag(s): ENVS-MAJOR, ENVS-MINOR
AS.270.303 (01)
Earth History
TTh 1:30PM - 2:45PM
Gomes, Maya L
Olin 204
ENVS-MAJOR, ENVS-MINOR
Earth History AS.270.303 (01)
This course will explore the evolution of life in the context of environmental, ecological, and geological changes to the Earth surface system. The goal of the class is to provide students with an understanding of how geological and paleontological records provide insight into the origin(s) of life, oxygenation of the atmosphere, the evolution of multicellularity, evolutionary radiations and extinctions, and modern global change.
Credits: 3.00
Level: Upper Level Undergraduate
Days/Times: TTh 1:30PM - 2:45PM
Instructor: Gomes, Maya L
Room: Olin 204
Status: Open
Seats Available: 8/20
PosTag(s): ENVS-MAJOR, ENVS-MINOR
AS.270.312 (01)
Mammalian Evolution
TTh 9:00AM - 10:15AM
Cooke, Siobhan
Olin 247
BEHB-BIOBEH, ENVS-MAJOR
Mammalian Evolution AS.270.312 (01)
An introduction to the evolutionary history and diversity of mammals, with emphasis on the first half of the Cenozoic - the beginning of the Age of Mammals. The course will focus primarily on the adaptive radiation of mammals (including our own order primates) that followed the extinction of the dinosaurs, exploring the origins and relationships of the major groups of mammals as well as the anatomical and ecological reasons for their success. Lectures will be supplemented with relevant fossils and recent specimens.
Credits: 3.00
Level: Upper Level Undergraduate
Days/Times: TTh 9:00AM - 10:15AM
Instructor: Cooke, Siobhan
Room: Olin 247
Status: Waitlist Only
Seats Available: 1/20
PosTag(s): BEHB-BIOBEH, ENVS-MAJOR
AS.270.317 (01)
Conservation Biology
Th 3:00PM - 5:30PM
Burgess, Jerry
Olin 247
BEHB-BIOBEH, ENVS-MAJOR, ENVS-MINOR, CHBE-ACBE
Conservation Biology AS.270.317 (01)
In this course, students examine the meaning and implications of biodiversity with a focus on disciplines associated with conservation biology, wildlife conservation and wildlife management, including taxonomy, genetics, small population biology, chemical and restoration ecology, and marine biology. This includes exploring how conservation biology differs from other natural sciences in theory and in application. Students learn the major threats to biodiversity and what natural and social science methods and alternatives are used to mitigate, stop, or reverse these threats. The course also includes the economic and cultural tradeoffs associated with each conservation measure at the global, national, regional, and local levels. One required field trip.
This class is an introduction to a wide range of physical, chemical, and biological phenomena in the world’s oceans. Underlying basic principles are exposed wherever possible. Topics covered include: seawater, waves, tides, ocean circulation, chemical oceanography, biogeochemical ocean processes, and remote sensing of the oceans. Recommended Course Background: freshman Physics, Chemistry, Calculus through ordinary differential equations.
Credits: 3.00
Level: Upper Level Undergraduate
Days/Times: MWF 9:00AM - 9:50AM
Instructor: Gnanadesikan, Anand
Room: Olin 304
Status: Open
Seats Available: 12/20
PosTag(s): n/a
AS.270.333 (01)
Mineral Physics Recitation
Wicks, June K
Olin 206B
Mineral Physics Recitation AS.270.333 (01)
This course is designed for undergraduate students interested in pursuing geophysics research in the topics of solid state physics or inorganic chemistry. It will consist of a weekly seminar paired with a separate paper reading+discussion group, covering a range of topics on the frontiers of mineral physics. Themes rotate each semester, and Fall 2018 will be paired with the Mineralogy Lecture Series on Modeling and Experimental challenges in Cosmochemistry. Recommended Course Background: Relevant coursework such as Mineralogy or equivalent in other department, and instructor permission.
