Environmental Studies

Environmental Studies Courses

310 Environmental Policy and Law

Policies and politics of environmental protection and natural resources use are explored in this course . Origin and development of environmental law are examined with special emphasis on the role of the Public Trust Doctrine, Police Powers, and traditions of Preservation and Conservation under the law. The development and implementation of the National Environmental Policy Act and other key federal statutes are addressed. Principles governing regulatory compliance and execution of key natural resource and environmental management tasks at the federal and state levels are considered.

Credit: 3 Hours

315 Environmental Impact and Resource Assessment

History, philosophy and legal authority for the environmental impact assessment process are reviewed in this course. Environmental site assessment and auditing are examined. Linkages between federal and state regulatory matrices and impact assessment are addressed. Methods and techniques for conducting analyses are discussed. Risk analysis, social and economic impact assessment, technology assessment, and other assessment techniques are explored. Project management and data use are considered.

Credit: 3 Hours

320 Science, Technology and Society

This course examines the meaning and impact of scientific discovery and technological innovation upon society. Economic and sociological issues and impacts will be examined as well, with special emphasis on the theory of scientific revolution and diffusion of innovation. Political, managerial/economic and social leadership regarding science and technology will be examined.

Credit: 3 Hours

350 Land-Use Planning

This course is designed to provide students with a survey of issues in planning theory, practice and application. Programmatic and regulatory factors surrounding land-use are described and related to preservation, conservation and management of land resources. Design and implementation of the built human environment and infrastructure, and its relationship to land will be explored. Students will be shown governments deal with environmental quality, economic development, growth management, coastal zone management and related issues in the context of land resources. Students will be exposed to principles governing regulatory compliance and execution of key land-use management tasks at the local, regional, state and national levels. To effectively accomplish this, class periods will be split between lecture and discussion.

Offered alternate years

Credit: 3 Hours

391 Experimental Learning

P-I-R option [Practicum, Internship or Research] credit assessed under this course. Each student's proposed field experience/research is to be approved by the program director and the student's advisor. Field supervision is to be performed by the program director, faculty advisor or another faculty member in conjunction with the host firm, agency or department.

Credit: 1 Hour