Course descriptions for Environmental Sci, Technology Policy

This problem-based learning course consists of a series of independent projects that focus on the interaction between energy, sustainability, and the environment. Each project is designed as a hands-on, collaborative inquiry where students are presented with a challenge and key question. Each semester-long course consists of 3 to 6 of these projects. One project each semester is focused exclusively on solving a major challenge in the campus climate action plan.

Students will learn how the climate system works; what factors cause climate to change across different time scales and how those factors interact; how scientists use models, observations and theory to make predictions about future climate. The course explores evidence for changes in sea level and acidity due to global warming. Finally, the course looks at the connection between human activity and the current warming trend and considers some of the potential consequences of climate change. Credit/ No Credit Available.

Studies a particular topic in Environmental Science Technology & Policy. May be repeated for credit when topics vary. (Offered only as interest warrants.) (Credit/ No Credit Available)

Independent study for first-year students. Students must obtain the signature/approval of their independent study supervisor before enrolling in ENVS 197. (Offered only as interest warrants.)

Teaches the skills and knowledge needed to create captivating still photographs of animals, plants, landscapes, and other natural subjects. Explores the art, history, and science of nature photography as a tool for discovery and communication. Students must have a digital SLR camera (or other digital camera featuring manual exposure control and either interchangeable lenses or optical zoom) and tripod. Contract instructor or see course website for detailed equipment requirements. Three full-day field trips scheduled during weekends. Does not cover digital image editing techniques or video. (Offered fall and spring semesters.)

This interdisciplinary introduction to environmental science course introduces science as a method of studying and understanding the natural world through offering an overview of topics needed to understand key environmental challenges of today's world. Promotes critical thinking, problem solving, scientific and environmental literacy. For non-science majors and Environmental Studies majors.

Surveys current scientific and environmental topics students should understand to make informed decisions in their lives. Topics may include genetically modified organisms, cloning, human population growth, water resources, pesticides, and global warming. For nonscience majors. (Offered spring semester.)

An introduction to practical electronics and environmental measurement for students enrolling through the Marine Advanced Technology and Education (MATE) Center. Students design, build, and test their own electronic instruments to record environmental variables. (Offered fall semester of even years.)

Required lab course for ENVS 230. (Offered fall semester of even years.)

This course prepares students for the conduct of science underwater while using SCUBA, including transects, quadrats, and photography.

Introduction to the chemical and physical nature of the atmosphere. Topics include weather and climate, storms, general air circulation, descriptive meteorology, clouds, and atmosphere-ocean interactions. (Offered fall and spring semesters.)

Introduction to the major physical, chemical, biological, and geological features and processes of global oceanography, with emphasis on the Monterey Bay area. Discusses the human impacts on the region and the state and federal policies in-place that have been designed to protect the Monterey Bay area through the establishment of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. For non-science majors. (Offered fall and spring semesters.)

Covers principles of microeconomics and applies these to environmental valuation and management of natural resources. Students apply economic theory to evaluate environmental problems and policies, particularly in marine and coastal ecosystems. (Offered fall and spring semesters.)

Course assists students in writing a case study that analyzes the science, policy, and stakeholder information needed to make a recommendation in response to a normative question about an environmental issue.

Studies a particular topic in Environmental Science Technology & Policy. May be repeated for credit when topics vary. (Offered only as interest warrants.) (Letter Grade Available)

Student and faculty member select topic of study and number of credits. (Offered only as interest warrants.)

Students develop a research-?driven, scientifically rigorous case study that includes a theory section with hypotheses students test as part of their research. A robust literature review and interviews of external stakeholders completed by students inform the case study. Lectures, critical thinking exercises, readings on the scientific method, analyses of exemplary case studies, and resources and activities on effective written and oral communication provide students with a framework.

Optional computer lab course for ENVS 300. Designed for students in ENVS 300 who have not previously fulfilled the Tech/Info ULR. Provides hands-on experience with information literacy and literature searches, reference evaluation, advanced word processing, electronic presentations, spreadsheet design and manipulation, and webpage development. (Offered fall and spring semesters.)

Analyzes the services and goods provided by natural ecosystems in Monterey Bay. Explores the scientific framework of ecosystem services, their disruption or disturbance, economic and ecological values, methods of analyzing these values, and policy implications. (Offered fall semester.)

Mandatory orientation for ENVS 303L. This classroom component of California Transect prepares students for the summer field course (ENVS 303L) by introducing topics in California's scientific, cultural, and political history and current issues that will be examined in detail during the summer field course (ENVS 303L). May require one weekend field trip. (Offered spring semester.)

Two-week summer field course. Students explore California's unique ecosystems using a case-studies framework emphasizing the interaction between natural processes and human impacts. Involves camping and hiking. Course fee charged for food, transportation, and camping. (Offered spring semester or summer session.)

