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In the past, the diverse disciplines addressing environmental issues have developed independently. Research and teaching have reached the point where significant progress requires weaving together elements of formerly disparate disciplines and blurring traditional boundaries. The School brings together a range of natural and social scientists to research important environmental questions. Moreover, because environmental issues arise in legal, political, and business contexts, the School’s faculty also brings together law and business professors who provide perspectives from professional arenas. The Bren School continues to engage in a campaign of faculty recruitment and will appoint several new faculty members over the next few years.
A guiding principle of the School is that the analysis of environmental problems requires quantitative training in more than one discipline and an awareness of the physical, biological, social, political, and economic decisions that arise from scientific or technological decisions.
The Bren School incorporates this view of environmental science and management into its programs and equips students with the scientific knowledge and managerial skills necessary to meet growing environmental challenges. The Bren School strives to provide a truly interdisciplinary program that goes beyond mere coursework in several disciplines to form a coherently integrated program blending teaching, research, and real-world problems.
Christopher Costello, Ph.D., UC Berkeley, Associate Professor (environmental and resource economics, dynamic optimization, quantitative ecology, stochastic modeling)
Frank Davis, Ph.D., Johns Hopkins University, Professor (plant ecology, quantitative biogeography, vegetation remote sensing, ecological applications of remote sensing and geographic information systems, conservation planning, fire ecology)
Magali Delmas, Ph.D., HEC Graduate School of Management, Paris, France, Assistant Professor (corporate environmental mangement, impact of technological and regulatory uncertainties on industry choices)
Jeff Dozier, Ph.D., University of Michigan, Professor (snow hydrology, earth system science, remote sensing and information systems)
Tom Dunne, Ph.D., Johns Hopkins University, Professor (drainage basin and hillslope evolution, hydrology and floodplain sedimentation, applications of hydrology and geomorphology in environmental management)
James Frew, Ph.D., UC Santa Barbara, Associate Professor (applications of computing and information science to large-scale problems in environmental science, including algorithm and component development, information system specification and integration, data management, and digital libraries)
Roland Geyer, Ph.D., University of Surrey, U.K., Assistant Professor (industrial ecology and management science, green supply chain management)
Trish Holden, Ph.D., UC Berkeley, Associate Professor (pathogens in the environment, microbial ecology of pollutant degradation, soil microbiology)
Arturo Keller, Ph.D., Stanford University, Associate Professor (fate and transport of pollutants, development of technologies for containment, remediation, and monitoring)
Bruce Kendall, Ph.D., University of Arizona, Associate Professor (quantitative ecology with a focus on animal and plant population dynamics)
Charles Kolstad, Ph.D., Stanford University, Professor (industry organization and environmental/resource economics, environmental policy, structure of energy markets and environmental regulations)
Matthew Kotchen, Ph.D., University of Michigan, Assistant Professor (environmental and resource economics)
Hunter Lenihan, Ph.D. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Assistant Professor (community, conservation, and restoration ecology, fisheries oceanography, polar and deep-sea biology, adaptive management of marine resources)
John Melack, Ph.D., Duke University, Professor (limnology, biogeochemistry, and remote sensing with active, long-term studies in tropical Brazil and alpine and saline lakes in California)
Catherine Ramus, Ph.D., Université de Lausanne, Switzerland, Assistant Professor (environmental management, organizational behavior, negotiation, public policy)
Oran Young, Ph.D., Yale University, Professor (environmental institutions, governance for sustainable development)
Dennis Aigner, Ph.D., UC Berkeley, Adjunct Professor (econometrics, corporate environmental management)
Lee Hannah, Ph.D., UC Los Angeles, Adjunct Professor (conservation planning, climate change)
Robert Wilkinson, Ph.D., University of California, Santa Barbara, Adjunct Lecturer (water policy, climate change, and environmental policy issues)
Sanjoy Banerjee, Ph.D., University of Waterloo, Canada, Professor (chemical engineering and environmental engineering)
Robert Deacon, Ph.D., University of Washington, Professor (natural resources economics and public finance)
William Freudenberg, Ph.D., Yale University, Professor (environment-society relationships, resource-dependent communities)
Lorelei Moosbrugger, Ph.D., University of California, San Diego, Assistant Professor (environmental politics, public policy, comparative institutions)
Application materials are available from the Bren School and are normally accepted for Fall quarter only. The application deadline for primary consideration and for consideration of School-based financial support is January 10. All other applications will be accepted until March 1, space permitting. Ph.D. applicants who want to be considered for the campus-wide fellowship competition must apply no later than December 15. Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree or equivalent from an accredited institution of higher education and have achieved at least a B average (3.0 on a 4-point scale) for the last two years of study. All applicants are required to submit verbal, quantitative, and analytical Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores. Applicants whose native language is not English must receive a score of at least 550 on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), taken within two years of their application to UCSB. Requests for exceptions to this requirement will be considered for those students who have completed an undergraduate or graduate education at an institution whose primary language of instruction is English.
