Courses

    Various topics not normally covered in the curriculum; offered depending on student demand and specialties of faculty. May be repeated up to 8 total credit hours, provided the topics vary. Applies to specialization requirement for Environmental Studies major. Prereq., ENVS 1000. Prerequisites: Restricted to students with 57-180 credits (Juniors or Seniors).

    Covers fundamentals of biogeochemical cycling, emphasizing water, carbon, and nutrient dynamics in terrestrial ecosystems; chemical interactions of atmosphere, biosphere, lithosphere, and hydrosphere, and natural and human-managed environments. Prereqs., GEOL 3320 or EBIO 3270, and CHEM 1011 or higher. Same as GEOL and EBIO 4160

    Introduces this interdisciplinary science, studying the interactions between atmospheric processes and living organisms (plants, animals, and humans). Discusses how organisms adapt to a changing environment. Uses a practical, problem-solving approach to explore these interactions. Prereq., GEOG 1001. Same as GEOG 4201.

    Class covers research and field methods for biological disciplines associated with natural history museums: vertebrates, invertebrates, and plants. Emphasis is on field research techniques: observations, sampling, collection and preservation methods, and comparisons among elevation zones. Includes 5 field labs, 2 weekend trips, 5 lab practica, experience with several taxonomic experts, and individual research projects. Same as MUSM 4795 and EBIO 4795.

    Examines a specific environmental topic in depth, synthesizing information from complex and controversial issues. Different course sections present different topics. Fulfills capstone requirement for Environmental Studies major. Prereq., ENVS 1000. Prerequisites: Restricted to students with 57-180 credits (Junior or Senior) Environmental Studies (ENVS) or Geography (GEOG) majors only.

    May be repeated up to 8 total credit hours. Prereq., ENVS 1000.

    Supervised project involving original research. Thesis proposal must be accepted by honors chairman. Open only to Environmental Studies majors with at least a 3.30 GPA. May be repeated up to 6 total credit hours. Fulfills capstone requirement in Environmental Studies major. Prereq., ENVS 1000. Prerequisites: Restricted to students with 57-180 credits (Junior or Senior) Environmental Studies (ENVS) majors only.
    Introduction to methodologies of the policy sciences with emphasis on applications to environmental issues; role of science in decision making; professional roles and responsibilities as a policy analyst. Prerequisites: Restricted to Environmental Studies (ENVS) or Political Science (PSCI) graduate students only.
    Examines the public policy process, including the influences and actors that shape policy outcomes. Focuses on the major theories, frameworks, and models of policy change, along with emerging scholarship that challenges, refines, and advances the theory. Prerequisites: Restricted to graduate students only.

    A variety of topics not currently offered in curriculum; offered depending on instructor availability and student demand. May be repeated up to 9 total credit hours, provided the topics vary.

    Covers various topics in the social sciences and humanities in environmental studies. Prerequisites: Restricted to Arts and Sciences, Journalism, Law or Business Graduate Students only.

    Covers a wide range of quantitative methods used in policy research and their applications. Topics may include decision-making under uncertainty, fundamentals of microeconomics, mathematics of economic efficiency, cost-benefit analysis, system optimization, budgeting, fundamentals or probability, risk assessment, risk perception, risk communication, and decision analysis. Includes practical exercises, as well as readings and discussion, of various strengths and weaknesses of the different methods.

    A survey of the major philosophical issues in environmental studies, comprising key issues in environmental ethics, in environmental political philosophy, and in the philosophy of biology and ecology. Formerly ENVS 5001. Same as PHIL 5240.

    All first year ENVS graduate students are required to attend the ENVS Colloquia Series. Speakers from around the world and within the department cover topics in all areas of Environmental Studies. May be repeated up to 2 total credit hours.

    Addresses current topics in Environmental Studies. Provides forum for students to critically evaluate the primary literature on a particular theme. May be repeated up to 7 total credit hours.

    Provides an introduction to the policy sciences as a distinctive tradition within the policy field. Emphasizes the use of conceptual tools to improve analysis of complex problems. Teaches problem-solving framework that students apply to an issue of their choice. Same as PSCI 7016. Prerequisites: Restricted to Environmental Studies (ENVS) or Political Science (PSCI) graduate students only.

    Teaches basic problem-solving framework for policy analysis. Emphasizes applications to develop policy recommendations for issues selected by students. Includes group projects. Restricted to graduate students or instructor consent required. Same as PSCI 7026.

    Provides policy sciences frameworks for analyzing policy processes and designing political strategies to influence those processes in the direction of the preferred alternative. Emphasizes applications to problems selected by students for term projects. Same as PSCI 7036. Prerequisites: Restricted to graduate students only.

    Prepares students to conduct research on topics where data is not obvious or not easily available. Encompasses variations in context and setting as part of data observations. Methods include interviewing protocols, interpretive methods, cluster analyses, case study methodologies, and textual analyses. Restricted to graduate students or instructor consent required. Same as PSCI 7116.

    Assesses impacts of climate variability and regional growth on western U.S. water resources, and examines successes and failures of different management strategies, as well as ways that science is used and misused in support of water management. Prerequisites: Restricted to Arts and Sciences, Journalism, Law or Business Graduate Students only.
    Examines the technology, policy and politics of renewables. Technology includes the resource, science, and engineering aspects of renewables. Policy includes various policy levers used to influence renewables. Politics refers to political settings of renewables: how decision-makers perceive them, who supports/opposes policies, and how policies progress through the political process. Prereq., an introductory energy science and technology course. Prerequisites: Restricted to graduate students only.

    Discusses current issues such as ozone depletion, global warming, and air quality for graduate students in nonscientific fields. Provides the scientific background necessary to understand, follow scientific developments, and critically evaluate these issues. Same as ATOC 5000. Credit not granted for this course and ATOC 4800.

    Focuses on the cycling of elements at the global scale with a particular emphasis on human modification of biogeochemical cycles. Major biogeochemical cycles, their past dynamics, present changes, and potential future scenarios will be addressed. Ecosystem to global-scale model of the earth system will be discussed, along with global-scale measurements of element fluxes from satellites, aircraft, and measurement networks. Prereq., general chemistry, some organic chemistry. Same as GEOL 5305. Prerequisites: Restricted to graduate students only.

    Only 3 hours of independent study can be used towards degree requirements. May be repeated up to 6 total credit hours for different topics. Prereq., department and instructor consent.

    Provides academically supervised opportunities for environmental studies majors to work in public and private organizations on projects related to the students' research and career goals, and to relate classroom theory to practice.

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