Dr. Pearson teaches a variety of courses, which vary from year to year. Below is a list of such courses and a short description. Syllabi examples for the undergraduate courses are included, with variation somewhat from year to year.
The main purpose of this course is to introduce you to the field of environmental health by focusing on the geography of people and the environment, untoward exposures to hazards in the environment and potential adverse health outcomes. Local to global strategies for the prevention and control of these diseases are highlighted.
The main purpose of this course is to provide you with the ability to comfortably read and evaluate quantitative academic literature in your particular area of interest. A second objective is to enable and encourage you to utilize quantitative methods (when appropriate) in your own writing and research.
ESP802 has been designed to provide students with disciplinary training in natural sciences and engineering with a broad view of how social sciences address the challenges of environmental change. ESP802 is co-taught by five MSU instructors. The course includes four modules providing disciplinary perspectives from different areas of the social sciences: Sociology, Economics, Anthropology, and Geography. ESP802 builds a foundation for an integrative experience to prepare you to work on team-based projects that span the social/natural science spectrum. This course reflects ESPP’s objective of providing an interdisciplinary preparation to a cohort of students from diverse background pursuing an interest in environmental science and policy.
Research and writing in geography. Identification of geographic problems and their relative importance including structuring and stating hypotheses, data acquisition and research writing.
In this seminar, we will be examining the health effects of ‘green spaces’. The idea that spending time in nature can make you feel better is intuitive. People who have been suffering from stress, anxiety, or high blood pressure can benefit from spending time in parks, gardens or the woods. The benefits of nature can be found even in urban ‘green spaces’. Researchers are amassing a body of evidence of the health benefits of nature, both mental and physical. A parallel line of research is emerging, to evaluate the potential for neighborhood ‘greening’ efforts to reduce crime and the potential for unmaintained, vacant lots to actually increase crime in post-industrial cities. This seminar will be building on this research to answer questions related to ‘green space’ and health.
Geography Building
Lab - Room 233A
673 Auditorium Rd., Room 231
East Lansing, MI 48824
(517) 432-7163