SUNY ESF
Course Description

APM 103 – Applied College Algebra and Trigonometry

Three hours of lecture per week. This course is designed to enable non-science students to solve practical problems in their specific areas of study. Topics include algebraic, exponential, logarithmic, and trigonometric functions used in measurement and modeling. Applications include percents, scaling, slopes, and contour mapping.

Prerequisites: Math placement or consent of instructor.
Textbook: Online textbook.
Course meets the SUNY General Education Requirements for Mathematics.

APM 104 – College Algebra and Precalculus

Three hours of lecture/discussion per week. Elements of analytic geometry. Emphasis on the concepts of polynomial and rational functions, exponential and logarithmic functions, trigonometry and trigonometric functions and their application to design and life and management sciences.

Prerequisites: Three years of high school mathematics.
Textbook: Cengage’s Webassign, ebook included.
Course meets the SUNY General Education Requirements for Mathematics.

APM 105 – Survey of Calculus and Its Applications I

Four hours of lecture per week. Introduction to calculus for students in the life and management sciences. Elements of analytic geometry, functions and their graphs, with an emphasis on the concepts of limits, and differentiation techniques for algebraic, exponential and logarithmic functions and their application to economics, and the life and management sciences. Some multivariable calculus including constrained optimization. Note: Credit will not be granted for APM 105 after successful completion of MAT 284, MAT 285, or MAT 295 at SU.

Prerequisites: Precalculus or 3 ½ years of high school mathematics.
Textbook: Cengage’s Webassign, ebook included.
Course meets the SUNY General Education Requirements for Mathematics.

APM 391 - Introduction to Probability and Statistics

Introduction to concepts and methods of statistics as applied to problems in environmental science and forestry. Topics include (confidence intervals and hypothesis testing), sampling distributions, descriptive statistics, exploratory data analysis, comparison of population means and proportions, categorical data analysis, regression and correlation, and nonparametric methods.

Prerequisites: None
Textbook: Introductory Statistics for Environmental Science
Course meets the SUNY General Education Requirements for Mathematics.

EFB 307 – Principles of Genetics

A general course covering concepts of genetics and evolution basic to upper-division biology and biochemistry courses. Includes the inheritance and analysis of Mendelian and quantitative traits, the chemical nature of the gene and its action, genetic engineering, the genetic structure of populations and their evolution. Numerical methods for characterizing and analyzing genetic data are introduced.

Prerequisites: One year of introductory biology.
Textbook: Essentials of Genetics by Klug (10^th edition) (Pearson).

EFB 439 – Forest Health Monitoring

EFB 439 provides a survey and synthesis of concepts and applications of forest health monitoring. Emphasis will be on dynamics of tree populations in relation to natural and anthropogenic driving factors. By studying Canadian, US, and European forest health monitoring systems, students will understand the pragmatic reality of the interface of political, societal, and biological forces. The practical aspects of data collection, analysis, reporting, and quality assurance will be addressed in relation to field surveys. The course is intended for advanced undergraduate students in Forest Health, Environmental and Forest Biology, and Natural Resources Management. An additional fee of $40 applies for van transportation for travel to and from Heiberg Forest.

Pre- or co-requisite(s): Courses in forest resources management, ecology, pathology, and entomology.
Textbook: Forest Health: An Integrated Perspective, J. Castello & S. Teale (editors)

EFB 480 – Principles of Animal Behavior

Basic principles of animal behavior and the scientific process. Proximate and ultimate mechanisms controlling the behavior of animals including humans, with an emphasis on evolution.
Prerequisites: one year of introductory biology.
Textbook: Animal Behavior by John Alcock (11^th edition); The Third Chimpanzee

EFB 496 - Evolution

An introduction to the fundamental process driving evolution (Genetic drift, gene flow, mutation, sexual selection, and natural selection), the evolution of life-histories, trade-offs, and phenotypic plasticity. Macroevolutionary concepts covered include speciation, extinction, co-evolution, and the reconstruction of phylogenies.

Prerequisites: EFB 307 and EFB 320 or equivalents.
Textbook: Evolution (3rd Edition or newer) by Futuyma; Coyne, Jerry A. 2009. Why evolution is true. Penguin

EFB 496 – Field Ornithology

This course requires one to three hours of classroom work and 4-8 hours of field work and discussion each day for two weeks. This course focuses on ornithological field techniques and the taxonomy, diversity, identification (by both sight and sound), natural history, ecology, and conservation of birds in the Central New York region. Note: this course will serve as an upper-division field elective for all EFB majors and will serve as a vertebrate diversity elective for all EFB majors except Wildlife Science. This course does NOT meet the requirements for EFB 482 (Ornithology). An additional fee of $40 applies for van transportation for travel to and from field sites in Central NY.

Prerequisites: None.
Textbook: Field guide to be purchased; sound recordings will be played.

