Fall- AU Course Listings
In the Fall Semester at American University (9 credit hours), courses may include:
SIS-660 Environment and Politics (3)
Provides an introduction to the politics of environmental protection at both the domestic and international levels. It focuses on the dynamics of population, consumption, technology, and economic activity as they relate to resource depletion, water production, and land use. Usually offered every fall.
ECON-579 Environmental Economics(3)
An analysis of the relationship between economic activity and the natural environment from both mainstream and ecological perspectives. Policy measures for regulating pollution and managing common property resources are explored, including emission taxes, tradable pollution permits, and property rights solutions. Applications to global environmental issues such as climate change and local environmental problems are emphasized. Students gain a understanding of the meaning of sustainable development and the types of policies required to active it. Usually offered every fall.
-or-
ECON-603 Introduction to Economic Theory (3)
The major analytical tools of price and income theory. Covers micro and macro economics. No credit toward degrees in the Department of Economics.
SIS-636 Micropolitics of Development(3)
The objective of this course is an understanding of the survival struggles and strategies individuals face and the choices they make. Some work within credit unions, cooperatives, parties, interest groups, or alone without much group support. Others rely on patrons, prayers, bribes, threats, or combinations of all these resources for survival. Usually offered every term.
SIS-637 International Development
Alternative theories and definitions of development as expressed in the major international institutions (aid agencies, cartels, multinational corporations) concerned with the transfer of resources. Considers the problems of the “change-agent” in working for development and examines the major development issues. Usually offered every term.
Spanish Language (non-credit).
Spring, Summer, Fall- UPeace Course Listings
During the year at UPEACE (spring, summer, and fall, 21 credit hours) courses may include:
NRD- 6020 System Thinking (1 credit)
Familiarize the students with mental models and systems thinking methodologies. The main issues are: mental models; systems thinking and analysis; archetypes and system diagramming tools.
NRD- 6021 Introduction to Research Methods (2 credits in Term 2 and 1 credit in Term 3)
This course develops students’ theoretical knowledge and applied skills in conducting qualitative, quantitative and participatory research in the social sciences. This component of the course addresses, inter alia: epistemology; critical theory; research ethics; and project development and grant writing.
NRD- 6024 Strategic planning and project cycle (3)
The course is of an instrumental type and is oriented to enable students to prepare a strategic plan, prepare, implement, monitor, evaluate and systematize the lessons learned in natural resource and community oriented projects. The tools of strategic planning have arisen in the world of business, are however applicable to other fields. In this course the emphasis is put on strategic planning for community development and natural resources management, adapting the concept and methodologies to community sustainable development. The project cycle is a widespread tool that is used at any scale, from big private and public industrial and infrastructure initiatives to community natural resources and sustainable development initiatives. Many development institutions have refined appropriate tools and methodologies that are today considered standard.
NRD- 6040 Ecological bases for sustainable land use(3)
The course addresses the basic ecological factors that need to be taken into account for the production of goods and services and to ensure that the land use systems are in harmony with ecological foundations based on climate, soils, and other features that are difficult, costly, and often impossible to change. The key objective is to understand what it takes to move towards sustainable land use patterns that are environmentally desirable, biologically sound, socially and culturally acceptable, and economically viable and equitable.
NRD- 6050 Agriculture, natural resources and sustainable development(2)
A duality still persists in the discussions around globalization and sustainable development. While the sustainable development is emphasized in its three (ecological, economic and social) dimensions, the free market / globalization is imposing its rules all over the world, without giving due consideration to the sustainability issues, especially in its social and environmental dimensions. The actual globalization and free market trends, without denying some positive impacts, might not only increase some of the negative "development" impacts on the environment and on the natural resources, but also the social impacts on the marginalized sectors of the world population especially in developing countries. In the dominant economic framework, development decisions benefit many people and organizations, but have also huge economic, social, environmental and cultural impacts or externalities (both positive and negative).
