Official Course Descriptions

Search for official course descriptions by using the Course Description Search utility.

Go to the Course Descriptions Search Web page, then follow these steps:

1. Select an Academic Year from the TERM dropdown (required)
2. Select a course prefix from one of the SUBJECT dropdowns (required)
3. Enter search words in the TEXT field (optional, but will narrow the search results)
4. Press Search

Supplemental Course Descriptions

Environmental Studies Upper Level Course Descriptions

AEB 4025 - Amer Agriculture & Society - 3 credit(s)
The role of American agricultural industry in society will be investigated. Agricultural technologies, processes and production capacity will be viewed with implications to human society. Class activities and field trips will an integral part of the course.

AFS 3251 - African Environments - 3 credit(s)
The natural environments of the African and critical environmental issues are examined within their ecological, cultural, economic, and historical contexts. Multiple sources of information, including scientific data and artistic impression are utilized.

AMH 3423 - Modern Florida - 3 credit(s)
Examines Florida history from the Civil War through contemporary time, emphasizing the dramatically changing social, cultural, political, and economic milieu of the state. Geographical and environmental awareness will underscore all aspects of the course.

AMH 4428 - Southwest Florida History - 3 credit(s)
Intensive examination of the regional human experience in Southwest Florida, beginning with the movements of humans into the peninsula 12,000 years ago. Traces the complex developments in this region through European contact, colonialism, statehood, Civil War and Reconstruction, land boom, depression, wartime, and the second land boom modern era.

ART 3840 - Environmental Art - 3 credit(s)
Survey of contemporary art movements focusing on the natural world, including lectures, presentations, field trips, and in-depth studio exercises. Junior standing required.

ASN 3412 - Asian Environments - 3 credit(s)
The natural environments of Asia and critical environmental issues are examined within their ecological, cultural, economic, and historical contexts. Multiple sources of information including scientific data and artistic impression are utilized.

BSC 3403C - Environmental Quant Techniques - 3 credit(s)
Implementation of laboratory and field techniques for environmental monitoring and analysis. Demonstration of competency with appropriate instrumentation, data management strategies and statistical procedures.

BSC 4933 - Current Topics in Biology - 1 credit(s)
Special sessions exploring the literature in Biological Sciences. Students will receive Satisfactory "S" or Unsatisfactory "U" grades for this course.

ECP 3302 - Economics of the Environment - 3 credit(s)
A study of the economics of natural resources, energy, their uses and their impact upon the environment; utilization of external cost and benefit analysis to study the relationship between natural resource availability and growth; and an examination of alternative strategies and policies in solving the problems of environment quality and resource scarcity.

EVR 3020 - Environmental Philosophies - 3 credit(s)
Examination of a number of different environmental philosophies as they have been presented through a variety of forms of human expression. Topic center on environmental thought in North American, but philosophies from other cultures, particularly indigenous peoples, will also be studied.

EVR 3021 - Environmental Literature - 3 credit(s)
Fictional and nonfiction written expression of the natural environment and its significance to different cultures and philosophies will be studied in relation to ecological concerns and cultural values by means of integrated lectures and class projects.

EVR 3025 - Cultural Ecology - 3 credit(s)
Relationships between human cultures and their environments with emphasis on the adaptive importance of culture and cultural development to the human species and the modification of environments by human cultures.

EVR 4028 - Simulation and Modeling - 3 credit(s)
Systems simulation and modeling techniques are used in this course to investigate environmental problems and issues and to develop practical solutions. Students will work in teams to develop models for selected issues. The use of models for predicting future impacts and developing policy will be discussed.

EVR 4035 - Environmental Law - 3 credit(s)
The evolution of environmental law at international, federal, state, and local levels will be studied in relation to the development environmental issues, technologies, and attitudes. Florida-oriented issues will be emphasized in the course with integrated lectures and class projects.

EVR 4324 - Integrated Ecosystems Mgmt I - 3 credit(s)
Holistic approach to planning and management, incorporating ecological, social, and economic concepts into an examination of selected case studies.

EVR 4325 - Integrated Ecosystem Mgmt II - 3 credit(s)
Following on the examination of case studies in Integrated Ecosystems Management I, teams of students will work with organizations or agencies outside the university to develop, and where appropriate begin to implement, management plans for selected sites. .

EVR 4326 - Conservation Strategies Future - 3 credit(s)
Conservation strategies enabling communities to build sustainable futures, including the maintenance of healthy and diverse natural environments, renewable natural resources, and sustainable economies. Case studies will be used to identify practical problem-solving approaches by means of integrated lectures and class projects. Prerequisites: Any introductory ecology, environmental biology, or environmental science course.

