Program Details : University Catalogs : University of Minnesota

ESPM 1011 - Issues in the Environment (ENV)

Credits:	3.0 [max 3.0]
Typically offered:	Every Fall & Spring

Introductory survey of environmental issues that explores the connections between environmental sciences, policy, and management. You will explore interrelationships between the environment and human society, as well as the underlying social, ethical, political and economic factors that affect those relationships. You will also examine the roles for science, technology, policy, and environmental justice in meeting environmental challenges. Asynchronous online lectures with weekly discussions in small groups.

ESPM 3607 - Natural Resources Consumption and Sustainability (GP)

Credits:	3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis:	A-F only
Typically offered:	Every Spring

Current world trends for industrial raw materials; environmental/other tradeoffs related to options for satisfying demand/needs; global and systemic thinking; provides a framework for beginning a process of thinking critically about complex environmental problems/potential solutions in a diverse global economy.

FW 2001W - Introduction to Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology (ENV, WI)

Credits:	3.0 [max 3.0]
Typically offered:	Every Fall

Fish, wildlife, and other forms of biodiversity. Single species, populations, ecosystem, and landscape approaches. Experiential/interactive course. Decision-case studies. prereq: BIOL 1001 or BIOL 1009

SOIL 2125 - Basic Soil Science (PHYS, ENV)

Credits:	4.0 [max 4.0]
Course Equivalencies:	Soil 2125/Soil 5125
Grading Basis:	A-F or Aud
Typically offered:	Every Fall & Spring

Basic physical, chemical, and biological properties of soil. Soil genesis classification, principles of soil fertility. Use of soil survey information to make a land-use plan. WWW used for lab preparation information. prereq: [CHEM 1015, CHEM 1017] or CHEM 1021 or equiv

EEB 3001 - Ecology and Society (ENV)

Credits:	3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis:	A-F or Aud
Typically offered:	Every Fall, Spring & Summer

Basic concepts in ecology. Organization, development, function of ecosystem. Population growth/regulation. Human effect on ecosystems. prereq: [Jr or sr] recommended; biological sciences students may not apply cr toward major

FNRM 3104 - Forest Ecology

Credits:	4.0 [max 4.0]
Course Equivalencies:	FNRM 3104/FNRM 5104
Grading Basis:	A-F or Aud
Typically offered:	Every Fall

Form and function of forests as ecological systems. Characteristics and dynamics of species, populations, communities, landscapes, and ecosystem processes. Examples applying ecology to forest management. Weekly discussions focus on research topics in forest ecology, exercises applying course concepts, and current issues in forest resource management. Required weekend field trip. Prereq: Biol 1001, 1009 or equivalent introductory biology course; 1 semester college chemistry recommended.

ESPM 3011W - Ethics in Natural Resources (CIV, WI)

Credits:	3.0 [max 3.0]
Typically offered:	Every Fall & Spring

Normative/professional ethics, and leadership considerations, applicable to managing natural resources and the environment. Readings, discussion.

ESPM 3108 - Ecology of Managed Systems (ENV)

Credits:	3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies:	ESPM 3108/ESPM 5108
Typically offered:	Every Fall

Ecology of ecosystems that are primarily composed of managed plant communities, such as managed forests, field-crop agroecosystems, rangelands and nature reserves, parks, and urban open-spaces. Concepts of ecology and ecosystem management. prereq: BIOL 1001 or BIOL 1009 or HORT 1001 or instr consent

ESPM 3202W - Environmental Conflict Management, Leadership, and Planning (WI)

Credits:	3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies:	ESPM 3202WESPM /5202
Grading Basis:	A-F or Aud
Typically offered:	Every Spring

Negotiation of natural resource management issues. Use of collaborative planning. Case study approach to conflict management, strategic planning, and building leadership qualities. Emphasizes analytical concepts, techniques, and skills.

