ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT GRADUATE PROGRAM

 

Howard College of Arts and Sciences

 

Course Description

 

NOTE: The environmental management graduate program follows the Evening

Student/Metro College calendar of one summer term, two fall terms (A & B) and two

spring terms (A & B). Unless otherwise indicated, all environmental management

[ENVM] courses are offered on rotation.

 

ENVM 500 Biological Science: A Primer for the Environmental

Manager (3)

This course is designed to prepare candidates in the Environmental Management

program for graduate work in toxicology, ecotoxicology, and risk assessment. It is

particularly aimed at students entering the ENVM program with little or no prior

coursework in the biological sciences. The credit earned will not apply to the 36-

credit requirement of the graduate curriculum.

 

ENVM 501 Biological and Environmental Chemistry (3)

The application of chemical and biochemical principles to environmental problems

and solutions. This course will provide the nonscientist with the necessary chemical/

biochemical concepts to assimilate the scientific aspects of environmental management.

Required. Offered: Fall Term A and Spring Term A.

 

ENVM 502 Environmental Law and Regulation (3)

An overview of federal environmental laws and regulations. Salient topics will

include air and water quality, toxic substance regulation, and waste management.

Required. Offered: Fall Term A and Spring Term A.

 

ENVM 503 Quantitative Methods for Environmental Decision Makers (3)

Students will gain a basic understanding of quantitative/statistical methods for managers

who conduct or design environmental monitoring and sampling programs,

develop and interpret quantitative data, and prepare projections. The instructor uses

environmental examples and problems, with emphasis on real-world applications.

Required. Prerequisite: A working knowledge of Windows environment. Offered:

Fall Term B and Spring Term B.

 

ENVM 504 Basic Toxicology (3)

Students will examine the basics of applied toxicology for the non-technician.

Course covers experimental toxicology, definitions, biochemical mechanisms, and

signs of exposure and insult. Students will be given an overview of how toxic materials

enter the body, how they interact with the body, and how they are eliminated.

Students will learn specific toxic effects of metals, pesticides, and solvents. Required.

Prerequisite: ENVM 501. Offered: Fall Term B and Spring Term B.

 

ENVM 505 Environmental Management - A Case Perspective (3)

Using the case method, students will be exposed to the complexity of environmental

management. Emphasis is on the managerial skills required to administer complex

environmental problems, the need for multidisciplinary analysis, and the application

of problem-solving methodologies.

 

ENVM 506 Environmental Risk Assessment and Management (3)

This course covers the basic principles and methods for conducting a risk assessment.

Students examine both the values and limitations of risk assessment by focusing on

environmental and health risks. This course also reviews how risk management decisions

are made in the public and private sectors and explains how to communicate

environmental and health risk, as well as public policy choices and tradeoffs, to the public.

Prerequisites: ENVM 501, ENVM 502, ENVM 503, and ENVM 504.

 

ENVM 507 Technology and Management of Hazardous Materials (3)

This course covers current technology in the storage, handling, and transportation of

hazardous materials and wastes. It emphasizes safe, efficient, and legally sufficient

management techniques. Methods for identification and classification of hazardous

and toxic materials, substances, and wastes will be presented. Also covered will be

spills and specific procedures to prevent incidents and specific procedures for protecting

human health and the environment. OSHA training requirements, packaging

and labeling procedures, storage compatibility and capacity, transportation requirements,

and legal responsibilities will also be examined. Prerequisites: ENVM 501,

ENVM 502, and ENVM 504.

 

ENVM 508 Ecotoxicology for the Environmental Manager (3)

An introduction to the dynamics of the ecosystem and the effects of toxic substances

on the living and nonliving components of the ecosystem. Specific topics will include

the role of indicator species on ecosystem health, the nature of key species in ecosystem

functioning, loss of biodiversity under toxicological insult, and methods for monitoring

ecosystem health and restoration. Several major case studies will be examined

to illustrate ecotoxicological concepts. Prerequisites: ENVM 501 and ENVM 504.

