Environmental Science and Public Policy (EVPP)
Environmental Science and Policy
110 The Ecosphere: An Introduction to Environmental Science I (4:3:3) Studies components and interactions that make up natural systems of our home planet. Teaches basic concepts in biological, chemical, physical, and Earth sciences in integrated format with lecture, laboratory, and field exercises. First semester of two-semester lab science sequence that can fulfill science requirements for BA students in CAS.
111 The Ecosphere: An Introduction to Environmental Science II (4:3:3) Prerequisite: EVPP 110. Studies components and interactions that make up natural systems of our home planet. Teaches basic concepts in biological, chemical, physical, and Earth sciences in integrated format with lecture, laboratory, and field exercises. Second of two-semester lab science sequence that can fulfill science requirements for BA students in CAS.
201 Environment and You: Issues for the Twenty-First Century (3:3:0) Introduces broad aspects of anthropocentric environmental considerations in contemporary world. Topics include global populations and wastewater treatment, environmental law, and genetic engineering.
318 Conservation Biology (3:3:0) Prerequisites: BIOL 307 and 311. Introduces science used to identify species in need of conservation, and techniques to manage and protect organisms.
336 Human Dimensions of the Environment (3:3:0) Prerequisite: one of EVPP 110, GEOL 101, SOCI 101, or ANTH 114. Overview of current knowledge regarding human and environment interactions and human ecology. Topics include basic theoretical and conceptual issues, relationship between social and biological sciences, human causes and consequences of environmental change, and contemporary perspectives on environmental issues.
337 Environmental Policy Making in Developing Countries (3:3:0) Prerequisite: 60 credits. Overview of environmental policy process in developing countries around the world. Major focus on understanding distinctive problems and dynamics of environmental policy making in poor countries to generate better policy decisions and management.
339 Vertebrate Natural History (4:3:3). Prerequisite: BIOL 307 or equivalent. Introduces vertebrates with emphasis on systematics, life history, behavior, and ecology. Laboratory emphasis on identification and natural history of local fauna.
350 Freshwater Ecosystems (4:3:3) Prerequisites: CHEM 211/212, and either EVPP 110/111 or BIOL 307. Studies physical, chemical, and biological processes in lakes, streams, and wetlands. Teaches physical and chemical aspects of aquatic systems and life cycles, and adaptations of aquatic organisms. Lectures, field trips, lab exercises.
361 Environmental Politics (3:3:0) Environmental politics and policymaking since the 1970s. Primary focus on United States, with some discussion of global issues. Examines policy strategies and outcomes, ethical and economic debates, political controversies, lawmaking and enforcement, and role of key players.
363 Coastal Morphology and Processes (4:3:3) Prerequisite: GEOL 309, BIOL 309, or GEOL 317; or 9 credits in geography, including GEOG 309. Studies global coastal geomorphology and processes with emphasis on U.S. Atlantic and gulf coasts. Topics include plate tectonics; sea-level changes; sediment supply; impact of waves, tides, and storms; and human activities. Lectures and extended weekend field trips to mid-Atlantic coast.
377 Applied Ecology (3:3:0) Prerequisite: 60 credits, including 8 credits of biology, geology, or chemistry; or permission of instructor. Introduces ecosystem concepts and applications to natural and managed ecosystems.
395 Undergraduate Research in Environmental Science and Policy (1-3:0:0) Prerequisites: 45 credits including at least two upper-level science lab courses. Original research project. May involve field and lab study, computer modeling and analysis, or other original research as appropriate. Research formulated and completed under instructor's guidance. Culminates in final report. May be repeated for total 10 credits.
396 Directed Topic in Environmental Science and Policy (1-4:0:0) Prerequisites: 45 credits. Study of topic not otherwise available. May involve readings, lectures, lab assignments, and tutorials as jointly agreed on by student and instructor. Culminates in term paper, final exam, or both. May be repeated for maximum 8 credits.
451 Fungi and Ecosystems (3:3:0) Prerequisite: BIOL 304 or course in microbiology; or permission of instructor. Considers impact of fungi on ecosystems in terms of effects on biogeochemical cycling, primary and secondary production, and regulating community structure and populations of individual species through activities as symbionts and parasites. Discusses role of fungi in ameliorating pollutants produced by anthropogenic activities.