NRD- 6051 Measuring sustainability(1)
The course is oriented to the measurement of sustainability of natural resources systems at the production system level and its application is explained and discussed. Special attention will be given to the creation of standards, principles, criteria and indicators from the economic, social and environmental dimensions of a system.
NRD- 6060 Environmental conflict management(3)
This 3 credit course is essentially oriented towards the practice and application of environmental conflict management processes that involve local actors amidst a wide array of other stakeholders. Environmental conflict analysis (context, history, and stakeholder analysis) is discussed extensively and practiced with real cases using Stakeholders Analysis Systems (SAS) tools. The development of conflict management strategies, power leveling interventions and process design is another important part of the course. Students also have the opportunity to practice basic negotiation, mediation and facilitation skills in the context of environmental conflicts. In addition to lectures and case study presentations, the course includes several simulation games, and a field trip, where a conflictive situation can be observed in real time.
NRD- 6070 Environmental impact assessment(2)
The course explores the emergence, evolution and current use of Environmental Assessment (EA) as a key planning and management tool whose purpose is to determine, evaluate and mitigate the potential and real impacts on the environment that may arise from the decision to execute a project. The primary objective is to provide students, through the use of lectures, class discussions, individual presentations, research and field trips, with a solid grounding in the EA process by conducting a detailed examination of the various EA stages including screening, scoping, impact prediction, significance assessment, report preparation and review, evaluation and decision making, monitoring and post-auditing, mitigation and compensation, and public participation and consultation. Emphasis is placed on the opportunities, challenges, obstacles, failings and solutions that may be encountered in translating EA theory into practice.
NRD- 6075 Forestry, forests and poverty(3)
This course deals with forestry as a scientific discipline and forests in general as one important land based natural resource. Focusing on the tropics, it looks at the importance and the different values of forests for humans with a special focus on rural populations of countries and regions in the "developing world". Related to this issue, a substantial part of the course is dedicated to the Costa Rican system of payments for environmental services. This course also analyzes the concept of forest certification and present the conflicting viewpoints and ideas related to sustainable management and preservation of forests, and the use of plantation forestry to supply the growing demand for timber. In addition, it explores the direct and underlying causes of deforestation and the often-unintended effects of other policies (agriculture, tourism, development) on forests and the forestry sector. The last part of the course is dedicated to the forest - poverty link, specifically the roles of forestry in poverty reduction and of poverty in deforestation processes.
NRD- 6081 San Jose Environmental Seminar (1 credit)
The course enables students to understand the natural resources management and policy environment for natural resources issues in a developing country, in particular with respect to the role of the government, other national and international stakeholders, as well as the international and national NGOs.
NRD- 6083 Central American Fieldtrip (2 credits)
This field trip exposes the students to Nicaragua’s reality with regard to natural resource management and its general environmental situation. The main themes or issues we will experience, analyze and discuss are: conservation; agriculture, forestry and biodiversity conservation; agroforestry; disaster prevention and recovery; poverty; rural development; history; community based natural resource management; development and environment policy design at the national, regional and local levels.
NRD- 6085 Forestry (3 credits)
This course introduces the students to the changing paradigms that have become apparent in the last decades in the field of forestry. Forestry has had to adapt to new social values and perceptions, including economic, social and environmental factors. Concepts like forest governance, deforestation, environmental services, plantation vs. sustainable natural forest management, the role of local communities, forestry concession schemes, certification programs; and forestry’s general role in rural development, will be explored and discussed.
NRD- 6091 Conservation and development (3)
This course explores the history of efforts to address poverty and environmental degradation on a global scale. Although in the past these issues were often treated separately—indeed, in many cases they were seen as diametrically opposed—today it is increasingly argued that the two dynamics are intricately intertwined in myriad ways and thus must be addressed simultaneously. It begins by examining the history of international development and conservation interventions, respectively, analyzing the ideology or “discourse” informing their practice, and discussing their contemporary convergence under the rubric of “sustainable development.” Then it explores various practical and conceptual issues involved in pursuing economic and ecological sustainability. It finishes by reviewing contemporary directions and controversies in the field and brainstorming new possibilities for the future.
