UIS Graduate and Undergraduate Catalog
Academic Year 2004 - 2005

ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES
Master of Arts in Environmental Studies, Master of Science in Environmental Sciences, Graduate Certificate in Environmental Risk Assessment, Undergraduate Minor in Environmental Studies

Faculty Sharron LaFollette, Tih-fen Ting, William D. Warren
Associated Faculty Harshavardhan Bapat, Gary Butler, Remi Imeokaparia, Michael Lemke, Robert McGregor, William Siles, Pinky Wassenberg
Emeritus Faculty Alexander J. Casella, Edward L. Hawes, Malcolm P. Levin, John Munkirs, Charles Schweighauser, Roy Wehrle
Associated Emeritus Faculty William Martz
Adjunct Faculty Rhonald Hasenyager, Stu Jacobson, Roger Kanerva, Greg Michaud, John S. Sherrill, A.G. Taylor

Contact: (217) 206-6720
ens@uis.edu or www.uis.edu/environmentalstudies/

Department of environmental studies goal
The goal of the environmental studies department is to enhance society's ability to create an environmentally acceptable future. Faculty with diverse backgrounds in the social and natural sciences are committed to developing interdisciplinary approaches to environmental problem solving.

The principle emphasis in the M.S. and the M.A. degrees is on professional development. Faculty work with each student to create a specialized educational plan (developed during first semester of study). The M.S. and M.A. degrees are designed for people who intend to enter the job market for the first time, as well as for midcareer professionals. Students should consult advising documents for their chosen degree and concentrations as well as the information provided below.

Master's degrees entrance requirements
Admission to either the M.S. or M.A. degree programs will be considered for students with bachelor's degrees from accredited colleges and universities. Applications are accepted year-round. Applications are evaluated by the Graduate Admissions Committee. Full admission requires a GPA of at least 3.00 (on a 4.00 scale). Students with a GPA between 2.50 and 3.00 will be considered for conditional admission. If the Graduate Admissions Committee recommends conditional admission, the student is expected to complete satisfactorily (B or better) ENS 551 and ENS 552 during his/her first year in the program.

All applicants for admission to the environmental studies department must complete a graduate application to the campus. They must also submit to the department a letter of application that states their academic and vocational goals and two letters of recommendation from either professors or employers. Complete transcripts should be sent to the admissions office as part of the application for admission to UIS. The Graduate Admissions Committee will make its decision after the application file is complete. Applicants will be notified of their status as soon as possible. For further information about admission requirements, contact the environmental studies department.

Grading policy
Students must maintain a B or better average during their course of study. A maximum of eight hours of C grades is applicable to a degree, provided they are balanced by an equal number of A grade hours.

Advising
During the first semester of study, each student selects a faculty adviser who assists the student in defining objectives, in selecting courses appropriate to the student's selected area of study, and in developing the master's thesis or graduate project. In conjunction with his/her adviser, the student must prepare an educational plan before reaching the mid-term of the first semester of study. The educational plan is submitted to the department chair for final approval.

Master of Science in Environmental Sciences
The curriculum for the Master of Science in Environmental Sciences is designed to allow students to gain strong scientific understanding of ways to study, evaluate, and interpret environmental realities and their impacts, as well as to manage and mitigate problems. Objectives are to enable students to 1) develop a basic literacy in the natural and social sciences and the humanities as they contribute to an understanding of environmental issues; 2) understand key environmental problems; 3) identify, research, and evaluate environmental problems; and 4) compare, contrast, implement, and manage short- and long-term solutions to environmental problems.

Two options are available: environmental science and environmental risk science. The department recommends that students entering environmental sciences have a knowledge of organic chemistry, algebra, statistics, geology, and biology.

Requirements of the master of science degree
Core requirements
ENS 546 Concepts of Ecology or equivalent 4 Hrs.
ENS 551 Environmental Natural Sciences 4 Hrs.
ENS 552 Environmental Social Sciences and the Humanities 4 Hrs.
ENS 553 Seminar 3 Hrs.
ENS 554 Thesis/Project Proposal 1 Hr.
Total core 16 Hrs.

