The mad dash to sign up for classes is one of the most stressful times as students embark on planning next semester’s curriculum. I know from experience the anguish of not getting into classes, and the excitement of discovering what new exciting learning opportunities the new semester will bring.
In honor of this particularly exciting time of year, its appropriate to bring attention to some new classes offered by the Environmental Science Academic Program for the spring 2011. Students who are looking to increase their knowledge about the environment should look into ES 200 and 300.
There are no prerequisites for these classes, and both satisfy the General Education Program requirement for Interdisciplinary and Global Knowledge courses. They focus on environmental systems and earth processes, and take an in-depth look into the impact humans have on the environment. Knowing how scientific knowledge connects to environmental policies is crucial in understanding why our government makes the decisions it does, and these classes make an effort to tackle this subject. They also explain the link between energy usage and the environment.
While climate change has existed for centuries, the process itself has shifted drastically since humans began to walk the planet. Climate Change and Sustainability, ES 200, will examine climate change, environmental sustainability and sustainable development in a way that doesn’t get too science heavy. The class will revolve around five major themes: sustainability at N.C. State, natural resources, energy, social sciences and a case study. The class will take a comprehensive approach to explore the environmental aspect of sustainability. It will also focus on how our society can develop in a sustainable manner. Development isn’t going away, but if it’s done sustainably, we can ensure that our kids won’t live on a planet that has been destroyed by progress.
While ES 200 focuses on climate change and sustainability, ES 300 examines the way we use energy and the way it impacts our environment. Aptly named Energy and Environment, the class teaches students how energy has a part in all facets of our lives. By describing the impact of energy usage on our environment, we can learn how change in energy use can be beneficial to both the environment and our economy. Taking an interdisciplinary approach to the topic of energy and the environment, the class will focus on energy terms, sources and use, impacts of energy use, energy economics and policies and energy at N.C. State.
These new classes are a great chance for any student to learn about the impact their daily lives have on the environment. Both ES 200 and ES 300 accept all students, and teach lessons that are crucial to the understanding of our world as a whole. Don’t wait to sign up, these classes will fill up quickly.