Soils and the Environment: Lecture/lab course surveys the importance, composition, and formation of soils; soil chemistry, mineralogy, and organic matter; soil physical properties and water movement and retention; soil biology and microbiology; soil fertility and plant growth; reactions and movement of nutrients, trace metals, and pesticides in soils; factors influencing soil erosion and salinization; and soil taxonomy and surveys.

Theory and application of spatial data acquisition, analysis, and display using an integrated, hands-on, project-based approach. Covers geographic information systems (GIS) and the Global Positioning System (GPS). Course completion results in ArcGIS certification from ESRI and GPS Mapping certification from Trimble Navigation (TerraSync). (Offered fall and spring semesters.)

Project-oriented course covers techniques in statistics, experimental design, and field methodology to characterize the ecological patterns in marine and terrestrial ecosystems. May include one or more weekend field trips.

Project-oriented course covers techniques in experimental design, data analysis, and field and laboratory methods of soil and water analysis in the context of local soil and water chemistry problems. May include one or more weekend field trips. (Offered as demand warrants.)

Environmental Wildlands Studies: Field investigations study of environmental problems affecting natural and human-impacted ecosystems, including the role of human interactions. Extended field study of flora, fauna, biotic communities, and ecological relationships at selected sites in the United States or international locations. Students participate in field research and evaluation of environmental policy options.

Environmental Field Survey: Field based course that conducts onsite examinations and analyses of environmental problems affecting North American/international wildlands and wildlife populations. Concepts and principles of environmental studies, wildlife management and public land planning methods are incorporated during assessment of the study area's environmental characteristics. Data collection techniques, quantification and analysis of field data, and environmental report writing are components of the research activities that students will pursue.

Wildlands Environment&Culture: Field Studies course involves off-campus travel to a variety of locations, studying the relationships among people and the environment. Region and culture specific case studies and assessment of historical and current cultural and environmental uses of wildland and/or wildlife communities. Examination of consequences and outcomes of environmental policies and wildland/wildlife management.

Applies theories and tools of economics to allocation of natural resources, causes of environmental damage, and the link between economics and environmental change. (Offered fall semester of odd years.)

Students work with practicing professionals in the community in a volunteer or paid internship that requires critical thinking and specialized science, policy, or technical skills. Academic credit is awarded for documented learning that takes place during the internship and that meets individualized and core internship outcomes. (Offered fall and spring semesters.)

Studies a particular topic in Earth Systems Science & Policy. May be repeated for credit when topics vary. (Offered only as interest warrants.) (Credit/No Credit Available)

Student and faculty member select topic of study and number of credits. (Offered only as interest warrants.) (Credit/No Credit Available)

Students work with public and private organizations on projects that integrate scientific skills with needs of multicultural communities. (Offered only as interest warrants.)

Assists students in completion of faculty-guided Honors Capstone research project. Requires A- or above in both ENVS 400 and ENVS 495.

Assists students in completing the Capstone project developed in ENVS 400, including a written Capstone report and an oral presentation to faculty and students associated with the ESTP Program. (Offered fall and spring semesters.)

Assists students enrolled in a capstone project course in preparing their final written report, poster, and/or oral presentation for their Senior Capstone Project. Students must enroll concurrently in an approved ESTP Capstone Project Course.

Applications of geospatial information technology and geodata manipulation and analysis in the management of natural resources, including remote sensing, aerial photography, image processing, georeferencing, georecertification, and quantitative information extraction from multispectral and other image data. (Offered fall semester.)

Process of designing, building, and using computer models for use within applied environmental science. Covers key examples within ecological and hydrological modeling. Introduces students to different modeling paradigms, including: systems dynamics, statistical habitat selection, and simulated vs analytical solutions. Software usage draws from Stella, VenSim, Excel, Visual Basic, and statistical packages. Individual student projects. Must have received a grade of B- or better in Math 151.

Use of landscape-level measurements, computer models, remote sensing, and geographic information systems to quantify and develop sustainable solutions to environmental problems over large space and time scales. Utilize an ecosystem process model as a tool to understanding how changes in the cycling of biogeochemicals can alter ecosystem processes.

This field-oriented course is an in-depth exploration of a local, threatened ecosystem. Students get experience doing science research projects and reading primary scientific literature on vernal pool organisms, ecology, chemistry, and soils. Focuses on organismal taxonomy. May include weekend or odd-hour field trips. (Offered spring semester of even years.)

Studies a particular topic in Environmental Science Technology & Policy. May be repeated for credit when topics vary. (Offered only as interest warrants.) (Credit/ No Credit Available)

Student and faculty member select topic of study and number of credits. (Offered only as interest warrants.)

Enables students to integrate citizenship, academic subjects, skills, and values into their Senior Capstone projects. Students work with public and private organizations on projects that integrate scientific skills with needs of multicultural communities. Students maintain weekly journals covering self, community, public education, and professional community responsibility. (Offered only as interest warrants.)

