EHaz A consortium for graduate degrees in Earth Hazards studies

 

Michigan Technological University, Houghton Michigan

Curricular Information for EHaz students at Michigan Technological University

 

The list that follows is a suggested class list for students of Earth Hazards.  Full listings of Michigan Tech Classes can be found on the web at:

 

Graduate Classes:

Undergraduate Classes:

 

Students will realize that all classes are not offered every semester, so they should consult class lists for the semester(s) that they plan to be in residence.

 

 

Entry to US from Canada and Mexico as a student

Entering EHaz Students should read the following materials carefully:

 

International Programs and Services

SEVIS

 

 

Principal classes in Earth Hazards,

Michigan Tech

 

GE 3850 - Geohydrology (3 credits) Spring

 Geologic and hydrologic factors controlling the occurrence, movement, and development of subsurface water. Quantitative methods for analyzing groundwater systems are introduced. GE3800 or equivalent recommended.

 

GE 4150 - Natural Hazards (3 credits) Fall

 This course focuses on current mitigation agencies and warning systems, case studies of successes and failures in hazard mitigation, and technical tools for hazard study and mitigation such as satellite remote sensing and GIS.

 

GE 4250 - Fundamentals of Remote Sensing (3 credits) Spring

 This course focuses on the basic physics behind above- surface remote sensing and remote sensing systems. Topics covered include: properties of the atmosphere, absorption and scattering of electromagnetic radiation, instrument design, data acquisition and processing, validation, and basic applications.

 

GE 4500 - Plate Tectonics & Global Geophysics (3 credits) Fall

 Plate tectonics and the internal structure of the earth using information from seismology, geomagnetism, gravity, and heat flow.

 

GE 4930 - Water and Society        Fall

 

GE 5001 - Intercultural Natural Hazards (2 credits)  Fall

 Perception of risk and hazards in Latin American cultures. Available technology for mitigation and its practicality and perception. Working effectively with hazard agencies. How to measure mitigation effectiveness. Indigeous and European over prints in Latin American life.

 

GE 5150 - Advanced Natural Hazards (3 credits) Fall

 Exploration of how to develop comprehensive plans to mitigate the impact of natural hazards on humans. Requires a project and report.

 

GE 5180 - Volcanology  (3 credits) Fall 2005, 2007

 Volcanoes and how they work. Volcanic products, their recognition, and significance. Applies chemistry, physics, and fluid mechanics in a volcanological context.

 

GE 5190 - Volcanic Hazards

 Historic and current volcanic hazards and crises are studied including roles of scientists and engineers, public responses, impacts of volcanic emissions, medical aspects, the use of technology to mitigate the hazards, and the potential impacts of global scale events.

 

GE 5800 - Mathematical Modeling of Earth Systems (3 credits) Spring

 Introduction to numerical techniques for mathematical modeling of various earth-system phenomena, including groundwater flow, heat transfer, and atmospheric transport. Numerical techniques covered include finite-difference, finite-element, collocation, and characteristic methods. Students write their own mathematical models. Prerequisite: experience in programming computer languages such as FORTRAN.

 

Special Field Seminars

 

GE 5187 - Volcanological Field Seminar  (2 credits) Summer

 

1.    May-June 2006   Restless Calderas of Western US: Long Valley and Yellowstone (led by US partners with help from other institutions)

2.    August-Sept 2007   Debris Avalanches and Landslides of the Cascade Range (US and Canada) and Canadian Rockies (led by Canadian Partners)

3.    May- June 2008   Active Convergent Plate Boundary Volcanism in Mexico (led by Mexican partners)

 

Video Teleconference Seminars in the semester preceding Field Seminars

 

GE 5185 - Special Topics in Volcanology  (2 Credits)  Spring

1. Megaeruptions and their global significance-Spring Semester 2006

2. Stability of Volcanic Edifices-Summer Semester 2007

3. Magmatism at Convergent Plates-Spring Semester 2008

 

Other Suggested classes for Earth Hazards, Michigan Tech

 

CE 3502 - Env Monit & Measurement Analy

 Introduction to environmental data acquisition and interpretation, fundamentals of environmental monitoring, instrumentation, measurement techniques, and statistical analyses. Measurements are conducted in a variety of engineered and natural environments. Probability and statistical analyses are applied to the collected data.

