COLLEGE OF THE ATLANTIC 1989 - 1990 A COLLEGE OF HUMAN ECOLOGY ON THE MAINE COAST MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT Founded in 1969, College of the Atlantic offers a broad based liberal education focused on the central theme of human ecology, a focus that transcends the confines of a single discipline. Its philosophic aims are concerned with the development of conceptual frameworks for under- standing and examining human and ecological problems while its practi- cal goals include articulation of more comprehensive approaches to prob- lem solving and decision making. COA has its roots in the human- istic and scientific traditions of the past; such traditions not only inform the present but shape the future. By examining the multiple ways these traditions interconnect, COA B.A., M.A., State University of New York students learn in creative and in- at Albany; Ed.D., Harvard University. novative ways, and most importantly they learn to be more comfortable with uncertainty. From its founding, COA had a mission: to equip students with the knowledge, understanding, enthu- siasm, and sensitivity to solve complex environmental and social problems from a multiple and humanistic perspective. Along with the faculty, I encourage you to explore this catalog, to visit College of the Atlantic, to assess what your particular contribution to humankind will be and the kind of education that will enable you to accomplish that. -Louis Rabineau Cover Photo: Glen Van Nimwegan COA TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction / 3 COA Student Profiles / 15 COA Academic Profiles / 19 The Academic Program / 27 Areas of Study / 31 Course Descriptions / 41 Courses: Environmental Science / 42 Courses: Arts and Design / 47 Courses: Human Studies / 49 The Campus and The Island / 57 The Faculty at COA / 65 Admissions and Financial Aid / 77 College of the Atlantic is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. 1 Designed as a summer "cottage" in 1893 by Bruce Price for John Emery of New York, The Turrets, restored in 1977, is on the National Register of Historic Places, HEI 2 INTRODUCTION In 1986, College of the Atlantic hosted an international meeting of the Society of Human Ecology. Scholars from 27 countries convened to share knowledge across cultures and disciplines and to explore this new field of inquiry and advocacy. The meeting provided an opportunity to probe the many points of view en- compassed by human ecology. COA was an appropriate setting for this conference, for what distin- guishes the faculty who teach here and the students who graduate is an openness of mind-an ability to think about problems or issues from many perspectives. A multidiscipli- nary study, human ecology tran- scends the rigid confines of a single discipline. In classrooms, intern- ships, and independent study, students and faculty seek out sometimes conflicting perspectives in order to explore ideas fully. As we approach the twenty-first century, we must solve complex environmental, technical, and political problems, equitably address the use and distribution of global resources, prevent nuclear war, and develop a mechanism to insure lasting peace. These goals require that people learn to think creatively and openly, to seek out solutions that reflect the interest not just of humans but of all natural and biological systems. In a message to the college com- munity, the late COA trustee Rene Dubos noted that the solution to a problem concerning human life is never simply a technical one. "Prob- lem solving has come to mean rein- troducing into any kind of decision all those components that make peo- ple behave the way they do. And to me this is what College of the Atlantic is about." 3 S CC 4 At COA, students plan with faculty and peer advisors an individualized course of studies live in a tight-knit, self-governed residential community of under 250 students seek creative solutions to problems discover the multiple ways humans and the natural en- vironment interact learn to respect and appreciate other viewpoints S 6 At COA, students examine ideas in seminar-style classes test knowledge in the field debate global, environmental, political, and social issues intern with businesses, govern- ment, schools, or research institutions bring a personal approach to in- dividual and group projects govern themselves through All- College Meetings, COA's version of town meeting 7 Displayed on the outside wall of the Science Building is the skull of a finback whale. 8 WHY CHOOSE COA I transferred to COA because as an environmental science major at Barnard, I was locked into a rigid biology program, designed really for premeds. At COA I was given the flexibility to figure out what I wanted to do and how interdisciplin- ary courses could broaden my percep- tion of environmental science and policy. Through independent study and internships, I examined the economic aspect of environmental and social/ethical issues. With the Natural Resources Council of Maine, I worked on strategies for preserving farmland in Maine, and much of this study carried over to my senior proj- ect-a major piece of independent work which is not only a culmina- tion of my academic career but also a rite of passage, because it is related to the work I plan to pursue after graduation. Both the academic independence at COA and my experiences as a peer tutor gave me the confidence that I can succeed at and learn not only from these tasks but ones I will undertake in the future. At COA, I've been challenged, encouraged, allowed to be me. I've learned how I can make a difference. Barbarina Mitchell Heyerdahl '88 9