Geography and Earth and Environmental Sciences

This department serves students interested in careers or graduate education in geography, earth science or environmental studies.

The Geography program provides a broad-based background for students planning a career in public service, teaching, or advanced study in geography.
Objectives: To produce geographically informed citizens who understand the world in spatial terms; to support the education of geography teachers; and to graduate majors who can succeed in geography graduate school and apply geographical thinking in a wide range of activities and careers.

The Environmental Studies program prepares students for employment or graduate study through interdisciplinary education in both scientific and policy-related aspects of the earth’s ecosystems. The capstone course for all students in the major is the senior seminar, in which students from both tracks meet and study current research relevant to key debates on the environment. Each track contains appropriate contextual and support courses; a minor or contextual and support area is not needed for this program.
Objectives: To provide a basis for sound decision-making through knowledge of environmental science and policy; to create respect for the multi-faceted and interdisciplinary nature of environmental problems; to provide an awareness of the global dimensions of environmental issues, and of the links between local and global scales; to develop skills for analysis and communication proper to the field of environmental studies; to furnish students with service experience through internships in environmental organizations; and to forge stronger connections between the university and its region through service on local environmental issues.

Earth science courses are offered at Emory & Henry as an adjunct to and support for teacher licensure and for majors in environmental studies, geography, and land use analysis and planning. A full major is not offered in this area. Students seeking teacher licensure in earth science must complete a major in geography, biology, chemistry, or physics, and 24 semester hours in earth science, including geology, oceanography, astronomy, and meteorology. Approved courses from environmental studies may be used as elective credit in the earth science licensure program.

EARTH SCIENCE LICENSURE

Students planning to teach may obtain licensure for geography and earth science by completing a geography major and 24 semester hours in earth science, including geology, oceanography, astronomy, and meteorology. Approved courses from environmental studies may be used as elective credit in the earth science licensure program. Students pursuing licensure to teach must notify the Neff Center and be assigned an individual advisor from the Education Department

Degrees and Certificates

Courses

ENVS 200: Environmental Monitoring

Study of human effects on the biosphere and the physical and chemical techniques used to monitor environmental quality. Waste disposal, recycling, energy utilization, industrial pollution, pesticide use, water quality, and regulatory instruments such as the Environmental Protection Act. Quantitative monitoring of air, water, and general environmental quality. Analytical methods and use of modern instrumentation, including gas chromatography, mass spectroscopy, high pressure liquid chromatography, and potentiometric methods. 

Prerequisites

 CHEM 111.

ENVS 206: Organic Food Production

This course covers the basic principles and methods of organic production of crops, including composting, crop rotation, soil fertility, crop planning and seed ordering for organic production. Students will work in the college vegetable garden as part of the course, practicing all aspects of commercial garden management.

ENVS 207: Advanced Organic Food Production

This course will focus on the implementation of plans developed in ENVS 206 for the organic production of crops, including soil management and preparation, seed starting, seeding and transplanting, irrigation, harvest and post-harvest handling, and seed saving. Students will work in the college vegetable garden and greenhouse as part of the course, in all aspects of farm management.

ENVS 212: Environmental Geology

Relations between society and the geologic environment. Focus on geologic hazards such as floods, landslides, volcanoes, and earthquakes; geologic resources such as metals, fossil fuels, and water; and environmental challenges such as groundwater contamination. Lab includes required field trips. 

ENVS 245: Applied Ecology and Field Biology

This course will cover ecology concepts and discuss human interactions within each level of ecology (population, community, and ecosystem ecology).  We will focus on applying ecological concepts in laboratory and field studies, and experience how ecologists and field biologists design, carry out, and communicate scientific research. 

ENVS 320: Hydrology

Study of the movement, distribution, and quality of fresh water throughout the Earth. Focus on the hydrologic cycle, water resources, watershed sustainability, hydrologic modeling, and the influence of climate, geology, and human activity on the hydrosphere. The lab component requires fieldwork.

Prerequisites

ESCI 111 or 112, and MATH 124.

ENVS 470: Internship I

field. Although the usual internship will carry either three or six hours credit, a student may elect to arrange an internship carrying between two and six hours credit with the permission of the department. Each hour of credit will require forty hours at the internship site.

Prerequisites

Junior or senior status, departmental permission, and completion of coursework appropriate to the field work.

ENVS 471: Internship II

field. Although the usual internship will carry either three or six hours credit, a student may elect to arrange an internship carrying between two and six hours credit with the permission of the department. Each hour of credit will require forty hours at the internship site.

Prerequisites

Junior or senior status, departmental permission, and completion of coursework appropriate to the field work.

ESCI 111: Physical Geology

Study of rocks and minerals, forces and processes that alter the earth's surface, and mechanisms that contribute to the constantly changing earth. Earth materials, plate tectonics, erosion, volcanism, and diastrophism. Lecture, laboratory, and field work hours.