Dec 03, 2024

2011-2012 CU Denver Catalog

2011-2012 CU Denver Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Environmental Sciences MS

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► Graduate School Rules apply to this program

Program Director: John Wyckoff
Associate Program Director: Jon Barbour
Office: North Classroom, 3622
Telephone: 303-556-4520
Fax: 303-556-6197
E-mail: Jon.Barbour@ucdenver.edu
Web site: clas.ucdenver.edu/ges/mses.html

Faculty Affiliates to the M.S. in Environmental Sciences Program

Professors:

Larry Anderson, chemistry
Lloyd Burton, School of Public Affairs
N. Y. Chang, civil engineering
James C. Y. Guo, civil engineering
Lynn Johnson, civil engineering
John A. Lanning, chemistry
Anu Ramaswami, civil engineering
Diana F. Tomback, integrative biology

Associate Professors:

Leo P. Bruederle, integrative biology
Frederick B. Chambers, geography and environmental science
Greg Cronin, integrative biology
Glenn T. Morris, political science
Timberly M. Roane, integrative biology
Deborah S. K. Thomas, geography and environmental science
John W. Wyckoff, geography and environmental science

Assistant Professors:

Casey Allen, geography and environmental science
Michael J. Green, integrative biology
Rafael Moreno-Sanchez, geography and environmental science
Bryan S. Wee, geography and environmental science

Instructors/Adjunct Faculty:

Jon Barbour, geography and environmental science
James Tindall, U. S. Geological Survey

Environmental sciences is a multidisciplinary study of the environment, housed in the Department of Geography and Environmental Sciences. Academic fields involved in environmental sciences include chemistry, biology and ecology, physics, geology, geography, anthropology, engineering, political science, law, economics and the health sciences. Students planning to pursue the MS in environmental sciences must either have earned a bachelor’s degree or have taken significant course work in the natural/physical sciences or engineering and completed several other prerequisites (see the following graduate information). Graduate-level certificates in environmental sciences are also offered. The certificates may be earned stand-alone or as options in the MS in environmental sciences.

Environmental careers encompass a broad range of professions, from those with a strong foundation in the natural/physical sciences or engineering to those based in the social sciences and/or humanities. Students interested in environmental issues and careers should investigate the whole field before deciding which course to follow. At CU Denver, the MS in environmental sciences emphasizes the natural/physical sciences and engineering with the addition of the social sciences and humanities.

The MS in environmental sciences degree is designed to provide training in engineering, natural/physical sciences and socioeconomic analysis. The goals of the program are to (1) enhance the interdisciplinary communication and analytical skills of the student, and (2) provide a multidisciplinary approach for more intensive study of a particular environmental issue. Students will receive instruction in the physical and biological dynamics of various ecosystems, environmental engineering and socioeconomic issues associated with environmental analysis.

Graduates of the environmental sciences program are involved in many different areas, such as reviewing environmental impact statements, monitoring groundwater quality and communicating with the public. Many students have found employment in various agencies (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Geological Survey, Colorado State Department of Public Health and Environment) and private-sector environmental and engineering firms.

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Requirements for Admission

The program is for students who either have baccalaureate degrees or significant background in one of the natural/physical sciences or engineering. In addition, minimum undergraduate science and math requirements are:

one semester of calculus and one semester of upper-division statistics (if applicant is missing the statistics course, he/she can be admitted but must take ENVS 5600, Applied Statistics, or an approved statistics course as an elective before receiving the MS in environmental sciences degree)
two semesters general chemistry with lab
one semester physics
two semesters general biology with lab

If only two semesters of the six prerequisite courses are lacking, students may be admitted, but must take them in the first year in the program. Applicants who have fulfilled all prerequisites have a better chance of acceptance. Applicants may be required to take additional prerequisite courses (necessary for completing particular core or elective courses). The prerequisite courses will not count toward the MS in environmental sciences degree. As part of the admission review process, applicants are required to submit a graduate application, a minimum of three letters of recommendation and transcripts from all institutions previously attended. UC Denver has a minimum requirement of a 3.0 undergraduate GPA for applicants to the Graduate School. The program admits new students for the fall semester only, and the number of students admitted to the program depends, in part, on space availability. Applicants must submit all materials by the March 1 deadline.

Financial Aid

There are three types of financial aid available: tuition assistance; research assistantship positions funded by grants to specific program faculty; and the regular package of financial aid (primarily loans) available through the financial aid office on the Denver campus. Incoming students will be automatically considered for program-distributed tuition assistance at the time of admission to the program. Continuing students will be regularly apprised of available aid and positions. Students interested in research assistantships should consult individual faculty with whom they wish to work regarding potential assistantship positions. All other aid should be requested through the CU Denver Financial Aid Office, North Classroom, 1030, Campus Box 125, P.O. Box 173364, Denver, CO 80217-3364. Telephone: 303-556-2886.

Internships

Students in the MS in environmental sciences program are strongly encouraged to contact the Experiential Learning Center for internships and paid positions related to environmental sciences. The Experiential Learning Center is located in the Tivoli Student Union, Suite 260. Telephone: 303-556-2250. Many students have had internships in federal agencies, such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Geological Survey.

