Course Descriptions

Environmental Studies
LA 8th floor, (406) 657-2311

EVST 230 Introduction to Environmental Studies 3 cr. Prerequisite: WRIT 201 or consent of instructor.  Presents an orientation to the field of environmental studies as an academic discipline and as public service.  Provides students with experiential opportunities with local agencies and organizations designed to facilitate individual interests and educational goals relative to the study and practice of environmental problem solving.  Students will acquire information literacy skills through the process of identifying, accessing, analyzing, and evaluating secondary source material, audiovisual media, and computer-based information.  Course requires students to complete a community-based environmental project.

EVST 293 Workshop V 1-6 cr.  Provides freshmen and sophomore an opportunity for experimental study in an area of environmental studies.

EVST 296 Cooperative Education/Internship V 1-9 cr.  Provides university credit for a sophomore work experience in the area of Environmental Studies supervised by faculty.  Learning agreement must be completed prior to registration (restricted).

EVST/HON 351 Law and Society 3 cr.  Studies the role of the American legal system in society; course emphasis varies from year to year, depending on which topics have current, wide-ranging social and philosophical implications; typical topics include environmental and toxic torts, intellectual property, death penalty issues, and invasion of privacy in cyberspace.

EVST/HON 352 Environmental Law (WR) 3 cr. Prerequisites: 6 credits of WRIT 101, WRIT 201, WRIT 220, or WRIT 221.  Provides a broad overview of the major federal and Montana environmental statutes, including attention to how the statutes attempt to balance long-view goals (i.e., needs of future generations) and broad-view goals (i.e., needs of ecological systems).  Course content also examines how the statutes are administratively and judicially enforced, as well as the social benefits and burdens associated with criminal punishments and civil litigations.  Course content will address the complexities inherent to a regulatory system that is generated within federal, state, and local jurisdictions.  Course assignments will include at least one important writing assignment (i.e., term paper assignment).

EVST 360 Environmental Impact and Policy Analysis 3 cr. Prerequisite: Junior standing or permission of instructor.  Explores human environmental impact, impact assessment, and environmental policy.  Topics include pollution impact and mitigation, energy policy, natural resources management, environmental impact assessment and impact statement methods.

EVST 490 Environmental Studies Internship V 1-3 cr.  Allows the student to earn credit for assisting in teaching Environmental Studies courses and/or for assisting in courses requiring fieldtrip activities.

EVST 491 Independent Study V 1-6 cr.  Provides an opportunity for students of superior academic standing to explore material not covered by the regular college courses.

EVST 492 Seminar (WR) V 1-6 cr. Prerequisites: 6 credits of WRIT 101, WRIT 201, WRIT 220, or WRIT 221.  Provides advanced students an opportunity to investigate topics pertinent to the field of Environmental Studies.  Each seminar must include at least one important writing assignment (i.e. term paper assignment).  [Can repeat course number as different seminar topic.]

EVST 493 Workshop V 1-6 cr.  Provides an opportunity for experimental study in an area of environmental studies.

EVST 495 Environmental Studies Research V 1-4 cr. Prerequisites: junior or senior in the EVST program, 3.0 or better GPA in major, 3.0 or better GPA overall, BIOL 202, PHIL 311.  Involves intensive study of a specific problem related to environmental studies.  A contract describing the study must be completed at the time of enrollment.

EVST 496 Cooperative Education/Internship V 3-6 cr.  Provides university credit for a work experience in the area of Environmental Studies, supervised by faculty.  Learning agreement must be completed prior to registration (restricted).

EVST 498 Capstone Seminar 3 cr. Prerequisite: EVST 360, PHIL 311, BIOL 202, senior standing.  Provides an opportunity for students in the environmental studies program to demonstrate proficiency in the skills presented in the environmental studies curriculum.