Environmental Science
Department of Environmental Science
Chairperson: George P. Cobb
Graduate Program Director: Erica D. Bruce
The Department of Environmental Science offers three degree options:
- Master of Science in environmental science for students with a Bachelor of Science degree
- Master of Environmental Studies for students with a Bachelor of Arts degree
- Master of Environmental Studies, non-thesis option for students with a Bachelor of Arts degree
- Doctor of Philosophy in environmental science
Bachelor of Arts majors in a science discipline may petition for the Master of Science in environmental science.
The Environmental Science department welcomes graduate student candidates with diverse academic backgrounds. Students from majors such as anthropology, aviation science, biology, chemistry, engineering, geography, science education, and policy are encouraged to apply. The department has developed a graduate core course sequence open to students with graduate standing in all environmental fields.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ENV 5342 | Ecological Risk Assessment | 3 |
| ENV 5303 | Environmental Chemical Analysis | 3 |
| ENV 5368 | Integrated Energy Resource Systems | 3 |
| ENV 5379 | Ecosystem Management | 3 |
The program offers advanced courses in specialized areas such as water resources, natural resource management, environmental toxicology, and environmental chemistry. Under the direction of a major advisor, graduate students may either focus their course work in a specific area, such as water quality, or they may pursue courses that provide a broad background in environmental issues. Graduate students may also take courses offered in other departments, such as Biology, Chemistry, and Geology, if the courses are appropriate to environmental science or studies and the graduate student’s professional goals.
Financial assistance is available for departmental graduate students in the form of teaching assistantships, research assistantships, and scholarships. Loans and other types of aid are available through the Student Financial Aid Office.
Students selecting a thesis option may conduct research in the Waco area, outside the region or internationally. Environmental Science graduate students have conducted research in Asia, Europe, and Central America. Departmental laboratory facilities provide instrumentation and computer support in geographic information systems, computer modeling, water quality analysis, air quality monitoring, and biofuels production. The program engages in field research in a variety of ecosystems, including riparian corridors, reservoirs, grasslands, wetlands, temperate forests, tropical forests, and coastal barrier islands. Current faculty research interests include the social impacts of ecotourism, human dimensions of climate change, wastewater management, water quality, ecotoxicology, improved production of biofuels, conservation of biodiversity, and the ethics of natural resource communities.
Thesis options are appropriate for students interested in research and academic careers, research interest, those pursuing a terminal degree, or those planning careers that require extensive preparation of environmental documentation or plans. A non-thesis option with a required practicum is available for the Master of Environmental Studies (M.E.S.) degree. The semester-long practicum may be either paid or volunteer and must be under a professional supervisor. The non-thesis option is appropriate for students seeking employment in K-12 education, management in environmental organizations, or similar fields. The non-thesis option is not recommended for students planning to pursue a terminal degree, such as a Ph.D.
Objective
The objective of all four degree programs is to train technically competent individuals to assess problems involving environmental issues, to design workable plans, to undertake or direct planned actions toward environmental problem solving, and to work in interdisciplinary teams.
Admission
For admission to the graduate program, candidates must:
- Meet the general requirements set forth by the Graduate School.
- Demonstrate an academic background that is adequate to undertake the course of study that has been defined as the candidate’s major area of interest.
- Present a GPA from undergraduate disciplines that is predictive of success in this program and that supports the candidate’s graduate area of interest.
Environmental Science (ENV)
This seminar course includes applications of scientific inquiry to environmental science and development of policies that influence the quality of the environment. Graduate students attend seminars and engage the speaker on a weekly basis.
See PHY 5155 for course information.
Advanced Laboratory Methods in Life Sciences is a course for the advanced life sciences student. Course content explores biochemical and genetic techniques via classroom lectures and discussion as well as active demonstration/participation in the laboratory. Students learn principles and techniques used to evaluate a variety of endpoints across several disciplines.
To fulfill requirements for non-thesis master's students who need to complete final degree requirements other than coursework during their last semester. This may include such things as a comprehensive examination, oral examination, or foreign language requirement. Students are required to be registered during the semester they graduate.