 

ENVM 509 Geographic Information Systems [GIS] and Environmental

Management Issues (3)

This course will introduce the student to the basics of GIS. It will provide an overview

of relevant theory, software, hardware, databases, and applications. Trends in GIS

technology will be examined from the managerial perspective. Examples will be

drawn from current environmental projects.

 

ENVM 510 Environmental Ethics and Values (3)

Students will examine ethical considerations in environmental decision making.

Discussion will cover personal versus organizational attitudes, cultural economic and

historical values, science versus politics, and international and intergenerational

issues. The course also discusses humankind's relationship with the environment.

Students are encouraged to develop a personal philosophy relative to their role in the

regulatory, technical, scientific, legal, or corporate management of the environment.

 

ENVM 511 Environmental Total Quality Management [TQM] (3)

This course will introduce students to the concepts and techniques of TQM from the

environmental perspective. Topics will include understanding the fundamentals of

environmental TQM, organizing for environmental compliance using TQM techniques,

applying total quality auditing techniques, and using TQM for measuring

environmental success and costs. Goal communication within the organization will

also be explored. Real-life case studies will be utilized throughout the course.

 

ENVM 512 Environmental Project Management (3)

Students will discuss environmental project management from the government,

industry, and contractor perspectives. This course will look at successful project management

organization, planning, and communication strategies. Using real-life

examples, students will also examine complex projects needing management. The

scope and types of contractual assistance will be reviewed. Prerequisites: ENVM

501, ENVM 502, ENVM 503, and ENVM 504.

 

ENVM 514 Wetlands (3)

An introduction to the development, structure, and importance of wetlands. This

course also provides the background necessary to understand the current controversies

concerning wetland protection. Instructional methods include lecture, problem

sheets, and field exercises. Prerequisites: ENVM 501, ENVM 502, ENVM 503,

and ENVM 504.

 

 ENVM 515 Endangered Species (3)

A study of evolutionary mechanisms, species concepts, and taxonomic and systematic

principles as applied to the species-level taxon and how federal and state laws

relating to endangered species affect decision making of environmental managers.

Prerequisite: ENVM 502.

 

ENVM 516 Research (3)

This course is designed to allow the individual student to pursue a research topic of

special interest under the direction of an ENVM faculty member or some outside

expert jointly agreed upon by course coordinator and student. This research will provide

an opportunity for senior graduate students to integrate their knowledge in

real-world, problem-solving situations. Prerequisites: ENVM 501, ENVM 502, ENVM

503, and ENVM 504.

 

ENVM 517 Soil,Water, and Air Sampling and Analysis for the

Environmental Manager (3)

This course will cover the basics of the practice of modern environmental analysis.

Topics covered will include proper field sampling and preservation, legal aspects,

traceability, and chain of custody records. Also, aspects of a quality assurance and

quality control program will be addressed, as well as fundamentals of laboratory

instrumentation and air quality monitoring. Prerequisites: ENVM 501 and ENVM 503.

 

ENVM 518 Environmental Litigation (3)

A study of the process of environmental litigation, focusing on the role of an environmental

manager, commonly litigated issues and alternatives to litigation.

Prerequisite: ENVM 502.

Howard College of Arts and Sciences | Biology

 

ENVM 519 Conservation Biology and Natural Resource Management (3)

A study of the basic theories, models, and techniques of the science of conservation

biology and their utilization in the conservation and management of natural

resources. Prerequisites: ENVM 502 and ENVM 505.