NRD- 6093 Sustainable Tourism (3 credits)
This course will be an exploration of the complex relationship between tourism and sustainable development.
CSP-6000 Introduction to Peace Studies (3 credits)
This course is the common element of all courses of study in the UPEACE academic programme. It establishes the core issues, insights, and debates within peace studies as an integrated field of research offering a challenging and useful perspective on issues of peace and conflict.
ESP-6010 Introduction to Environmental Security (3 credits)
This introductory course will provide an overview of global environmental issues, trends and changes in progress and future challenges, and will explore key theoretical and analytic dimensions and debates within the environmental security field.
ESP-6030 Indigenous Sovereignty, Environment and Development Conflicts (3 credits)
This course will explore conflict, violence and insecurity surrounding indigenous peoples' sovereignty claims, economic development and environmental concerns.
ESP- 6040 Demographic change, migration and conflict(2)
This course analyzes the relationship between natural resources, demographic change, and human security. It provides an overview of population dynamics and the demographic transition in relation to development trajectories and environmental stress. Students will be introduced to Malthusian and Cornucopian perspectives on the impact of population growth on resource scarcity and ecological sustainability as well as critiques of linkages between demographic change and resource scarcity. The course critically considers the relationship between demographic change, environmental stress and migration by investigating cases in which environmental degradation has contributed to migratory movements, particularly cases in which these population movements have resulted in conflict or other insecurity. Students will also explore the impacts of HIV-AIDS on rural development and environmental management.
ESP- 6045 Skills for non-profit leadership(1)
This course is designed for practicing and future nonprofit leaders keen on engaging in topical nonprofit leadership issues, especially in light of the rapidly changing pace of their working environment. This course is designed to be hands-on and practical in nature. It briefly explores the challenges of nonprofit management and fundraising in the 21st century in the 1st two sessions, and then focus on the "soft" skills relevant to the nonprofit leader on topics that include creating high-performance teams, reflecting on leadership styles, understanding interpersonal differences, and changing mindsets.
ESP-6050 Land, Forests, Insecurity and Conflict (2 Credits)
This course will examine ways in which land degradation and deforestation may contribute to insecurity and conflict, including by adversely impacting food security, rural livelihoods and biodiversity, and by triggering or exacerbating disputes over ownership and use of land and forest resources.
ESP-6060 Water, Security and Peace (3 credits)
This first part of this course will explore conflict, insecurity and collaboration in relation to scarcity, poor quality, and variability of freshwater resources. An overview will be provided of current and projected future state of freshwater resources and marine ecosystems, focusing on critical sub-regional and sub-national concerns.
ESP-6071 Urban Environmental Security (1 credit)
This course will examine human and ecological security problems stemming from trends towards increasing urbanization, including contaminated drinking water supplies, poor air quality, land subsidence, inadequate housing, transportation and sanitation, and overload of waste management facilities due to accelerated consumption, among others. A special focus will be the heightened vulnerability of urban poor.
ESP- 6090 Hunger, famine and food security(3)
In this course, students will be encouraged to explore from a household and community perspective the causative agents of hunger, starvation, malnutrition, and famine and their subsequent impact on people's ability to survive and thrive. Students will examine the underlying issues that shape rural and urban food systems in terms of food supply and food entitlement (i.e. access to food and distribution of food). This includes not only looking at the dependence of household and community food supply on agricultural production and population growth etc, but also on the policy and institutional environment that constrain people's options for dealing with periodic food shortages, and fluctuations in food prices and food entitlements etc. The course also explores the importance and synergy of rural-urban links in enabling households to achieve sustainable livelihoods and an acceptable level of food security and well-being.
