Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies

This course focuses on the design of environmental policy under uncertainty and asymmetric information. Topics include the theory of public goods, theory of renewable and non-renewable resources, externalities and common pool resources, the theory of pollution and pollution control, and trade-environment issues.

An overview course on water sources, uses, management and conservation; biological, economic, and health issues. The course will use chemical and engineering approaches to water and waste water treatment. It includes studies for assessing chemicals in water and waste water. Students will cover the application of standardized analytical methods for evaluating water quality.

A fundamental study of soil properties and reactions critical to the evaluation of how contaminants, as well as essential nutrients, behave in the soil environment. Interactions of potential pollutants with soils and the aquatic and atmospheric environments are emphasized. Methods of soil management or remediation to minimize pollution are presented.

This course examines application of the statutory and regulatory underpinnings that drive design, planning and daily operations at job-sites of federal, non-federal, not-for-profit, commercial and international organizations. The focus is at the job place application as distinct from programmatic development and strategy planning issues.

This course focuses on contemporary theories and practices associated with environmental and ecosystems management. Industrial, economic, commercial, political, developmental, and other issues and concerns that influence environmental and ecosystems management are addressed.

This is an interactive course designed to help students achieve a greater understanding of the statistical methods and models available to analyze and solve the wide variety of problems encountered in business, science, medicine, education, the social sciences, and other disciplines. Successful completion of this course will provide students with a working knowledge of the principles of both descriptive and inferential statistics, probability, averages and variations, normal probability distributions, sampling distributions, confidence intervals, statistical hypothesis tests, and correlation and regression analyses. The emphasis of the course will be on the proper use of statistical techniques and their application in real life -- not on mathematical proofs. Prerequisite: MATH110 - College Algebra.

Pre Reqs: College Algebra(MATH110)

This course is a study of environmental issues from a moral and philosophical approach. Issues raised in the course include the moral obligation, or lack thereof, to preserve and protect the environment, the ethical presumptions that underlie environmental policy, the traditional theories of moral philosophy applicable to contemporary environmental problems, and the potential for a new conception of the relationship between humanity and nature.

This course is an introduction to the biological systems within the associated environments. It includes a basic introduction to biological systems and the interaction of these systems in the ecosystems that they form. Concurrent enrollment in corresponding Lab Course is required.

This laboratory demonstrates both qualitative and quantitative techniques associated with biological science. The course is designed for students in the sciences to learn how to make observations about biological phenomena. It will enable the students to answer questions and solve problems involving nomenclature and physical properties associated with the biological sciences. The course involves study through interactive simulation laboratories designed to help reinforce and build upon the concepts presented in the SC100 - Introduction to Biology course. Students access the simulations by installing and listening to CD-ROM technology that is provided to all enrolled students. Concurrent enrollment in corresponding Lecture Course is required.

This course introduces students to the principles of basic chemistry, the terminology, methodology and worldview of chemistry and the practical application to everyday living. Students will attain knowledge of chemical concepts, the environment and atmosphere, material and energy resources, and environmental pollution (including air, water, and soil). Concurrent enrollment in corresponding Lab Course is required.

This laboratory demonstrates both qualitative and quantitative analytical techniques. The course is designed for students in the sciences to learn how to make observations about physical and chemical phenomena, to make calculations, and to test out their own reasoning. It will enable the students to answer questions and solve problems involving nomenclature, physical properties, and synthesis of aliphatic compounds, such as alkanes, alcohols, carboxylic acids, aldehydes, and ketones. Students will acquire skills in laboratory techniques, prepare organic compounds, study their properties, and interpret data collected to identify unknowns. The course involves study through interactive simulation laboratories designed to help reinforce and build upon the concepts presented in the SC101 - Introduction to Chemistry course. Students should access the CD's and using the Table of Contents, go to the CD that contains the following material: 27. Instructional Laboratory Demonstrations. Concurrent enrollment in corresponding Lecture Course is required.