The Bren School welcomes applicants from prospective students from varied undergraduate majors who seek an intellectually challenging education designed to prepare them for leadership in a variety of careers in environmental problem solving. Applicants should be interested in obtaining broad and balanced training in natural and social science and management and participating in a program that emphasizes quantitative and analytical approaches to assessing and solving environmental problems.
Necessary background for the master’s program includes one year of college-level mathematics, one year of college-level science, a course in microeconomics, and an introductory statistics course. Students lacking some of this preparation may be accepted for admission, but it is expected that deficiencies will be made up prior to entrance by means of formal course work or other arrangements agreed upon by the applicant and the School. A small number of deficiencies may be made up during the first year in residence, but these courses will not count toward the unit requirements for the MESM degree.
Admission to the Ph.D. program is highly competitive and dependent upon acceptance by a faculty sponsor with compatible research interests. To be considered for the Ph.D. program, applicants must have at least a bachelor’s degree or equivalent from an accredited institution, have achieved a B average (3.0 on a 4-point scale) for the last two years of study, and submit verbal, quantitative, and analytical GRE scores. Applicants whose native language is not English must receive a TOEFL score (Test of English as a Foreign Language) of at least 550 on the paper-based version, 213 on the computer version, or 80 on the Internet TOEFL; or a score of at least 7 on the IELTS (International English Language Testing System). TOEFL and IELTS test must be taken within two years of the student’s application to UCSB. Requests for exceptions to this requirement will be considered for those students who have completed an undergraduate or graduate education at an institution whose primary language of instruction is English. To be competitive, Ph.D. applicants must have a high upper-division/graduate GPA, excellent GRE scores, and strong undergraduate/graduate preparatory coursework and/or research. Each faculty sponsor’s entrance criteria beyond these minimum requirements will depend upon his or her research focus. A master’s degree or equivalent is not required for admission.
The Master of Environmental Science and Management (MESM) is a professional degree intended for students who will enter or re-enter the work force after graduation. It is not designed as an intermediate degree for the Ph.D., although MESM graduates will be well prepared for Ph.D. study. Students are trained to work in government agencies, corporations, non-profit organizations, and consulting firms. Bren MESM graduates have a suite of qualities, including clear and critical thinking, leadership skills, professionalism, and creativity, that allow them to be leaders in solving the environmental problems of the 21st century.
The coursework for the master’s degree is multidisciplinary, incorporating courses in natural sciences, social sciences, law, and business. The courses emphasize quantitative and analytic thinking, and train students to identify environmental problems, formulate the proper questions, and design and execute appropriate solutions, taking into account scientific knowledge (and its limits), legal constraints, and the business and social context of the problem. The School also brings in environmental professionals from government, business, and non-profit organizations to ensure that students’ professional development reflects the integration of rigorous academic training with a sound understanding of real-world environmental problems and the needs of clients. The training not only teaches students to tackle current environmental problems, but also fosters their capacity for long-range thinking and prepares them to meet new challenges as they arise.
Degree Requirements
Each student in the MESM program must complete a minimum of 81 units distributed among three curricular components. In many cases, students take more courses than necessary to meet the 81-unit requirement in order to make up for deficiencies in preparation, fulfill course prerequisites, or build greater depth in an area of study.
Core Courses: All students in the master's program take a set of core courses to build an essential broad background. These are normally taken during the first year and currently include: Ecological Principles, Environmental Biogeochemistry, Earth System Science, Economics of Environmental Management, Data Analysis for Environmental Science & Management, Environmental Law & Policy, Organizational Theory & Behavior, Financial Management, and one of the following: Strategic Management and the Public/Private Interface, Environmental Policy Analysis, or Environmental Institutions.
