Interdisciplinary (INT)

INT 195 The Hudson River and the American Tide (6 credits)
This course will explore the historical, political, economic and literary role of the Hudson River in the development of New York and the nation. We will cover how the River dominated the psyche of the region, as an economic corridor, as the birthplace of major movements in literature and graphic art, and as a subject of ecological debate. We will also inquire into the various values that emerged defining the relationship between nature and culture along the Hudson. Field trips will cover the historical locations, economic zones, art collections, and to travel on the river itself.

INT 196W Social Constructions of Nature: A Critical and Philosophical Examination of the Natural World (6 credits - Learning Community Course)
What do we owe nature? This course will examine the intersections and conflicts between human culture and the natural world. Students will learn about the factors that contribute to the environmental crisis in both a historical and present day context. This course will provide a framework for understanding the political and social attitudes that have generated the present perceptions and misinterpretations of the natural world and our obligation to it. Students will survey various historical philosophies of nature and analyze how theories of human nature affect our relationship to the environment.

INT 197F Writing Nature: Ethics, Aesthetics, and the Environment (6 credits - Learning Community Course)
This course explores several facets of our relation to our environment. From the nineteenth century to the present, the course focuses on literary, philosophical, and artistic appreciation of nature in relation to the individual and society through such American writers and artists as Ralph Waldo Emerson, Thomas Cole, Emily Dickinson, and Rachel Carson. Through field studies and visits to museums and historical sites, students investigate the role of place and nature in art and local and urban environments. The class will also turn attention to rhetorical and philosophical dimensions of current controversies, such as resource contamination and protection, environmental justice, population, energy, and biotechnology.

INT 296D Exploring Costa Rica: Environment, Culture and Creative Expressions (6 credits)
This travel learning community is designed to introduce students to the cultural, environmental, literary and historical issues in Costa Rica. The aims of the course will be to provide a background for the field trip experience in different parts of Costa Rica: the cloud forest, the rain forest, the volcanic areas, and all the variations in terms of climate and experiences of nature. We will also explore why Costa Rica is unique in Central America. This course also integrates social issues, culture and writing, inviting students to develop and explore their own ideas about Costa Rica through writing.

INT 296I Philosophical & Literary Perspectives on Nature (3 credits)
This is a course about American environmental issues. Students will explore the interactions and relationships between philosophical understanding of the environment and the viewpoints found in American literature from 1650 to the present. The primary emphasis of the course is to gain new insight into some of the major themes of American life and culture, which continue to influence contemporary life.

INT 396A Ethical and Economic Challenges of Eco-Tourism (3 credits)
This is an interdisciplinary field study in environmental studies - ecologically sensitive tourism in which the student explores the ethical, economic, political, and environmental impact of eco-tourism development through a case study conducted in southern Brazil. This course consists of orientation classes, a trip to Brazil, with a visit to the world famous Igacu Falls (twice as large as Niagara Falls), and follow-up with a presentation. Some exposure to Portuguese or Spanish is desirable, but not required.

Note: Some courses may not be offered each semester. Some courses run only once per academic year, or every other academic year. Search the class schedule for current offerings.