 

CE 3503 - Environmental Engineering

 Application of fundamental chemical, biological, and physical principles of environmental engineering to design and operation of systems used for water and wastewater treatment, solid waste management, air pollution control, and analysis of quality of surface water, air, and groundwater.

 

CE 3600 - Fluid Mechanics

 Basic mechanics of fluids at rest and fluids in motion with emphasis on civil engineering applications. Topics include fluid properties, fluid forces, pipe flow, open channel flow, and flow measurements. Emphasizes incompressible fluids. Laboratory illustrates flow phenomena and provides hands-on experience in flow measurement and error analysis.

 

CE 3610 - Hydrology  (2 Credits)

 Components of the hydrologic cycle and their interactions. Emphasizes rainfall-runoff relationships as applied to civil engineering. Also includes probability concepts, frequency analysis, and hydrologic flood routing.

 

CE 3810 - Soil Mechanics for Engineers (4 credits)

 Develops the terminology and descriptions common to the field. Studies soil compressibility, fluid flow, response to mechanical compaction, and strength as well as methods of determining geostatic stresses and stress changes due to boundary loadings. An experimental laboratory experience reinforces the lecture material.

 

CE 4501 - Env Engg Chemical Processes

 Application of chemistry, conservation principles, and mathematics to the analysis of chemical processes occurring in natural and engineered environments. Topics include acid-base phenomena, the carbonate system, precipitation/dissolution, redox chemistry, diffusion, mass transfer, and applications to engineering design. Laboratory experiences illustrate principles and modern measurement techniques.

 

CE 4504 - Air Quality Engg & Science

 Overview of air quality regulation in the U.S. and world, including basic concepts of atmospheric chemistry and transport; fugitive, point, and area emissions; principles and tradeoffs of operation and design of air pollution control systems; and application of air quality models.

 

CE 4505 - Surface Water Quality Engineering

 Develops the scientific basis for water quality management in lakes and rivers. Considers the origin, behavior, and fate of nutrients and toxic substances. Introduces engineered approaches for lake management, including mass balance modeling. Presents techniques for water quality restoration and the legal framework supporting pollution control.

 

CE 4506 - Appl of Environmental Reg

 Study of the federal and state regulations (CERCLA, RCRA) and policy that governs management of solid and hazardous waste and how these regulations are incorporated into engineering practice. Other topics include pollution prevention and life cycle analysis, brown field development, baseline environment assessments, risk assessment, and engineering ethics.

 

CE 4507 - Collection & Distribution

 Application of basic principles in Civil and Environmental Engineering to the analysis and design of water distribution systems, wastewater collection systems, air distribution and collection systems, and their appurtenances.

 

CE 4508 - Water & Wastewater Treatment

 Principles of physical, chemical and biological processes employed in water and wastewater treatment. Design of selected individual units within water and wastewater treatment systems.

 

CE 4509 - Environ Process & Simulation

 Provides a rigorous hands-on introduction to process control, laboratory and pilot-plant experimentation focused on physical, chemical and biological treatment systems used in environmental engineering.

 

CE 4620 - Open Channel Flow

 Analysis of open channel systems, including natural channels, designed channels, flow transitions, non-uniform flow, and unsteady flow.

 

CE 4630 - Hydraulic Structures

 Analysis and design of water regulating structures. Includes dams, spillways, gates, dikes, levees, stilling basins, culverts, and various minor structures.

 

CE 5504 - Surface Water Quality Modeling

 Mathematical models are applied in the solution of water quality management problems. The spatial and temporal variation of conservative and reactive substances is simulated in lakes, rivers, and embayments. Kinetic representations of natural phenomena are developed, including mass transport, biogeochemical cycling of nutrients and toxics and food web dynamics.

 

CE 5505 - Atmospheric Chemistry

 Study of the photochemical processes governing the composition of the troposphere and stratosphere, including sampling and analysis of atmospheric compounds, introduction to solar radiation and radiative transfer in the atmosphere, and introduction to mathematical modeling of atmospheric photochemistry.

