The environmental studies graduate program is designed to provide students with course work and experience required to deal effectively with environmental issues. By combining lectures, seminars, discussions and problem-oriented projects with specially-designed courses, we hope to expose students to three basic phases of education: familiarity with the subject matter, skills in problem analysis and solution, and direct involvement with complex issues.
The current offerings lead to a Master of Science with a major in Environmental Studies, and include content from the humanities and the social sciences, particularly those social and cultural aspects necessary to define what kind of environment we need and want.
Requirements for admission follow general University graduate requirements, but in addition, the student must be accepted into the Environmental Studies degree program. A special faculty committee passes on applications. At present, the number admitted is limited by the number of volunteer faculty advisors available to guide graduate students in this endeavor.
Requirements for a Minor
The minor in environmental studies is designed to complement majors as diverse as biology and business administration. To earn a minor the student must complete 25 credits, of which a minimum of 15 must be at the 300 level or above. The following courses must be completed: EVST 101N, Biol 121N, 122N and either EVST 301E or Phil 327E. Twelve credits from the following list must be completed: EVST 301E, 304, 370, 371, 372 494; Biol 340, 341; Econ 340, 345; Evst 420; For 370, 380; Hist 364; Geol 301; NAS 303E; Phil 327E; RS 347.
Courses
U = for undergraduate credit only, UG = for undergraduate or graduate credit, G= for graduate credit. R after the credit indicates the course may be repeated for credit to the maximum indicated after the R.
U 101N Environmental Science 4 cr. Using an ecosystems approach, analyzes how we have created environmental problems from our land, water, resource and energy uses.
U 195 Special Topics Variable cr.(R-6) Experimental offerings of visiting professors, experimental offerings of new courses, or one-time offerings of current topics.
U 295 Special Topics Variable cr. (R-9) Experimental offerings of visiting professors, experimental offerings of new courses, or one-time offerings of current topics.
UG 301E Ethics, Beauty and the Environment 3 cr. Prereq., lower-division course in Perspective 5 or consent of instr. Examination of the central questions of environmental ethics the relationship between humans and the non-human world from several perspectives, including the role and place of beauty.
UG 304 Conservation of Natural and Human Resources in Montana 3 cr. Prereq., consent of instr. Same as For 304. Conservation in Montana; environmental problems such as air pollution, water pollution, mining impacts and resource management of wildlands, timberlands, and wildlife.
UG 340 Environmental Economics 3 cr. Prereq., Econ 111S, 112S or consent of instr. Same as Econ 340. Outlines a theoretical framework for the analysis of environmental problems, including concepts of market failure and externalities, materials balance and property rights. The policy implications of this analytical model are explored for a range of topics including pollution and the preservation of natural environments and species.
UG 367 Natural Resource Politics 3 cr. Prereq., EVST 101N or consent of instr. General review of the political issues and processes involving natural resources and the environment with primary emphasis on issues in U.S. politics.
UG 370 Environmental Studies Lecture Series 1 cr. (R-3) Periodic public offerings on important environmental topics.
UG 371 Wilderness Issues Lecture Series 1 cr. (R-3) Same as Recm 371. Explores current issues in wilderness preservation, management and research.
UG 372 Wildlife Film Festival 1 cr.(R-3) In conjunction with International Wildlife Film Festival; attend showings, workshops, discussion groups. Public offering.
U 395 Special Topics Variable cr.(R-9) Experimental offerings of visiting professors, experimental offerings of new courses, or one-time offerings of current topics.
U 398 Cooperative Education Experience Variable cr. (R-3) Prereq., six credits in EVST and consent of instr. Practical application of classroom learning through internship with governments, organizations or industry.
UG 420 Forest Resource Valuation 3 cr Prereq., For 320 or Econ 311 or Econ 340. Same as Econ 420 and For 420. Evaluation of economic trade-offs in the use of the forest resource. Valuation of non-commodity and amenity service from the forest. Examination of the role of markets and of government in the allocation of the forest resource in conflicting uses.
UG 425 The Human Role in Environmental Change. 3 cr. Prereq., upper-division standing or graduate standing or consent of instr. Same as Geog 425. A systematic examination of the ways in which the major physical systems and ecosystems of the earth have been modified by human activity.
UG 494 Seminar 3 cr. (R-6) Prereq., EVST 101N or consent of instr. A seminar on a current environmental topic.
UG 495 Special Topics Variable cr.(R-9) Experimental offerings of visiting professors, experimental offerings of new courses, or one-time offerings of current topics.
U 496 Independent Study 1-12 cr.(R-12)
G 501 Scientific Approaches to Environmental Problems 3 cr. Prereq., graduate standing in EVST or consent of instr. The strength and limitations of the scientific approach to investigating and solving selected environmental problems with an emphasis on the natural sciences.
G 502 Environmental Law for Non-Lawyers 3 cr. Prereq., graduate standing. Review of major substantive environmental laws with an emphasis on areas of citizen involvement in the legal process.
G 504 Colloquium in the Philosophy of Ecology 3 cr. (R-6) Prereq., graduate student in EVST or consent of instr. Same as Phil 504. Documents of ecology studied in the context of social and political philosophy, metaphysics and ethics, philosophy of science, and technology.