ESPM 3211 - Survey, Measurement, and Modeling for Environmental Analysis

Credits:	3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies:	ESPM 3211/ESPM 5211
Typically offered:	Every Spring

Survey, measurement, and modeling concepts/methods for study of natural resources/environmental issues. Emphasizes survey design for data collection, estimation, and analysis for issues encompassing land, water, air, vegetation, wildlife, and human/social variables. prereq: ESPM 3012, FW 4001, STAT 3011, or equivalent

ESPM 3221 - Soil Conservation and Land-Use Management

Credits:	3.0 [max 3.0]
Typically offered:	Every Spring

This course is designed to provide a local and global historical perspective of soil erosion (causes and consequences); develop a scientific understanding of soil erosion processes; and relates various soil conservation and land-use management strategies to real-world situations. Basics of soil erosion processes and prediction methods will be the fundamental building blocks of this course. From this understanding, we will discuss policies and socioeconomic aspects of soil erosion. Lastly, we will focus on effective land-use management using natural resource assessment tools. Case studies and real-world and current events examples will be used throughout the course to relate course material to experiences. prereq: SOIL 2125 or instr consent

ESPM 3241W - Natural Resource and Environmental Policy (SOCS, CIV, WI)

Credits:	3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies:	ESPM 3241W/ESPM 5241
Typically offered:	Every Spring

Political processes in management of the environment. How disagreements are addressed by different stakeholders, private-sector interests, government agencies, institutions, communities, and nonprofit organizations.

ESPM 3245 - Sustainable Land Use Planning and Policy (ENV)

Credits:	3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies:	ESPM 3245/ESPM 5245
Grading Basis:	A-F or Aud
Typically offered:	Every Fall

Policies affecting land use planning at local, state, and federal levels. Ecosystem and landscape scale planning. Collaborative and community-based approaches to planning for ecological, social, and economic sustainability. Class project applies interdisciplinary perspectives on planning and policy, including information gathering techniques, conservation planning tools, and evaluation of planning options.

ESPM 3261 - Economics and Natural Resources Management (SOCS, ENV)

Credits:	4.0 [max 4.0]
Course Equivalencies:	ESPM 3261/ESPM 5261
Grading Basis:	A-F or Aud
Typically offered:	Every Spring

Microeconomic principles and their application to natural resource management problems. Economic and policy tools to address market failures. Discussion of regulatory and market-based instruments. Discounting and compounding concepts. Methods for conducting financial and economic analyses of natural resource management projects. Decision criteria when conducting benefit/cost analysis of natural resource projects. Methods for valuing non-market natural resource goods and services. Economics of managing renewable natural resources such as forests and fisheries. Land economics. Payments for environmental services. Planning and management problems. Case studies. prereq: MATH 1031 or equivalent.

ESPM 3271 - Environmental Policy, Law, and Human Behavior (CIV, SOCS)

Credits:	3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis:	A-F or Aud
Typically offered:	Every Fall

What is necessary to achieve sustainable societies. What influences societal deliberation/decisions about environmental issues. How our behaviors affect natural systems. Key theoretical concepts of environmental social psychology and political science. How people respond to policies, using theoretical concepts from social psychology about attitudes, values, and social norms; applying these ideas to specific environmental problems and ethical debates.

ESPM 3575 - Wetlands

Credits:	3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies:	ESPM 3575/ESPM 5575
Typically offered:	Every Spring

Freshwater wetland classification, wetland biota, current/historic status of wetlands, value of wetlands. National, regional, Minnesota wetlands conservation strategies, ecological principles used in wetland management.

ESPM 3601 - Sustainable Housing--Community, Environment, and Technology (TS)

Credits:	3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies:	ESPM 3601/Hsg 3482
Grading Basis:	A-F or Aud
Typically offered:	Every Fall & Spring

How sustainable housing practices build community. How community growth has impacted the environment and how natural events impact our communities. Science and technology required to build high performance houses.