Specialization: The broad understanding provided by the core classes is complemented by an in-depth specialization in an area of environmental science and management. Students choose one of the following specializations: Coastal Marine Resources Management, Conservation Planning, Corporate Environmental Management, Pollution Prevention & Remediation, Political Economy of the Environment, and Water Resources Management. With guidance from their faculty advisors, students design an individual program of study (POS) that is appropriate for the chosen specialization and their particular backgrounds and goals. Students are encouraged to include courses from other departments in their POS as appropriate.
Master's Group Project: All students pursuing the Master of Environmental Science and Management (MESM) must successfully complete a four-quarter capstone Group Project that serves as the master's thesis. Students obtain 12 units for their Group Project by enrolling in ESM 401 A, B, C, and D. Students begin the sequence in spring quarter of their first year. Students work as a team in groups of 4-5 to conduct a comprehensive analysis of an environmental problem that contains both scientific and management challenges and produce a tangible and useful product. Written and oral quarterly progress reports and participation in training workshops are required. At the end of the final quarter, each group must submit a final report and give a formal, public presentation on their project. Projects involving partnerships or links with the public sector, business community, or non-profit organizations are particularly desirable.
Doctor of Philosophy--Environmental Science and Management
The Bren School’s Ph.D. program furthers the School’s mission of educating high-caliber future research professors while simultaneously meeting the urgent need for innovative researchers and problem-solvers in the public and private sectors. The cornerstone of the doctoral degree is an original work of high-quality research that focuses on the diagnosis, assessment, mitigation, management, remediation, and/or prevention of environmental problems of today and the future. The program is designed to accommodate a wide range of research interests, from those highly focused in a particular discipline to those that are strongly interdisciplinary.
The Bren School offers a unique environment, where students and faculty in many branches of environmental science and management are able to interact and create new approaches to environmental problem solving. All faculty engage in research that crosses traditional boundaries, and students are encouraged to do so as well. While crossing of boundaries is encouraged, the traditional requirement that the dissertation be of exceptional quality is upheld, which requires that students become experts in their fields (whether their fields have a multi-disciplinary or disciplinary focus). Students who wish to obtain a stronger multi-disciplinary background before focusing on one research area should enroll in our MESM program and apply to the Ph.D. program in the second year.
The Ph.D. program at the Bren School is a mentoring program. Students should choose the Bren School because their research interests are complementary to those of a specific faculty member or group of faculty.
Degree Requirements
The Ph.D. program requirements are highly individualized. There are no universally required courses for students in the Ph.D. program and no specific unit requirement for the Ph.D. The Ph.D. is not a unit-count degree, but a research degree awarded upon demonstration of academic excellence and performance of original research.
Ph.D. students must form a Ph.D. Committee by the beginning of fall quarter of their second year of study. The committee must include at least two members from the Bren School faculty; at least one member must have greater than 0% appointment. The committee chair must be a member of the Bren School faculty. The Bren School faculty as a whole approve the composition of the Ph.D. committee and review each Ph.D. student’s progress annually.
Ph.D. students complete an individual program of study determined in consultation with their Ph.D. Committee. Normally, at the end of the second year, but no later than the end of the third year, the Ph.D. Committee prepares a written examination that tests the student’s knowledge of his/her specialization in the context of environmental science and management as well as research skills, problem solving skills, and ability to do academic work. After passing the written exams, the student prepares a written dissertation proposal, and the Ph.D. Committee conducts an oral examination. The oral examination is based on the dissertation proposal, readiness to do the required research, and preparation and aptitude for completion of the Ph.D. program. Upon successful completion of the oral examination, the student advances to candidacy. This normally occurs in the third year but must occur no later than the end of the fourth year in the program.
For the Ph.D. degree, students must present a dissertation that demonstrates their ability to contribute significant, independent, and original research in their major field. Upon completion of the dissertation to the satisfaction of the student’s Ph.D. Committee, a public lecture on the research must be presented, followed by a closed-door defense before the Ph.D. Committee.
