Course Descriptions

Learn about the challenges and rewards of a science major. Acquire essential professional skills using electronic databases and spread sheets that are needed by science majors. Learn about current science and the culture of scientists.

Examines the interrelationships between people and their biophysical environment, including the atmosphere, water, rocks and soil, and other living organisms. The scientific analysis of nature and the social and political issues of natural resource use.

• Gen Ed: Environmental Sciences 1,Natural & Physical Sciences 1

A study of the solar system, stars, galaxies and universe.

• Gen Ed: Environmental Sciences 1,Natural & Physical Sciences 1

Economic, educational, social and cultural impact of space exploration and of our knowledge of the universe. Major periods in human history affecting our knowledge of the cosmos; impacts of various scientific developments such as the Copernican heliocentric model and Darwinian evolution.

• Gen Ed: Natural & Physical Sciences 1

Current problems and controversies of nature conservation; scientific and political issues surrounding endangered species preservation, hunting and fishing, forest management, land use, animal rights, biotechnology and similar topics.

• Gen Ed: Natural & Physical Sciences 2

This course examines safety within the science laboratory with emphasis on practical application. Topics include current safety regulations, identification of hazards, chemical labeling and storage, waste management, personal protective equipment, ventilation, spill response, and biosafety.

The issues relating energy and society rather than energy technology per se: global energy flows; sources of energy; energy-related problems, policy and conservation; energy growth; future scenarios.

• Gen Ed: Natural & Physical Sciences 2

Travel courses are conducted to various parts of the world and are led by one or more faculty members. May be repeated to different locations.

• Gen Ed: World Culture
• Travel Course
• Course is repeatable for credit.

Radioactive isotopes play a significant role in many aspects of the natural and human environments. People are affected throughout their lives by natural and anthropogenic isotopes at local, national, and global scales. From radon in houses and radium in local drinking water supplies to fallout from Chernobyl, humans are directly impacted through health, economic, and technological pathways.

• Gen Ed: Natural & Physical Sciences 2

Ecological principles governing interactions of plants and animals in their physical and biotic environments. Focuses on organisms and their environment, populations, communities, ecosystems, and global dimensions.

Principles of conservation: the nature and extent of our natural resources; exploitation and conservation of our resource system; natural chemical, physical and biological processes which affect and influence conservation and management practices; politics and economics of resource conservation.

• Gen Ed: Natural & Physical Sciences 2

Physical and chemical aspects of natural environmental processes. The movement, transformation, and fate of materials and contaminants.

Government regulations, manufacturing processes, waste minimization, pollution prevention methods and pollution control techniques of major industries.

The physical, chemical and biological properties and principals of soils; formation, classification and distribution of major soil orders; function and management of soils in natural, agricultural and urban environments. Includes field and laboratory experiences.

Emphasizes principles of pollution prevention and environmentally conscious products, processes and manufacturing systems. Also addresses post-use product disposal, life cycle analysis, and pollution prevention economics.

The elements, controls, and classification of climates; the distribution of climate types over the earth; world patterns of climate.

Qualitative study of the principal elements of the water cycle, including precipitation, runoff, infiltration, evapotranspiration and ground water; applications to water resource projects such as low flow augmentation, flow reregulation, irrigation, public and industrial water supply and flood control.

Water and waste water treatment systems, including both sewage and potable water treatment plants and their associated collection and distribution systems. Study of the unit operations, physical, chemical and biological, used in both systems.

Applications of fundamental geologic concepts in the interpretation of environmental problems resulting from the exploitation of crustal resources. Environmental impact of construction, mining, waste disposal, natural geologic hazards and the tapping of crustal energy sources.

• Gen Ed: Natural & Physical Sciences 2

Techniques for the interpretation of human and natural land use. Wide variety of aerial photo formats and scales are used. Vertical and oblique photos, satellite images, and Internet web sites incorporated into course material.

Important diseases of forest, shade and orchard trees and diseases of representative economic plants; fungus deterioration in wood storage, its economic importance and methods of control.

History of the shift in the technological balance of power from 16th century China, India and the Islamic world to western Europe and later to North America.

• Gen Ed: Natural & Physical Sciences 2

An introduction to a diversity of freshwater systems, including streams, wetlands, reservoirs and lakes. The lab involves sampling of lakes and streams in eastern Wisconsin for biological and chemical analysis.

Creation and analysis of deterministic and stochastic mathematical models describing material and energy flows in environmental systems. Measurements needed for parameter estimation and model validation. Ethics in modeling.

Study of alternate energy systems which may be the important energy sources in the future, such as solar, wind, biomass, fusion, ocean thermal, fuel cells and magneto hydrodynamics.

Intensive three-day field study tour of the properties, origins and uses of major soils and landscapes of Wisconsin, with follow-up discussions. Cost of tour bus, guidebook, meals and lodging borne by student.

• Course is repeatable to 9 credits.

Examines changes in global climate with emphasis on the processes by which climate change occurs. Focuses on the recent changes in the concentration of atmospheric greenhouse gases and their impact on the earth's global energy budget. Examines the potential environmental impact of a changed climate.

Introduction to the geological and physical principles governing ground water flow. Description of aquifer properties, chemical processes, equation of flow, well hydraulics, and environmental concerns.

Physical, chemical, and biological processes affecting the composition of air and water. Chemical reactions in polluted, and unpolluted environments; dispersal processes and methods of control for various pollutants.

Basic measurement techniques used by environmental scientists to evaluate air and water quality; field methods, continuous monitoring techniques, and in-laboratory analysis techniques. Experiments demonstrate reaction kinetics, stoichiometry, thermodynamics instrumentation, and wet chemical methods.