490 Special Topics in Environmental Science and Policy (1-4:0) Prerequisites: 60 credits, and permission of instructor. Studies selected topics in environmental science and policy using lectures, guest lectures, student presentations, or laboratory exercises. Topics vary, but each offering has coherent syllabus. May be repeated for credit if topics significantly different.
503 Field Mapping Techniques (3:0:6) Prerequisites: MATH 105 or equivalent; and EVSC 110, GEOG 102, or GEOL 101 or equivalent. Basic techniques for collecting, recording, and plotting spatial field data, including topographic maps, compass, transit, alidade, and global positioning systems. Field work and field-based research project.
505 Selected Topics in Environmental Science (1-4:1-3:0-6) Prerequisite: course in ecology, or permission of instructor. Topic depends on instructor's specialty.
515 Molecular Environmental Biology I (3:3:0) Prerequisite: introductory biology and genetics course, or permission of instructor. Introduces molecular environmental biology covering basic concepts of molecular biology, molecular evolution, and bioinformatics, and application to problems in molecular and environmental biology.
524 Introduction to Environmental and Resource Economics (3:3:0) Prerequisite: basic algebra skills. Introduces theory of external costs and benefits, public goods, natural resource management, and benefit and cost analysis for noneconomists. Lecture-discussion format with student presentations and participation. Analytical problems set, short writing assignments, and exams.
525 Economics of Human/Environment Interactions (3:3:0) Prerequisite: EVPP 524/GEOG 524 or equivalent. Advanced topics in environmental, natural resource, and ecological economics for noneconomist. Emphasizes sustainability, intergenerational equity, and economic-ecological feedbacks. Lecture, discussion with substantial student participation. Problem sets, class presentations, term paper.
531 Land-use Modeling Techniques and Applications (3:3:0) Prerequisite: GEOG 550, or permission of instructor. Surveys literature on spatially explicit empirical models of land-use change. Offers hands-on experience developing and running simple models. Includes statistical models, mathematical programming models, cellular automata, agent-based models, and integrated models.
536 Ichthyology (4:3:3) Prerequisites: ecology course, or permission of instructor. Studies systematics, evolution, physiology, ecology, and behavior of fishes. Lab time used for field trips, practice in identifying species, and hands-on experience with lecture subjects.
538 Mammalogy (4:3:3). Prerequisites: Courses in zoology and ecology (BIOL 303 and 307, or equivalent). Biology of mammals with emphasis on behavior, ecology, and conservation.
543 Tropical Ecosystems (4:3:3) Prerequisites: ecology course, and permission of instructor. Terrestrial, aquatic, and marine ecosystems in the tropics, emphasizing plant communities, plant-animal interactions, and role of humans in tropics. Requires field trip to tropics as part of lab.
546 Estuarine and Coastal Ecology (4:3:3) Prerequisites: course in ecology, and permission of instructor. Emphasizes marine biology of estuarine and coastal habitats of Chesapeake Bay region, and factors affecting distribution and abundance of organisms. Lab provides training in field measurement of physical and chemical parameters, and collection and identification of local organisms. Extended field trips to mid-Atlantic sites.
550 Waterscape Ecology and Management (3:3:0) Prerequisites: course in chemistry, and course in ecology. Studies physical, chemical, and biological components of freshwater ecosystems with emphasis on streams, rivers, and lakes; links between watersheds and freshwater ecosystems; and impact of human management.
551 Fungi and Ecosystems (3:3:0) Prerequisite: BIOL 304 or course in microbiology, or permission of instructor. Considers impact of fungi on ecosystems in terms of effects on biogeochemical cycling, primary and secondary production, and regulating community structure and populations of individual species through activities as symbionts and parasites. Discusses role of fungi in ameliorating pollutants produced by anthropogenic activities.
555 Lab in Waterscape Ecology (1:0:3) Prerequisite: EVPP 550, or permission of instructor. Field and laboratory approaches to freshwater ecology with emphasis on study design, sampling methods, laboratory and data analysis, and report writing.
563 Coastal Morphology and Processes (4:3:3) Prerequisite: previous courses in geology, oceanography, marine science or physical geography; or permission of instructor. Studies global coastal geomorphology and processes, emphasizing U.S. Atlantic and gulf coasts. Topics include plate tectonics; sea-level changes; sediment supply; impact of waves, tides, storms; and human activities. Lecture, extended weekend field trips to mid-Atlantic coast.
