Mission Statement

 

Political Science 320, Environmental Politics and Policy, is designed to provide an intensive introduction to the study of environmental politics and policy. It examines the development of environmental policy in the United States and devotes attention to the increasing globalization of environmental politics. As part of the design for this Bush-Hewlett Project, the course will provide students with an opportunity to examine the local and regional environmental issues and to publish their research. This project is multifaceted; it has a public function for providing not only general information to the broad public audience but also teaching materials, environmental modules in the classroom at the secondary level. For students in the course, research and development of essays will be complemented by work in the fieldóidentifying environmentally threatened areas and interviewing and photographing concerned residentsódeveloping interpersonal skills and investigation skills through service learning. The development of the website for Environmental Politics and Policy is mapped in the following stages: 1. Fall, 2003: Posting of the syllabus, links to government websites, and material from a teachersí institute on teaching about the environment. 2. Spring, 2004: Postings on important research issues from global warming to lead poisoningópresenting essential terms, problems, and issues; identifying trends; researching statistics; publishing an annotated webliography; and publishing fact sheets.