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Program Requirements

The MS in environmental sciences is a 39-hour program that provides students with two alternate plans: Plan I requires a thesis, while Plan II is a nonthesis program. General requirements for the program include: a set of core courses (18 semester hours), the MS in environmental sciences seminar course (ENVS 6002, 3 semester hours), and elective courses (12 semester hours minimum). Students choosing Plan I must also complete 6 hours of thesis, while those choosing Plan II must complete 6 hours of additional elective course work. Students opting for Plan II are encouraged to enroll in 3 hours of independent study (ENVS 6840) as one of their electives.

The degree is offered through the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences with the cooperation of the College of Engineering and Applied Science. In addition, some courses offered by the College of Architecture and Planning, the School of Public Affairs and the Business School are relevant and applicable to the program.

Required Core Courses

Fall

CVEN 5401 - Introduction to Environmental Engineering gtPATHWAYS:
ENVS 5030 - Environmental Geology gtPATHWAYS:
ENVS 6200 - Risk Assessment gtPATHWAYS:

Spring

BIOL 5445 - Applied Environmental Biology gtPATHWAYS:
CHEM 5700 - Environmental Chemistry gtPATHWAYS:
GEOG 5440 - Science, Policy and the Environment gtPATHWAYS:

Total: 18 Hours

The core courses are to be taken first upon entry into the program. They are the foundation for other courses in environmental sciences.

Seminar Course

Students are required to register for ENVS 6002, Environmental Sciences Seminar, in the first fall semester they are enrolled in the MS in environmental sciences program. The seminar serves as an introduction to the program and helps students to develop research skills and further their professional development.

ENVS 6002 - Environmental Sciences Seminar gtPATHWAYS:

Elective Courses

(See the MS in Environmental Sciences website for a complete list of elective courses for the MS in environmental sciences program.)

Students, with the coordinator and/or an advisor, will complete a program plan that will include 12-18 semester hours of elective requirements that will meet their interests. Students may choose to use four of the electives to fulfill one of the following options offered in environmental sciences: air quality, ecosystems, environmental health, environmental science education, geospatial analysis, hazardous waste and water quality. Students must have the prerequisites for each course and must meet the requirements listed in the notes below. Contact the option advisor for the particular option of interest before starting. Upon graduation, the option will be noted on the student’s transcript.

Following are the requirements for each environmental sciences option:

AIR QUALITY OPTION

Option Advisor: Jon Barbour
Telephone: 303-556-4520
E-mail: Jon.Barbour@ucdenver.edu

Required Courses

CHEM 5710 - Air Pollution Chemistry gtPATHWAYS:
ENVS 5730 - Air Quality Modeling and Analysis gtPATHWAYS:

Total: 6 Hours

Electives

Choose two:

CHEM 5720 - Atmospheric Sampling and Analysis gtPATHWAYS:
CVEN 5800 - Special Topics gtPATHWAYS:
(when Air Pollution Control is the topic)
URPL 6686 - Special Topics: Urban and Regional Planning gtPATHWAYS:
(when Air Quality Planning and Policy is the topic)

Total: 6 Hours

Option Total: 12 Hours

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ECOSYSTEMS OPTION*

Option Advisor: Casey Allen
Telephone: 303-556-6007
E-mail: Casey.Allen@ucdenver.edu

Required Courses

BIOL 5415 - Microbial Ecology gtPATHWAYS:
ENVS 5010 - Landscape Geochemistry gtPATHWAYS:

Total: 6 Hours

Electives

Choose two:

BIOL 5050 - Advanced Biology Topics gtPATHWAYS:
(when Seminar in Aquatic Ecology is the topic)
BIOL 5154 - Conservation Biology gtPATHWAYS:
ENVS 5500 - Topics in Environmental Sciences gtPATHWAYS:
(when Ecological Risk Assessment is the topic) (See Note 2)
ENVS 6220 - Toxicology gtPATHWAYS:
(see Note 2)
GEOG 5060 - Remote Sensing I: Introduction to Environmental Remote Sensing gtPATHWAYS:

Total: 6 Hours

Option Total: 12 Hours

* BIOL 5445, Applied Environmental Biology, is required as a prerequisite for the ecosystems option.

ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH OPTION*

Option Advisor: Deborah Thomas
Telephone: 303-556-5292
E-mail: Deborah.Thomas@ucdenver.edu

Required Courses

ENVS 6220 - Toxicology gtPATHWAYS:
(see Note 2) (fall, even years)
ENVS 6230 - Environmental Epidemiology gtPATHWAYS:
(spring, even years)

Total: 6 Hours

Electives

Choose two:

ANTH 4010 - Global Health Studies I: The Biocultural Basis of Health gtPATHWAYS:
ENVS 5500 - Topics in Environmental Sciences gtPATHWAYS:
(when Ecological Risk Assessment is the topic) (See Note 2)
ENVS 6210 - Human Health and Environmental Pollution gtPATHWAYS:
(spring, odd years)
PUAD 5633 - Seminar in Natural Resource and Environmental Health Law gtPATHWAYS:

Total: 6 Hours

Option Total: 12 Hours

* ENVS 6200, Risk Assessment, is required as a prerequisite for the environmental health option.