ESPM 3602 - Regulations and Corporate Environmental Management

Credits:	3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies:	ESPM 3602/ESPM 5602
Grading Basis:	A-F only
Typically offered:	Every Spring

Concepts/issues relating to industrial ecology and industry as they are influenced by current standards/regulations at local, state, and national levels. prereq: APEC 1101 or ECON 1101 or 3261W

ESPM 3603 - Environmental Life Cycle Analysis

Credits:	3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies:	ESPM 3603/ESPM 5603
Grading Basis:	A-F only
Typically offered:	Every Fall

Concepts/issues relating to inventory, subsequent analysis of production systems. Production system from holistic point of view, using term commonly used in industrial ecology: "metabolic system."

ESPM 3604 - Environmental Management Systems and Strategy

Credits:	3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies:	ESPM 3604/ESPM 5604
Grading Basis:	A-F only
Typically offered:	Every Fall

Environmental problems such as climate change, ozone depletion, and loss of biodiversity.

ESPM 3605 - Recycling: Extending Raw Materials (TS)

Credits:	3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies:	ESPM 3605/ESPM 5605
Grading Basis:	A-F only
Typically offered:	Every Spring

Basic principles of recycling and its role in raw materials utilization, energy, and the environment. Recycling processes for commonly recycled materials, products, and their properties and environmental implications of recycling.

ESPM 3612W - Soil and Environmental Biology (WI)

Credits:	4.0 [max 4.0]
Course Equivalencies:	ESPM 3612W/Soil 5611
Typically offered:	Every Fall

Properties of microorganisms that impact soil fertility, structure, and quality. Nutrient requirements of microbes and plants and mineral transformations in biogeochemical cycling. Symbiotic plant/microbe associations and their role in sustainable agricultural production. Biodegradation of pollutants and bioremediation approaches. prereq: Biol 1009 or equiv, Chem 1021 or equiv; SOIL 2125 recommended

ESPM 4061W - Water Quality and Natural Resources (ENV, WI)

Credits:	3.0 [max 3.0]
Typically offered:	Every Fall

Water quality decision making. International focus. Ecology of aquatic ecosystems, how they are valuable to society and changed by landscape management. Case studies, impaired waters, TMDL process, student engagement in simulating water quality decision making.

ESPM 4216 - Contaminant Hydrology

Credits:	3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis:	A-F or Aud
Typically offered:	Every Fall

Principles of contaminant transport in percolate solution and in overland flow. Hydrologic cycle, percolation/runoff processes, contaminant transport, leachate sampling methods, remediation technologies, scale effects on runoff water quality, tillage technologies, control of sediment/chemical losses. Discussions mostly descriptive, but involve some computations.

ESPM 4256 - Natural Resource Law and the Management of Public Lands and Waters

Credits:	3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies:	ESPM 4256/ESPM 5256
Grading Basis:	A-F or Aud
Typically offered:	Every Fall

This course is intended to provide non-law students with an understanding of the role of the judiciary in the management of public lands and public waters. The course will examine Constitutional provisions affecting the management of public resources, the concept of property rights, major principles of water law, the role of the legal system in environmental review, the scope of legal authority granted to administrative agencies, and limitations of private property rights to protect public lands and public waters. The class will introduce students to the concepts of legal reasoning including case synthesis and analysis. The class will be taught using a combination of lecture, guest lectures, written exercises, and class participation. This course will be taught online. Prereqs: 3241W, juniors, seniors and graduate students or instructor permission

ESPM 4295W - GIS in Environmental Science and Management (WI)

Credits:	4.0 [max 4.0]
Prerequisites:	FNRM 3131 or Geog 3561 or #
Grading Basis:	A-F or Aud
Typically offered:	Every Fall

Application of geographic information science and technologies (GIS) in complex environmental problems. Students gain experience in spatial data collection, database development, and spatial analysis, including GNSS and field attribute collection, image interpretation, and existing data fusion, raster/vector data integration and analysis, information extraction from LiDAR data, DEM conditioning and hydrologic analysis, neighborhood analysis, bulk processing and automation, and scripting. Problems vary depending on topics, often with extra-University partners. prereq: FNRM 3131 or Geog 3561 or instr consent

