Classes in the environmental sciences major
ENVI 1020 – Fundamentals of Environmental Science
An introductory course designed for Environmental Science majors. Students explore foundational concepts, current issues, and emerging challenges in environmental science, including ecological principles, human impacts, and sustainability frameworks.
ENVI 1030 – Environment and Life
Designed for non-majors and fulfills the AU core science requirement. This integrated lecture and lab course examines how basic scientific principles relate to environmental issues shaped by human activity. Topics include population dynamics, land use, energy systems, pollution, water resources, climate change, biodiversity, environmental policy, and sustainability. The lab component emphasizes hands-on inquiry, hypothesis testing, and real-world problem solving in environmental management.
ENVI 3000 – Introduction to Stream Restoration
In this course, Environmental Science majors will learn the principles and practices of stream restoration through classroom-based and outdoor activities. Students will learn the basics of stream ecology to understand natural conditions and apply their knowledge toward assessing and restoring degraded streams. By learning to evaluate stream stability, classify stream types, and understand how restoration efforts interact with physical, chemical, and biological stream processes, students will gain hands-on experience in the practice of stream restoration.
ENVI 3500 – Ancient Aquatic Environments
This course accompanies a spring break study abroad trip centered in Merida, Mexico. The course will investigate the environmental context of the ancient Maya and examine how land use, climate change, and urbanization impacted water resources through time. The Yucatan area of Mexico possesses a unique geology (karst) causing a variety of novel movements of water for human use. Also, the area during ancient times (~1000 years ago) possessed one of the most successful and densely populated societies of all time, the Prehistoric Maya.
ENVI 4000 – Environmental Regulation and Management Applications
This course explores how environmental regulations at the municipal, state, and federal levels shape environmental management practices. Students will learn about environmental regulations governing the release of pollutants from past to present and gain practical insight into compliance, permitting, and regulatory frameworks. This course will integrate lecture, group activities, case study analysis, and guest speakers to offer students a balanced and diverse set of perspectives on environmental regulation and management applications.
ENVI 5000 – Environmental Quality
Role of global land use in biogeochemical cycling of major elements and compounds of environmental concern; interactions of pollutants with soils and aquatic and atmospheric environments; methods to minimize or correct pollution; risk assessment.