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ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE EDUCATION OPTION

Option Advisor: Bryan Wee
Telephone: 303-315-4992
E-mail: bryan.wee@ucdenver.edu

Required Courses

ENVS 5500 - Topics in Environmental Sciences gtPATHWAYS:
(when Survey of Field Methods is the topic)
Choose one from the following:
ELED 5340 - Multicultural Science Education gtPATHWAYS:
ENVS 5340 - Multicultural Science Education gtPATHWAYS:
SECE 5340 - Multicultural Science Education gtPATHWAYS:

Total: 6 Hours

Electives:

Choose two:

ANTH 5170 - Culture and the Environment gtPATHWAYS:
BIOL 5154 - Conservation Biology gtPATHWAYS:
COMM 5282 - Environmental Communication gtPATHWAYS:
GEOG 5335 - Contemporary Environmental Issues gtPATHWAYS:
GEOG 5350 - Environment and Society in the American Past gtPATHWAYS:
Or another elective approved by the option advisor

Total: 6 Hours

Option Total: 12 Hours

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GEOSPATIAL ANALYSIS OPTION*

Option Advisor: Rafael Moreno
Telephone: 303-556-3762
E-mail: Rafael.Moreno@ucdenver.edu

Required Courses

GEOG 5080 - Introduction to GIS gtPATHWAYS:
GEOG 5090 - Environmental Modeling with Geographic Information Systems gtPATHWAYS:

Total: 6 Hours

Electives

Choose two:

CVEN 5382 - GIS Spatial Database Development gtPATHWAYS:
CVEN 5385 - GIS Relational Database Systems gtPATHWAYS:
CVEN 5386 - GIS Laboratory gtPATHWAYS:

Total: 6 Hours

Option Total: 12 Hours

* GEOG 3080, Introduction to Mapping and Map Analysis, is required as a prerequisite of the geospatial analysis option.

For more information, contact the option advisor or Jon Barbour at 303-556-4520, Jon.Barbour@ucdenver.edu.

HAZARDOUS WASTE OPTION*

Option Advisor: Anu Ramaswami
Telephone: 303-556-4734
E-mail: Anu.Ramaswami@ucdenver.edu

Required Courses

CVEN 5480 - Hazardous Wastes and Site Remediation gtPATHWAYS:
CVEN 5800 - Special Topics gtPATHWAYS:
(when Hazardous Waste Regulations is the topic)

Total: 6 Hours

Electives

Choose two:

BIOL 5051 - Advanced Topics In Microbiology gtPATHWAYS:
CVEN 5402 - Integrated Environmental Modeling gtPATHWAYS:
ENVS 5403 - Unsaturated Zone Hydrology gtPATHWAYS:

Total: 6 Hours

Option Total: 12 Hours

*CVEN 5401, Introduction to Environmental Engineering, is required as a prerequisite for the hazardous waste option.

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WATER QUALITY OPTION*

Option Advisor: John Wyckoff
Telephone: 303-556-2590
E-mail: John.Wyckoff@ucdenver.edu

Required Courses

Choose two:

BIOL 5416 - Aquatic Ecology gtPATHWAYS:
ENVS 5280 - Environmental Hydrology gtPATHWAYS:
ENVS 5410 - Aquatic Chemistry gtPATHWAYS:

Total: 6 Hours

Electives

Choose two:

CVEN 5333 - Applied Hydrology gtPATHWAYS:
CVEN 5334 - Groundwater Hydrology gtPATHWAYS:
CVEN 5343 - Open Channel Hydraulics gtPATHWAYS:
CVEN 5393 - Water Resources Development and Management gtPATHWAYS:
ENVS 5280 - Environmental Hydrology gtPATHWAYS: (if not selected as one of the required courses)
ENVS 5403 - Unsaturated Zone Hydrology gtPATHWAYS:

Total: 6 Hours

Option Total: 12 Hours

*CHEM 5700, Environmental Chemistry, or appropriate chemistry background is required as a prerequisite of the water quality option.

Notes:

Many of the courses have prerequisites; student must check the catalog for prerequisite requirements for these courses. Some options have a prerequisite course requirement.
One course may not be used for more than one option, even if it is listed in several options. Other courses may be offered that will be acceptable as electives with approval of the option advisor and the director of the program.
No more than three courses may be from any one discipline (excluding ENVS); i.e., chemistry, biology, civil engineering.
Courses used by the student to fulfill a core requirement may not be used to fulfill the options.
All work submitted for the environmental sciences options must have a grade of B (3.0) or better.
All courses for the environmental sciences options must be completed at the Denver campus.
Courses applied to either a certificate* or an MS degree may later be applied toward the other if all pertinent course work is completed within a five-year time period.

* The above options of the program may be taken to earn a corresponding environmental sciences certificate. However, certificates may be earned without entrance into the MS in environmental sciences program. (See the Environmental Sciences Graduate Certificate description).

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