 

CE 5506 - Air Quality Modeling

 Mathematical tools for the analysis of air quality issues at the indoor, local, and regional scales. Introduces statistical and deterministic methods. Provides hands-on experience with state-of-the-science air quality models from U.S. EPA and engineering consulting firms.

 

CE 5507 - Sorption and Biological Processes

 Fundamental principles and modeling of some important physical and biological fate processes that govern the transport, persistence, and/or degradation of organic and inorganic pollutants in natural or engineered systems. Topics include sorption to soils/sediments, biodegradation of organic chemicals, bioavailability, and engineered remediation.

 

CE 5508 - Biogeochemical Processes

 To define what constitutes sustainable human activities, one must understand linkages among physical, chemical, and biological structures and processes that comprise our biosphere. Examine interactions between physical, chemical, and biological processes on earth; model these interactions; and identify areas where knowledge is insufficient for modeling.

 

CE 5509 - Environmental Organic Chem

 Investigation of factors controlling the environmental fate, distribution, and transformation of organic xenobiotic molecules. Thermodynamics and kinetics of chemical partitioning among air, water, sediment, and organic phases. Transformations examined include hydrolysis, oxidation-reduction, photochemistry, and "organism-assisted" reactions. Structure-activity relationships and estimation techniques are presented with a goal of modeling environmental impacts.

 

CE 5660 - Hydrology II

 Advanced hydrology aimed at a more thorough understanding of the individual components of the hydrologic cycle. Includes physical hydrology, hydrometeorology, stochastic hydrology, and remote sensing applications.

 

CE 5661 - GIS Applications

 Application of a Geographical Information Systems (GIS) to hydrologic modeling. While the application centers on hydrologic modeling, the experiences gained are applicable to a wide variety of situations. Learn the processes of obtaining, manipulating, and generating data via ArcInfo and ArcView.

 

CE 5664 - Water Resources Modeling

 Application of fundamental principles to develop mathematical models of water resources systems. Includes application of numerical methods, programming to develop simple water resources models, and application of state-of-the-art models for hydrology and river analysis.

 

CE 5665 - Sediment Transport

 Basin mechanics of the transport of sediments in natural systems, including tractive forces and geomorphic functions.

 

CE 5666 - Water Resources Plan & Mangt

 Economic and environmental aspects of water use. Topics include flood damage reduction, water demand and hydrologic forecasting, water supply planning, and water resource systems operation.

 

CE 5668 - Cold Regions Hydrology

 Analysis of the effects of fresh water ice and snow engineering projects. Topics include snow hydrology, formation, melt, transport distribution, and loading; ice formation, mechanics, bearing capacity, hydraulic effects on rivers, ice jams, and ice control.

 

CE 5690 - Spec Topics in Water Resources

 Advanced study of water resources topics including discussion of recent research developments.

 

CE 5810 - Advanced Soil Mechanics

 Provides advanced studies in the topics of soil compressibility and soil strength. Develop advanced procedures for determining stress distribution and stress changes from a fundamental basis. Students are strongly advised to take CE5820 concurrently.

 

CE 5820 - Geotechnical Engineering Lab

 Hands-on experimental lab course intended to develop understanding of soil behavior and the subtle variables that influence testing results. Tests studied include cyclic and monotonic triaxial drained and undrained strength, triaxial and one-dimensional compression, and as-compacted vs. long-term behavior of fill materials.

 

CE 5830 - Advanced Geotechnical Engg

 Applies soil mechanics to the design of foundations and earth-retaining structures. Proper input parameters are stressed, and elements include the design of conventional retaining walls, reinforced earth walls, caissons, piles, shallow foundations, de-watering systems, and the support of temporary excavations.

 

CE 5840 - Frozen Ground Engineering

 Stresses the problems and their solutions in seasonally frozen ground. Topics include definition of detrimental frost action, frost susceptibility criteria, mechanism of frost action, frost-resistant design, and the use of insulation. Studies both pavements and light building foundations. Take field trips during the spring thaw period.

