Environmental Studies (ENVST-GA)

This course is the first in a two-semester sequence introducing and engaging with the fundamental questions in Environmental Studies, including what defines Environmental Studies as a field, and what shape it might take moving forward. This course is organized around an in-depth examination of specific environmental problems and perspectives, emphasizing the need for an interdisciplinary, integrative, multi-scalar approach to Environmental Studies anchored in robust scientific approaches. In the first semester, we examine critical environmental problems – from climate change and urban sprawl to biodiversity loss – through the lens of the natural sciences. It uses an integrated systems approach to evaluate the fundamental science behind these problems, and the advantages and limitations of the conceptual and quantitative models and empirical approaches that underpin the science. This includes studying human impacts and decision making, and how the natural sciences can begin to inform and shape policy development and analysis. A grounding in these pillars of Environmental Studies will lay the foundation to investigate these same environmental problems from social sciences and humanities perspectives in the second semester.

This course is the second in a two-semester sequence introducing and engaging with the fundamental questions in Environmental Studies, including what defines Environmental Studies as a field, and what shape it might take moving forward. This course is organized around an in-depth examination of specific environmental problems and perspectives, emphasizing the need for an interdisciplinary, integrative, multi-scalar approach to Environmental Studies anchored in robust scientific approaches. This semester will investigate complex environmental problems through a social science and humanities lens. We will cover the public and private governance of complex human-natural systems, including multiple perspectives from which different stakeholders approach the management of environment problems. Topics will also include the economic valuation of ecosystem services and damages, environmental migration, environmental justice and ecological grief.

This course covers theories and philosophies of knowledge and how they relate to research design and forms of proof when studying human interactions within complex environmental systems. The course will emphasize appropriate general approaches for different types of research questions, but will not teach specific methods. Diverse natural science, social science, and humanities research programs will be discussed throughout the semester. Students will also consider ethics in research design and explore design challenges and opportunities that arise from interdisciplinary research. Course content will be delivered largely through discussion of the course materials, supplemented by lecture.

The Research Colloquium in Environmental Studies is a two-semester course organized around the biweekly departmental research seminar, which will invite researchers from around New York and beyond to present recent work. This course introduces students to a range of research projects in Environmental Studies and engages the students in detailed discussions and deep thinking about that research. The course is led by a faculty member who will guide the students through a series of seminars and student-led discussions. By considering specific topics and the research approaches the various scholars employ, this course explores first hand the challenges and opportunities of interdisciplinary, problem-oriented Environmental Studies research. In each case, we will consider how a specific researcher formulates their core research questions, relates them to major academic literature, and then develops, pursues, and completes a comprehensive and appropriate integrated research strategy for addressing that question. Students will get to probe how various researchers work when faced with a diversity of types of data and modes of knowledge. How do they choose collaborators? How do they divide tasks in collaboration? How do they confront the effort it takes to continually progress into new directions and areas? How do they choose what is more or less important in their investigations? How do they evaluate success in integration? The students will have an opportunity to get into the heads of the researcher on a diversity of cutting-edge topics in Environmental Studies.

The Research Colloquium in Environmental Studies is a two-semester course organized around the biweekly departmental research seminar, which will invite researchers from around New York and beyond to present recent work. This course introduces students to a range of research projects in Environmental Studies and engages the students in detailed discussions and deep thinking about that research. The course is led by a faculty member who will guide the students through a series of seminars and student-led discussions. By considering specific topics and the research approaches the various scholars employ, this course explores first hand the challenges and opportunities of interdisciplinary, problem-oriented Environmental Studies research. In each case, we will consider how a specific researcher formulates their core research questions, relates them to major academic literature, and then develops, pursues, and completes a comprehensive and appropriate integrated research strategy for addressing that question. Students will get to probe how various researchers work when faced with a diversity of types of data and modes of knowledge. How do they choose collaborators? How do they divide tasks in collaboration? How do they confront the effort it takes to continually progress into new directions and areas? How do they choose what is more or less important in their investigations? How do they evaluate success in integration? The students will have an opportunity to get into the heads of the researcher on a diversity of cutting-edge topics in Environmental Studies.

In this seminar, NYU Environmental Studies PhD students develop research, writing, and other skills that will be necessary for a successful thesis. By the end of the first semester, students will prepare a literature review within their expected area of specialization, and by the end of the second semester, students will prepare a research proposal within their expected area of specialization. Along the way, students will take turns presenting research and writing in progress for questions, comments, and suggestions from the group. Topics of discussion include defining research topics, scoping a literature review, asking insightful research questions, and communicating the results of research clearly and persuasively. This is an individualized class, and students will have ample opportunity to develop and present works in progress throughout both semesters, as well as to work at different paces depending on the nature of their research and state of their research plans.

In this seminar, NYU Environmental Studies PhD students develop research, writing, and other skills that will be necessary for a successful thesis. By the end of the first semester, students will prepare a literature review within their expected area of specialization, and by the end of the second semester, students will prepare a research proposal within their expected area of specialization. Along the way, students will take turns presenting research and writing in progress for questions, comments, and suggestions from the group. Topics of discussion include defining research topics, scoping a literature review, asking insightful research questions, and communicating the results of research clearly and persuasively. This is an individualized class, and students will have ample opportunity to develop and present works in progress throughout both semesters, as well as to work at different paces depending on the nature of their research and state of their research plans.