Option and electives
Total of option and electives. (See below.) 28 Hrs.
Total 44 Hrs.

*Closure
Each graduate degree candidate must complete one of the following closure options.
ENS 510 Thesis 4 Hrs.
ENS 520 Graduate Project 4 Hrs.
Total 48 Hrs.

*Students may also want to take ENS 530 Internship (4 hours) in conjunction with their closure exercises. Students who hold Graduate Public Service Internships may use four hours of internship seminar (PAD 460) toward their environmental studies degree.

General environmental sciences option (28 Hrs.)
Build competency in tools of environmental sciences important in researching environmental situations and their impact on environmental and public health.

Required 8 Hrs.
ENS 449 Environmental Toxicology 4 Hrs.
BIO 571 Advanced Ecology 4 Hrs.

Select 12 Hrs. from the following:
ENS 444 Aquatic Ecology 4 Hrs.
ENS 445 Biology of Water Pollution 4 Hrs.
ENS 447 Environmental Chemistry 4 Hrs.
ENS 462 Environmental Physical Geography 4 Hrs.
ENS 521 Environmental Risk Assessment 4 Hrs.
ENS 522 Risk Assessment: Air, Land and Water 4 Hrs.
ENS 526 Risk Management and Communications 4 Hrs.
ENS 527 Strategic Environmental Management 4 Hrs.
CHE 415 Biochemistry I 4 Hrs.
CHE 421 Instrumental Analysis 4 Hrs.
CHE 425 Interpretive Spectroscopy 3 Hrs.
MPH 511 Foundations of Epidemiology 4 Hrs.
MPH 514 Analytical Epidemiology 4 Hrs.
ENS 555 Analytical Tools for the Environmental Sciences or
BIO 402 Biometrics or
POS 503 Graduate Research Methods 4 Hrs.

Other courses may be selected if approved by the student's adviser and the department chair.

Electives 8 Hrs.
Appropriate courses will be selected from within or without the ENS department in consultation with the student's adviser.

Risk sciences option (28 Hrs.)
Use tools and strategies of risk sciences to evaluate and manage impacts on environmental and public health.
Option required 12 Hrs.
ENS 449 Environmental Toxicology 4 Hrs.
ENS 521 Environmental Risk Assessment 4 Hrs.
ENS 522 Risk Assessment: Air, Land, and Water 4 Hrs.

Select 8 Hrs. from the following:
ENS 419 Environmental Law 4 Hrs.
ENS 421 Environmental Economics 4 Hrs.
ENS 447 Environmental Chemistry 4 Hrs.
ENS 523 Risk Assessment Practicum 4 Hrs.
ENS 524 Environmental Decision Making 4 Hrs.
ENS 526 Risk Management and Communication 4 Hrs.
ENS 527 Strategic Environmental Management 4 Hrs.
ENS 555 Analytical Tools for the Environmental Sciences or
BIO 402 Biometrics or
POS 503 Graduate Research Methods 4 Hrs.
ENS 561 Foundations of Epidemiology 4 Hrs.
ENS 562 Analytical Epidemiology 4 Hrs.
ENS 581 Environmental Policy and Analysis 4 Hrs.

Other courses may be selected if approved by the student's adviser and the department chair.

Electives 8 Hrs.
Appropriate courses will be selected from within or without the ENS department in consultation with the student's adviser.

Graduate Certificate in Environmental Risk Assessment
Risk assessment is a frequently used tool in environmental analysis. The graduate certificate in environmental risk assessment provides students with the professional education necessary to perform risk assessment operations for a variety of environmental and public health situations. Students will also relate risk assessment methodologies, procedures, and results to environmental policies. To earn a certificate, students must complete the curriculum with a B average.

Students complete 16 credit hours for the certificate: ENS 421 Environmental Economics, ENS 521 Environmental Risk Assessment, ENS 522 Risk Assessment: Air, Land, and Water; and ENS 523 Risk Assessment Practicum. These courses may be applied toward study in the M.S. risk science option.