EFB 496 / 696 – Flora of Central NY

Field identification and ecology of spring flowering vascular plants, woody plants, ferns and fern allies. We will visit several high quality natural areas in Onondaga County and nearby counties. A class session may be devoted to the identification of graminoids and other challenging plant groups. Field trips often involve extended hikes over rough terrain. An additional fee of $40 applies for van transportation for travel to and from field sites in Central NY.

Prerequisites: Prior completion of a course that included plant identification is strongly recommended.
Textbook: None

EFB 496 – Grow What You Eat

This course will provide students with an introduction to the art and science of growing food for themselves and others. Through a combination of recorded video lecture content and twice-weekly synchronous Zoom sessions, assigned readings, problem-solving exercises, students will develop the foundational knowledge and skills needed to successfully propagate, grow and harvest a core group of herbs, vegetables, grains and fruits under a wide range of environmental conditions.

Prerequisites: None.
Textbook: None.

EFB 496 – Tropical Conservation Biology

As an introduction to the discipline of conservation biology, the course seeks to demonstrate how basic biological science can be integrated with social, economic, and political perspectives to achieve the goals of biological conservation. Several core themes that will be covered in a series of video lectures, online discussions, and readings, including biodiversity - distribution, value and measurement; global threats to biodiversity; philosophy, tools and applications; and tropical conservation problems and solutions.

Prerequisites: One year of introductory biology suggested.
Textbook: All readings will be provided.

EST 201 – US History Reconstruction to Present

History of changes occurring in America post 1865 including land use, government, economic and international relations.

Prerequisites: None
Textbook: Eric Foner, Give Me Liberty Brief 6th, Vol 2 ISBN# 978-0393418200
Course meets the SUNY General Education Requirements for American History.

EST 202 – American History: From Discovery to Civil War

A survey of American history considering the origin and development of American institutions and ideals, from the discovery of the New World through the Civil War. Students are introduced to works of major historians and to various interpretations of American history.

Prerequisites: None
Textbook: Eric Foner, Give Me Liberty Brief 6th, Vol 1, ISBN# 978-0-393-42869-8
Course meets the SUNY General Education Requirements for American History.

EST 204 – Diversity and Knowledge of the Environment

This interdisciplinary course will deepen your understanding of non-western perspectives of environmental knowledge. The course focuses on what it means to study the environment at ESF in the context of Syracuse, New York and the Onondaga Nation of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy. The course seeks to increase your competency to interrogate place, histories, and power dynamics, as well as your own socialization and agency in times of climate change. It will cultivate analytical skills, and develop your ability to analyze power relationships and carry out an (eco)systemic analysis. It will explores how issues of the environment are connected with issues of society and place. Throughout this course, you will read about issues that join your personal life with the political and economic lives of others, in the US and globally. In addition, the course will provide context for the recent diversity efforts on ESF and SU campuses and beyond.

Online Asynchronous section – There will be a few optional meetings throughout the summer, based on student availability and interest. A further optional weekend in Syracuse to do course-related field trips is being developed.

Online Synchronous section – Monday and Thursdays from 7:00 PM to 8:35 PM. A further optional weekend in Syracuse to do course-related field trips is being developed.

Prerequisites: None
Textbook: None

EST 245 – Foundations of Environmental Communication

Survey of environmental communication, including nature representations in popular culture, and the role of mass media on public perceptions of environmental issues. Topics also include strategic communication, public participation in environmental decision-making, and environmental risk perception. Exposure to communication theory and social scientific and humanities-based approaches. In Foundations of Environmental Communication, students will investigate how values, attitudes, social structure, and communication affect public opinion and understanding of the environment. The class will explore various themes and practices within environmental communication, ranging from how nature is represented in popular culture, to mass media's impact on public perceptions of the environment, to environmental risk communication. Aspects of strategic communication, as well as public involvement in environmental decision-making will also be covered.

Prerequisites: None
Textbook: None

EST 296 – Comics and the Drawn Environment

Prerequisites: None.

Textbook: McCloud, Scott. 1994. Understanding Comics. New York, NY: Harper Perennial. ISBN: 978-0-06-097625-5

EST 296 – Introduction to Climate Justice

This course will introduce students to climate justice – the idea that climate change has serious negative consequences not only for our planet’s atmosphere and ecosystems, but also for our communities and society at large. We will explore how the impacts of climate change – such as droughts, hurricanes and rising sea levels – affect some groups and places more than others, from the communities of color in Syracuse to small-scale farmers in sub-Saharan Africa. At the same time, we will learn about scholars, activists and local communities fighting to rectify these inequalities and to achieve climate justice for all the inhabitants of our warming planet. In discussing these issues, we will draw from many radical theories and concepts that will help us understand the course topic from diverse perspectives, such as feminism, energy democracy, ecological justice, Indigenous knowledge, and queer & trans liberation. As part of this course, students will write short reaction papers, share discussion posts or videos on Blackboard, present a virtual poster as part of an online mini-conference, and deliver a final project on a topic and in a format of their choice. The course does not require any prior knowledge in climate science.

