Programs

Students will be guided by the outline of baccalaureate Degrees, the University Core Curriculum, and the concentration areas listed below.

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COURSES:

NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT (NREM)

101 Environment and Society. (3) 
Study of human roles in conservation resource management, environmental quality, and sustainable development.  Effects of population and technology on environmental systems including air, energy, minerals, soil, water, vegetation, and wildlife.  Environmental ethics, outdoor recreation, and public lands management are also covered.  Laboratory and field activities.

201 Undergraduate Seminar. (1) 
Career and internship planning, resume development, overview of natural resource and environmental management, orientation to community environmental resources. Emphasizes professional development of NREM majors. Includes field trip and other activities outside of the classroom.  
Prerequisite: NREM 101 or equivalent.  
Open only to NREM majors; others by permission of the department chairperson.

204 American Environmental History. (3)
Designed to give students knowledge of use of resources in the United States by treating, in historical perspective, government policies and private enterprise practices of exploitation and conservation from settlement to the present. Emphasizes the way use of resources has shaped society.
Not open to students who have credit in HIST 204.

205 International Natural Resources: Development and Conservation. (3)
An analysis of problems occurring as a result of development and use of natural resources worldwide. The role of resource management and conservation to enhance the carrying capacity of the earth. A case-study approach to the management of global environmental problems.

211 Water Resources. (3)
Hydrologic cycle and climate as a basis for water resources distribution and management. U.S. and international water resources issues: U.S. water allocation laws, national and international water conflicts, water quality, drinking water and wastewater treatment, surface and ground water hydrology, municipal water resources development. Includes laboratory and field work.

221 Soil Resources. (3)
Soil as an integral part of our resource base and its relationship to other natural resources; its origin, development, and classification. The physical, chemical, and biological properties, with emphasis on the practical applications of soil science to natural resources planning. Includes laboratory and field work.

299X Experimental/Developmental Topics. (3-6)
Topics relevant to the discipline. Course titles will be announced before each semester.
A total of 6 hours of credit may be earned.

303 Environmental Economics. (3)
The application of economic principles to environmental problems. Emphasizes applying the economist's decision-making model to environmental issues and the advantages and shortcomings of the economist's analysis.
Prerequisite: ECON 201 and 3 semester hours in NREM, preferably NREM 101, or permission of the department chairperson.
Not open to students who have credit in ECON 311.

304 Sustainable Agriculture. (3)
Natural resource use in agricultural systems with emphasis on principles of sustainability. Includes integrated pest management, permaculture, and other production practices that conserve soil, water, and biological resources. Field trips included.

307 Environmental Management in Developing Countries. (3)Survey of challenges facing management of urban environments and the rural-urban interface in the developing nations of Asia, Africa, Latin America, and Pacific Oceania. Features interdisciplinary approach with frequent guest speakers to discuss existing and potential management, economic, technical, and policy solutions in their regional, cultural, and historic contexts.

309 Sociopolitical Dimensions of Global Environmental Change. (3) 
Systematic exploration of major topics of human and environmental change from local to global scales, including: population, energy, agriculture, industry, technology, urbanization, water, climate, natural hazards, socioeconomic systems, land use, trade, marginalized societies, and biodiversity.  
Prerequisite: International/Global Studies distribution elective; junior standing; or permission of the instructor.

315 Water Quality Management. (3)
Drinking and surface water quality issues: point and non-point sources of pollution, regulated and unregulated contaminants and their management, drinking water treatment and regulation. Role of Safe Drinking Water and Clean Water Acts in water quality management. Laboratory and field work includes sampling and analysis of various water quality parameters.
Prerequisite: NREM 211 or permission of the department chairperson.

320 Wetland Characterization. (3)
Study of wetland functions and values. Delineation of wetland boundaries according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers criteria (wetland hydrology, hydric soils, hydrophytic vegetation). Includes a substantial component of field work.
Prerequisite: NREM 221; permission of the department chairperson.

322 Soil Quality. (3)
Chemical, physical, and biological properties of soil that affect plant production and other land uses. Emphasizes nutrient cycles in natural and cropped systems. Use and fate of pesticides. Land application of agricultural and urban wastes.
Prerequisite: NREM 221 or its equivalent; CHEM 111 or its equivalent or permission of the department chairperson.

324 Soil Classification and Interpretation. (3)
Includes soil genesis, morphology, classification, and survey. Stresses the relationship between soil information and the land-use decision-making process with practical applications provided. Considerable emphasis is placed on field study of soils and their uses.
Prerequisite: NREM 221 or permission of the department chairperson.

327 Soil Conservation and Management. (3)
Stresses principles and methods of control of soil erosion using basic soil concepts. Studies management systems and individual practices with special emphasis on soil resource maintenance.
Prerequisite: NREM 221 or permission of the department chairperson.

331 Energy and Mineral Resources: Issues and Choices. (3)
Appraisal of the problems, prospects, and societal and technical issues surrounding the use of energy and mineral resources. Emphasizes environmental problems and ecoenergetics, consideration of the natural resource base, distribution and production problems, conservation, alternative energy systems, resource policy, and research.

335 Renewable Energy and Sustainable Technology. (3) Exploration of alternative/renewable energy systems (wind, solar, hydro, biomass, geothermal, fuel cells). Case studies of sustainable technology emphasize topics including industrial ecology (life-cycle analysis, design for the environment, clean manufacturing, and impact assessment) and appropriate technology applications in developing countries. Problem-solving applications using various approaches.

341 Air Quality. (3)
Focuses on the quality of the atmospheric environment. Topics include: major contaminants; measurement techniques; dispersion; effects on the atmosphere, human health, vegetation, and materials; regulatory requirements and practices; control measures; noise pollution. Lab and field experiences.

346 Indoor Environmental Quality. (3) 
Focuses on air quality in residential and nonresidential indoor environments; contaminants; health effects; sick buildings; diagnosis and measurement; mitigation measures. Lab and field experiences.

347 Occupational/Industrial Hygiene. (3)
Introduces the principles of assessing and controlling exposures to workplace hazards. Topics include occupational disease; exposure to contaminant gases, dusts, radiation, noise, and biological agents; ergonomic concerns; regulatory requirements; engineering control; and personal protection equipment.

348 Asbestos and Lead Assessment. (3) 
Principles and practices associated with conducting asbestos and lead inspections and exposure hazard assessments.  Discussion of use, health effects, assessment methods, and regulatory requirements.  Field and hands-on experiences.

350 Hazardous Materials Health and Safety. (3)
Worker health and safety principles and practices in: handling hazardous materials, waste remediation, and emergency responses to accidental chemical releases and terrorist episodes.

357 International Rural Development. (3)
Analysis of rural development in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Emphasizes the roles of population, agriculture, history, conflict, technology, international debt, multilateral organizations, and political and cultural traditions in development efforts. Interdisciplinary readings and case studies.

371 Outdoor Recreation and Society. (3) 
The role of outdoor recreation in modern society. Perspect