576 Microbial Ecology of Soils (3:3:0) Prerequisite: course in microbiology, or permission of instructor. Surveys microbial ecology in surface and subsurface soils. Describes organisms and their function and interaction.
577 Biogeochemistry: A Global Perspective (3:3:0) Prerequisites: course in ecology and course in chemistry; or permission of instructor. Structure and function of ecosystems, their interactions as components of landscapes, and contributions to the global environment. Emphasizes biogeochemical cycles of natural, disturbed, and managed ecosystems, and integration at landscape and global level as related to current ecological problems such as transfer of nonpoint source pollutants, atmospheric deposition, stratospheric ozone depletion, and global change.
607/BIOL 607 Fundamentals of Ecology (3:3:0) Overview of concepts in physiological, population, community, and ecosystem ecology restricted to graduate students with little or no background in ecology.
610 Bioremediation: Theory and Applications (3:3:0) Prerequisites: courses in microbiology and either organic chemistry or biochemistry; or permission of instructor. Provides basis for understanding proper application of bioremedial technologies to treatment of hazardous wastes. Includes evaluation of data to determine successful treatment.
613 Environmental Geochemistry and Mineralogy (3:3:0). Prerequisite: graduate standing. Explores hot topics and aids students in developing intellectual skills to identify key research problems. Students will also improve their writing and presentation skills.
615 Molecular Environmental Biology II (4:3:3) Prerequisite: course in molecular environmental biology, or permission of instructor. Applied course covering theory and methodology of molecular environmental biology including analysis of selected case studies in conservation biology of macroorganisms, molecular systematics, and microbial ecology.
620 Development of U.S. Environmental Policies (3:3:0) Prerequisites: course in policy process and course in ecology; or permission of instructor. Through lectures, guest speakers, class discussions and assigned reading, examines nature and historical development of environmental policy in the United States, including consideration of social, political, economic and environmental factors, and ways it is expressed and implemented. Also consider sustainability and emerging issues.
621 Overview of Biodiversity Conservation (3:3:0) Prerequisites: 8 graduate credits in ecology and environmental science or environmental policy, or permission of instructor. Lectures, reading assignments, class discussions, and orally presented and written case studies to explore what biodiversity is, why it is important, how conservation has evolved, and status today.
622 Management of Wild Living Resources (3:3:0) Prerequisites: 8 credits of ecology including BIOL 648, or permission of instructor. Through lectures, case studies, and discussions, examines management of different types of wild living resources, animal and plant, aquatic and terrestrial. Reviews status of resources, analyzes factors that have led to present situation, and considers what may be required to achieve effective and sustainable management.
623 Translating Environmental Science and Policy into Action (3:3:0) Prerequisites: 8 graduate credits in environmental science or environmental policy, or permission of instructor. Guest lecturers, class discussions, written and orally presented case studies, and assigned reading to identify and analyze factors involved in moving from science and policy to concrete action. Provides understanding of basic principles, skills and strategies.
626 Environment and Development in South and East Asia (3:3:0) Prerequisites: course work in policy process, international development, and ecology; or permission of instructor. Guest lecturers, assigned reading, class discussions, and oral and written case studies to examine environment and development in selected countries of South and East Asia. Reviews relationship between environment and development, considers background and history leading up to the present, and considers requirements to achieve more effective and sustainable results.
627 Environmental Policy in Latin America (3:3:0) Prerequisites: course work in policy process, international development, and ecology; or permission of instructor. Guest lecturers, assigned reading, class discussions, and oral and written case studies to examine environmental policy in Latin America. Reviews evolution of environmental policy and relationship between environment and development, considers background and history leading up to the present, and considers requirements to achieve more effective and sustainable results.
628 Environment and Development in Africa (3:3:0) Prerequisite: course work in policy process, international development, and ecology; or permission of instructor. Guest lecturers, assigned reading, class discussions, oral and written case studies to examine environment and development in sub-Saharan Africa. Reviews relationship between environment and development, considers background and history leading up to present, and considers requirements to achieve more effective and sustainable results.
630 Methods and Logic of Social Inquiry (3:3:0) Prerequisite: undergraduate statistics and research methods, or permission of instructor. Emphasizes gathering, interpretation, and evaluation of scientific evidence. Develops critical-thinking skills and covers logic of scientific inquiry, including various data collection methods such as experiments, observational research, and Q methodology.
