Course Descriptions
MSES 500 Environmental Science I - An overview of the scientific principles applicable to natural resources and environmental issues. Subjects include biogeochemical cycles, air-water-land linkages, acid mine drainage, and non-point pollution, atmospheric pollution, climate change, wetlands, brownfields and the urban environment. MSES 500 is a pre-requisite or co-requisite for all other classes.
MSES 505 Environmental Science II - A continuation of Environmental Science I.
MSES 510 Economics and the Environment - Students will examine the fundamentals of economics with respect to natural resources development and sustainability, energy needs and pollution control. Methods employed will include social welfare analysis, cost-benefit analysis and externalities.
MSES 515 Politics (Government) and the Environment - Examines the role of local, federal and global institutions in solving environmental problems such as atmospheric pollution, global warming, biodiversity, deforestation and overpopulation.
MSES 520 Exploring the Environment and Health Connection - An introduction to environmental health concepts. Examines historical and current events to illustrate and better appreciate the relationships between environment and health. The course will review the relationship of people to their environment, how the environment affects their physical well-being and what can be done to influence the quality of the environment and enhance the protection of health. Major environmental health problems discussed include: new and emerging infectious disease of public health importance, air quality, water quality, waste water and soil and hazardous waste management.
MSES 530 Environmental Ethics-An overview of ethical theories such as utilitarian versus Deontological; instrumental versus intrinsic value; anthropocentric versus nonanthropocentric, biocentric vs. ecocentric as they apply to various environmental concerns. Selected topics such as global ethics, and the atmosphere (commons), land ethic, animal rights and deep ecology will be discussed.
MSES 540 Environmental Law-A study of the impact of legal issues and regulating agencies on environmental rotection. Local and federal statutes, such as Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, National Environmental Policy Act and waste management laws will be discussed.
MSES 550 Environmental Communication-This course is an overview of professional communications with an emphasis on communications challenges encountered in environmental situations. Students will gain an understanding of direct and media communications with an emphasis on dialogue and research. Management planning and communications techniques will be explored as they apply to environmental case situations.
MSES 560 Project in Environmental Studies I - Students will apply classroom learning to select, together with a faculty member, a topic to investigate that focuses on one of the eight course areas or one that is more broadly based. The student will conduct a comprehensive literature search identifying major, contemporary issues relating to the chosen topic. The student will then prepare a detailed written report documenting the scope and magnitude of the literature reviewed.
MSES 570 Project in Environmental Studies II - Students will, together with a faculty member, select an aspect of the literature search conducted in MSEM 560 for execution of a project of substantial magnitude. The student will achieve a significant level of expertise in the project, learn how to work independently in applying previously learned concepts to specific problems, demonstrate appropriate written and oral communication skills and demonstrate the ability to select and utilize appropriate analytical tools.