This course will introduce the 'Science of Earth'. Starting with the origin of the Earth and other planets in our universe, students will study rocks and minerals as they appear in hand as well as how they look as specimens under the Petrographic microscope. This course also covers the study of earthquakes, volcanoes and plate tectonics and how these physical processes relate to each other, and the study of plant and animal fossils related to the geologic time scale and the study of different eras and epochs since the Earth was formed 5-6 Billion Years Ago. Last but not least, we will study the Earth sculpturing agencies - Aeolian, riverine and glacial -that are responsible for the formation of the geologic landforms all across the surface of the Earth. Concurrent enrollment in corresponding Lab Course is required.

This laboratory course is designed to accompany Introduction to Physical Geology and is ideal for students who must satisfy a laboratory requirement for graduation. The lessons explore Earth's dynamic nature and the geologic processes responsible for shaping its surface features and environment. Students will receive a geology laboratory kit that contains everything necessary to complete the course. This kit contains a laboratory manual, thirty-six actual rock and mineral samples, a topographic map and other tools to give students a hands-on opportunity to explore geologic concepts covered in the classroom portion of the course. In virtual reality field trips offered on the Internet and DVD, students journey through the solar system, explore a fossil museum, visit a gem and mineral exhibit, and discover other fascinating subjects and locations as well. This laboratory course provides a great learning experience to students who may never have the opportunity to see some of these things in person, want to learn to identify rocks and minerals, and are curious about geologic formations they observe in the real world. Concurrent enrollment in corresponding Lecture Course is required.

This course is a study of the environmental organization at the federal level, to include duties and responsibilities of federal environmentally-focused agencies, non-environmental agencies and organizations that have environmental impact or related responsibilities, and other federal administrative issues focused on environmental bureaucracy, contracting, and/or outsourcing to private organizations.

Nearly all environmental programs are predicated on getting permit tees to take effective action to end non-compliance or non-permitted activities. This often happens voluntarily, but in some instances formal enforcement action must be taken by environmental agencies such as EPA or state agencies. This action may be civil or criminal, it may involve a fine, it may involve supplemental environmental projects, but it will always require the environmental problem be put right. This course will examine the entire enforcement process including the decision tree and options at each branch point. It will discuss the issues of standing, punishment versus deterrence, legal searches, and the rights of permit tees and individuals.

This course focuses on national fish and wildlife policy, programs, and contemporary issues. Topics addressed in the course include historical and contemporary fish and wildlife policy; major fish and wildlife federal, state, and local programs; economic incentives and disincentives associated with fish and wildlife; and non-U.S. approaches to fish and wildlife issues.

A major trend among world corporations and public agencies is the creation of formal environmental management systems. Official certification of such plans by a third party auditor marks the end of planning and the start of implementation. ISO 14001 certification is a complicated and labor-intensive process, but it can bring great tangible and intangible benefits. This course will study the process, and then apply it to six case studies.

This course focuses on the processes, tools, and techniques used to analyze environmental problems, establish state and federal standards, develop environmental impact statements, and make decisions regarding the environment. Students will analyze actual problems, study real environmental impact cases, and learn to use various environmental impact methodologies.

This course focuses on pollution, its influence on the environment and ecosystems, and the major strategies designed to prevent or contain it. Topics include basic principles in pollution management, air pollution, marine and freshwater pollution, managing radiation, and the influence of society on pollution management. No prior experience with pollution management is needed, although the student is expected to have enthusiasm for the subject matter.

This course is designed to provide a solid foundation for undergraduate study in the online environment. Students will be introduced to learning theory, the tools available in the online classroom and campus, and online research. Identification of personal learning style allows students to improve their study/learning techniques and prepares them to succeed in college level courses. Students will be introduced to formatting and citation styles. APUS policy and procedure is addressed. There is an emphasis on written communication to assist students in the transition to the online environment.

Analyses of specific issues will be conducted that will include a review of federal environmental organizations, regulations, and their integration with policymaking and decision-making. Students will review and analyze the environmental problem solving process with consideration for the economic, social, and security implications of these decisions on national and global scales. This capstone course will provide students with the opportunity to complete an approved academic research exercise that demonstrates their knowledge of their selected field of study. This is a capstone course to be taken after all other Environmental Studies courses have been satisfactorily completed. Students must have SENIOR standing to enroll.