{"id":366,"date":"2025-05-27T15:26:35","date_gmt":"2025-05-27T19:26:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.clarku.edu\/data-science-program\/?p=366"},"modified":"2025-06-05T15:03:25","modified_gmt":"2025-06-05T19:03:25","slug":"environmental-science-track","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.clarku.edu\/data-science\/environmental-science-track\/","title":{"rendered":"Environmental Science Track"},"content":{"rendered":"
Professor Christopher Williams<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n
BIOL 101 – Introduction to Biology I<\/summary>\n

The goals of the two-semester biology introductory sequence are: (1) to provide an understanding of the unifying themes in modern biology, (2) to introduce the diversity of life at all levels of organization, and (3) to illustrate the methods and modes of scientific inquiry currently used in the biological sciences. During the fall semester (BIOL 101) the focus is on fundamental principles of evolution and genetics, whereas in the spring (BIOL 102) the diversity of life, from cells to organisms, is explored. The fall and spring courses do not have to be taken in sequence but both are pre-requisites for all advanced courses in biology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Corequisites:<\/strong> Must register for lab for BIOL 101.

Course Designation\/Attribute:<\/strong> SP

Anticipated Terms Offered:<\/strong> Offered every year.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

BIOL 206 – Advanced Biostatistics<\/summary>\n

During Advanced Biostatistics, students will build on the basic statistical skills they gained in Introductory Biostatistics and learn to apply more advanced techniques to real data. Students will also learn to read biostatistical literature, which will build their ability to learn other statistical techniques on their own. Students will learn a variety of techniques that are frequently used by Biology Faculty at Clark University, and so will enhance the skills students have to effectively do research in the department. Students will learn to do these statistics in the statistical computing language R, which has become the standard in the sciences for conducting complex statistical analysis. Students will get the opportunity to analyze data generated in Clark Biology laboratories to reinforce their learning and get valuable hands-on experience doing statistics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prerequisites:<\/strong>BIOL 106<\/a> OR GEOG 110<\/a>, or permission of the instructor<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anticipated Terms Offered:<\/strong> Offered every other fall<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

BIOL 216 – Ecology<\/summary>\n

Provides an overview of ecology as a scientific discipline. The primary emphasis is on efforts to explain and predict the distribution and abundance of organisms, how ecological communities are composed and why they vary in time and space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prerequisites:<\/strong>BIOL 101<\/a> or BIOL 102<\/a> AND Statistics (BIOL 106<\/a>, ECON 160<\/a>, PSYC 105<\/a>GEOG 110<\/a>, SOC 202<\/a>, PSCI 107<\/a> or  MATH 123<\/a>) OR Calculus (MATH 120<\/a>, MATH 124<\/a>, BIOL 121<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anticipated Terms Offered:<\/strong> Offered every year<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

EN 101 – Environmental Science and Policy: Introductory Case Studies<\/summary>\n

This course will ignite your interest in environmental science and policy by engaging the urgent challenges of our times: conserving forests, sustaining food systems, and responding to climate change. We will ground our understanding of these complex environmental issues through case studies of New England and Ethiopia, as well as a location chosen by the class. The course integrates biophysical and social sciences with Indigenous and other place-based knowledge systems. Throughout the semester, we read classic and cutting-edge research papers, listen to podcasts, and watch short films. We engage a wide range of perspectives through discussions, small group activities, student presentations, and guest lectures. While deepening our understanding of complex environmental problems, we focus on solutions. Students learn to write policy briefs that summarize scientific knowledge and evaluate alternative policy options.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anticipated Terms Offered:<\/strong> Annual -Fall<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

GEOG 104 – Earth System Science<\/summary>\n

This course introduces the structure and function of the earth system, with a focus on how the Earth system sustains life. Topics include (1) connections among terrestrial surface, oceans, and atmosphere and (2) how these connections create and sustain climates, biomes, and ecosystem services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Course Designation\/Attribute:<\/strong> SP<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anticipated Terms Offered:<\/strong> Offered every year.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

GEOG 205 – Introduction to Hydrology<\/summary>\n

Overview of what governs the hydrological cycle\u2019s major components of precipitation, evapotranspiration, soil moisture, surface water, and groundwater.  Core principles of physical hydrology will be introduced including rainfall-runoff processes, surface and subsurface storage and flows, and land-atmosphere exchange.  Students will also learn about human influences on the water cycle, and consider management of water resources at field to watershed scales.  Upon completion of this course, students will:<\/p>\n\n\n\n