Course Descriptions for the B.S. in Environmental Science
116W Foundations of Energy and the Environment - 3 credits
The course provides students with an appreciation and understanding of the fundamental and theoretical background and concepts in environmental science. The impact of population growth on ecosystems, fossil and nuclear energy, resources and resource management, and population and risk assessment are among the topics to be discussed. The course will also deal with such issues as global warming, deforestation, biodiversity, and ozone depletion. This course provides a foundation for integrating other courses.
452 Environmental Chemistry - 3 credits
The course provides students with an appreciation and understanding of the fundamental and theoretical background and concepts in environmental chemistry. Students will learn environmental testing methods and gain the knowledge necessary for critical evaluation of fundamental aspects of testing procedures and data derived from environmental testing. Pre-requisites: CHEM 121, CHEM 122, MATH 115.
462/662 Enhanced Microwave Chemistry - 3 credits
This course teaches fundamental and advanced concepts of microwave sample preparation with emphasis on the understanding and predicting behavior in the microwave environment. Microwave decomposition procedures for botanical, environmental, clinical, geological, aqueous and other sample types are also discussed and demonstrated. Pre-requisites: CHEM 121, CHEM 122, MATH 115.
466/566 Terrestrial Field Biology 3 - credits
This applied ecology course is designed to present an overview of field and laboratory methods used by ecologists to describe and analyze plant and animal aggregations and their environments. The course focus is on the principles and practice of various ecological procedures with explanation of how to collect, record and analyze data. The course reviews the basic concepts of ecology that are needed to understand the various methods and their significance. The course material is presented as a combination of lecture, laboratory, and field sessions. Pre-requisites: BIOL 111/113, BIOL 112/114.
472 Environmental Biology 3 - credits
This three-credit course provides an overview of man's impact on other life on earth. Basic biological principles are examined in the context of man's interaction with the biosphere. Topics include: history of life on earth; population, community and ecosystems biology; human population growth; and the impacts of humans on biological systems, with special emphasis on effects of agriculture and on loss/protection of biodiversity. The course is appropriate for biology majors, environmental science management majors and nonscience majors with a strong science background.
541W Environmental Policy and Law - 4 credits
An introduction to the legal and political processes that generates environmental laws and regulations, seeking to answer the question, "What is good environmental policy?" Real world case studies, supplemented by guest speakers, will cover controversial national and international policy issues. The focus will be both on the role science plays in the policy process, and on the sources of conflict among political and policy actors, including elected officials, bureaucrats, legislators, and interest groups.
570 Fundamentals of Air Pollution Prevention and Control - 3 credits
This course will provide the skills required by environmental professionals to deal with Federal and State Air Quality Standards. The course will be structured to blend technical, social, and political air quality issues into real world activities. It will provide students with information needed to carry out daily management activities in the air pollution field by enabling them to recognize key air quality issues and how to best deal with them. Students will also be grouped and asked to work as a team to submit and to review air quality plan approval and permit applications. In addition to the traditional classroom setting, two classes will be held at site locations to enhance the learning experience.
571 Fundamentals of Water Pollution Prevention and Control - 3 credits
ESM 571 is designed to provide the student an overall understanding of the science, law, regulations, and technologies associated with the protection of surface and ground waters. It is a non-engineering course that prepares students to understand and deal with water pollution issues in the workplace. The course begins with a review of the basic science associated with the properties and behavior of water. It then progresses to an examination of the various types of water pollution and their sources. The legal framework for water pollution control in the United States is addressed via a review of the structure and requirements of the Clean Water Act (CWA). This is followed by an examination of regulatory requirements, including ambient water quality criteria, effluent limits, permitting, and other topics. The latter half of the course focuses on water conservation and water pollution control and prevention technologies.
491/591 Environmental and Hydrogeology - 2 credits
The course introduces students to the fundamentals of geologic materials and soils and deals with ground and surface water and hazardous earth processes, such as flooding and earth movements. Geological issues of solid waste disposal, hazardous waste management, and land-use planning will be covered. The course will include case histories and field trips. Pre-requisites: BIOL 111/113, BIOL 112/114.
492W/592W Stream Field Biology - 3 credits
Stream Field Biology is the study of the functional relationships and productivity of fresh water streams as they are affected by their physical, chemical and biotic environment. The dynamics of flowing streams, with their linear pattern, makes an ever-changing ecosystem dominated by constant erosion and deposition. Increasing knowledge about the operational stream ecosystem and factors that regulate productivity of the total watershed is crucial. The participants in this course will categorize stream order in a watershed; explain the abiotic and biotic relationships that exist with stream ecosystems; analyze the parametersof a watershed; and evaluate the trade-offs, costs and benefits of conserving stream watersheds. Pre-requisites: BIOL 111/113, BIOL 112/114.
494/594 Environmental Sampling - 3 credits
Environmental sampling will explore the fundamentals of sample collection and the various methods used for obtaining environmental samples from air, water, and sediment. Field trips on the Pittsburgh Voyager are used to obtain samples from the Three Rivers. Pre-requisites: BIOL 111/113, BIOL 112/114.
497/597 Applied and Environmental Microbiology - 3 credits
This course takes an in depth look at microbial biogeochemical cycling and the application of microbial processes (both prokaryotic and eukaryotic) for biotechnology and bioremediation. Topics include biogeochemistry, the design and application of genetically engineered microbes (GEMS), natural attenuation, fermentation, and water treatment, in addition to current issues in environmental science. Prerequisites: BIOL 212, 319, and CHEM 222 or permission of the instructor.
498/598 Environmental Ecology - 3 credits
This course provides an overview of man's impact on the environment. Basic ecological principles are examined in the context of man's interaction with the biosphere. The ecological effects of pollution and other man-made disturbances are described. Topics include: principles pertaining to ecosystems, communities and populations; biogeochemical cycles; sources of pollution; effects of pollutants on terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems; deforestation; loss of species richness; biomarkers; and bioremediation. BIOL 111/113, BIOL 112/114.
499/599 Microbial Ecology - 3 credits
In this course the interaction of microorganisms, primarily prokaryotes, with each other, plants, animals, and fungi, and the environment is explored. The course takes a systematic approach, examining these interactions at the ecosystem, organismal, subcellular, and historical level. Topics include microbial primary production and photosynthesis, biogeochemical cycling, the structure of microbial communities, modeling, symbiosis, and microbial evolution. Prerequisites: BIOL 212, 319, and CHEM 222 or permission of the instructor.