ESP-6100 Environmental security assessment(3)
This course focuses on the principles and practices that underlie environmental security assessments. Environmental security assessments combine field research and analysis of secondary data in order to identify environmental risks and vulnerabilities that have the potential for adversely affecting security or promoting instability and conflict. They provide tools that enable policymakers to develop more effective strategies for crisis prevention and mitigation.
ESP-6140 Environmental Conflict Management and Peace Building (3 credits)
The initial part of this course will deepen understanding of the relationship between environmental insecurity and conflict, including debate over the linkages between environmental stress, competition for resources and violent conflict.
ESP-6120 Human Security and Climate Change (2 credits)
This course opens with an examination of historical and projected future energy demands and their relationship to industrial and sustainable development strategies. Through concrete case studies, students will examine the environmental security dimensions of coal, gas, oil, nuclear, and wood energy, particularly in terms of atmospheric pollution. The major role and the attitudes of the major international energy corporations will be examined identifying their principal strategic and economic implications.
ESP-6150 Local Governance for Environmental Security (1 credit)
This course focuses on the capacity of local communities and society to develop creative practical solutions to environmental problems.
ESP-6151 International Governance for Environmental Security (2 credits)
This course aims to deepen understanding of the governance aspects that influence the capacity of the global community of nations to minimize vulnerability to environmental stresses, to develop creative practical solutions to environmental problems, and to adapt to scarcities of natural resources.
Please visit the UPeace website for further information.
The summer internship, typically conducted in Central America, is an important component of the NRSD program.
Spring-AU Course Listings
During the Spring Semester at American University (12 credit hours), students normally complete a Substantial Research Paper and take elective courses that may include:
SIS-541 Systems Analysis for Management, Development, and the Environment (3)
This course provides an opportunity to learn how systems analysis theories, models, and techniques can be rigorously applied to the subject matter of management, environmental policy issues, and international development.
SIS-596 Environmental Peacemaking (3)
Environmental peacemaking is an emerging interdisciplinary field that focuses on identifying ways the environment--natural and human--provides opportunities for building bridges of collaboration between conflicting parties. In this course, students deal with concepts from conflict studies, environmental studies, and international relations, and develop an understanding of how these areas have merged to form a new theoretical framework informing the emerging environmental peacemaking paradigm. Students are introduced to case studies relating to this new field and gain hands-on experience designing and implementing an environmental peacemaking project.
SIS-620 Environmental Security in Asia (3)
This course considers environmental issues seen both as causes of conflict and as preconditions for human security, or ultimate security. Another dimension of this course concerns security institutions such as defense agencies and the military, and the relationship between war and the environment. This course asks students to consider: what the proper role of such institutions is in dealing with environmental threats; and how are we to sort out the disparate interpretations of the roles of the environment in security and of security institutions in the environment.
SIS-620 Global Climate Change (3)
An interdisciplinary look at the history, science, policy, and politics of preventing global climate change. This course, for non-specialists as well as environmental studies students, focuses on how we created one of humanity's biggest problems and how to solve it, particularly through education, communications, organizing, and advocacy. Meets with SIS-496 001.
SIS-620 Political Ecology of Food and Agriculture(3)
Food presents a unique lens to examine political, cultural, and technological connections to environment and development. This course provides students with an introduction to political ecology and its approach to global food studies. Students use political ecology and social theory paradigms to examine industrial and alternative food networks, including their impacts on the environment, communities, and rural development. Students also examine how food policy and the global food trading system shape these networks and local environments, communities, and development practices.
SIS-620 Conservation in the Developing World(3)
Many of the international policies relating to sustainable development are made and implemented without adequate knowledge of ecosystems or the socio-political context of ecosystem degradation in developing countries. This course helps international studies students to effectively integrate ecological concerns with sustainable development policy as articulated by donor agencies, scientific organizations, governments and civil society. The course begins with a scientific understanding of the distribution, maintenance, and loss of biodiversity and processes underlying ecosystem degradation. Using these basic principles, inter- and intra-country conflicts over ecosystem use and conservation strategies (both existing and emerging) are analyzed using specific case studies from the developing world. Contrasting perspectives from a variety of disciplines, including history, economics, and sociology, are used to develop a holistic view of today's biodiversity crisis and its amelioration.
