Learning in the Field

Ilana Cohen, '06, Biology: Ilana completed an independent study project doing environmental justice work in both East Africa and Roxbury, Massachusetts.

Samantha Levin '07, IGS major: Samantha conducted research on the societal and cultural issues related to the preventiaon of HIV/AIDS in Morocco.

Aliza Liebman'06, Health, Science, Society and Policy (HSSP) major : Aliza interned at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services with Department of Health and Human Services.

Loretta Stein '06, HSSP major: lived in the Dominican Republic where she worked in a health clinic.

Sharon Barotz '06, Biology major: Sharon studied elephants in South Africa and prepared for the South African government a review of the impact that elephants have on such aspects as the vegetation, biodiversity, and fire managment of a given area.

Field-Based Learning

American Studies

Food and Farming in America
AMST 106

American food is abundant and cheap. Yet many eat poorly, and some argue that our agriculture may be unhealthy and unsustainable. Explores the history of American farming and diet and the prospects for a healthy food system. Includes extensive fieldwork. Usually offered every second year.

Mr. Donahue

Greening Campus and Community: Improving Environmental Sustainability at Brandeis and Beyond
AMST 191b


In this hands-on course, students design and implement environmental sustainability initiatives to benefit the campus and the local community. Students analyze the environmental impact of human activities within the existing legal, political, and social structure; learn basic research strategies for auditing and assessing the effect of these activities; and contribute to the overall understanding of the environmental impact of the Brandeis community on its surroundings. Usually offered every year.

Ms. Goldin

Anthropology

Introduction to the Comparative Study of Human Societies
ANTH 1a

Examines the ways human beings construct their lives in a variety of societies. Includes the study of the concept of culture, kinship and social organization, political economy, gender and sexuality, religion and ritual, symbols and language, social inequalities and social change, and globalization. Consideration of anthropological research methods and approaches to cross-cultural analysis. Usually offered every semester.

Mr. Auslander, Ms. Lamb, or Mr. Urcid


Biology

Field Biology
BIOL 32a

Introduces students to the biodiversity of southern New England, emphasizing plants and insects. Course work primarily takes place on field trips to various terrestrial and aquatic habitats. Field trip scheduling will be discussed during the first meeting. Usually offered every year.

Mr. D.L. Perlman


Environmental Studies

GIS and Field Methods: The New England Landscape
ENVS 100e

Open to students in the environmental field semester program only.
The skills, methods, and fieldwork component of the four-course environmental field semester. Trains students in geographic information systems (GIS), ecology, farm and forest work, and research into the ecology, history, and stewardship of conservation land in New England. Usually offered every year.

Mr. Donahue and Mr. D. L. Perlman

Women's & Gender Studies

Women and Gender in Culture and Society
WMGS 5a

This interdisciplinary course introduces central concepts and topics in the field of women's and gender studies. Explores the position of women in diverse settings and the impact of gender as a social, cultural, and intellectual category in the United States and around the globe. Asks how gendered institutions, behaviors, and representations have been configured in the past and function in the present, and also examines the ways in which gender intersects with many other vectors of identity and circumstance in forming human affairs. Usually offered every fall and spring.

Ms. Lanser or Ms. Singh

Courses offered in Previous Semesters

American Studies 102a: Women, the Environment and Social Justice

Focuses on the profound and unique roles women have played in preserving and enhancing the natural environment and protecting human health. Students explore a wide range of environmental issues from the perspective of women and examine how women have been a driving force in key efforts to improve our environment. Also further explores the legal, ethical, and social issues embodied in environmental racism and classism. Usually offered every second year.
Ms. Goldin

Anthropology 60a: Archaeological Methods

A practice-oriented introduction to field methods, including surface-survey, mapping, and excavation of archaeological features. Other topics include principles of stratigraphy and relative/chronometric dating methods. Focuses on the exploration of archaeological sites on and near campus. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Golden

Biology 17b: Conservation Biology

Each student researches a single ecological region, preparing three reports on the ecoregion's biodiversity, threats to that biodiversity, and responses to those threats — and after receiving extensive feedback on each report, the student creates a 50-page conservation document on the ecoregion.

Mr. Perlman

For further information on Dan Perlman's courses see http://www.bio.brandeis.edu/faculty01/perlman.html

SOC 181a: Quantitative Methods of Social Inquiry

Introduces students to causal logic and quantitative reasoning and research using data collected in local fieldwork and analyzed using statistical analysis software. Emphasis is on conceptual understanding, not mathematical derivations. No statistical or mathematical background is necessary. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Cunningham