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200. Case Studies in Interdisciplinary Environmental Problem Solving
(.5) Staff
Examination of case studies illustrating that understanding, solving, and preventing environmental problems requires pooling expertise from multiple disciplines and constructive dialogue between diverse groups.
201. Ecological Principles
(4) Kendall, Davis
Principles of individual ecology, population ecology, community ecology, and ecosystem ecology. Emphasis on applications (conservation, resource management, ecological effects of pollution and habitat fragmentation, etc.).
202. Environmental Biogeochemistry
(4) Keller, Melack
Prerequisites: Chemistry 1A-B-C or equivalent.
Recommended preparation: ESM 203.
Biogeochemical processes as applied to the earth's atmosphere, oceans, land and inland waters, and applications to environmental issues such as eutrophication, toxic pollution, carbon sequestration and acidification.
203. Earth System Science
(4) Dunne, Dozier
Prerequisite: Geography 3 or equivalent.
Energy and mass transport as applied to the atmosphere, oceans, and land and models of the Earth's climate and hydrology.
204. Economics of Environmental Management
(4) Kolstad, Costello
Prerequisite: ESM 251 or equivalent.
Environmental regulation (incentives and command control), asymmetric information (cost revelation and auditing), regulatory incidence, dynamics and discounting, exhaustible and renewable resources, valuation, environmental macroeconomics, trade and the environment, comparative regulatory analysis.
206. Data Analysis for Environmental Science and Management
(4) Kendall
Prerequisite: ESM 250 or equivalent.
Develop skills and conceptual framework to effectively use data to solve practical problems. Topics include descriptive statistics, hypothesis testing, experimental design, exploratory data analysis, probability and uncertainty, time series analysis, and spatial stats. Emphasis on case studies from environmental problems.
207. Environmental Law and Policy
(4) Staff
Basic elements of the legal system as it specifically relates to environmental issues. Study of the different stages and different institutions involved in environmental policy making.
208. Organizational Theory and Behavior
(4) Ramus
Individuals play an important role in leading organizations toward environmental sustainability. Participants learn about their own behaviors which can effectively influence the environmental decision-making of groups, organizations, and society. Course explores both theory and practice.
209. Financial Management
(2) Geyer
Introduction to corporate financial management and reporting. Topics include the function of stock markets, discounted cash flows, investment appraisal, valuation of bonds and stocks, the capital structure decision, the accounting model, financial reporting to stockholders, and financial statement analysis.
210. Strategic Management and the Public/Private Interface
(4) Delmas, Young
Introduces students to business objectives and structure and discusses new strategy models and tools that incorporate principles of environmental management and corporate performance. Focuses on the public/private interface and explores the consequences of environmental regulations and policies.
211. Applied Population Ecology
(4) Kendall
Prerequisite: ESM 201 or equivalent.
Examination of the application of population ecology to conservation of rare species and management of harvested populations. Topics include population regulation, population viability analysis, fisheries management, metapopulation dynamics, and population monitoring.
212. Biological Community Survey and Analysis
(4) Davis
Prerequisite: ESM 201.
Design and execution of field sampling campaigns to characterize, map and inventory plant and animal communities. Includes review of basic sampling theory, measurements for terrestrial vegetation, vertebrate and invertebrate survey methods, multivariate analysis of community data, vegetation and species habitat mapping and modeling.
213. Ecological Effects of Pollutants
(4) Staff
Prerequisites: ESM 201 and 202.
Case study-oriented course examining the effects of pollutants in natural and human-dominated ecosystems. Topics include identification and quantification methods, contaminant sources and effects, predictive methods and restoration.
214. Bioremediation
(4) Holden
Concepts and approaches to correct and alleviate the effects of environmental pollution using biological processes. Biochemical, ecological and physicochemical aspects of remediation and mitigation. Assessing and monitoring applicability/efficacy of biological treatment. Natural and engineered methods for adversely affected biological resources.
214L. Laboratory in Bioremediation
(1) Holden
Prerequisite: ESM 214 (may be taken concurrently).
Familiarization with the systems used for biologically treating nonhazardous and hazardous wastes. Bench scale laboratory exercises demonstrate basic principles at work in biodegradation. Use of biological reactors applicable to both ex situ and in situ treatment.