 

CE 5850 - Earthwork & Stability of Earth

 Studies the analysis and design of earth cuts, earth embankments, and gravity dams. Topics include field compaction of soil, compacted properties, fluid flow through the soil, and slope stability procedures. Requires a field trip to an RCC dam and an analysis of its water pressure and movement records.

 

CE 5860 - Fundamentals of Soil Behavior

 Develop an understanding of the factors determining and controlling the engineering properties of a soil. Topics include crystal structure and surface characteristics, soil mineralogy, soil formation, rock weathering, soil composition, soil water, clay-water electrolyte systems, soil structure and stability, volume change behavior, and strength and deformation behavior.

 

FW 3540 - Intro to GIS for Natural Resource Management

(4 credits)

 The fundamentals of GIS and its application to natural resource management. Spatial data, its uses and limitations are evaluated. Students work extensively with the ArcView and the ArcMap software packages. 

 

FW 4540 - Remote Sensing of the Environment

 Overview of remote sensing principles and concepts. Topics include camera and digital sensor arrays, various types of imagery, structure of digital data, spectral reflectance curves, applications/case studies and introduction to digital image processing.

 

FW 4850 - Environmental Educ. Methods

 This course will prepare students to design and conduct environmental education programs for adults and youth in classrooms, parks, museums, nature centers, and through statewide outreach programs using a variety of teaching methods, hands-on activities, and scientific investigations.

 

FW 5550 - Geographic Information Systems (4 credits)

 Use of geographic information systems (GIS) in resource management. Studies various components of GIS in detail, as well as costs and benefits. Laboratory exercises use ArcMap, ArcView, and ArcInfo software packages to solve resource management problems.

 

FW 5560 - Digital Image Processing: Remote Sensing Perspective  (4 credits)

 Presents the theory and quantitative procedures of digital image processing using remotely sensed data. Emphasizes image acquisition, preprocessing, enhancement, transformation classification techniques, accuracy assessment, and out-products. Discusses linkages to GIS. Also covers evaluating applications of the technology to current resource management problems via peer-reviewed literature.

 

GE 3040 - Fundamentals of Geophysics (3 credits) Spring

 An introduction to geophysical used in applied and environmental geophysics concentrating on the fundamentals of data reduction and interpretation. This course is not only pertinent for the practicing geoscientist but also for environmental engineers, civil engineers, and others interested in learning how physics can be used to investigate Earth's substance.

 

GE 3100 - Depositional Systems  (3 credits) Spring

 Introduction to sedimentary processes and their products. Investigates the physical processes controlling sedimentation along with principles of correlation and interpretation of strata. Focuses on interpreting sedimentary rocks as a record of climate, sea-level and tectonic change.

 

GE 3200 - Geochemistry (3 credits) Spring

 Introduction to elements of modern geochemistry including aqueous solutions, isotopes, age dating, etc. Emphasizes concepts and quantitative methods. Teaches principles of thermodynamics and phase equilibria from an introductory perspective as they pertain to geologic systems

 

GE 3900 - Field Geophysics (5 credits) Summer

 Introduction to field geophysical techniques including basic land surveying. Emphasizes the recording, reduction, presentation, and interpretation of gravity, magnetic, electrical, seismic, and electromagnetic data as well as the proper use, care, and calibration of equipment used to collect the data. Requires report writing. Students must provide their own transportation.

 

GE 3910 - Field Geo w/ Engg Apps (5 credits) Summer

 Introduction to methods and problems of field geology, interpretation of field relationships, and engineering site investigation. Field areas are located in northern Michigan. Requires geological and/or engineering report and memo writing.

 

GE 3915 - Introduction to Field Geology (3 credits) Summer

 An introduction to geologic field mapping and site investigations. Requires geological and/or engineering report and memo writing.

 

GE 4050 - Advanced Structural Geology (3 credits) Spring

 How rocks deform on a microstructural to hand specimen scale. Topics include dislocations, work hardening and recovery processes, annealing and recrystallization, slipsystems, preferred orientation mechanisms, and foliation development.

 

GE 4100 - Geomorph & Glacial Geology (4 credits) Spring

 The study of the processes, including fluvial, glacial, wind, mass movement, and wave action, shaping the earth's surface by erosion and deposition of geologic materials. Emphasizes the role of past and present climate. Field trips are a major component.