G 505 The Literature of Natural History 3 cr. Same as Enlt 523. Study of the literary history of natural history from its classical origins to the present with an emphasis on the American tradition of nature writing and its relationship to conservation biology, and the practice of natural history.
G 510 Environmental Education Workshop 3 cr. (R-6) Prereq., graduate standing in EVST. Two-semester sequence utilizing a problem-solving approach to environmental education; problem identification, research and design and implementation of an educational approach to selected environmental issues.
G 521 Foundations in Environmental Education 3 cr. Prereq., graduate standing in environmental studies. Same as C&I 521. Problem-solving approaches to environmental education; problem identification, research and design and implementation of an educational approach to selected environmental issues.
G 525 Teaching Environmental Education 3 cr. Prereq., consent of instr. Same as C&I 525. Offered alternate years. Identification and examination of potential solutions to environmental problems and their impact on society. Major emphasis on teaching methods as they apply to environmental science.
G 530 Environmental Policy 3 cr.Prereq., graduate standing in environmental studies or consent of instr. Inquiry into the history, processes, and politics of state and national environmental public policy. Includes a review of policy processes, methods of studying public policy, and the role of advocacy groups in the policy process.
G 531 Environmental Legislation 3 cr. Prereq., graduate standing in environmental studies or consent of instr. Inquiry into the processes, history, and politics of state and national environmental public policy. Includes a review of policy processes, methods of studying public policy, and the role of advocacy groups in the policy process.
G 548 Supervision and Teaching in Environmental Education 3 cr.Prereq., EVST 521 or C&I 521. Design, selection and evaluation of materials for the teaching of environmental education.
G 550 Biological Effects of Pollution-Concepts 3 cr. Prereq., graduate standing in environmental studies or consent of instr. Same as Biol 550. Environmental fate and biological effects of pollutants, especially in aquatic ecosystems.
G 551 Biological Effects of Pollution Methods 2 cr. Prereq., EVST 550. Same as Biol 551. Designing , excuting and interpreting environmental studies. Project oriented.
G 560 Environmental Impact Analysis 3 cr. Prereq., graduate standing in EVST or consent of instr. Offered alternate years. Basis for analyzing environmental impacts of various activities; preparing and critiquing federal and state environmental impact documents, such as environmental reviews, impact statements, etc.
G 563 Introduction to Environmental Law 3 cr. Prereq., graduate standing in EVST. Same as Law 662. Philosophy and values underlying environmental regulation, basic introduction to administrative law, in-depth study of air and water pollution and the environmental policy acts.
G 564 Advanced Environmental Law 3 cr. Prereq., graduate standing in EVST. Same as Law 667. In-depth study of the laws addressing toxic substances and solid and hazardous waste, and the Endangered Species Act. Exploration of interaction between land use regulation and environmental law.
G 565 Public Land and Resources Law 3 cr. Prereq., graduate standing in Evst and consent of instr. Same as Law 697. Historical development of United States public land law, state-federal relations, and the roles of Congress, the executive and the courts; the law applying to specific public land resources: water, minerals, timber, range, and preservation.
G 566 Advanced Problems in Public Land and Resources Law 2 cr. Prereq., graduate standing in EVST and consent of instr. Collaborative work on practical problems arising in public land and resources law and individual research and writing projects.
G 567 Water Law 3 cr. Same as Law 688. Interstate water problems; federal/state powers; federal/Indian water rights; Montana water law.
G 570 Environmental Clinic 3 cr.(R-6) Prereq., graduate standing. Environmental projects for nonprofit or community-based organizations or agencies. Team-client relationships; project planning, execution (including research and analysis), and presentation.
G 592 Proposal Preparation 1 cr. Prereq., graduate standing and consent of instr. Preparation of the graduate research and funding proposals Review of potential research methodologies. A ten week course.
G 593 Professional Paper Variable cr. (R-3) Prereq., graduate standing in EVST.
G 594 Graduate Seminar 3 cr.(R-15) Prereq., graduate standing in EVST or consent of instr. In-depth analysis of a current environmental topic. Different topics offered each semester.
G 595 Special Topics Variable cr.(R-9) Prereq., graduate standing in EVST or consent of instr. Experimental offerings of visiting professors, experimental offerings of new courses, or one-time offerings of current topics.
G 596 Independent Study Variable cr. (R-12) Prereq., graduate standing in EVST. Work on selected problems by individual students under direct faculty supervision.
G 597 Research Variable cr. (R-12) Prereq., graduate standing in EVST. Directed individual graduate research and study appropriate to background and objectives of the student.
G 598 Cooperative Education Experience Variable cr. (R-8) Prereq., graduate standing in EVST. Practical application of classroom learning during placements off campus.
G 599 Thesis Variable cr. (R-6) Prereq., graduate standing in EVST.
Faculty
Professors
William Chaloupka, Ph.D., University of Hawaii, 1980
Henry Harrington, Ph.D., Stanford University, 1971
Thomas M. Roy, M.A., University of Chicago, 1966 (Director)
Vicki Watson, Ph.D., University of Wisconsin, 1981
Assistant Professors
Leonard Broberg, J.D., Wayne State University, 1981
Fletcher Brown, Ph.D., Miami University, 1994