215. Landscape Ecology
(4) Davis
Prerequisite: ESM 201.
Relationships between spatial patterns in landscape structure (physical, biological, and cultural) and ecological processes. Role of ecosystem pattern in mass and energy transfers, disturbance regimes, species' persistence, and applications of remote sensing and GIS for landscape characterization and modeling.
217. Restoration Ecology
(4) Lenihan
Prerequisite: ESM 201 or equivalent.
Is restoration possible? What degraded ecosystems are good candidates for restoration? Use of ecology to design and implement restorations and the criteria to evaluate their success. Field labs provide students with practical tools to approach these issues.
219. Microbial Processes in the Environment
(4) Holden
Prerequisite: ESM 202 or equivalent.
Microbes are the most abundant organisms on earth and are responsible for most biogeochemical cycling. Who and where are they, what do they do, and how? This course provides an integrated understanding applicable to managing the environment and natural resources.
219L. Laboratory in Microbial Processes
(1) Holden
Prerequisite: ESM 219 (may be taken concurrently).
Introduction to laboratory based tools and techniques for detecting and numerating, and describing what microbes do in natural and polluted samples.
220. Ecological Risk Assessment
(4) Staff
The process of risk assessment and skills required to conduct an ecological risk assessment primarily based on the U.S. EPA guidelines. Focuses on biological aspects and analysis and characterization phases of risk assessment rather than the management of risk.
221. Management of Air Quality
(4) Staff
Application of atmospheric science and chemical fate and transport modeling to the development of plans, policies, and programs for air resources management. Regulatory models for air quality impact assessment. Case studies of current air pollution control strategies.
222. Fate and Transport of Pollutants in the Environment
(4) Keller
Prerequisite: ESM 202.
Transport and biogeochemical transformation of pollutants in the environment. Review of pollutant properties and media characteristics that affect transport, accumulation, and degradation of pollutants. Basic tools for managing pollutants in the environment, including prevention, detection, and remediation.
223. Soil and Groundwater Quality Management
(4) Keller
Prerequisites: ESM 202 and 203.
Recommended preparation: ESM 222 and groundwater hydrology.
Focuses on protection and remediation of contaminated aquifers. Covers the determination of groundwater quality objectives based on risk assessment, approaches for protecting or remediating aquifers and contaminated soils, and cost evaluation of management strategies.
223L. Laboratory in Management of Soil and Groundwater Quality
(1) Keller
Prerequisites: ESM 223 (may be taken concurrently); ESM 222.
A hands-on approach to learning how to sample and treat contaminated soil and groundwater. The series of lab modules covers field sampling, analysis, unit treatment processes and a remediation design project. Students are presented with state-of-the-art technologies for dealing with contamination.
224. Sustainable Watershed Quality Management
(4) Keller
Prerequisites: ESM 202 and 203.
Recommended preparation: ESM 222, and 234 or 235.
Sustainable management requires an evaluation of the capacity of various components of a watershed to assimilate a pollutant load without deterioration. Covers development of a watershed management plan, focused on water quality considerations for human and ecological health.
225. Water Policy
(4) Wilkinson
Prerequisite: Ph.D. and second-year MESM students only.
Explores key water policy issues in the context of science, technology, and the practical management of water systems. Focuses on the nexus of science, technology, economics, law, and the role social and political factors play in the policy process.
228. Environmental Field Methods
(4) Staff
Prerequisite: Ph.D. and second-year MESM students only.
Covers various field techniques related to evaluation of water quality, sampling environmental matrices, and collection of biota. Class work focuses on experimental design and instrument theory. Field trips and labs provide exposure to sampling techniques and data manipulation.
232. Environmental Modeling
(4) Costello
Prerequisites: ESM 250 or equivalent.
No previous computer experience required.
Introduction to the development, evaluation, interpretation and presentation of models as applied to environmental problems. Course consists of theory and many practical examples building and interpreting models using computers.
234. River Systems
(4) Dunne
Prerequisite: ESM 203.
Hydrologic and geomorphic basis of environmental management problems concerning large river systems. Analysis of the processes of flooding, sedimentation, and morphological change in channels, floodplains, deltas, and alluvial fans. Effects of climate, land use, and engineering.