Prerequisites:
Textbook: Ayana E. Johnson & Katharine K. Wilkinson. (2020). All We Can Save: Truth, Courage, and Solutions for the Climate Crisis. New York, NY: One World. [selected chapters] and Greta Thunberg. (2023). The Climate Book: The facts and the solutions. New York, NY: Penguin Press. [selected chapters]

EST 496 – Earth Law and Ecocentric Governance

Ecological jurisprudence ("Earth law") is an ecocentric approach to environmental law. It expands on existing human-centered laws by incorporating the needs of the wider Earth community. This course explores the growing ecological jurisprudence movement through topics such as: rights of nature, ecocide law, animal rights, community rights, and Indigenous legalities. Students will learn about these policies at local, national, and international levels. We will discuss the ethics and goals of these laws and their implementation successes and challenges. Students will get an introduction to the US policy process and practice drafting an ecocentric policy. International guest speakers will discuss their work as activists and lawyers in this field.

Prerequisites: None
Textbook: ISBN: 9781543820683; "Earth Law: Emerging Ecocentric Law— A Guide for Practitioners"

EWP 220 – Public Presentation Skills

Development of skills and fluency needed by environmental professionals in preparing, delivering and evaluating effectiveness of expository and persuasive oral presentations. Communication theory, rhetorical analysis, and visualizations of complex and technical data, self and peer evaluation, listening skills.

Prerequisites: None.
Textbook: None.

EWP 290 – Writing, Research and Humanities

Intended for students who have had an introductory writing course. Students will examine the views of nature and the environment as they are expressed by selected writers, poets, and essayists. Frequent informal and formal writing assignments, research and documentation, and an oral presentation are required. With an emphasis on critical writing, critical thinking, and critical reading, students will learn the literacy expectations of their disciplines.

Prerequisites: None
Textbook: None
Course meets the SUNY General Education Requirements for Humanities.

EWP 407 – Writing for Environmental Science Professionals

Focuses on principles and practice of writing skills required of environmental and science professionals. Emphasizes proficiency in determining purpose of a document; analyzing audience; selecting, developing and organizing information in an appropriate design; and writing clearly, precisely, and effectively.

Prerequisites: EWP 290 and junior or senior status.

FOR 110 – Environmental Physics

Introduction to physics using examples from the natural environment and coupled human-natural systems.

Prerequisites: None.
Textbook: None.

FOR 205 – Principles of Accounting

Three hours of lecture per week. Principles and methods used in financial and managerial accounting. Includes interpretation and effective use of financial statements through study of the accounting model, the measurement processes, data classification and terminology.

Prerequisites: None.
Textbook: Survey of Accounting, 6^th Edition ISBN 9781260361643

FOR 421 – Practical Ethics for Resource Managers

Introduction to the history and practical function of ethics in the context of natural resource management professions with a special emphasis on forestry. Particular attention will be paid to establishing an ethically sound position, aligning competing values and priorities among interested parties and effectively communicating management decisions.

Prerequisites: None.
Textbook: Purchase E-Book Package ($65) at : https://he.kendallhunt.com/product/practical-ethics-field-guide-resource-managers

LSA 333 – Plant Materials

Three hours of lecture per week, and 32 hours of field identification lab per week. Course provides an introduction to the identification, site requirements, natural and cultural history, community ecology, and landscape value of native and exotic woody and herbaceous plant materials typical of landscape architectural practice. Field identification labs include on-campus site walks, and trips to local gardens, arboretums, and natural areas to demonstrate the use of plants in designed and ecological settings. An additional fee of $40 applies for van transportation for travel to and from campus to other regional locations.

Prerequisites: None.
Textbook: None.

LSA 496 – Qualitative Methods for Sustainability Professionals

This course introduces students to qualitative methods (data collection, participant observation, interviews, focus groups, community-based research, ethics, analysis, interpretation, etc.) and considers their application in professional settings within the larger sustainability field.

Prerequisites: None.
Textbook: None.

SUS 296 – Ecology

Ecology is the scientific study of the interactions that determine the distribution and abundance of organisms. During this course we will gain an introductory understanding of many kinds of interactions, both biotic and abiotic, that regulate ecological population size and community structure. We will examine how organisms respond to their physical environment, interact with each other in populations and communities across the landscape, and affect the movement of energy and nutrients through terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Prerequisites: None.
Textbook: Elements of Ecology by Smith & Smith, 8^th Ed. Pearson
Note: This course will not fulfill the General Ecology (EFB320) requirements for students in any of the Environmental Biology majors

SUNY ESF Course Description