Master of Arts in Environmental Studies
The curriculum for the Master of Arts in Environmental Studies is designed to allow students to gain an understanding of ways to balance social and economic needs with environmental realities, to learn how to use resources imaginatively for sustained yields, and to become aware of the role of values in issue formulation and policy making. Objectives are to enable students to 1) develop basic literacy in the natural and social sciences and the humanities as they contribute to an understanding of environmental affairs; 2) understand key environmental problems; 3) enhance awareness of human dependence on the environment; 4) research historical roots of environmental problems and the impact of human activities over time; 5) communicate and evaluate issues in environmental policies and actions; and 6) evaluate short- and long-term solutions to environmental problems.

Three concentrations are available: environmental humanities; natural resources and sustainable development; and environmental policy, planning, and administration.

Degree requirements
Core
ENS 546 Concepts of Ecology or equivalent 4 Hrs.
ENS 551 Environmental Natural Sciences 4 Hrs.
ENS 552 Environmental Social Sciences and the Humanities 4 Hrs.
ENS 553 Seminar 3 Hrs.
ENS 554 Thesis/Project Proposal 1 Hr.
Total core 16 Hrs.
Concentrations and electives
Total of concentration and electives. (See below.) 28 Hrs.
Total 44 Hrs.

*Closure
Each graduate degree candidate must complete one of the following closure options.
ENS 510 Thesis 4 Hrs.
ENS 520 Graduate Project 4 Hrs.
Total 48 Hrs.

*Students may also want to take ENS 530 Internship (4 hours) in conjunction with their closure exercises. Students who hold Graduate Public Service Internships may use four hours of internship seminar (PAD 460) toward their environmental studies degree.

Concentrations

Natural resources and sustainable development (28 Hrs.)
Explores theories of sustainable use and administration of natural resources, including water, energy, and agricultural land.

Required 8 Hrs.
ENS 487 Natural Resources: Policy and Administration 4 Hrs.
ENS 581 Environmental Policy and Analysis 4 hrs.

Select 12 Hrs. from the following:
ENS 403 Transportation: Problems and Planning Procedures 4 Hrs.
ENS 404 Techniques of Environmental Planning: Remote Sensing and GIS 4 Hrs.
ENS 419 Environmental Law 4 Hrs.
ENS 421 Environmental Economics 4 Hrs.
ENS 445 Biology of Water Pollution 4 Hrs.
ENS 463 Our Changing Climate 4 Hrs.
ENS 468 Environmental Geology 4 Hrs.
ENS 483 Environmental Policies: National Environmental Protection Act 4 Hrs.
ENS 484 Environmental Policies: Air Quality 4 Hrs.
ENS 485 Environmental Policies: Water Quality 4 Hrs.
ENS 486 Solid and Hazardous Wastes: Technology and Policy 4 Hrs.
ENS 501 Environmental Planning: Land and Resource Use 4 Hrs.
ENS 502 Land Use Planning: Principles and Practices 4 Hrs.
ENS 504 Environmental Modeling with GIS 4 Hrs.
ENS 527 Strategic Environmental Management 4 Hrs.
ENS 547 Environmental Agriculture 4 Hrs.

Other courses may be selected if approved by the student's adviser and the department chair.

Elective 8 Hrs.
Appropriate courses will be selected from within or without the environmental studies department in consultation with the student's adviser.

Environmental policy, planning, and administration (28 Hrs.)
Emphasizes policy and planning processes and the administration of policy and planning.

Required 8 Hrs.
ENS 487 Natural Resources: Policy and Administration 4 Hrs.
ENS 501 Environmental Planning: Land and Resource Use 4 Hrs.

