Dr. Brent C. Blair

The Basics

The Environmental Studies minor is a 16-hour interdisciplinary program compatible with any major.  It offers students an integrated overview of environmental and natural resource fields.  This minor should be appealing to students who are interested in environmental issues and those interested in working in an environmentally related field (e.g., an environmental organization or the EPA).  

Students take one introductory environmental science course (BIOL 120, Chem 104, or PHYS 117), Biology 250/251, Economics 320 (prerequisite: Economics 200), Biology 398, and one approved elective (e.g., Theology 245, Theology 388 and many others).

So what are these requirements:

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Required Courses

Biology 250/251 - ECOLOGY (3.00) + Lab (1.00) The relationships between organisms and their living and non-living environments. Prerequisite: BIOL 160-163, BIOL 120 or permission of the instructor. 

Economics 320 - NATURAL RESOURCE ECONOMICS (3.00) Economic analysis of managing the environment and allocating natural resources. Historical roots and ethical consequences of existing problems and policies are explored. Fulfills the E/RS Focus elective. Prerequisite: ECON 200

Biology 398 - ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES SEMINAR (3.00) An environmental issue is selected and each student is responsible for investigating a facet of the problem. The seminar format provides a mechanism for sharing ideas for proper procedure in investigating the problem, analyzing and interpreting data, and exploring the economic, ecological, and ethical consequences of alternative problem resolutions. Cross-listed Courses: ECON398.

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Approved Electives

Theology 245 - GOD, CREATION & ECOLOGY (3.00) To better understand the environment and the harm being done to it. To better integrate Christian beliefs with environmental concerns.

Theology 388 - THEOLOGY & ECOLOGY (3.00) Exploration of the philosophical and theological issues underlying a sane approach to the protection of all life-forms within a finite world in which hard choices frequently have to be made.

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More Information
For more information please contact:

Dr. George Farnsworth
email: farnsworth-at-xavier.edu
tele: 745-2062

or

Dr. Brent Blair
email: blairb-at-xavier.edu
tele: 745-4898

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