 

GE 4160 - Introduction to Subsurface GIS (3 credits) Spring

 Introduction to elements of GIS, emphasizing application to subsurface from groundwater levels to gas and oil reservoirs. Students prepare maps of subsurface features using large data sets. Labs use current, popular GIS software packages.

 

GE 4400 - Near Surface Geophysics I (3 credits) Fall

 Design of geophysical site investigations utilizing resistivity, electromagnetic, ground penetrating radar, and magnetic techniques. Emphasizes geophysical detection of contamination, ground water supplies, and mining applications.

 

GE 4410 - Near Surface Geophysics II (3 credits) Spring

 Principles and design of geophysical investigations of the shallow subsurface. Emphasizes seismic refraction and reflection methods with focus on engineering and groundwater applications.

 

GE 4415 - Matlab for Geosciences

 Matlab programming as applied to graphing single and multiple one-dimensional data sets, contouring two-dimensional data sets, slice and movie presentations of three-dimensional data sets, loading data, convolution, cross and autocorrelation and frequency analysis, specialized computations for geophysics and geology. 

 

GE 4550 - Gravity and Magnetic Methods (3 credits) Spring

 Interpretation of gravity and magnetic anomalies based on forward modeling techniques, including space filtering to enhance anomalies of importance. Emphasis will also be given to the design of the gravity/magnetic survey based on cost, implementation, and interpretation methods used.

 

GE 4600 - Reflection Seismology (3 credits) Spring

 Principles of reflection seismic techniques, including theoretical background and application, and hands-on computer projects. Included are acquisition, data processing, and 2D/3D data interpretation. Students conduct projects using actual commercial-quality seismic data.

 

GE 4650 - Geostatistics

 In-depth review of classical statistics and introduction to principles of geostatistics, theory of spatially correlated random variables and their application on the evaluation of mineral resources, strategic exploration planning, ore reserve estimation, and production planning. Examines case studies from the mining and petroleum industries.

 

GE 4800 - Groundwater Engineering

 Application of geohydrology principles to design water-well supplies, site investigations, and subsurface remediation systems.

 

 GE 4900 - Geological Engg Design Proj I

 Capstone geological engineering design course focusing on a realistic, complex, open-ended geological engineering problem. Project includes technical design, economic analysis, environmental impacts, and regulations. Report writing required. (Senior project ready as defined by major substitutes for prerequisites)

 

GE 4910 - Geological Engg Design Proj II

 Continuation of GE4900. Capstone geological engineering design course focusing on a realistic, complex, open-ended geological engineering problem. Project includes technical design, economic analysis, environmental impacts, and regulations. Report writing required. (Senior project ready as defined by major substitutes for prerequisites)

 

GE 5040 - Evolution of Structures in Deformed Rock

 How rocks deform on a microstructural to hand specimen scale. Topics include dislocations, work hardening and recovery processes, annealing and recrystallization, slipsystems, preferred orientation mechanisms, and foliation development, with independent project on selected topic.

 

GE 5050 - Structural Analysis & Interpretation

 Analysis of deformed rock structures from hand specimen to outcrop and map scales. Topics include mechanics of cleavage development and folding, shear zones and vorticity, strain measurement, style group analysis, overprinting relationships, mapping and hemispherical projection techniques.

 

GE 5100 - Adv Geomorphology & Glacial Geology

 In-depth study of surficial processes that shape landforms and determine the composition and character of the Earth`s surface. Processes studied include glacial, flovial, wind, mass movement, and wave action. Emphasizes the role of past and present climate. In-depth report and presentation on two separate topics required.

 

GE 5110 - Sequence Stratigraphy

 The study of sedimentary rocks interpreted as a series of packages separated by time-significant surfaces. Also examines the processes controlling generation of the time-significant surfaces (eustasy, tectonics, and sediment supply).

 

GE 5120 - Basin Analysis (3 credits)

 The evolution of sedimentary basins is influenced by the tectonic mechanisms that initially form the basin, the sediments that are deposited in the basins (composition and environments), and post-depositional processes (thermal, hydrologic, chemical and tectonic) that modify the basin fill. Course examines sedimentary basins as a record of past events.