Select 12 Hrs. from the following:
ENS 403 Transportation: Problems and Planning Procedures 4 Hrs.
ENS 404 Techniques of Environmental Planning: Remote Sensing and GIS 4 Hrs.
ENS 419 Environmental Law 4 Hrs.
ENS 421 Environmental Economics 4 Hrs.
ENS 483 Environmental Policies: National Environmental Policy Act 4 Hrs.
ENS 484 Environmental Policies: Air Quality 4 Hrs.
ENS 485 Environmental Policies: Water Quality 4 Hrs.
ENS 486 Solid and Hazardous Wastes: Technology and Policy 4 Hrs.
ENS 502 Land Use Planning: Principles and Practices 4 Hrs.
ENS 527 Strategic Environmental Management 4 Hrs.
ENS 504 Environmental Modeling with GIS 4 Hrs.
ENS 581 Environmental Policy and Analysis 4 Hrs.

Other courses may be selected if approved by the student's adviser and the department chair.

Elective 8 Hrs.
Appropriate courses will be selected from within or without the environmental studies department in consultation with the student's adviser.

Environmental humanities (28 Hrs.)
Emphasizes environmental history, literature, ethics, art, and philosophy.

Choose 28 Hrs. from the following:
ENS 411 Introduction to Environmental Education 4 Hrs.
ENS 412 World Environmental Thought 4 Hrs.
ENS 418 American Environmental History 4 Hrs.
ENS 474 Environmental Perception 4 Hrs.
ENS 476 Environmental Ethics: Science, Religion, and the Environment 4 Hrs.
ENS 477 Expressions of American Naturalism 4 Hrs.
ENS 505 Historic Environmental Preservation 4 Hrs
ART 463 Modern Art History 4 Hrs.
ART 464 Contemporary Art History 4 Hrs.
HIS 439 American Agricultural History 4 Hrs.
HIS 442 American Urban History 4 Hrs.
HIS 511 Museum/Historic Sites Methods 4 Hrs.
PHI 432 Philosophy of Art 4 Hrs.
SOA 481 North American Indians: Culture and Ecology 4 Hrs.

Appropriate courses may also be selected from within or outside the ENS department in consultation with the student's adviser.

Closure requirements
M.S. and M.A. candidates, with the assistance of their advisers and graduate committees, are required to develop a thesis or major graduate project. For many students, the culminating experience of graduate-level work is a formal thesis. Other students develop a substantial and carefully designed graduate project, such as an interpretive plan for a nature center, an exhibit for a museum or visitors' center, a film or multimedia show with supportive materials, a laboratory research project, or a finished and well-researched draft of environmental legislation or policy. The thesis or project is defended in an oral examination before the graduate committee.

Students must enroll in a total of four hours of master's closure exercise for credit; however, they may accrue the total in increments. After beginning a closure exercise, students are required by campus policy to be enrolled in at least one semester hour of closure exercise each semester until the exercise is completed. For environmental studies students, this means that students who do not complete the thesis or project by the end of four credit hours of continuous enrollment in ENS 510 Thesis or ENS 520 Graduate Project must register for ENS 511 Thesis Continuing Enrollment (1 hr. audit) or ENS 529 Graduate Project Continuing Enrollment (1 hr. audit) each fall and spring semester until the thesis or project is completed.

Student's educational plan
Development of an educational plan in a standard format is a key activity on which student and adviser work closely to develop a plan that is appropriate for the student's background, aspirations, and needs. The plan indicates the courses for the chosen degree and concentration. The plan also includes a proposal for the thesis or graduate project. The department chair approves the plan. Amendments may be made during the course of study with approval of the adviser and department chair.

Graduate Committee: In consultation with the student, the graduate committee reviews and evaluates the thesis or graduate project proposal and final product.

Variances and waivers: Courses that the student wishes or needs to take are listed in the educational plan; variances sought from requirements must be indicated. Courses in other departments/programs that are not cross-listed or that have been taken at other institutions of higher education must also be listed. All variances must be approved by the adviser and department chair.

Internships: Environmental studies faculty believe that a period of time working in an environmental agency or organization can be a vital part of professional training. Students in the Graduate Public Service Internship program may count up to four hours of their special internship seminar, PAD 460, toward the internship.

Environmental studies minor for undergraduates
Provides an overview