Environmental Science Courses

Jan Boll, Director (216 Morrill Hall 83844-3006; phone 208/885-6113; FAX 208/885-4674; envs@uidaho.edu; www.uidaho.edu/envs).

Note: Most of the courses in this interdisciplinary program are in other academic departments and are not listed below. Please refer to the curricular requirements for a complete list of classes.

EnvS 101 Introduction to Environmental Science (3 cr)

Gen Ed: Natural and Applied Sciences

Introduction to basic principles in the biological, physical, and social science areas of environmental science.

EnvS 102 Field Activities in Environmental Sciences (1 cr)

Gen Ed: Natural and Applied Sciences

Field studies for EnvS 101. Field demonstrations on waste management, water, air pollution, and the ecosystem. Field trips required.

Prereq or Coreq: EnvS 101

EnvS 200 (s) Seminar (cr arr)

EnvS 225 (s) International Environmental Issues Seminar (3 cr)

Gen Ed: International

Designed for individuals who have an interest in understanding environmental issues from a global perspective. The course focuses on various social and physical issues related to the environment and natural resources using human population dynamics as a backdrop. EnvS 101 recommended. (Spring only)

EnvS 400 (s) Seminar (cr arr)

Prereq: Senior standing

EnvS 404 (s) Special Topics (cr arr)

EnvS J409/J509 Principles of Environmental Toxicology (3 cr)

See FS J409/J/509.

EnvS J415/J515 Environmental Lifecycle Assessment (3 cr)

Environmental life cycle assessment is the study of the environmental impacts resulting from the human production of goods and services from raw material acquisition through ultimate disposition. The class covers the basic concepts of life cycle assessment including definition of system boundaries, inventory of energy and material inputs and resultant emissions, assessment of impacts on human health and the environment, and interpretation of results. Recommended preparation: basic physical and biological sciences and familiarity with spreadsheet programs such as Excel. Additional assignment/projects required for graduate credit.

EnvS 428 Pollution Prevention (3 cr)

Basic concepts of pollution prevention and waste minimization; pollution prevention strategies and case studies for solid waste, hazardous waste, water and energy use, and air pollution. (Spring only).

EnvS 429 Environmental Audit (3 cr)

Details on a variety of equipment and processes used by business in order to decrease generation of solid and hazardous waste. (Fall only).

EnvS J436/J536 Principles of Sustainability (3 cr)

See as FS J436/J536.

EnvS J446/J546 Drinking Water and Human Health (3 cr)

Understand the characterization, testing, and treatment of chemical, microbial and hazardous compounds and their impact on human health. Be familiar with drinking water standards, regulatory aspects and protection of municipal, community, and private well systems. (Spring, Alt/yrs)

EnvS 450 Environmental Hydrology (3 cr)

Carries no credit after BAE 355 or CE 325. Comprehensive understanding of the hydrologic processes associated with the environmental processes. Includes components of the hydrologic cycle, analysis of precipitation and run off, evapotranspiration, routing, peak flow, infiltration, soil and water relationships, snowmelt, and frequency analysis. (Spring only)

Prereq: Math 170

EnvS J479/J579 Introduction to Environmental Regulations (3 cr)

Interpretation and implementation of local, state, and federal environmental rules; introduction to environmental regulatory process; topics include regulatory aspects of environmental impact assessment, water pollution control, air pollution control, solid and hazardous waste, resource recovery and reuse, toxic substances, pesticides, occupational safety and health, radiation, facility siting, environmental auditing and liability. Additional projects/assignments required for graduate credit. (Fall only)

EnvS R-J482/R-J582 Natural Resource Policy and Law (3 cr)

Examination of U.S. natural resource policy and law including historical contexts and current policies and laws. Additional projects/assignments reqd for grad cr. Recommended Preparation: an undergraduate course in political science. (Spring, Alt/yrs)

EnvS J483/J583 Water and Energy Systems (3 cr)

The class covers the basic science of water and energy and the applied interrelationships of those two resources in today’s society. The broad spectrum coverage of the topic includes the energy linkage to both the supply and demand of water and also the water linkage to the supply of and demand for energy. The class includes development of systems dynamics models for describing the resource interactions. Recommended Preparation: Basic Physical Sciences.

Prereq: Math 143

EnvS 484 History of Energy (3 cr)

Covers the history of humanity’s relationship to energy. Takes a historical approach beginning with ancient sources of energy, the discovery and exploitation of coal and the industrial revolution, the critical importance of oil and its derivatives, natural gas, nuclear and renewables. Finishes with a look to possible future energy sources.

EnvS 485 Energy Efficiency and Conservation (3 cr)

Includes aspects of science, policy, and economics of energy use and efficiency measures. Considers use trends and existing and potential efficiencies primarily on a national scale with some consideration of both global and local situations. Focuses on residential and transportation energy with some coverage of commercial and industrial energy use.

EnvS 497 (s) Senior Research (2-4 cr, max 4)

Gen Ed: Senior Experience

Open only to majors in environmental science. Preparation of proposal, poster, formal presentation and written thesis or report based on research or project conducted with a faculty member. Research addresses an environmental problem using laboratory, field, or library techniques.

Prereq: Senior standing

Prereq or Coreq: Engl 316 or Engl 317

EnvS 498 (s) Internship (cr arr)

EnvS 499 (s) Directed Study (cr arr)

EnvS 500 Master's Research and Thesis (cr arr)

EnvS 501 (s) Seminar (cr arr)

EnvS 502 (s) Directed Study (cr arr)

EnvS 504 (s) Special Topics (cr arr)

EnvS 509 Principles of Environmental Toxicology (3 cr)

See FS J409/J/509.

EnvS 515 Environmental Lifecycle Assessment (3 cr)

See EnvS J415/J515.

EnvS 536 Principles of Sustainability (3 cr)

Same as EnvS J436/J536.

EnvS 541 Sampling and Analysis of Environmental Contaminants (3 cr)

Covers the sampling and analysis of environmental contaminants from a statistical perspective. Includes designing sampling plans for environmental studies, statistically analyzing environmental data, and touches on more advanced techniques such as time series analysis and censored data. (Fall only)

Prereq: Stat 251

EnvS 546 Drinking Water and Human Health (3 cr)

See EnvS J446/J546

EnvS 552 Environmental Philosophy (3 cr)

See Phil 452.

EnvS 577 Law, Ethics, and the Environment (3 cr)

See AgEc 577.

EnvS 579 Introduction to Environmental Regulations (3 cr)

See EnvS J479/J579.

EnvS R582 Natural Resource Policy and Law (3 cr)

See EnvS J482/J582.

EnvS J483/J593 Water and Energy Systems (3 cr)