235. Watershed Analysis
(4) Dunne
Prerequisite: ESM 203.
Hydrologic and geomorphic basis of environmental management problems concerning land surfaces and channels in small drainage basins, including the effects of land use and engineering. Emphasis placed on the use of theory and field methods.
236. The Mountain Snowpack
(3) Dozier
Prerequisites: ESM 203, intermediate skiing ability, and consent of instructor.
Intensive field, laboratory and classroom study of physical processes in the mountain snowpack. Snow accumulation and ablation, metamorphism, physical and chemical properties, and remote sensing. Role of snow in watershed hydrology, water resources and recreation. Normally offered spring break.
241. Environmental Politics and Policymaking
(4) Staff
The politics of environmental policymaking from agenda formation to the stage of implementation, assessment, and reforms. Emphasis on national and state level policymaking in the U.S. coupled with a consideration of interactions across levels of social organization and comparisons across socio-political systems.
242. Natural Resource Economics and Policy
(4) Costello
Prerequisite: ESM 204 or equivalent.
Economic principles and policy issues of the use of exhaustible and renewable resources including fossil fuels, water, minerals, fisheries, forests, and biodiversity. Management of resource markets on regional and international scale.
243. Environmental Policy Analysis
(4) Kolstad
Developing and analyzing environmental policies involves balancing social, political, and economic considerations. Course covers this process, including problem identification, formation of alternative policy responses, methods of analyzing and selecting the most appropriate policy response, and effective communication of results to clients/policymakers.
245. Cost-Benefit Analysis an Nonmarket Valuation
(4) Kotchen
Prerequisite: ESM 204.
Economic theory of environmental policy, with special emphasis on the role of cost-benefit analysis. Techniques for estimating economic values for nonmarket environmental resources. Case studies involving ecosystem protection, pollution control, and other topics to illustrate the necessary analytical tools.
246. International Environmental Economics
(4) Staff
Prerequisite: ESM 251 or equivalent.
Efficiency of government policies aimed at trans-jurisdictional environmental problems; links between environmental quality and patterns of international trade and investment; arguments for and against international harmonization of environmental policy; limitations placed on local environmental policy by World Trade Organization rules.
247. Governance for Sustainable Development
(4) Young
Examination of the demand for governance in conjunction with efforts to achieve environmental, economic, and social goals. Special attention to alternative approaches to the supply of governance at the global level as well as to interaction between governance systems addressing distinct issues.
248. Environmental Institutions: Rights, Rules, and Decision-Making Systems
(4) Young
Comparative study of management systems or regimes addressing natural resources and environmental concerns and operating at scales ranging from local to global. Topics include characterization of individual regimes and factors affecting the formation, evolution, and effectiveness of these institutional arrangements.
250. Analytical Methods
(4) Holden
Introduction to analytical methods used to solve environmental problems. Topics include calculus and differential equations. Emphasis on proper documentation of problem statements and solutions.
251. Microeconomics Principles for Environmental Management
(2) Kotchen
Instructs students how to think like economists and to formulate policy questions using simple economic tools. Topics include: The market forces of supply and demand, efficiency of private markets, the costs of taxation, externalities and public goods.
253. Ecology of Lakes and Wetlands
(4) Melack
Prerequisite: ESM 202.
An examination of ecological aspects of lakes, wetlands, and their catchments integrating biogeochemical processes, biological-physical coupling, and population and community ecology. Applications of remote sensing and ecological models; human-caused impacts and their management.
257. Coastal Marine Policy
(4) Staff
Conceptual approaches and analytical tools used in marine ecosystems management, marine biodiversity protection, and integrative watershed planning. Review of relevant international, federal, and state marine policies and programs.
259. The Role of Law in Coastal Zone Management
(4) Staff
The role of law in protecting and allocating natural resources in the coastal zone. Property rights, market mechanisms, social norms and regulatory systems that compose California's coastal management regime and comparisons with law and practice in other jurisdictions, nationally and internationally.
260. Applied Marine Ecology
(4) Lenihan
Prerequisite: ESM 201.
The application of ecological principles and methods to environmental problems in marine ecosystems. Emphasis is placed on design and execution of field sampling and experiments to access biological impacts of antheopogenic disturbances and restoration activities. Concepts illustrated with case studies.