EVR 4867 - Risk Assessment - 3 credit(s)
Techniques associated with risk assessment, including dose-response assessment, threshold responses, exposure assessment, risk characterization, and risk-benefit analysis. Case studies will be used to illustrate these techniques and students will work collaboratively to assess the risk associated with selected environmental hazards. The application of risk analysis to policy development will be discussed.

EVR 4905 - Ind. Study in Enviro. Studies - 1 to 4 credit(s)
Individual study by students under the direction of a faculty member.

EVR 4910 - Sr Proj Rsch Environ Studies - 1 to 3 credit(s)
Research projects are developed by one or more students under the supervision of a faculty mentor. The research project is designed to hone skills in applying research principles, obtain practice in data collection and analysis, and to develop knowledge and skills in potential professional areas.

EVR 4911 - SrProj Pres in Environ Studies - 1 to 3 credit(s)
A continuation of the senior project, students will be expected to prepare and present a summary of their research. The presentation may be oral, written, multimedia, or in another form but accompanied by a report. Work will be completed with a faculty mentor.

EVR 4920 - Current Topics Environ Studies - 1 credit(s)
Special sessions exploring the current issues in Environmental Studies. Topics may vary; they are selected on the basis of what is new or currently relevant in the field.

EVR 4924 - Environmental Education - 3 credit(s)
Survey of historial and current philosophies and their applications in practice. Explores interpretations of what the content and processes of environmental knowledge and understanding ought to be.

EVR 4930 - Spec Topics in Environ Studies - 1 to 4 credit(s)
Topics of current or special interest to students or faculty. Topics or focus vary depending on student/faculty interest.

EVR 4940 - Internship in Environ Studies - 1 to 3 credit(s)
An internship provides the student with an opportunity to work on a project in the field or laboratory setting, with an environmental agency or education program. This work is usually completed off-campus and the student will have a qualified supervisor at the site as well as a faculty mentor who will jointly evaluate the student's progress. .

EVR 5145 - Ecotoxicology - 3 credit(s)
Studies of the principles of pharamacology and toxicology, toxicity testing, various types of toxicants (natural and anthropogenic), their transport and fate, risk assessment, and examination of case studies.

EVR 5414 - Interpreting the Environment - 3 credit(s)
An indepth examination of the theory, methods, and contemporary practices in interpretation or the environment from literature review, field analysis and research investigations. Design and assessment of exibits, trails, signage, creative drama, comprehensive programs and their staffing, management and funding. (Permission of instructor required)

EVR 5925 - Environmental Education - 3 credit(s)
The history, content, strategies, methods, assessment, funding, in the context of environmental education, its evolution to education for a sustainable future will be examined in the framework of local to global programs and trends.

EVR 6022 - Environmental Rsch Methodology - 3 credit(s)
An introduction to practice and principles of scientific methods. Includes basic observational, sampling and analytical techniques in environmental science. Topics include hypotheses testing, data collection, quality control/quality assurance, statistical analyses of data, and preparation of scientific reports.

EVR 6322 - Con App Sustainability - 3 credit(s)
Concepts and applications of sustainability will be discussed in the context of conserving healthy and diverse natural ecosystems and renewable natural resources, and the design of sustainable economies on local, regional, national, and international levels.

EVR 6907 - Independent Stdy Environ Scien - 1 to 4 credit(s)
Individual study by graduate students under direction of a faculty mentor. The topic will be determined between the student and faculty member. Instructor permission required.

EVR 6936 - Special Topics in Enviro Scien - 1 to 4 credit(s)
Courses will be developed based on topics of special interest to students or faculty. Topics or focus will vary.

EVR 6937 - Environmental Policy - 3 credit(s)
An overview of major environmental and natural resources issues, emphasizing the development of public policies to address them and current controversies. Particular attention will be given to identifying and evaluating the influence of diverse political and economic interests on environmental policy development.

EVS 4008 - Environmental Technologies - 3 credit(s)
Appropriate technologies to address resource issues in human societies such as energy use, water use, waste water treatment, solid waste, land use, and food production on a sustainable basis will be studied in this course along with examples of inappropriate and unsustainable technologies in integrated lectures and field exercises.

EVS 4814 - Environmental Toxicology - 3 credit(s)
Ecotoxicology, natural and anthropogenic contaminants, toxicological assessments, bio-indicators, biological effects of contaminants and mechanisms of response inorganisms, properties, transport, fate and effects of various contaminant groups in terrestrial and aquatic environments, risk assessment and remediation efforts.

EVS 6920 - Grad Seminar in Current Topics - 1 credit(s)
Current issues, concepts, research, and practices related to the areas of ecosystems conservation, green building/design, and sustainability will be investigated and discussed. Prerequisites: Graduate standing or permission of instructor

EVS 6937 - Environmental Policy - 3 credit(s)
An overview of major environmental and natural resources issues, emphasing the development of public policies to address them and current controversies. Particular attention will be given to identifying and evaluating the influence of diverse political and economic interests on environmental policy development.