ESPM 4601 - Environmental Pollution

Credits:	3.0 [max 3.0]
Typically offered:	Every Spring

This course uses the principles of chemistry, microbiology, physics, and toxicology to understand the fate and behavior of environmental contaminants and the pollution of soils, surface waters, groundwater, and sediments. The course is structured around a semester-long risk assessment project that provides a framework for integrating concepts of pollution, contaminant movement, contaminant degradation, human health risk, ecological risk, risk mitigation, environmental remediation processes, and interactions among them. The history of federal regulations concerning environmental contamination is presented in the context of the major episodes of environmental pollution that motivated legislative action. prereq: SOIL 2125, CHEM 1061 and 1062 or equiv, or permission

ESPM 4607 - Industrial Biotechnology and the Environment

Credits:	3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies:	BBE 4607/BBE 5607
Grading Basis:	A-F only
Typically offered:	Every Spring

Biotechnology pertaining to biobased products development, their environmental impact. prereq: BIOL 1009, CHEM 1021

BBE 4608 - Environmental and Industrial Microbiology

Credits:	3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies:	BBE 4608/BBE 5608
Grading Basis:	A-F only
Typically offered:	Every Fall

Microbes, including fungi, bacteria, and other small-scale organisms, are the pioneer life of the planet, shaping and maintaining the ecosystem. Microbiology is the discipline that studies the basic biology and fundamental processes of microbes, with the aim of answering and solving the relevant environmental and industrial questions. Microbiology remains a frontier, but has developed significantly in recent years. Growth in this research area is largely due to vast improvements in molecular tools (for example: genome sequencing and editing, microscopes, data analysis) and other biochemical techniques, often driven by interest in emergent applications for these unique organisms. These applications include those related to protecting environmental quality as well as those related to making novel products, including materials, fuels, and chemicals. These also include understanding the roles of microbes in the natural nutrient cycles and other key natural processes. This course is therefore designed to introduce students to the taxonomy, biology and ecology of microbes, and to focus on key applications for which these microbes can be applied. prereq: BIOL 1001 or BIOL 1009 or BIOL 2003 and CHEM 1011 or CHEM 1061 or CHEM 1081

ESPM 4811 - Environmental Interpretation

Credits:	3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies:	ESPM 4811/ESPM 5811
Grading Basis:	A-F or Aud
Typically offered:	Every Spring

This course is designed to be an introduction to the broad field of Environmental Interpretation, Communication Theory, Visitor Information Services (VIS), and Nonformal Education experience's found in parks, nature centers, camps, zoos, museums, arboretums, and free-choice learning environments. Students will understand the definitions, role and scope of interpretation, differences between audiences and/or users of interpretive services, and distinguish between interpretive techniques based on their advantages/disadvantages. Students can also qualify for the National Association for Interpretation's (NAI) Certified Interpretive Guide (CIG) program.

BBE 2201 - Renewable Energy and the Environment (TS)

Credits:	3.0 [max 3.0]
Typically offered:	Every Fall, Spring & Summer

There is a growing sense of national and global urgency regarding carbon and climate change with particular emphasis on our energy system. Unfortunately, the answers are not simple. In this course, students explore our wide range of traditional and renewable energy sources and how these options impact our environment and society. Students are also exposed to the complex and compelling ethical issues raised by global, national, and local changes in how we produce and use energy. This course informs and engages students to be thoughtful, rather than passive consumers of energy. Students gain the knowledge necessary to be articulate in career, community, and personal arenas regarding renewable energy resources. In addition, students develop the ability to evaluate and respond to present and future technological changes that impact their energy use in the workplace, at home, and in the community. This course was designed and offered as an online course since 2011. For more details on the course please look at the syllabus and some comments from previous students by going to bbe2201.cfans.umn.edu