261. Management of Scientific Data
(4) Frew
Theory, techniques, and tools for managing heterogenous scientific information. Database architectures and data models. Metadata standards and data characterization. Design and use of relational databases. Aspects of the science data life cycle: collection, storage, search, retrieval, analysis, presentation.
262. Distributed Scientific Information Systems
(4) Frew
Impacts of computer networks, both local and global, on scientific information. Architecture and implications of the World Wide Web. Electronic publishing and digital libraries. Theory, techniques, and tools for networked information.
263. Geographic Information Systems
(4) Frew
Advanced introduction to geographic information system (GIS) theory and technology, emphasizing spatial analysis and cartographic presentation. Typical algorithms and data structures. Role of GIS in environmental information management. Integration of GIS with other analytical tools.
266. Remote Sensing of the Environment
(4) Dozier
Prerequisites: ESM 203.
Advanced introduction to remote sensing theory, technology, and applications in environmental science and management. Survey of principles and analytical methods throughout the electromagnetic spectrum. Integration of remote sensing with other tools.
270. Conservation Planning and Priority Setting
(4) Davis
Prerequisite: ESM 201.
Analytical approaches that can be used to direct energy and resources toward conservation that yields the greatest return on investment. Case studies of how government agencies, international multilateral institution and non-governmental agencies identify where to invest their conservation efforts.
275. Principles and Practice of Environmental Planning
(4) Staff
Principles, concepts, and techniques of environmental planning at the state, regional, and local government levels, with emphasis on emerging trends in addressing environmental problems. Green plans, sustainable communities, coastal planning, agricultural land preservation, smart development, new urbanism, and mitigation monitoring.
276. Ethical Decision-Making for the Environment
(4) Staff
Ethical and legal issues surrounding environmental decision-making by individuals and in organizations. Environmental challenges facing public, non-profit and for-profit organizations. Analysis of behavior according to ethical standards; examination of opportunities for corporate social responsibility and initiatives; application of ethical frameworks to decision-making.
277. The Law of Environmental Management
(4) Staff
Prerequisite: ESM 207.
Knowledge and skills for regulatory analysis. How to deal with administrative materials and communicate with key players. Compliance, compliance counseling and the enforcement process. Environmental implications of product development, business or process expansion, and environmental aspects of typical business transactions.
278. International Environmental Law
(2-4) Staff
Prerequisite: ESM 207.
Even with hundreds of environmental treaties, most measures of global environmental quality continue to deteriorate. Using case studies (climate, ozone, etc.), students analyze successes/failures of international environmental law for promoting sustainable development, and debate reforms for more equitable development within ecosystem limits.
281. Corporate Environmental Management
(4) Delmas
Prerequisite: ESM 210.
Prepares students to use creatively conceptual tools and management strategies to improve the environmental performances of firms. Corporate, societal, and political barriers to implementing these innovative strategies will be analyzed and methods for overcoming these constraints discussed.
282. Industrial Ecology
(4) Geyer
Methods for evaluating the environmental performance of businesses, products, and processes are examined through case studies, including analyses of industrial material flows, energy flows, environmental performance metrics, life cycle assessments and design for environmental methodologies.
283. Environmental Negotiation
(4) Ramus
Strategic negotiations take place daily. Their successful outcome depends on the competence of the negotiators. Using environmental case studies and negotiation exercises, course participants gain a hands-on understanding of the negotiation process and how they can influence it.
284. Environmental Accounting and Financial Management
(3) Staff
Prerequisite: ESM 209.
Introduction to environmental accounting and its role in corporate financial management. Extensive use of case studies allows consideration of environmental accounting's role in corporate financial reporting, the management and control of enterprises, and environmental accounting in long-term investment decisions.
286. Environmental Risk Management
(4) Moore
Theory and practice of managing exposure to environmental risks from a positive and normative perspective. Emphasis on the roles of science, politics, management, and how these forces interact. Real-world business cases reveal decision problems faced by environmental risk managers.
288. Energy, Technology and the Environment
(4) Geyer
Covers the main physical principles of energy conversion and the environmental impacts related to it. Also explores the balance between resource availability and demand, and the relationship between energy use and technology.
290. Theoretical Hydrology
(4) Dunne
Prerequisite: Ph.D. standing.
