ENSC - Environmental Sciences

To introduce new majors to the program requirements in environmental science. To provide guidance on what it will take to be a successful student in the department, and to introduce students to the faculty, department, and university resources available to them. This course does not count toward the total hours required for graduation.

Course uses basic principles of biology and earth science as a context for understanding environmental policies and resource management practices.

Laboratory course to accompany ENSC 1000. Additional laboratory fee required; see semester course schedule for amount.

Prerequisite: Permission of department. Consideration of topics in which courses are not otherwise offered, but for which there is a current need at the freshman/sophomore level. This course is repeatable for credit.

Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor. Specific course topics will vary depending on the instructor. Students will take part in introductory undergraduate research projects that pertain to environmental science. This course is repeatable for credit. (This course is equivalent to BIOL 2999.)

Studies in selected field of biology and/or environmental science requiring preparation of a scientific paper or papers and at least one oral presentation by each student. This course is equivalent to BIOL 3000.

Prerequisites: ECON 2105 & 2106, or ECON 2100. A study of how economic forces can lead to environmental degradation and how the same forces can be directed to enhance environmental quality. Topics include resource and environmental valuations, property rights and externalities, market failure, alternative solutions and policies, problems in monitoring and enforcement, economic analysis of the development of legislation and regulation, and applications to current policy issues. (This course is equivalent to ECON 3680).

Prerequisite: BIOL 2800. An introduction to the principles of landscape ecology, emphasizing how spatial heterogeneity and human activities influence ecological systems and the use of Geographic Information science techniques to analyze ecological patterns at the landscape level.

Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor. Specific course topics will vary depending on the instructor. Students will take part in undergraduate research projects that pertain to environmental science. This course is repeatable for credit. (This course is equivalent to BIOL 3999.)

A survey of the human geography of natural hazards, with emphasis on the U.S. Examines the fundamental concepts and issues regarding natural hazard risk and how environmental risk arises from the complex interaction between the physical environment and human society. (This course is equivalent to GEOG 4120).

A study of wetlands environments including an examination of physical properties, functions and values, and geographic variety and distribution. (This course is equivalent to GEOG 4130).

Prerequisite: CHEM 1211, BIOL 2200, or BIOL 2800. This course will provide students with a general understanding of toxicology as related to the environment. Fundamental concepts to be covered include the fate, transport, and biotransformation of toxic compounds; their biological targets and mechanisms; and risk assessment as related to the environmental sustainability. (This course is equivalent to BIOL 4260).

A study of the political and economic implications of environmental problems both on a national and international level. (This course is equivalent to POLS 4415).

Prerequisite: BIOL 2800. Taxonomy, morphology, life history, ecology, and distribution of fishes. Laboratory deals with taxonomy and natural history of fishes found in central Georgia. This course has a laboratory fee. (This course is equivalent to BIOL 4480).

Prerequisites: ENSC 1000, ENSC 1000L, GEOL 1121, GEOL 1121L, CHEM 1211, CHEM 1211L, CHEM 1212, CHEM 1212L. Physical, chemical and biological properties of soils as they affect soil-plant-water relations, soil classification and suitability for agricultural and other uses; Interaction of soils with environmental contaminants and the role of soils in pollution control. Additional laboratory fee required; see semester course schedule for amount.

Prerequisite: BIOL 2800. An introduction to quantitative, theoretical and applied population and community ecology including population dynamics, species interactions and community structure.

Theories and principles concerning regional patterns of plant and animal distributions. (Equivalent to BIOL 4710).

Prerequisite: BIOL 1100. A consideration of major environmental questions of today's world and the ecological aspects relating to the conservation of man's renewable and non-renewable resources. (Cross-listed as GEOG 4740.) This course has a laboratory fee. (This course is equivalent to BIOL 4740).

Prerequisites: BIOL 1107 or ENSC 1000 and 1000L. A study of interaction of microorganisms with their environment. Emphasis on microorganisms of terrestrial and aquatic environments, and environmental determinants that control their distribution, activities, and cross-interactions in these environments. (This course is equivalent to BIOL 4750).

Prerequisites: BIOL 1108/1108L. Plant Taxonomy provides the content and training needed to equip environmental science students with the skills required to identify vascular plants and use taxonomic data within the context of their profession. This course is not appropriate for biology majors and excludes in depth coverage of evolutionary processes and phylogenetics of vascular plants. This course has a laboratory fee.

Prerequisite: BIOL 2700. An introduction to field techniques for studying birds, e.g., field identification by sight and song, census taking, developing a field study. This course has a laboratory fee. (This course is equivalent to BIOL 4770).

Prerequisite: BIOL 2800. The study of freshwater organisms, their identification, natural history, and environmental relationships. Particular emphasis will be given to lotic systems. This course has a laboratory fee. (This course is equivalent to BIOL 4780).

Prerequisites: BIOL 1108/1108L. A survey of field techniques used to sample nongame wildlife to include experimental design, data collection, field notes, and final report writing. Group field project required. This course has a laboratory fee. This course is equivalent to BIOL 4860.

Consideration of topics in which courses are not offered otherwise, but for which there is current need. Subject matter varies. This course is repeatable for credit.

Prerequisite: Selection for participation in a University-approved internship program. An individually designed off-campus course involving study, research, and/or work in a science position. This course is repeatable for credit.

Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor. This course can count as a capstone for environmental science seniors. Course topics will vary depending on the instructor and location of the course. This course is repeatable for credit. (This course is equivalent to BIOL 4980.)

Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor. This course can count as a capstone for environmental science seniors. Specific course topics will vary depending on the instructor. Students will take part in advanced undergraduate research projects that pertain to environmental science. This course is repeatable for credit. (This course is equivalent to BIOL 4999).

A study of the nature of natural resources, their distribution, usage, and renewal. Addresses concepts that define resources and their allocation, the geographic dimensions of natural resources, as well as the effects of their exploitation. Topics may include forests, fisheries, minerals, natural amenities, tourism, water resources, human-environmental interaction, resource evaluation, and institutional influences on resource use and management. (Equivalent to GEOG 4400).

A study of the basic principles of ecology, resource economics, and environmental history as they relate to environmental management and resource conservation issues around the world. Addresses the social impacts of air, water, and soil pollution, human population growth, food production, deforestation, and many other environmental issues. (Equivalent to GEOG 4450).