Friends University: Master of Science in Environmental Studies

[ ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES ]

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Curriculum

Course Sequence for Cohort 13

Term 1: Jan. 8, 2009 to May 21, 2009
ENVS 501 Introduction to Environmental Studies (4 credit hours/1st 10 weeks)
MGMT 516 Environmental Management (4 credit hours/2nd 10 weeks)
ENVS 620 Environmental Internship (1 credit hour/1st 20 weeks)

Term 2: May 28, 2009 to Oct. 8, 2009
GEOL 540 Environmental Geology (4 credit hours/1st 10 weeks)
BIOL 560 Environmental Biology (4 credit hours/2nd 10 weeks)
ENVS 621 Environmental Internship (1 credit hour/2nd 20 weeks)

Term 3: Oct. 15, 2009 to March 11, 2010
CHEM 520 Environmental Health Measures (4 credit hours/1st 10 weeks)
PHYS 530 Energy and the Environment (4 credit hours/2nd 10 weeks)
ENVS 622 Environmental Internship (1 credit hour/3rd 20 weeks)

Term 4: March 18, 2010 to July 29, 2010
LAWS 580 Environmental Law (4 credit hours/1st 10 weeks)
ENVS 623 Environmental Internship (1 credit hour/4th 20 weeks)
ENVS 640 Environmental Project (3 credit hours/4th 20 weeks)
ENVS 660 Environmental Studies Portfolio (1 credit hour/4th 20 weeks)

Course Descriptions
ENVS 501: Introduction to Environmental Studies
This 10-week course emphasizes the study of the connections and interactions of natural systems and human societies. The history of the environmental movement and the roles man plays in the environment today will be covered. Present day environmental case studies will be discussed. Each student will develop skills in oral presentation and defense of a particular view of an environmental issue. The specific issues will be selected from general areas of environmental concern, such as population growth, natural resource management, energy use, global warming, air pollution, water pollution, water conservation, soil conservation, pesticide use, hazardous waste management, deforestation and species endangerment. Also included will be an introduction to environmental research methods and statistics. (George D. Potts) 4 credit hours

MGMT 516: Environmental Management
This 10-week course covers management competencies, models for decision-making, communication skills, and organizational skills. The basic principals of developing a request for proposal (RFP), working within budgets, and working with stakeholders will be covered. Students will be introduced to local environmental management problems and their solutions. Students will then be given environmental problems to review, determine key issues, develop a management model, and develop solutions. Special attention will be given to developing creative methods to address complex problems. (Susan D. Erlenwein) 4 credit hours

CHEM 520: Environmental Health Measures
This 10-week course examines the investigative process of detecting contaminates in the environment. It looks at the behavior, identification, concentration limits and remediation techniques currently utilized to examine environmental contamination. Special attention will be given to toxicological principles, contaminant fate and transport, environmental media and exposure pathways, risk assessment, analysis of inorganic and organic chemicals in air, soil, sediments, surface water and ground water. Field methods, laboratory techniques and research methods will be emphasized. (Jack A. Brown) 4 credit hours

PHYS 530: Energy and the Environment
This 10-week course includes the study of the basic concepts of energy supply, storage, conversion, and end use. Throughout history, mankind has improved his quality of life by making use of energy resources. The use of these energy resources has always had environmental impacts and consequences. Our Modern lifestyle is completely dependent upon the availability of affordable energy resources. Supply disruptions in the past three decades have demonstrated this dependence. Forecasts of remaining finite energy resources will be presented. The selection among alternatives for energy resources for meeting present and future energy needs will be studied. Includes guest speakers, labs and field trips. (Joseph T. Pajor) 4 credit hours

GEOL 540: Environmental Geology
This 10-week course includes the study of minerals, rocks, natural resources, earth history, earth movement, earth structures and formation, surface water, groundwater, land development, and structure and conservation of soils. Field methods, laboratory techniques and geological research methods will be emphasized. Special attention will be given to Kansas geology, geochemistry, fossil studies, petroleum geology, and environmental problems related to geology. (Susan D. Erlenwein) 4 credit hours

BIOL 560: Environmental Biology
This 10-week course includes the study of ecosystem dynamics, aquatic and terrestrial biocommunities, biodiversity, and population ecology. Field methods and laboratory techniques will focus on the physical, chemical and biological parameters of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Special attention will be given to the role man plays in biocommunities. Other topics will include wildlife management, fisheries management and zoo biology. (George D. Potts) 4 credit hours

LAWS 580: Environmental Law
This 10-week course traces the history of environmental law to the present, discuss the evolution of philosophy of thought concerning environmental law and regulation to date, and review the major pieces of environmental law enacted in the United States in the 1960’s , 70’s and 80’s. Emerging issues of environmental liability and financial responsibility, environmental impact assessment techniques, and environmental audits will be reviewed. The structure and function of federal, state, and local government bureaucracies, and licensing and permitting processes will be presented. Students will be introduced to major resources in the environmental law field including the use of the local law library, the use of the Environmental Reporter, and other similar materials. Resource people, including local environmental attorneys; officials from federal, state, and local environmental regulatory agencies; and environmental staff from private industries, will be utilized to illustrate the interaction of environmental law and its impact on modern society. (Randall K. Rathbun) 4 credit hours

ENVS 620, 621, 622, 623: Environmental Internships
Environmental Internships emphasize participation in hands-on applications of environmental topics. The topics can be as diverse as prairie restoration, sustainable agriculture, environmental education curriculum development, analysis of aquatic or terrestrial ecosystems, environmental writing, developing environmental management plans, internships in environmental laboratories, participation in various environmental certification programs, and many others. The student will enroll in one credit hour for each of the four terms of the program. Each credit hour will require approximately 40 clock hours of supervised experience. The student will contract with a mentor regarding the specific activities required and the number of clock hours of work in each activity. The terms of the contract must be completed by the end of the enrollment period for that term. The student must participate in a minimum of 160 clock hours for a total of four semester credits. (Mentors TBA) 4 credit hours

ENVS 640: Environmental Project
The Environmental Project is designed to draw upon learned models, concepts and skills. Proposals for the Environmental Project must be completed and approved by the Environmental Studies Committee before the end of Term 3. The student will plan and implement a project that will benefit themselves and might also benefit their employers. Working with a mentor, the student will select a study and contract its terms. Drawing on coursework, library resources and prior experience, the student will carry out their study. Students are encouraged to apply their environmental internship experience to their environmental project. The project end product will follow the format of a report, curriculum guide, management plan, a five chapter thesis, power point presentation, demonstration model, or etc. The study should be completed by the end of the final term. (Mentor TBA) 3 credit hours

ENVS 660: Environmental Studies Portfolio
The major purpose of the portfolio is to showcase, to employers or prospective employers, the knowledge and skills the student acquired through the Graduate Program in Environmental Studies. The student will demonstrate their knowledge and/or skills in each of the seven expected outcomes of the program: 1) Skills in written and oral communication appropriate for effective application in the workplace. 2) Skills in environmental research appropriate for effective application in the workplace. 3) Ability to apply various forms of technology in the workplace. 4) Field, laboratory and research skills in environmental biology and geology appropriate for effective application in the workplace. 5) Understanding of the connections and interactions of natural systems and human societies. 6) Understanding of local, regional, national and global environmental issues. 7) Skills in applying practical answers and solutions to complex environmental problems. Students will provide at least one piece of evidence for each of the seven outcomes. Evidence may include class papers, lab and field reports, power point presentations, environmental application summaries and evaluations, or other exhibit forms. In addition, the student will develop a resume of employment and education for employers or prospective employers. (Mentor TBA) 1 credit hour