EVS 6941 - Environmental Practicum - 3 to 6 credit(s)
An internship in the workplace for the purpose of completing his/her study of environmental principles. The course provides the opportunity for students to apply learning derived from the topics covered throughout the master's curriculum within a practice setting. Students will be placed in various work site locations and will be assigned an ergonomic project within that site. To be included in the project are problem identification, hazard analysis, and problematic corrective actions. Each student practicum will be assigned a faculty advisor.

EVS 6970 - Master's Thesis - 1 to 9 credit(s)
Original research in Environmental, biological, and Marine Sciences. Project to be chosen by the student in consultation with Thesis Major Advisor, advising committee and the Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences.

HIS 3470 - History of Science &Technology - 3 credit(s)
Examines the development of scientific thought and demonstrable technology and their impacts on societies, cultures, and economies. Incorporates material from numerous disciplines, including mathematics.

ISC 3120 - Scientific Process - 3 credit(s)
Introduction to the philosophy, methodology and ethics of scientific practice via classroom discussion and literature review. Focus on philosophical and practical differences between physical & historical science; hypothesis generation and testing; experimental design; construction of a research proposal; composition of a scientific paper; oral presentation; and critical review.

ISC 3145C - Global Systems - 3 credit(s)
Interdisciplinary introduction to the dynamic and interactive process which shape our planet. Focus on the physical, biological, and chemical processes which have defined the composition of each of the four "spheres" of the planet (biosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and lithosphere) throughout the earth's 4.5 billion years of history.

ISC 4930 - Current Top in Intd Nat Scienc - 1 to 3 credit(s)
Special or current topics in the interdisciplinary natural sciences. Students are encouraged to choose topic courses which are relevant to their prospective research thesis or internship. Students will receive a grade of Satisfactory "S" or Unsatisfactory "U".

LAS 3007 - Latin American Environments - 3 credit(s)
The natural environments of Latin America and critical environmental issues are examined within their ecological, cultural, economic, and historical contexts. Multiple sources of information including scientific data and artistic impression are utilized.

LAS 3022 - Caribbean Environments - 3 credit(s)
The natural environments of the Caribbean Basin and critical environmental issues are examined within their ecological, cultural, economic, and historical contexts. Multiple sources of information including scientific data and artistic impression are utilized.

OCE 3008C - Oceanography - 3 credit(s)
A systems approach to the study of the world's oceans integrating elements of biological, chemical, geological and physical oceanography. Examination of basic oceanographic principals and processes, with a focus on marine ecosystems of Southwest Florida.

PCB 3043C - General Ecology - 3 credit(s)
Basic concepts of ecology at population, community, ecosystem, and landscape levels will be studied in integrated lectures, laboratory, and field exercises.

PCB 3414C - Behavioral Ecology - 3 credit(s)
Key behavioral adaptations of invertebrates and vertebrates to their environments will be studied in integrated lectures, laboratory, and field exercises involving such topics as exploration, habitat selection, feeding, reproduction, and social behavior. The adaptive roles of innate and learned behavior will be discussed in relation to different behaviors.

PCB 3460C - Ecosystem Monit & Resea Method - 3 credit(s)
Overview of ecological concepts and basic methods of inventorying, monitoring, and conducting research on terrestrial, freshwater, and marine ecosystems. Emphasis on hands-on experiences. Methods will include those used in describing climatic, chemical, and physical features as well as biotic features, including field identification. The field emphasis will be on Southwest Florida ecosystems.

PCB 4303C - Limnology - 3 credit(s)
An interdisciplinary approach to the examination of inland waters including lakes, streams, marshes, and swamps. Emphasis on the biotic, chemical and geological components of these aquatic ecosystems using Florida wetlands as models. The course is intended for students with interests in biology, environmental studies, and/or interdisciplinary natural sciences. Permission of instructor.

SCE 4305 - Comm Skills in Science Classrm - 2 credit(s)
Reading and communication skills important in understanding scientific literature and communicating findings to others.

SCE 4320 - Teach Methods Mid Grades Sci - 3 credit(s)
Survey techniques and materials unique to science, grades 5-9. Not designed for high school certification purposes.

SCE 4330 - Science Methods 6-12 - 3 credit(s)
Techniques and materials of instruction in middle and secondary school sciences.

SOP 4714C - Environmental Psychology - 3 credit(s)
Explores the influences of environment on behavior. Topics considered include crowding, privacy, territorial behavior, environmental design, and pollution effects.

SYD 4020 - Global Population - 3 credit(s)
The sociological determinants of fertility, mortality and migration; theories of population change are also discussed.

ZOO 4454C - Ichthyology - 3 credit(s)
Tracks the rise and evolution of fishes and examines the adaptations in form and function that underlie their success. Emphasis will be placed on Southwest Florida fishes.