EnvironmentalStudies

Collection Development Policy: Environmental Studies

Subject Librarian: Rhonda Culbertson

Purpose of Policy

The collection development policy for Environmental Studies guides the development and management of the Environmental Studies collection.

Program Description

The objective of this interdisciplinary minor is for students to develop a broad understanding of our environment from the perspectives of the natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities. The minor provides an introduction to the physical and biological disciplines of environmental studies, in addition to instruction in ethical, political, and social topics necessary for effective implementation of sound environmental policy.

Students are required to take 15 credit hours distributed among physical science, biological science, and policy/ethics courses. At least 6 credit hours must be taken at the 200-level or above.

Physical Science (3 cr.) Select one of the following:

• CHEM-N 190 The Natural World VT: Chemistry and Our Environment
• CHEM-N 390 The Natural World VT: Environmental Chemistry of Water and Waste; or VT: Environmental Chemistry of Air and Energy; or VT: Environmental Chemistry for a Sustainable Future
• GEOL-G 111 Physical Geology
• PHYS-N 190 The Natural World VT: Energy in the Twenty-First Century

Biological Science (3-5 cr.)

• BIOL-L 101 Introduction to Biological Sciences 1 (5 cr.)
• BIOL-N 390 The Natural World VT: Environmental Biology
• BIOL-L 473 Ecology; and BIOL-L 474 Field and Laboratory Ecology (2 cr.)

Policy/Ethics (6 cr.)

• ANTH-E 380 Urban Anthropology (may be joint listed as SOC-S 306 Urban Society)
• INTL-I 490 International Studies Capstone Seminar (may be joint listed as SOC-S 460 Topics in Non-Western Culture VT: International Inequalities and Global Issues)
• PHIL-T 390 Literary and Intellectual Traditions VT: Environmental Philosophy
• POLS-Y 115 Environment and People
• SOC-B 399 Human Behavior and Social Institutions VT: Sustainable Communities; or VT: Costa Rica (may be joint listed as SOC-S 362 World Societies and Cultures); or VT: Animals and Society

Electives (3 cr.)

Any of the above courses not already used in the specified areas, in addition to:

• ANTH-E 335 Ancient Civilization of Mesoamerica (project paper must be on an environmental topic and is subject to approval by the Environmental Studies Committee)
• FINA-A 190 Art, Aesthetics, and Creativity VT: The Modern City
• GEOG-G 338 Geographic Information Science
• GEOL-G 210 Oceonography
• GEOL-G 219 Meteorology
• GEOL-G 451 Principles of Hydrogeology
• HIST-T 190 World Literary and Intellectual Traditions VT: Environmental History
• WGS-T Literary and Intellectual Traditions VT: Women and Sustainability

Areas of Established Specialization

Environmental Studies related to Physical Sciences, Geology, Biological Sciences, Anthropology and Philosophy.

Changes in User Population for the Most Recent Five Years

Has stayed relatively stable. Courses in various disciplines continue to be added as electives.

New and Expanding Areas of Interest

Overlap with Sustainability program continues to inform the offerings.

Degrees Offered

Environmental Studies Minor

Clientele

The primary clientele are the students in the minor and faculty teaching Environmental Studies courses. Members of the Michiana community may also use the collection.

Scope and Collection Guidelines

The Environmental Studies collection consists of works written for the basic through advanced undergraduate level. Graduate- and research-level publications are collected selectively.

Formats Collected

• Scholarly monographs
• Serials
• Collections of essays
• Conference proceedings
• Videos
• Electronic resources

Formats Excluded

• Pamphlets
• Newsletters
• Article reprints
• Required textbooks
• Popular and/or journalistic monographs are collected selectively.

Language

The collection is primarily in English.

Geographic Coverage

All geographic areas are covered. For titles with a geographic focus, preference is given to materials relating to the region (Michiana, northern Indiana, and Midwest).

Chronological Periods Collected

Priority is given to current publications. Older imprints are collected selectively, usually as replacements for classic works, or upon request.

Subject Emphases

The Environmental Studies collection focuses on the topics of drawing from Chemistry, Biology, Geology, Philosophy and to a lesser extent History, Political Science, Women’s Studies, and Anthropology.

Reference

Reference material for Environmental Studies are selected by the Environmental Studies subject librarian following the general subject parameters of the collection policy.

Interdisciplinary Considerations

Due to the interdisciplinary nature of Environmental Studies, materials are also occasionally selected in the areas of Biology, Chemistry, Geology, and Philosophy.

Location

Environmental Studies materials are housed in the Schurz Library. Works specifically about the discipline of Environmental Sciences are classified in the GE schedule of Library of Congress system.