ENVA 311: Environmental Studies Cornerstone Spring 2015

Instructor: Dr. Melinda Stone

Class Hours: T/R, 2:40 4:25 PM
Classroom: LM 358
Office Hours: Tuesdays/Thursdays 1-2PM and by appointment
Office Phone: 422-5755
Email: stone@usfca.edu

Course Description
This course is designed to synthesize environmental study theories, issues and
methods learned thus far in the ENVA major. It sets out to provide students a
forum to refine their ability to encapsulate their ideas through oral and written
forms. Students create an eportfolio that highlights successfully completed
course work from their first two years of study and acts as a future depository for
their upper division course work. In addition to the creation of the eportfolio
students also work throughout the semester to write a pathway proposal that acts
as a blue print for the next two years of study/praxis in Environmental Studies.
Students engage in campus and bay area forums related to their area of interest
and forge relationships with organizations and companies in their fields. Each
week students are required to work 5 hours outside of class on their pathway
projects, engagement with community and research on their chosen field of
study. Each week, students submit a log of their work on Canvas, which includes
reflections on guest presenters, thoughts on lectures/workshops/film
screenings/exhibitions/protests and field study attended outside of class.

Learning Outcomes
Clarify and refine your pathway and questions you want to focus on in
your studies and the appropriate learning and research approaches by
which to pursue your questions and pathway.
Contact at least two on-campus professionals with expertise in the topic
and/or research methods that you propose to use and one off-campus
expert.
Write a literature review that establishes precedents for your research
project
Choose a set of procedures and a work plan that will best allow you to
carry out your study.
Develop your ability to construct logical and convincing arguments in
written and oral form.
Produce a high-quality research/praxis pathway proposal.
Constructively and critically engage in peer-produced work and provide
thoughtful feedback.
Create digital archive of your work that creatively and prudently
showcases your areas of research/praxis, past and future interests.
Readings/Films/Websites/Sources
As a class we will choose one-three books/films/websites and/or other sources
that we will read as a group.

A Green City Program (1989) by Peter Berg, Planet Drum Books

Course Assignments and Evaluation

Weekly Logs/Reflections (Due Monday 1PM each week) 30%
E-portfolio design and set up 20%
Proposal 30%
Green City Project 10%
Participation 10%

Course Schedule
Week 1: January 27/29
Introductions
Book, Film, Website Lists
Green City Project, Then and Now

Week 2: February 3/5

Choose Books, Films, Websites
Green City Project Focus
Look at E-portfolios

Week 3: February 10/12

Tuesday, February 10: E-portfolios, workshop in CIT with Angie Portacio

Thursday, Feb. 12 visit from Professor Marilyn DeLaure

Week 4: February 17/19

Tuesday, February 15 visit from David Silver

Thursday: E-portfolio show and tell/critiques. LinkedIn

Week 5: Feb. 24/26

Tuesday, February 24 visit from Professor Lois Lorentzen

Thursday: Discussion of Green City Project, pathway proposal, shared book

Week 6: March 3/5

Tuesday, March 3 visit from Professor Morgan Fitzgibbons

Thursday: Discussion of Green City Project, Pathway proposal, shared book

Week 7: March 10/12
Tuesday, March 10 visit from Professor Dana Zartner

Thursday: Discussion/Sharing of career goals and how to reach them.

Week 8: SPRING BREAK

Week 9: March 24/26

Tuesday: Discussion of Green City Project, Pathway proposal, shared book

Thursday, March 26 visit from Professor Stephanie Oshita

Week 10: March 31/April 2

Tuesday, March 31 visit from Professor John Callaway

Thursday: Discussion of Green City Project, Pathway proposal, shared book

Week 11: April 7/9

Tuesday, April 7 visit from Professor Stephen Zavestoski

Thursday, April 9 visit from Professor Sam Mickey

Week 12: April 14/16

Tuesday, April 14 visit by Alicia Montesa of Career Services

Week 13: April 21/23

Tuesday, April 21 visit by Professor Tracy Benning

Thursday: Prep for final projects

Week 14: April 28/30

Tuesday, April 28 visit by Professor Heather Hoag

Thursday: Prep for final projects

Week 15: May 5/7

Final project presentations

Week 16: May 12/14

Final project presentations