Credits: 2.00
Level: Upper Level Undergraduate
Days/Times:
Instructor: Wicks, June K
Room: Olin 206B
Status: Open
Seats Available: 20/20
PosTag(s): n/a
AS.270.349 (01)
Botany in Action: An Evolutionary Approach to Plant Science
WF 3:00PM - 4:15PM
Yee, Eric
Olin 204
Botany in Action: An Evolutionary Approach to Plant Science AS.270.349 (01)
We all know what a plant is- they're usually green, you can eat some of them, some have pretty flowers, and some of them make good medicine. But where do these properties come from and how did they arise? Why do we find them in such large numbers? This course focuses on various aspects of botany through the lens of plant evolution. Understanding and critically assessing contemporary and traditional botanical applications, from cosmetics to urban development, requires foundations in plant ecology, evolution physiology, and biochemistry. The class will incorporate lectures, discussions, and hands-on laboratory activities, and students should expect to construct phylogenetic trees, dissect flowers, identify the plants in and around JHU Homewood campus, and calculate the plant biodiversity of their kitchen pantries.
Credits: 3.00
Level: Upper Level Undergraduate
Days/Times: WF 3:00PM - 4:15PM
Instructor: Yee, Eric
Room: Olin 204
Status: Open
Seats Available: 16/18
PosTag(s): n/a
AS.270.353 (01)
Forested Landscapes
W 3:00PM - 5:30PM
Burgess, Jerry
Olin 247
ENVS-MAJOR, ENVS-MINOR
Forested Landscapes AS.270.353 (01)
Forests are critical global ecosystems that provide not only timber and wood products, but an array of services including habitat for wildlife, water filtration, carbon storage, and recreational opportunities. This integrated seminar-based course features an interdisciplinary approach to understanding forested landscapes that stresses not only inventorying the biotic and abiotic components, but examining how these pieces are distributed in the landscape (patterns) and what forces drive these patterns (processes). Topics focus on the biological, geological, climatological, cultural, and historical underpinnings needed to observe, interpret, and analyze forest communities. It will cover aspects of biogeography, climate forcing of vegetation dynamics, effects of invasive species, land use change and creation of urban forests. This course has an associated 1- credit field trip typically during the summer semester. Please email the instructor if you are interested in this course for more details on the field trip. This field trip counts as a lab requirement for ENVS majors.
Credits: 3.00
Level: Upper Level Undergraduate
Days/Times: W 3:00PM - 5:30PM
Instructor: Burgess, Jerry
Room: Olin 247
Status: Waitlist Only
Seats Available: 0/14
PosTag(s): ENVS-MAJOR, ENVS-MINOR
AS.270.356 (01)
A Modern History of Climate Science
MW 4:00PM - 5:15PM
Siddiqui, Ali Hasan
Olin 304
A Modern History of Climate Science AS.270.356 (01)
This course charts the evolution of the field of climate science over the last 250 years. We will explore the history of scientific development that led to advances in climate research in the 19th and 20th century. We will also explore the political and social context in which climate science evolved in the West and the backlash of climate change denial that developed due to the influence of the fossil fuel industry. While this course is focused on history, students will be exposed to introductory scientific and technical concepts needed to understand basic climate science.
Our understanding of the earth's climate has come a long way in the last two centuries. We understand the implications of climate change on humanity and have already begun to feel the effects of the changing climate on our society. Yet, it has taken us too long to prioritize climate action and policy. Why does knowledge not always translate into governance and policy? While we understand how the climate impacts our society, do we understand how our society impacts climate research? We will look for answers to these and more questions in this course from a historical framework.
Credits: 3.00
Level: Upper Level Undergraduate
Days/Times: MW 4:00PM - 5:15PM
Instructor: Siddiqui, Ali Hasan
Room: Olin 304
Status: Open
Seats Available: 18/18
PosTag(s): n/a
AS.270.404 (01)
Planetary Interiors
TTh 10:30AM - 11:45AM
Stanley, Sabine
Olin 145
Planetary Interiors AS.270.404 (01)
This course investigates the physical processes occurring in planetary interiors. Topics include formation and differentiation of planetary bodies, planetary structure, thermal evolution, convection, and dynamo generation of magnetic fields. Standard remote sensing methods used to investigate planetary interiors and results from recent planetary satellite missions will also be discussed.
Recommended: Knowledge of vector calculus, PDEs and introductory physics.
Credits: 3.00
Level: Upper Level Undergraduate
Days/Times: TTh 10:30AM - 11:45AM
Instructor: Stanley, Sabine
Room: Olin 145
Status: Open
Seats Available: 13/20
PosTag(s): n/a
AS.270.431 (01)
Tectonics Seminar
M 3:00PM - 4:00PM
Viete, Daniel R
Olin 347
Tectonics Seminar AS.270.431 (01)
Introduction to plate tectonics and its "framework" role in understanding the Earth. Kay papers will be discussed in a weekly seminar class. Focus will be on early works that helped establish the theory, in addition to recent breakthrough contributions that have led to modifications and improvements to the theory of plate tectonics.
Credits: 1.00
Level: Upper Level Undergraduate
Days/Times: M 3:00PM - 4:00PM
Instructor: Viete, Daniel R
Room: Olin 347
Status: Open
Seats Available: 1/10
PosTag(s): n/a
AS.271.107 (01)
Introduction to Sustainability
MWF 10:00AM - 10:50AM
Staff
Shaffer 303
Introduction to Sustainability AS.271.107 (01)
Humans are having such a massive impact on Earth systems that some call this the Anthropocene epoch. Should we consider this state of affairs progress or catastrophe? How to we find a sustainable path to the future? This course provides an interdisciplinary introduction to the principles and practice of sustainability, exploring such issues as population, pollution, energy and natural resources, biodiversity, food, justice, and climate change through the lens of systems thinking. Course open to freshmen, sophomores, and juniors. Seniors by instructor permission only.
Credits: 3.00
Level: Lower Level Undergraduate
Days/Times: MWF 10:00AM - 10:50AM
Instructor: Staff
Room: Shaffer 303
Status: Waitlist Only
Seats Available: 0/60
PosTag(s): n/a
AS.271.345 (01)
Society and Nature Conflicts: Interdisciplinary Approaches to Studying Environmental Problems Over Time
TTh 1:30PM - 2:45PM
Avolio, Meghan Lynn
Olin 346
ENVS-MAJOR, ENVS-MINOR
Society and Nature Conflicts: Interdisciplinary Approaches to Studying Environmental Problems Over Time AS.271.345 (01)
In this seminar students will read seminal pieces in the field of socio-environmental research. Socio-environmental research recognizes that society and nature inherently interact in such a way that they affect and change one-another - it is not only that society affects the nature or that nature only affects society. Solving environmental problems necessitates understanding this duality and thus an interdisciplinary background. Assigned readings will span early from thinkers on environmental problems (Before 1900) to current approaches to studying and solving environmental problems.It is aimed at upper level undergraduates and graduate students.
Credits: 3.00
Level: Upper Level Undergraduate
Days/Times: TTh 1:30PM - 2:45PM
Instructor: Avolio, Meghan Lynn
Room: Olin 346
Status: Open
Seats Available: 6/10
PosTag(s): ENVS-MAJOR, ENVS-MINOR
AS.271.360 (01)
Climate Change: Science & Policy
TTh 10:30AM - 11:45AM
Waugh, Darryn, Zaitchik, Benjamin
Olin 304
INST-IR, ENVS-MAJOR, ENVS-MINOR
Climate Change: Science & Policy AS.271.360 (01)
Prereq: 270.103 or permission of instructor.
This course will investigate the policy and scientific debate over global warming. It will review the current state of scientific knowledge about climate change, examine the potential impacts and implications of climate change, explore our options for responding to climate change, and discuss the present political debate over global warming.
Credits: 3.00
Level: Upper Level Undergraduate
Days/Times: TTh 10:30AM - 11:45AM
Instructor: Waugh, Darryn, Zaitchik, Benjamin
Room: Olin 304
Status: Open
Seats Available: 28/50
PosTag(s): INST-IR, ENVS-MAJOR, ENVS-MINOR
AS.271.399 (01)
Research Design
Burgess, Jerry
Research Design AS.271.399 (01)
This course supports students in the design of their senior capstone project, including crafting a suitable research question, identifying appropriate methodologies, and writing a formal project proposal.