 

GE 5130 - Geology of Utah's Nat'l Parks (3 or 4 credits)  Summer

 A two-week, field-based course taught in the National Parks and Monuments of eastern Utah. Course requires a project and special assignments.

 

GE 5140 - Paleoclimatology

 This course will investigate the geologic evidence of global climate and the mechanisms that are interpreted to produce climate change.

 

GE 5200 - Advanced Geochemistry

 Elements of modern geochemistry, including aqueous solutions, isotopes, age dating, etc., with an emphasis on concepts and quantitative methods. Project and report required.

 

GE 5210 - Advanced Applied Geochem

 Monitoring techniques, collection of field data, processing, and analysis of geochemical data to study near-surface environmental systems. Project and report required.

 

GE 5220 - Aqueous Geochemistry

 Introduction to quantitative methods in aqueous geochemistry with emphasis on calculation of aqueous equilibria relevant to natural systems such as carbonate equilibria.

 

GE 5270 - Volcanic Clouds (3 credits) Fall 2006

 Synthesis of recent advancements in volcanic cloud research along with theoretical background and practical experience in the study, understanding and remote sensing of volcanic clouds. Techniques covered are also applicable to other atmospheric phenomena although volcanic ash, gas and aerosol remote sensing is the main focus.

 

GE 5300 - Clay Mineralogy and X-ray Diffraction

 The identification of clay minerals using X-ray diffractometry methods. Reviews clay mineral structures, chemistry, and physical properties and demonstrates applications in diagenesis, petroleum geology, weathering/soils, and sedimentation.

 

GE 5400 - Global Geophysics & Geotech

 Plate tectonics and the internal structure of the earth using information from seismology, geomagnetism gravity, and heat flow. A term project/report is required.

 

GE 5415 - Matlab for Geosciences

 Matlab programming as applied to graphing single and multiple one-dimensional data sets, contouring two- dimensional data sets, slice and movie presentations of three-dimensional data sets, loading data, convolution, cross and autocorrelation and frequency analysis, specialized computations for geophysics and geology.

 

GE 5450 - Potential Theory in Gravity & Mag Appl

 The fundamentals of potential theory and the application to gravity and magnetic studies of the crust and lithosphere. Topics include Newtonian & magnetic potential, magnetization, regional gravity fields, the geomagnetic field, forward & inverse modeling. Fourier-domain modeling and transformations.

 

GE 5500 - Paleomagnetism & Environmental Magnetism

 Origin and interpretation of the natural remanent magnetism in rocks and its use in deciphering the geologic past. Applications studied are plate tectonic movements, environmental change, stratigraphic correlation, and the earth's magnetic field.

 

GE 5510 - Advanced Rock Mechanics

 Critical ground control problems relating to underground openings and surface mines. Review of engineering mechanics, numerical methods, and empirical methods to develop solutions and design criteria. Introduces probabilistic approaches for engineering design.

 

GE 5600 - Adv Reflection Seismology

 Principles and application of reflection seismic techniques. Includes acquisition, data processing, and 2D/3D data interpretation. Project and report required.

 

GE 5740 - Environmental Impact Analysis

 An overview of extraction, construction, transportation, and processing activities and their environmental design. Includes impacts on air, water, solids, land, wildlife, and socioeconomics. Covers environmental permitting and processes. Uses case studies.

 

GE 5770 - Mineral Deposit Explor Models

 Systematic study of the characteristics, distribution, and origin of economic metallic and nonmetallic mineral deposits, and the development of models for exploration with emphasis on selected deposits. Laboratory stresses the study of mining districts and development of exploration and genetic models.

 

 GE 5780 - Explor & Envir Geochemistry

 Application of geochemical data collection and analysis to the exploration of metallic and nonmetallic mineral deposits and evaluation of environmental consequences of extraction. 

 

 GE 5810 - Flow & Transport Sub Sys

 Analysis of fluid flow in geologic materials, including groundwater flow, solute and contaminant transport, heat flow, and petroleum movement. Develops fundamental transport equations and numerical methods for solving these equations.