 

ENVM 520 Occupational Safety and Health Law and Policy (3)

This course will address the relationship between federal occupational safety and

health statutes to the work environment. Particular emphasis will be placed on the

rights, duties, and responsibilities under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of

1970. Prerequisites: ENVM 501, ENVM 502, and ENVM 504.

 

ENVM 521 Risk Analysis (3)

This course explores the risk analysis framework, with its interplay between science

and politics, as an approach to managing health and environmental hazards. "Risk

Analysis" is defined broadly to encompass the interrelated tasks of risk assessment,

risk evaluation, risk management, and risk communication. Students will be exposed

to a synoptic perspective on how environmental problems, goals, and policies are

actually shaped in the complex world of competing interests, conflicting ideologies,

and incomplete understanding. Prerequisite: ENVM 506 or permission of the

instructor.

 

ENVM 522 Environmental Economics (3)

Environmental Economics attempts to bring a strong policy orientation to environmental

issues, focusing on the economic theory, which drives the policy. This course

has a strong international thrust that integrates economic development with environmental

policy. Prerequisites: ENVM 501, ENVM 502, ENVM 503, ENVM 504,

ENVM 505, and ENVM 507.

 

ENVM 523 Cleanup of Environmental Contamination (3)

This course will provide the student with the fundamentals and tools needed to manage

remedial and corrective actions required for cleanup of hazardous substance

spills and accidents. This course will use case studies to build upon the students' prior

knowledge of hazardous materials and waste management by focusing on statutory

and regulatory interpretation, application and enforcement of actions required for

cleanup of environmental contamination, including alternative cleanup development,

cleanup management and methods, and other principles related to compliance

actions. Prerequisites: ENVM 501, ENVM 502, ENVM 504, and ENVM 507.

 

ENVM 524 Environmental Geology (3)

This course will present the application of geological and hydrogeological principles

to environmental management issues including groundwater and soil assessment,

site remediation, and risk assessment. It will provide the student with the necessary

introductory geology and hydrogeology background to understand environmental

geology as related to environmental management, environmental policy, and applicable

environmental regulations. The student will be introduced to the applications

of groundwater modeling, aquifer testing techniques, map reading, groundwater

regulations, and the application of geology to current soil and groundwater remediation

technology, landfill siting, and wellhead protection. Prerequisite: ENVM 501.

 

ENVM 525 Environmental Forestry (3)

This course is designed to provide the student with little or no background in forestry

with an understanding of the principles of forest ecology and management and the

subsequent environmental concerns that occur with various practices. Students will

examine the historical developments of American forest and compare past conditions

with current health. Abiotic and biotic components of forest habitats will be

studied, including forest soils, productivity, climatic factors, and biological diversity.

The principles of silviculture will be discussed, including forest regeneration, intensive

forest management and best management practices for the control of nonpoint

pollution. At the completion, the student will have a basic understanding of management

principles enabling them the ability to balance both economic and environmental

forest concerns.

 

ENVM 526 Environmental Auditing (3)

This course is designed to teach the student the fundamentals of environmental

auditing. Topics covered include: elements of the audit process; property transfer

audits; waste contractor audits; waste minimization audits; international audits;

managing and critiquing an audit program. Students will be required to perform

practical exercises individually or in small groups.

 

ENVM 527 Sociology of the Environment (3)

Students will be introduced to the idea that humans not only react to the environment

but also shape the environment. This is based on the assumption that humans

have the capacity to act on the environment in a more complex way than any other

living species. Focus will be placed on the capacity of humans to define the environment

as something to be manipulated, guided by the constructed aims of human

groups. Central concepts used in examination of this theme include human beliefs,

values and institutions, social inequality in power and influence, demographic shifts

and technology, political/economic organization and globalization as an historical

process in human organization.

 

ENVM 528 Challenge to Sustainability:

Conserving Kenya's Biodiversity (3)  Photo Journal 2005

This course will explore local, national, and international efforts to manage and conserve

Kenya's biodiversity.Topics included will be the biogeography of Kenya, the people

and history of Kenya, current issues in Kenyan conservation, and the role of sustainable

development in the conservation of natural resources. The course will center

around a 15-day safari to Kenya with visits and fieldwork at Masai Mara Game

Reserve, the Taita Discovery Center, and Tsavo National Park. Also listed as BIOL 402.