631 Spatial Agent-based Models of Human-Environment Interactions (3:3:0) Prerequisite: GEOG 531 or CSS 600; or permission of instructor. Discusses key challenges in spatial modeling of human-environment interactions. Reviews agent-based modeling applications in urban and rural interactions, agriculture, forestry, and other areas. Hands-on development of simple ABM models, and investigation of linkages between GIS and ABM.
635 Environment and Society (3:3:0). Prerequisite: graduate standing. Human-environment interactions in human ecology perspective, historical basis of human environmental impact, indigenous and nonindigenous worldviews in context of modernization, environmental degradation and globalization, and contemporary policy and research initiatives geared toward resilience and sustainability. Discussion format.
636 Gender, Race and the Natural World (3:3:0) Advanced study of links among gender, race, and nature using social-psychological framework, original sources, and seminar and discussion. Analyzes ideologies that underpin the interlocking narratives of gender, race, and nature, and examines role of science in producing these ideologies.
637 Human Dimensions of Global Change (3:3:0) Prerequisite: graduate standing, or permission of instructor. Examines human dimensions of climate change, biodiversity loss, ozone depletion, and related anthropogenic alterations of biosphere.
638 Corporate Environmental Management and Policy (3:3:0) Provides understanding of how environmental issues interact with business strategy decisions. Emphasizes learning about proactive win-win environmental management strategies being implemented by world's leading firms, and shows how government policies and regulations can be designed to simultaneously promote higher environmental protection and competitiveness. Combines mini lectures, participatory discussions.
641 Environmental Science and Public Policy (3:3:0) Prerequisite: course in ecology, or permission of instructor. Effects of human activities on environment. Considers airborne, waterborne, and solid waste material with respect to sources, control, and effect on ecosystems.
642 Environmental Policy (3:3:0) In-depth examination of U.S. efforts since 1970 to mitigate pollution of air, land, and water. Addresses issues of global concern, including biodiversity loss, ozone depletion, and climate change.
643 Microbial Ecology (4:3:3) Prerequisite: course in microbiology, or permission of instructor. Studies relationships between microorganisms and their natural environment, and methodology for observing their natural environment and its biochemical activities.
644 Wetland Ecology and Management (4:3:3) Prerequisite: course work in ecology, chemistry and physics; or permission of instructor. Structure and function of wetland ecosystems. Emphasizes biogeochemical and hydrological processes, effects of disturbance, and management implications.
645 Freshwater Ecology (3:3:0) Prerequisite: EVPP 550, or permission of instructor. Studies biotic and abiotic interactions that affect structure and composition of freshwater ecosystems. Emphasizes research literature.
648 Population Ecology (3:3:0) Prerequisite: course in ecology or permission of instructor. Surveys ecological models and theory. Topics include population growth and regulation, competition, predator-prey, herbivore-plant, and parasite-host interactions, mutualism, and metapopulation ecology.
650 Environmental Analysis and Modeling (4:3:3) Prerequisite: course in ecology, or permission of instructor. Introduces principles, history, and methodologies of systems ecology, emphasizing development and simulation of ecological models for natural resource/ecosystem management, conceptual and symbolic models, and simulation techniques on microcomputers.
652 The Hydrosphere (3:3:0) Prerequisites: two semesters of calculus and partial differential equation. Components and transfer processes within hydrosphere, which consists of aqueous envelope of Earth including oceans, lakes, and rivers; and snow, ice, glaciers, soil, moisture, ground water and atmospheric water vapor.
670 Environmental Law (3:3:0) Prerequisites: courses in ecology and environmental biology, or permission of instructor. Studies environmental laws such as the National Environmental Policy Act, and regulatory issues such as the Clean Water and Clean Air Acts. Emphasizes critical evaluation of alternatives to unresolved issues in environmental policies.
675 Environmental Planning and Administration (3:3:0) Interaction of man and ecological systems; causes of damage or deterioration in environment; content, oversights, and externalities in management decision processes that affect environment and effectiveness of plan implementation; means of assessing environmental impact; and administrative approaches for minimizing environmental impact.