Large area, small scale analysis of earth surface features by satellite imagery and data. Manual and computer-assisted manipulation of multispectral images with respect to vegetation, geology, soils, water resources and land use.

Application of the principles of systems analysis to the sustainable use of material and energy resources. Emphasis on use of analytical tools of economics (e.g. costs-benefit, cost-effectiveness, and risk-benefit analysis) and the process of public policy making and implementation.

• Gen Ed: Natural & Physical Sciences 2

Overview of current theory and practices of ecological sampling and analysis for terrestrial systems with field and laboratory experiences in these methods.

Overview of the major issues and ecological principles underlying the field of conservation of biology, including patterns and measurement of biological diversity from genetic to community scales.

• Gen Ed: Natural & Physical Sciences 2

A project-based capstone experience where individual students address a specific aspect of the environmental sciences through the use of scientific and mathematical skills.

A project-based course in which students address a practical application of scientific and mathematics skills in the environmental sciences. Topics vary.

• Course is repeatable for credit.

Supervised practical experience in an organization or activity appropriate to a student's career and educational interests. Internships are supervised by faculty members and require periodic student/faculty meetings. All internships must be taken P-NC.

• Course is repeatable for credit.

Independent study is offered on an individual basis at the student's request and consists of a program of learning activities planned in consultation with a faculty member. A student wishing to study or conduct research in an area not represented in available scheduled courses should develop a preliminary proposal and seek the sponsorship of a faculty member. The student's advisor can direct him or her to instructors with appropriate interests. A written report or equivalent is required for evaluation, and a short title describing the program must be sent early inthe semester to the registrar for entry on the student's transcript.

• Course is repeatable for credit.

Travel courses are conducted to various parts of the world and are led by one or more faculty members. May be repeated to different locations.

• Gen Ed: World Culture
• Travel Course
• Course is repeatable for credit.

Physical and chemical aspects of natural environmental processes. The movement, transformation, and fate of materials and contaminants. P: gr st. (F)

Government regulations, manufacturing processes, waste minimization, pollution prevention methods and pollution control techniques of major industries. P: gr st. (F) Field Trips Required.

The physical, chemical and biological properties and principals of soils; formation, classification and distribution of major soil orders; function and management of soils in natural, agricultural and urban environments. Includes field and laboratory experiences. P: gr st. (F) Field Trips Required.

Emphasizes principles of pollution prevention and environmentally conscious products, processes and manufacturing systems. Also addresses post-use product disposal, life cycle analysis, and pollution prevention economics. P: gr st. (SO)

Qualitative study of the principal elements of the water cycle, including precipitation, runoff, infiltration, evapotranspiration and ground water; applications to water resource projects such as low flow augmentation, flow reregulation, irrigation, public and industrial water supply and flood control. P: gr st. (F)

Water and waste water treatment systems, including both sewage and potable water treatment plants and their associated collection and distribution systems. Study of the unit operations, physical, chemical and biological, used in both systems. P: gr st. (S)

Important diseases of forest, shade and orchard trees and diseases of representative economic plants; fungus deterioration in wood storage, its economic importance and methods of control. P: gr st. (F) Field Trips Required.

An introduction to a diversity of freshwater systems, including streams, wetlands, reservoirs and lakes. The lab involves sampling of lakes and streams in eastern Wisconsin for biological and chemical analysis. P: gr st. (F) Field Trips Required.

Study of alternate energy systems which may be the important energy sources in the future, such as solar, wind, biomass, fusion, ocean thermal, fuel cells and magneto hydrodynamics. P: gr st. (SE)

Intensive three-day field study tour of the properties, origins and uses of major soils and landscapes of Wisconsin, with follow-up discussions. Cost of tour bus, guidebook, meals and lodging borne by student.

• Course is repeatable to 9 credits.

Introduction to the geological and physical principles governing ground water flow. Description of aquifer properties, chemical processes, equation of flow, well hydraulics, and environmental concerns.

Physical, chemical, and biological processes affecting the composition of air and water. Chemical reactions in polluted, and unpolluted environments; dispersal processes and methods of control for various pollutants. P: gr st. (F)

Basic measurement techniques used by environmental scientists to evaluate air and water quality; field methods, continuous monitoring techniques, and in-laboratory analysis techniques. Experiments demonstrate reaction kinetics, stoichiometry, thermodynamics instrumentation, and wet chemical methods.

Large area, small scale analysis of earth surface features by satellite imagery and data. Manual and computer-assisted manipulation of multispectral images with respect to vegetation, geology, soils, water resources and land use.

Application of the principles of systems analysis to the sustainable use of material and energy resources. Emphasis on use of analytical tools of economics (e.g. costs-benefit, cost-effectiveness, and risk-benefit analysis) and the process of public policy making and implementation. P: gr st. (F,S)

Overview of current theory and practices of ecological sampling and analysis for terrestrial systems with field and laboratory experiences in these methods. P: gr st. (S) Field Trips Required.

Application of ecological knowledge to the management of natural and human dominated environments, including consideration of agroecosystems, forest, wetland and riparian ecosystems. Attention given to ecology and management of harvestable species, endangered species, non-indigenous species and indigenous pest species. Introduction to the fields of ecotoxicology, ecological risk assessment and ecological economics as they relate to ecosystem management. P: gr st. (F) Field Trips Required.

Overview of the major issues and ecological principles underlying the field of conservation of biology, including patterns and measurement of biological diversity from genetic to community scales.

Travel courses are conducted to various parts of the world and are led by one or more faculty members. May be repeated to different locations.

• Travel Course
• Course is repeatable for credit.