Environmental Courses:

Below is a description of a course that was offered in Summer, 2003. Check back periodically to find the latest courses being offered!

CORE COURSE in ASPEN, COLORADO!!!
Come join us in Aspen, Colorado, Sunday, June 8 (arrival) to Wednesday, June 18, for
"THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT
AND HUMAN VALUES"
[CORE 2411, 4 HOURS CREDIT]

In residence at the Mountain Chalet, located at the base of Ajax in the middle of downtown Aspen, we will spend an intensive 10 days studying, discussing, and experiencing some of the major philosophical, ethical, and political issues involved in current debates about the complex relationships between human beings and the natural environment. In a more traditional classroom setting, we will come to understand, through readings, discussion, and presentations, some of the principal historical trends, concepts, values, and philosophies that have shaped our current understanding of the natural environment and our own place within it. In addition, however, we will also take full advantage of the many natural and human resources that the "Aspen environment" has to offer, since the Aspen valley itself is not only a place of immense natural beauty but also of rich history, intensive economic development, factional conflict - and the home of many organizations and individuals representing a wide diversity of ways in which such issues might be approached and, perhaps, resolved in the future. This course, then, will combine a more intellectual study of the philosophies and values shaping our attitudes toward the natural environment with personal experiences of the environment and the changes that it has undergone, and with face-to-face discussions with some of those currently involved in defining and resolving the many issues involved in its preservation, conservation, and utilization.

Instructors: Jere O'Neill Surber, Professor of Philosophy at the University of Denver, a longtime and award-winning teacher, scholar, outdoor enthusiast, and nationally recognized lecturer on environmental issues from the perspective of the Humanities; and David Hale, Associate Director of the course and on-site Coordinator, a graduate of the University of California and Yale University, a longtime instructor at Colorado Mountain College, currently a doctoral student in the DU-Iliff Joint Doctoral Program, and a widely published journalist, professional mountaineering guide, and Aspen resident.

Cost: $600 (approx., in addition to normal DU summer tuition and fees). This covers room (double-occupancy), some light meals and refreshments, and other instructional materials and activities.

For further information, contact Jere Surber, Dept. of Philosophy, x2063, or at jsurber@du.edu. Enroll early - spaces are strictly limited!

THEMES AND TOPICS:

While we are still in the process of finalizing the syllabus, included among the topics and themes to be discussed are:

I. Aesthetic Values of the Natural Environment

" An historical overview of changing perceptions of the natural environment as represented in the visual arts
" The representation of the landscape in the visual arts and photography
" Various aesthetic values associated with "nature" and the "natural environment" (the picturesque, the sublime, and modernist/postmodernist views)
" Drawing the distinction between the "natural world" and "civilization"
" The Natural Environment and the Impact of Recreation

II. Philosophical Approaches to Ethical and Moral Values regarding the Natural Environment

" The Nature and Limits of Philosophy and Ethical Theory
" Individualistic Approaches: The rights of animals and other natural objects.
" Holistic Approaches: The Land Ethic
" Deep Ecology and its Critics
" Ecofeminism and the Critique of Patriarchal Thought
" Political Ecology: From the Free Market to Ecotage
" Postmodernist Attitudes toward the Natural Environment
" The "Third and Fourth World" Responses to Environmentalism

III. Religious and Spiritual Views on the Nature and Ecology

" The "Spiritual Dimension" of Nature
" Attitudes toward Nature in the Traditions of World Religions
" The Emergence of "Ecotheology"
" Spiritual Inflections of Ecofeminism and Deep Ecology
" The Concept of "Sacred Spaces"
" Ethical, Social, and Political Consequences of "Ecotheology"

Related Activities and Guest Presenters:

Again, we are now in the process of developing a schedule involving activities and guest presenters. Representative of the activities being discussed are:

- Visit to Aspen Center for Environmental Awareness, with hike around Hallam Lake and a tour of the museum, focusing on native species and habitats
- Tour of the Smuggler Mine on the east side of Aspen for a close-up look at hardrock mining and its environmental impact
- A trip up Independence Pass with a demo of traditional and sport climbing techniques, compared as to their effects on the environment
- A hike up Castle Peak to assess the effects of trail erosion on the "Fourteeners"
- Horse rental from the T/Lazy Seven stables for a ride up East Maroon Pass to illustrate the "legacy of horses" in our Western states
- A drive up to Lincoln Reservoir to study the effects of water diversion from the Western slope to the Eastern population centers
- A mountain bike ride from the Snowmass Ski Area lifts to illustrate mountain biking as "mechanized use" and the issue of multi-use Forest Service Permits at ski areas.
- A drive up Independence Pass to tour the old ghost town of Independence, with possible side trip to the grottos and ice caves.
- A river rafting trip to illustrate the effects of recreational activities on the water system.

Possible presenters or panel members under discussion:

- M. E. Warlick, art historian specializing in women and the history of science, on representations of the natural environment in the visual arts
- Neal Beidleman, guide on the much-discussed (and fatal) Everest expedition, on the topic of "Is there Ethics above 8000 meters?" (Other panelists may include "survivors" of those climbs)
- Charlotte Fox, the only American woman to summit three 8000 meter peaks, on the topic of risk and adventure
- Susan Hale and "Bubba," human/canine avalanche rescue team, speaking on avalanche control and backcountry safety and etiquette
- Lou Dawson, author of six books including winner of the Banff Book Award and first person to climb and ski all fifty-four of Colorado's Fourteeners, on adventure, risk, and motorized use issues
- Sloan Shoemaker, Director of Aspen Wilderness Workshop and author of the most restrictive of the White River National Forest Alternative Plans, speaking on the use and abuse of the forests
- Jonathan Waterman, adventurer and author of seven books, on indigenous peoples and the natural environment
- Richard Comstock, author of mountain biking guidebooks and Director of the local Sierra Club, on the environmental impact of mountain biking
- Reese Martin, lobbyist for both industries and environmental causes, addressing the pros and cons of environmental advocacy
- Representatives of the National Forest Service, explaining current governmental policies regarding the natural environment
- Abbot Joseph and other members of the Benedictine monastery community at Snowmass, discussing the spiritual dimensions of nature and the environment

____________________________________________________________________

CREATE YOUR DEGREE!

Students interested in studying the environment at the University of Denver may create their own major, a unique blend of pertinent courses from across the disciplines on campus. This opportunity for a "Self-Directed Major" is especially ideal for combining the social sciences, humanities, and business management in a program focussed on combining ecological, economic, psychological and sociological perspectives on environmental issues. Another interdisciplinary approach to the environment at DU combines geography and biology in Environmental Science majors (see web site at http://www.du.edu/envir/) There are several different types of programs and degrees in environmental studies offered at the University of Denver.

Environmental Science B.A. or B.S. Degree

Environmental Policy and Management through University College. Master's Degree, Certificate Programs, and Individual Courses.

Individually Structured Major through the Environment Institute

The primary advantage of the Self-Directed Major is that it is very flexible so that the student may study their area of interest in more depth. This flexibility allows the student to tailor the major for specific academic and professional needs. The interdisciplinary nature of the major allows the student to become more knowledgeable of both the social and natural aspects of environmental problems. This broad knowledge base makes students more attractive to employers because creative solutions are based in synergetic thinking.

At the graduate level, students may specialize in policy analysis via the Public Policy Masters Program and in individual disciplines.

The major can be as individualized and focused as the student desires. For instance, a student could graduate with a degree in Business and the Environment; Economics and the Environment; Environmental History; Environmental Politics; or Environmental Sociology. Other possible options include: Women, Environment, and Development; Community, Environment, and Social Responsibility; Global Commons and International Governance; Energy and Climate Change; Environmental Public Policy; Environment and International Trade and Development; Environmental History of the Industrial Age; or Environmental Policy and Politics in Latin America. Of course, these are just a few of the many options that are possible. If interested, please contact Dr. Penelope Canan at pcanan@du.edu.

Examples of the Individualized Major

Copyright © 2000
International Institute for
Environment & Enterprise
University of Denver
2199 S. University Blvd.
Mary Reed Building, 3rd Floor
Denver, Colorado 80208-2360

Web Site Designed by: