Collections Librarian: Ian Graham Interim (x2127)
General purpose of the collection
The interdisciplinary Environmental Studies major allows for concentration in three areas: Environmental Justice and Philosophy, Environmental Policy and Economics and Environmental Science. Students take required core Environmental Studies courses and then construct their majors from combinations of courses within the three concentration areas.
A concentration in Environmental Justice and Philosophy focuses on the philosophical and ethical issues raised by human activity in the natural world.
A concentration in Environmental Policy and Economics focuses on understanding how environmental policy is developed and how policy decisions and economic factors affect environmental quality.
A concentration in Environmental Science focuses on viewing the Earth and its inhabitants from a variety of scientific approaches.
A selection of specific 200- and 300-level courses typically offered in the following departments fulfill Environmental Studies requirements: philosophy, anthropology, religion, sociology, political science, economics, biological sciences, chemistry, geosciences, and physics. Additionally, various other departments offer classes that can be incorporated into the Environmental Studies major.
Core environmental studies collections
This broad study perspective spanning the sciences, social sciences and humanities necessarily requires collection support to come from a variety of sources. The Environmental Studies program draws upon many of our well-established collections while current purchasing for the departments listed below supports targeted classes for this major.
- Biological Sciences: the collections librarian obtains material selectively to support courses in ecology, marine sciences, evolution, conservation, and plant and animal development and physiology. General cell biology and organismal biology material also provide background support for the major.
- Geosciences: the collections librarian selects materials in the areas of hydrology, geochemistry, soil analysis, pollution, ozone depletion, climate and contaminant testing and tracking. Earth materials, formation and mapping are also supported.
- Physics: material purchased by the collections librarian to support quantum mechanics, thermodynamics, statistical mechanics and wave theory also supports environmental studies.
- Chemistry: material purchased by the collections librarian to support specific physical, analytical and organic chemistry materials covering topics such as hydrology, soil analysis, pollution, and contaminant testing also supports environmental studies. General introductory chemistry, chemical analysis and some chemical engineering materials may also support this major.
Subjects Collected Selectively: Except for faculty and student requests, materials are not typically purchased in areas of toxicology, pollution, air quality, endangered species, water pollution, resource management, oil supply, global warming and agriculture.
Additional courses in a variety of other subject disciplines such as philosophy, political science, sociology, religion, anthropology and economics are also eligible as "electives" within the major. Routine purchasing by collections librarians in these areas supports any environmental studies needs.