677 Applied Ecology and Ecosystem Management. (3:3:0) Prerequisite: EVPP 607 or equivalent. Uses ecological principles to manage natural resources. Emphasizes hierarchical levels of organization within ecological systems, and management of ecosystems to conserve biodiversity, natural resources, and environment.
681 Introduction to Bioinformatics (3:3:0) Prerequisite: course in molecular biology, or permission of instructor. Overview of methods and tools in bioinformatics including Internet interfaces to sequence databases, methods for performing searches of biological databases, sequence alignment, phylogenetic analysis, other types of DNA sequence analysis, web-based tools, and databases in structural biology.
692 Master's Seminar in Environmental Science and Public Policy (1:1:0) Explores selected topics in environmental science and public policy using lectures, guest lectures, student presentations, and discussions of current literature. Topics vary. May be repeated for credit.
693 Directed Studies in Environmental Science and Public Policy (1-8:0:0) Prerequisite: permission of instructor and chair. Studies topic not otherwise available in graduate program. May involve reading assignments, tutorials, lectures, papers, presentations, and lab or field study determined in consultation with instructor. Short study plan required. May not be used to fulfill explicit undergraduate prerequisites for graduate work.
741 Advanced Topics in Environmental Science and Public Policy (1-4:1-3:0-6) Prerequisite: 8 credits of graduate course work in environmental science and public policy, or permission of instructor. Studies selected advanced topics in environmental science and public policy. Lectures, guest lectures, student presentations, laboratory exercises. Topics vary; each offering has coherent theme. May be repeated for credit if topics significantly differ.
745 Environmental Toxicology (3:3:0) Prerequisites: courses in ecology and physiology, or permission of instructor. Studies nature, distribution, and interaction of toxic chemicals released into environment. Emphasizes effects on nonhuman biota, detection and fate of chemicals, and implications for government regulation.
791 Colloquium in Earth Systems Science (1:1:0) Covers various parts of Earth systems. Invited talks by Mason faculty and primarily Earth science experts in region. Students graded on written reports demonstrating understanding of wide topics covered.
792 Seminar in Earth Systems Science (1:1:0) Prerequisites: 15 graduate credits; and courses on atmosphere, hydrosphere and lithosphere. Seminar for Earth systems science graduate students with background in major systems. Capstone experience. Seminars presented by faculty and students. Topics vary from semester to semester.
793 Research in Environmental Science and Public Policy (1-3:0:0) Prerequisites: 8 graduate credits in EVPP, and permission of instructor and chair. Library, laboratory, or field investigation under supervision of instructor. Short proposal required. May be repeated for total 6 credits.
798 Master's Research Project in Environmental Science and Public Policy (1-3:0:0) Prerequisites: approved project proposal, and permission of instructor and chair. Experimental, observational, literature-based, or theoretical research project chosen and completed under guidance of faculty member. Proposal required before enrollment. Comprehensive report acceptable to student's committee required for completion. Students taking EVPP 798 may receive no more than 6 credits for both EVPP 793 and EVPP 798. Graded S/NC.
799 Master's Thesis in Environmental Science and Public Policy (1-6:0:0) Prerequisites: approved thesis proposal, and permission of instructor and chair. Experimental, observational, or theoretical research under instructor's supervision that culminates in production of thesis. Thesis work should be potentially publishable. No more than 6 credits of EVPP 793 and EVPP 799 may be applied to master's degree. Graded S/NC.
894 Supervised Internship (3-12:0:0) Prerequisite: permission of program director and student's doctoral committee. Training in application of ecological skills to environmental management and policy under supervision of a qualified environmental scientist at governmental agency, consulting firm, industry, or other acceptable organization.
991 Advanced Seminar in Environmental Science (2:2:0) Prerequisite: 8 hours of ecology, or permission of instructor. Topics generally address interface between environmental science and public policy. May be repeated for credit.
998 Doctoral Dissertation Proposal (1-6:0:0) Prerequisite: admission to doctoral candidacy, or approval of doctoral program director. Work on research proposal that forms basis for a doctoral dissertation. Graded S/NC.
999 Doctoral Dissertation Research (1-12:0:0) Prerequisite: approval of dissertation proposal. Research on basic or applied problem in environmental science and public policy. Graded S/NC.
See additional course work under Biology (BIOL), Chemistry (CHEM), Public and International Affairs (PUAD), School of Public Policy (PUBP), Geography (GEOG), and Geology (GEOL)