EEB 3603 - Science, Protection, and Management of Aquatic Environments

Credits:	3.0 [max 3.0]
Typically offered:	Every Spring

Fundamentals of aquatic ecology. Case study approach to water problems faced by society (e.g., eutrophication, climate change, invasive species, acid rain, wetland protection, biodiversity preservation). Science used to diagnose/remediate or remove problems. prereq: One semester college biology

EEB 4609W - Ecosystem Ecology (ENV, WI)

Credits:	3.0 [max 3.0]
Typically offered:	Every Fall

Regulation of energy and elements cycling through ecosystems. Dependence of cycles on kinds/numbers of species within ecosystems. Effects of human-induced global changes on functioning of ecosystems.

EEB 4611 - Biogeochemical Processes

Credits:	3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies:	EEB 4611/EEB 5611
Typically offered:	Periodic Spring

Application of biochemistry, ecology, chemistry, and physics to environmental issues. Issues in biogeochemistry. Impact of humans on biogeochemical processes in soils, lakes, oceans, estuaries, forests, urban/managed ecosystems, and extreme environments (e.g., early Earth, deep sea vents, thermal springs). prereq: [BIOL 1009 or 2003] AND [CHEM 1081 or 1061 or 1071H] or instr consent

FNRM 1101 - Dendrology: Identifying Forest Trees and Shrubs

Credits:	3.0 [max 3.0]
Typically offered:	Every Fall

Identification nomenclature, classification, and distribution of common/important forest trees/shrubs. Use of keys. Field/lab methods of identification.

FNRM 3114 - Hydrology and Watershed Management

Credits:	3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies:	FNRM 3114/FNRM 5114
Typically offered:	Every Fall

Hydrologic cycle and water processes in upland/riparian systems. Applications of hydrological concepts to evaluate impacts of forest and land management activities on water yield, streamflow, groundwater erosion, sedimentation, and water quality. Concepts, principles, and applications of riparian/watershed management. Regional/national/global examples. Forest ecosystems. prereq: [[BIOL 1001 or BIOL 1009], [[CHEM 1015, CHEM 1017] or CHEM 1021], MATH 1151] or instr consent

FNRM 3131 - Geographical Information Systems (GIS) for Natural Resources (TS)

Credits:	4.0 [max 4.0]
Grading Basis:	A-F or Aud
Typically offered:	Every Fall & Spring

Spatial data development/analysis in science/management of natural resources. Data structures/sources/collection/quality. Geodesy, map projections, spatial/tabular data analysis. Digital terrain analysis, cartographic modeling, modeling perspectives, limits of technology. Lab exercises. Both onsite and fully online options for course enrollment. prereq: Soph or jr or sr or UHP fr

FNRM 3203 - Forest Fire and Disturbance Ecology

Credits:	3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies:	FNRM 3203/FNRM 5203
Grading Basis:	A-F or Aud
Typically offered:	Every Spring

Ecology, history, management, control of fire, wind, insect infestation, deer browsing, other disturbances in forests, including disturbance regimes of boreal, northern hardwood, savannas of North America. Influence of disturbance on wildlife habitat, urban/wildland interfaces, forest management, stand/landscape dynamics. Tree mortality in fires, successional patterns created by fires, interactions of life history traits of plants with disturbances.

FNRM 3204 - Landscape Ecology and Management

Credits:	3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies:	FNRM 3204/FNRM 5204
Grading Basis:	A-F or Aud
Typically offered:	Every Fall

Introduction to landscape ecology at different scales in time/space. Development/implications of broad-scale patterns of ecological phenomena, role of disturbance in ecosystems, characteristic spatial/temporal scales of ecological events. Principles of landscape ecology as framework for landscape research, analysis, conservation, and management. prereq: Ecology course

FNRM 3218 - Measuring and Modeling Forests

Credits:	3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies:	FNRM 3218/FNRM 5218
Grading Basis:	A-F or Aud
Typically offered:	Every Spring

