The Global Environment This course will provide an introduction to the study of the physical environment, with an emphasis on how environmental systems interact. The first half of the course will focus on Earth’s climate, specifically, Earth’s energy budget, the greenhouse effect, global wind and weather patterns, and global ocean circulation patterns. The second half of the course will focus on patterns and processes of the Earth’s surface by examining global patterns of vegetation and the creation of landforms by fluvial, glacial, and aeolian processes. We will use this foundation to understand how our rapidly changing climate will alter each of these systems.

Environmental Change in Latin America This course examines Latin America from a geographical perspective with emphasis on the social, political and ecological underpinnings of change in the region. Building upon the theme of global environmental change in the context of human-environment geography, we will explore urgent challenges linked to the agricultural and extractive industries, urban expansion, land grabs, land reform, indigenous rights, and rural and urban poverty.

Carol Harden

Reviews and ratings for Carol Harden at Middlebury College.Carol Harden teaches The Global Environment, Environ Change Latin America and more.  Explore top rated instructors and find the best for you.Is Carol Harden good ? Find out on MiddCourses.

Professor Harden was super laid back with this class. Course material was delivered in lectures with some readings for homework, but you could feasibly get by without the readings. Harden is very knowledgeable in her field with a lot of relevant experience. I had learned a lot of the course material in ENVS 112 which made it a little easier for me. There were exams in the class but they were take home exams and pretty easy. There was a final group presentation which was also straightforward. I recommend the class if you're looking for an easy STEM credit, although in the future I don't think Harden will teach the course. 