 

GE 5850 - Adv Groundwater Eng & Remediation

 Computer modeling and other advanced topics in the analysis hydrological systems, contaminant transport and fate, and subsurface remediation systems.

 

SS 5100 Global Environmental Systems (3 credits) Fall

 Survey of literature which connects global biological and physical  processes with human adaptations, interventions, and social systems.  Study of range of human systems adapted to living in and with  environment. Topics include energy balance and transfer in the  earth environment, ecosystems and energy flow, human intervention  into geomorphologic processes.

 

SS 5200 Environmental Decision Making (3 credits) Spring

 Group practicum in environmental decision making, with the focus  on facilitating the decision making process associated with a  community-based environmental concern or policy choice. Past projects  include efforts to facilitate public participation in developing  a forest management plan, participating in the review of an Area  of Concern, and assessing a recycling program.

 

SS 5300 Environmental Policy and Politics (3 credits) Fall

 An overview of environmental policy making and politics in the United  States. Emphasis on policies regarding air and water pollution,  toxic and hazardous wastes. Discussion of rulemaking, enforcement  and administration of laws by EPA. Investigation of environmental  politics on national and community levels, with focus on social  movements and citizen participation.

 

SS 5350 Environmental Policy Analysis (3 credits) Spring

 The role of economic analysis in environmental policy, including  a detailed review of the major tools that are used at the federal,  state, regional and local levels. Special emphasis will be given  on benefit-cost analysis and comparative risk analysis.

 

SS 5400 Sociology of the Environment (3 credits) Fall

 Provides students with an introduction to basic sociological concepts  as they apply to human relationships to the environment. Topics  covered include social values, organizations, norms, ideologies  and political systems. Themes of the course will include the relationship  of expertise to lay knowledge, public participation and urban-rural  relationships.

 

PH 4640 - Intro to Atmospheric Physics

 Essential elements of atmospheric physics, including atmospheric composition and structure, atmospheric thermodynamics, aerosol and cloud physics, radiative transfer and atmospheric fluid dynamics. MA2300 and MA4515 are recommended, but not required

 

PH 5630 - Imaging Systems (2 credits)

 An introduction to the theory, technology, and methods associated with imaging systems. Topics include telescopes and astronomical imaging, microscopes, aerial cameras and remote sensing instruments, and image recording technologies

 

PH 5910 - Atmospheric Physics

Concepts in atmospheric physics. Covers radiative transfer, atmospheric thermodynamics, cloud physics, and remote sensing and imaging of Earth.

 

Curricular Offerings in Specifically in Support of the consortium

2005-2006 academic year

Fall Semester 2005

Intercultural Hazards Communication in Latin America GE 5001

Advanced Natural Hazards GE 5150

Global Geophysics GE 4500

Water and Society GE 4930

Volcanology GE 5180

Spring Semester 2006

Mathematical Modeling of Earth Systems GE 5800

Fundamentals of Remote Sensing GE 4250

Geohydrology GE 3850

Megaeruptions GE 5185

Field Volcanological Seminar--Long Valley and Yellowstone GE 5187

2006-2007 academic year

Fall Semester 2006

Intercultural Hazards Communication in Latin America GE 5001

Advanced Natural Hazards GE 5150

Global Geophysics GE 4500

Water and Society GE 4930

Volcanic Clouds--Remote Sensing GE 5270

Spring Semester 2007

Mathematical Modeling of Earth Systems GE 5800

Fundamentals of Remote Sensing GE 4250

Geohydrology GE 3850

Volcanic Landslides and Edifice Collapses GE 5185

Summer Semester 2007

Field Volcanological Seminar--Cascades and Western Canada GE 5187

2007-2008 Academic Year

Fall Semester 2007

Intercultural Hazards Communication in Latin America GE 5001

Advanced Natural Hazards GE 5150

Global Geophysics GE 4500

Water and Society GE 4930

Volcanology GE 5180

Spring Semester 2008

Mathematical Modeling of Earth Systems GE 5800

Fundamentals of Remote Sensing GE 4250

Geohydrology GE 3850

Convergent Plate Boundary Volcanism GE 5185

Summer Semester 2008

Field Volcanology Seminar--Mexican Volcanic Chain GE 5187

For full course descriptions--see above