Concepts for Advanced Laboratory Methods in Life Sciences is a course for the advanced life sciences student. It explores laboratory methods via classroom lectures and discussion as well as active demonstration/participation in the laboratory. Students learn principles and techniques used to evaluate a variety of endpoints across several disciplines.
An in-depth interdisciplinary examination of environmental practices in six areas: the ecosphere, human ecosystems, principles and practices in areas such as the ecosphere, human ecosystems, natural resources and pollution, environment and society, methodology, and emerging themes.
This course studies the global health and environmental concepts of disaster response and risk reduction. Lectures and discussions explore the practical aspects of recent disasters, disease outbreaks, and environmental incidents and the methods, strategies, and tools that could be used to mitigate future disasters.
Overview of current topics in environmental health, including environmental toxicology and disease, food security and safety, risk assessment, air and water quality, waste management, emerging contaminants and diseases, public health concepts of emergency preparedness, environmental regulation, and mitigation of environmental risks.
Analytic chemistry techniques used in environmental science including sampling, wet chemistry, chromatography, and spectroscopic methods.
Ecological basis for food production in both temperate and tropical countries with emphasis on understanding the nature of the vulnerability of agriculture to environmental disturbance and on possible mechanisms to improve the stability and sustained productivity of improve the stability and sustained productivity of agricultural systems.
Research design and methods. Students produce a comprehensive research proposal in their major field(s) of study and submit for funding to appropriate agency or foundation.
See PSC 5323 for course information.
This course introduces students to advanced concepts, data sources, and methodologies used in the field of human health risk assessment and provides them with an understanding of current issues in environmental sciences. Students conduct a quantitative risk assessment, which is demonstrated in the final project that includes a risk management proposal with uncertainty/sensitivity analysis.
A thorough treatment of assessment procedures for quantifying hazardous effects of chemicals on the environment. Topics will include but are not limited to components of risk assessment paradigm, ecological risk assessment for contaminated sites, the precautionary principle, and other contemporary risk assessment issues.
This course introduces students to the field of environmental issues and Third World development with emphasis on sustainable development and ensured environmental security.
See BIO 5360 for course information.
A seminar approach which examines various examples of integrated energy systems combining different renewable and conventional resources.
Advanced principles of environmental toxicology, environmental fate of pollutants, and risk assessment. The course will focus on contemporary topics and methodology.
Special applications of biotechnology in the areas of degradation and remediation of environmental contaminants; environmental implications of genetic engineering.
Seminar which examines the application of the principles and practices of comprehensive planning at the urban and regional levels emphasizing the implications of the natural environmental characteristics of an area while addressing the social, economic, and physical environmental needs of a community.
A seminar in the application of ecological principles to the management of terrestrial, freshwater and marine communities and ecosystems. An overview for students from all environmental specialties with an emphasis on case histories.
Sources and implications of chemical pollution, cost/benefit analyses, chemical implications of alternative energy sources, waste minimization, recycling, and decontamination considerations.
Measurement methods, such as spectroscopy, and statistical analysis used to characterize the chemical and physical properties of air to determine pollution levels and air quality.
Chemistry and physics of the troposphere and stratosphere, including photochemistry, chemical kenetics, aerosol formation, micrometerology, atmospheric modeling, and other advanced topics.
See BIO 5404 for course information.
See BIO 5413 for course information.
The course may be repeated depending on the combination of semester hours up to a maximum of twelve semester hours.
A practicum supervised by an environmental professional. May be salaried or volunteer. Requires one hundred fifty to one hundred sixty hours of work per semester hour. Students are required to complete three hours of ENV 5V90 for their degree requirements.
Required of all graduate students. For research credit associated with graduate research. Credit will be given for the amount of work done. May be repeated for credit through 45 hours.
The course is required to be repeated depending on the combination of semester hours up to a minimum of six semester hours.
For research credit, once coursework is completed, and prior to admission to candidacy for an advanced degree. May be repeated for credit up to 6 hours.
Research, data analysis, writing, and oral defense of an approved doctoral dissertation on a research topic in Environmental Science. Student must have been Admitted to Candidacy before registering for dissertation hours.