CEL courses connect campus and community
Students in the Community for Ecological Leaders will complete the 3-course introductory environmental studies series together. CEL students will be in the corresponding discussion groups for these classes together as well. These courses fulfill basic general education requirements (Social Science, Science and Arts and Letters) at the university towards your chosen major, so you do not need to be in environmental studies to benefit). In addition, they will enhance what the group has learned in the field. During your IntroDUCKtion academic advising session, an adviser will discuss the following with you.
ENVS 201: Introduction to Environmental Issues + Dis. This general education course fulfills 4 credits in Social Science and is required for Environmental Studies majors and CEL participants. It is the first in the 3-course required sequence and will introduce some of the major contributions of the social sciences to understanding how and why environmental problems happen and the social ‘root causes’ of these problems. CEL participants will be placed together in a specialized discussion, and can receive credit for attending a Fall Weekend Trip. (Fall Term) CEL students will be automatically enrolled in this class.
ENVS 202: Introduction to Environmental Studies—Natural Sciences + Dis. This general education course fulfills 4 credits in Science and is required for Environmental Studies majors and CEL participants. It is the second in the 3-course required sequence and will help students to appreciate the value and limitations of science in understanding environmental issues, gain a better understanding of how science works, increase familiarity with scientific concepts underlying selected environmental problems and enhance student’s ability to work with quantitative and graphical information. (Winter Term) CEL students must enroll for this class, but holds will be placed on discussion section seats.
ENVS 203: Introduction to Environmental Studies—Humanities + Dis. This general education course fulfills 4 credits in Arts & Letters and is required for Environmental Studies majors and CEL participants. It is the last in the 3-course required sequence and will focus on familiarizing students with the literature, world history and philosophy around understanding the relationship between human beings and the natural environment. The last segment of the course examines the contributions of the humanities to current environmental issues: wilderness preservation, population and resource use, global climate collapse and the Pacific Northwest salmon crisis. (Spring Term) CEL students must enroll for this class, but holds will be placed on discussion section seats.