A review of the main theoretical principles that describe the current understanding of the hydrologic cycle.
291. Fluvial Geomorphology
(4) Dunne
Prerequisite: Ph.D. standing.
Review of theoretical and empirical studies of landscape evolution by stream erosion and deposition. Hydraulic, sedimentological, and morphological characteristics of streams and valley floors.
292. Hillslope Geomorphology
(4) Dunne
Prerequisite: Ph.D. standing.
Review of theoretical and empirical studies of hillslope evolution. Hydrologic and geotechnical aspects of hillslope erosion.
294. Advanced Special Topics in Environmental Law
(2-4) Staff
May be repeated for credit with changes in content.
Advanced topic in environmental law.
295. Business Management and Policy
(4) Staff
Prerequisite: open only to Graduate Program in Management Practice (GPMP) participants.
Management theory and practice as both a science and an art. The role of managers in the current world of rapid change and increased competitive forces and increased expectations for the successful performance of employees and organizations.
296. Advanced Special Topics in Environmental Management
(2-4) Staff
Covers advanced special topics in environmental management.
297. Advanced Special Topics in Environmental Policy
(2-4) Staff
Covers advanced special topics in environmental policy.
299. Advanced Special Topics in Environmental Science
(2-4) Staff
Advanced topics in environmental science.
401A-B-C-D. Group Project in Environmental Science and Management
(3-4-4-1) Staff
In-progress course with grades awarded for all four courses upon completion of ESM 401D.
Group study of environmental problems with scientific and management challenges.
410. Internship Practicum
(1) Staff
Prerequisite: completion of a summer internship.
Students complete a summer internship, prepare a short paper and present internship experiences to the Bren School community through an informal presentation.
420. Colloquium in Environmental Science and Management
(.5) Staff
On-going colloquium on issues, case studies, and professions in environmental science and management.
425. Workshop in Career Development
(.5) Staff
Prerequisite: open to first year MESM students only.
Focuses on skills that assist students in their internship and job searches.
430. Workshop in Environmental Science and Management
(.5-1.0) Staff
Workshops to develop professional skills for careers in environmental science and management.
436. Legal Issues in Environmental Problem Solving
(.5-1.0) Staff
May be repeated for credit with changes in content.
Workshops to expose students to a range of legal subject areas and to develop unique skills.
437. Writing Skills for Environmental Professionals
(.5-2.0) Staff
May be repeated for credit with changes in content.
Workshops to expose students to a range of technical and business writing.
595AA-ZZ. Group Studies
(2-4) Staff
May be repeated for credit provided letter designations are different.
A. Hydrology/Geomorphology
B. Snow Science
C. Environmental Biogeochemistry
D. Watershed Quality Management
E. Environmental ProblemsScience and Solutions
F. Advances in Pollution Prevention
G. Advances in Applied Ecology
H. Human Dominated Ecosystems
I. Coastal Marine Science and Management
J. Environmental Microbiology
K. Environmental Information
L. Ecological Risk Assessment & Environmental Technology
AA. Hydrology/Geomophology (PhD Level)
BB. Snow Science (PhD Level)
DD. Watershed Quality Management (PhD Level)
EE. Aquatic Ecology (PhD level)
FF. Environmental Economics (PhD level)
GG. Applied Ecology (PhD Level)
II. Institutions and Environment (PhD Level)
JJ. Environmental Microbiology (PhD Level)
MM. Environmental Management (PhD Level)
PP. Research Presentations (PhD Level)
XX. Ecotoxicology (PhD level)
596. Directed Readings and Research
(2-12) Staff
Prerequisite: consent of instructor.
Individualized reading and research. A written proposal for each tutorial must be approved by the School.
597. Individual Study for Ph.D. Examinations
(1-12) Staff
Prerequisite: consent of instructor and graduate advisor.
No unit credit allowed toward advanced degree.
Individual study for Ph.D. examinations. Instructor should be student's major professor or chair of the doctoral committee.
599. Ph.D. Dissertation Research and Preparation
(1-12) Staff
Prerequisite: consent of instructor and graduate advisor.
No credit allowed toward advanced degrees.
Research toward and writing of dissertation. Instructor should be chair of student's doctoral committee.
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