Sampling design, survey techniques to assess resource conditions. Applying metrics/sampling methods to forest vegetation. Calculating tree/stand volume. Modeling approaches. Case studies of modeling to project future growth. Landscape processes, characterization, modeling. prereq: [ESPM 3012 or STAT 3011], MATH 1151

FNRM 3411 - Managing Forest Ecosystems: Silviculture

Credits:	3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies:	FNRM 3411/FNRM 5411
Grading Basis:	A-F only
Typically offered:	Every Fall

Management of forest ecosystems for sustaining ecological integrity, soil productivity, water quality, wildlife habitat, biological diversity, commodity production in landscape context. Silvics, forest dynamics, disturbances, regeneration, restoration, silvicultural systems. Ramifications of management choices. Weekend field trip. FEMC track students should take FNRM 5413 concurrently

FW 4102 - Principles of Conservation Biology (ENV)

Credits:	3.0 [max 3.0]
Prerequisites:	introductory biology course
Typically offered:	Every Spring

Introduction to themes/concepts of diverse, dynamic, and interdisciplinary field. Biological/social underpinnings of conservation problems/solutions. prereq: introductory biology course

HSCI 3244 - Nature's History: Science, Humans, and the Environment (HIS, ENV)

Credits:	3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies:	HSci 3244/5244
Typically offered:	Every Fall

We examine environmental ideas, sustainability, conservation history; critique of the human impact on nature; empire and power in the Anthropocene; how the science of ecology has developed; and modern environmental movements around the globe. Case studies include repatriation of endangered species; ecology and evolutionary theory; ecology of disease; and climate change.

PMB 4321 - Minnesota Flora

Credits:	3.0 [max 3.0]
Typically offered:	Fall Even Year

Practical skills for identifying plant species/surveying Minnesota vegetation to students of biology, environmental sciences, resource management, horticulture. Integrates botany, ecology, evolution, earth history, climate, global change in context of local plant communities. Labs/Saturday field trips explore Minnesota plants/plant communities. prereq: One semester college biology

PMB 4511 - Flowering Plant Diversity

Credits:	3.0 [max 3.0]
Typically offered:	Spring Odd Year

Systematics of flowering plants of the world. Ecology, geography, origins, and evolution. Family characteristics. Floral structure, function, evolution. Pollination biology. Methods of phylogenetic reconstruction. Molecular evolution. Taxonomic terms. Methods of collection/identification. Lab. prereq: BIOL 1001 or 1009 or 1009H or 2002

PHIL 3301 - Environmental Ethics (ENV)

Credits:	4.0 [max 4.0]
Typically offered:	Spring Odd Year

Philosophical basis for membership in moral community. Theories applied to specific problems (e.g., vegetarianism, wilderness preservation). Students defend their own reasoned views about moral relations between humans, animals, and nature.

SOIL 5555 - Wetland Soils

Credits:	3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies:	ESPM 5555/Soil 5555
Grading Basis:	A-F or Aud
Typically offered:	Every Fall

Morphology, chemistry, hydrology, formation of mineral/organic soils in wet environments. Soil morphological indicators of wet conditions, field techniques of identifying hydric soils for wetland delineations. Peatlands. Wetland benefits, preservation, regulation, mitigation. Field trips, lab, field hydric soil delineation project. prereq: SOIL 1125 or 2125 or equiv or instr consent; concurrent registration is required (or allowed) in SOIL 4511 recommended

SUST 3003 - Sustainable People, Sustainable Planet (ENV)

Credits:	3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies:	GloS 3304/Sust 3003
Typically offered:	Every Fall & Spring

Introduction to interdisciplinary Sustainability Studies minor. Scientific, cultural, ethical, and economic concepts that affect environmental sustainability and global economic justice. Key texts. Participatory classroom environment. prereq: Soph or jr or sr

University Catalogs

Environmental Sciences, Policy and Management Minor