A seminar that familiarizes students with the Coastal and Watershed Science & Policy program components and assists them in developing research proposals. Takes a case-study approach to understanding the process of developing and approving environmental policy, and in identifying and comparing major stakeholders, their interests, and their roles in the development and approval of policies that address current environmental problems. (Offered fall semester.)

In this seminar students will examine the integrative roles of science, technology, and economics in policy development, and compare and criticize alternate policy recommendations based on the perspectives and evidence of primary stakeholder groups.

Walks educators through each step of creating their own GIS project. Participants gather data from a variety of sources, including GPS, and create a marine and coastal map that communicates a variety of issues. Issues can include marine protected areas, coastal development, invasive species, water quality, ocean observing systems, and marine fisheries. Participants also create a lesson plan to use with their interactive map.

Provides a forum for educators, especially those interested in participating in MATE student ROV competitions, to: (1) acquire the knowledge and skills needed to implement an ROV design and building curriculum that is aligned with the country's workforce needs; (2) gain an understanding of the type of work that ROV technicians do; and (3) learn about the many career opportunities available in the submersible-technology field. (Offered through Extended Ed.)

Theory and application of advanced spatial data acquisition, analysis, and display using an integrated, hands-on, project-based approach. Use of geographic information systems (GIS) for spatial analysis, hypothesis testing, and decision making. Theory and practice of advanced GIS topics and methods such as raster analysis, dynamic segmentation, geocoding, spatial statistics, and geodatabase design. (Offered spring semester.)

Applications of geospatial information technology and geodata manipulation and analysis in the management of natural resources, including remote sensing, aerial photography, image processing, georeferencing, georecertification, and quantitative information extraction from multispectral and other image data. (Offered fall semester.)

Teaches the process of designing, building, and using computer models for use within applied environmental science. Covers key examples within ecological and hydrological modeling e.g. population dynamics, and water flow. Introduces students to different modeling paradigms, including: systems dynamics, statistical habitat selection, and simulated vs analytical solutions. Software usage draws from Stella, VenSim, Excel, Visual Basic, and statistical packages. Includes individual student projects. Must have received a grade of B- or better in Math 151. (Offered fall semester as demand warrants.)

This graduate-level field-oriented course is an in-depth exploration of a local, threatened ecosystem. Students get experience doing science research projects and reading primary scientific literature on vernal pool organisms, ecology, chemistry, and soils. Focuses on organismal taxonomy. May include weekend or odd-hour field trips. (Offered spring semester of odd years.)

Covers the concepts of scientific method (theories, propositions, hypotheses, etc.); how to design research questions; practical techniques of experimental design, statistical inference, and information theoretic methods; successful proposal; and communication of scientific results. Emphasizes effective linkage between science policy with respect to achieving levels of scientific quality, clarity, and relevance appropriate to real-world situations. (Offered fall semester.)

Develops interdisciplinary skills to address complex environmental issues. Skill sets will be in the fields of hydrology, fluvial geomorphology, water quality, and ecology. Topics include environmental policy/agency framework, current environmental issues, and physical/ecological processes in natural and impacted wateshed systems. May require weekend field trips. (Offered spring semester.)

Explores the rehabilitation and management of damaged ecosystems focusing on rivers, estuaries, and wetlands. Covers the systems approach, ecologic principles, hydrologic processes, soils, erosion, and improvement structures. Emphasizes real situations using case studies and experimental restoration work. Includes several weekend field trips. (Offered spring semester of odd years.)

Required lab course for ENVS 561.

Students use a standard input/output model framework to estimate economic values at regional scales. Develops economic growth and bio-economic models in a dynamic and spatial framework applied to management of California's marine resources. Introduces statistical (econometric) estimation and analyses of linear regression models, time-series models, travel cost models, and random utility models. (Offered fall semester of odd years.)

Policy course draws upon student skills of research, writing, analysis, and creative thinking. Offers a multidisciplinary approach to understanding the principles and strategies for managing the coastal zone. Combines the disciplines of policy, economics, planning, geology, biology, ecology, a bit of chemistry, and organizational management. (Offered fall semester.)

Studies a particular topic in Environmental Science Technology & Policy. May be repeated for credit when topics vary. (Offered only as interest warrants.) (Credit/ No Credit Available)

Studies a particular topic in Environmental Science Technology & Policy. May be repeated for credit when topics vary. (Offered only as interest warrants.) (Credit/ No Credit Available)

Individualizes student placement for field study as related to Environmental Science, Technology and Policy. Offered as interest warrants.

Student and faculty member select topic of study and number of credits. (Offered only as interest warrants.)

Faculty-mentored, independent research leading toward completion of the MS thesis. May be repeated for a maximum of six credits that count toward the degree. Requires approval of the thesis advisor. (Offered fall and spring semesters.)

Addresses current watershed environmental issues using advanced research methods and sound science. Considers issues from multiple perspectives, including legal, political, diverse stakeholders, and natural science. Students present project results in both written and oral formats, utilizing innovative visualizations, as necessary, to communicate technical science to decision-makers or non-specialists. (Offered fall semester.)