SIS-620 Comparative Environmental Politics (3)
This course investigates environmental degradation through comparison of cases including China, the U.S., Latin America, and other regions. By drawing on multidisciplinary literature that illuminates the specificity and commonality of the cases, the class seeks a deep understanding of the multiple causes of environmental problems, both local and global. Students will have opportunities to investigate cases in which they have particular interest.
SIS-620 Future of Environmentalism (3)
This course explores contemporary challenges facing the environmental movement. It focuses on the ways the movement can respond to the radically changing character of the natural world, in the face of greater human technological reach, and multicultural understandings of the place of nature in environmental thought and practice.
SIS-620 International Organizations and Environmental Aid (3)
The promotion of environmental sustainability is now well recognized as one of the top goals for international donor assistance to developing and transition countries. Yet the track record for environmental aid by international organizations (IOs) is mixed, given the many political, economic, and organizational obstacles that exist. This course explores the behavior, activities, and performance of IOs playing a leadership role in development aid for the environment. Many of the issues and lessons of environmental performance resonate with other development sectors that IOs address.
SIS-620 Global Climate Change: Policy, Power, and People (3)
An interdisciplinary look at the history, science, policy, and politics of preventing global climate change. This course, for non-specialists as well as environmental studies students, focuses on how we created one of humanity's biggest problems and how to solve it, particularly through education, communications, organizing, and advocacy.
SIS-649 Environment and Development (3)
An overview of this newly emerging multidisciplinary field. Focuses on debates concerning various human-made or development-related root causes of natural-resource degradation in the Third World. Special attention is paid to the relationship between the poor and the environment. Also looks critically at recent innovative policy responses attempting to link environment and development. Usually offered every spring.
SIS-663 Washington Environmental Workshop (3)
A capstone seminar in which students conduct original research on domestic and international environmental policy and politics. Explores contemporary environmental issues such as economic and ecological globalization, information technologies and environmental protection, social and ecological evolution, the place of humans in the natural world, postmodern challenges to environmentalism, post-colonial environmentalism, and environmental security. Usually offered every spring.
SIS-696 Harnessing the Sun/Wind/Earth (Each for 1)
Three weekend courses in which different aspects of the three major renewable energy solutions (solar, wind and biofuel) will be explored. Students discuss the technological, ethical and political implications of the renewable energy sources with the professor and guest speakers from international organizations, NGOs and think tanks. Students also get hand-on experiences through site visits and actual application of renewable energies (e.g. building solar panels, making biodiesel) under the guidance of technical experts. Usually offered every spring.
LAW-618 International Environmental Law (3)
A contemporary perspective on international environmental law focusing on specific environmental threats and the most recent manifestations of the law. The course will include case studies of actual investigations such as global warming and sea level rise; export and import of hazardous waste; the problem of "ghost" driftnets abandoned in the global commons of our marine environment; the endangered African elephant; continued whaling by Japan and Iceland; and the protection of the aboriginal Penan Tribe in Malaysia. Recent manifestations of international environmental law include the Declaration of The Hague and the proposal for a new organization to be known as GLOBE. Attention also will be given to the considerable body of environmental law in the European Community, the general foundations of international law, and the relationship to human rights law and international trade law.
LAW-629 Environmental Law (3)
An overview of environmental law with particular emphasis on the administrative law background; the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended; the governance of public lands; and air and water pollution control.
CSC-610 Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (3)
A geographic information system (GIS) is a system of hardware, software, data, people, organizations, and institutional arrangements for collecting, storing, analyzing, and disseminating information about areas of the earth. This course provides an introduction to GIS, GIS software, and applications of GIS.