Courses
The Environmental Assessment Program offers a number of courses online. These may be taken as part of a certificate or degree program, or by non-degree-seeking students on a course-by-course basis. For those interested in taking individual courses without enrolling in a degree or certificate program, you must first enroll as a Non-Degree Studies (NDS) Student.
Graduate Certificate in Environmental Assessment Courses
In order to obtain the Graduate Certificate in Environmental Assessment, individuals are required to complete twelve (12) credit hours of coursework. Students can proceed at their own pace and may register for a maximum of six (6) credit hours per semester.
Students must complete four of the following six courses to earn the certificate. To learn more about each course, click the course number.
Plan of Study
Once enrolled, each student must submit a plan of work outlining the 12 credit hours which will be included in the student’s program.
Course Load
Students can proceed at their own pace, but may only register for a maximum of six (6) credit hours per semester. We recommend that students who are employed full-time start with one course per semester and only add a second course after their first semester.
Courses
Take one of the following two courses:
EA 505 - Environmental Assessment Law & Policy
Units: 3
This course provides students with an appreciation for and understanding of the principles of environmental law and policy. Emphasis is on the US legal system and litigation process relevant to environmental law, covering topics such as: the National Environmental Policy Act [NEPA], the Pollution Prevention Act [PPA], the Clean Water Act, and the Clean Air Act. Throughout the course, a case study is integrated into the conceptual lecture material with the intent of providing practical examples to conceptual material.
Offered in Fall Only
PS 536 - Global Environmental Law and Policy
Units: 3
International organizations, laws and policies addressing global environmental problems including: population growth, atmospheric pollution, climate change, use of oceans, forests and biodiversity. Relationship between environment and Third World economic development.
Offered in Summer
Plus three of the following courses:
EA 501 - Environmental Stressors
Units: 3
Introduces students to how organisms are affected by and respond to changes or stressors - both natural and human-induced - in the environment. With a focus on the concepts most significant to the field of environmental assessment, the course emphasizes the fundamental processes and effects of pollutants and naturally-occurring substances in the environment, including emerging issues and historically significant cases.
Offered in Fall Only
EA 502 - Environmental Risk Assessment
Units: 3
This course provides students with an appreciation and understanding of the principles of environmental risk assessment including: Hazard Identification, Toxicity Assessment, Exposure Assessment, and Risk Characterization. Emphasis is placed on contemporary problems in human health and the environment, and it will be based on the most current methodologies described in the "Risk Assessment Guidance for Superfund." Enrollment in the course requires graduate standing or consent of the instructor. Two semester sequence of college biology & college chemistry.
Offered in Spring Only
EA 503 - Environmental Exposure Assessment
Units: 3
Provides students with an appreciation and understanding of the principles of environmental exposure assessment including the sources, transport and fate of chemicals in the environment. Emphasis is on contemporary problems in human health and the environment, covering topics such as: transformation and degradation processes, classes of contaminants a well as predicting environmental fate and exposure. Enrollment in the course requires graduate standing or consent of the instructor. Two semester sequence of college biology & college chemistry.
Offered in Fall Only
EA 504 - Environmental Monitoring and Analysis
Units: 3
Monitoring and analysis of chemical and biological impacts to the environment. Theory of chemical, physical, biological, and ecological monitoring. Planning and conducting environmental sampling and monitoring programs. Management, analysis, and quality assurance and control. Enrollment in the course requires graduate standing or consent of the instructor.
Offered in Summer
GIS 510 - Fundamentals of Geospatial Information Science and Technology
Units: 3
This course provides an advanced overview of how geographic information systems [GIS] facilitate data analysis and communication to address common geographic problems. Students improve spatial reasoning and problem definition expertise while emphasizing geographic data models and structures, data manipulation and storage, customization through programming, and the integration of geospatial analysis and modeling into project-based problem solving applicable to a variety of disciplines. Skilled application of both desktop and cloud-based GIS software supports these areas. Extensive independent learning and computer experiences include virtual laboratory sessions, alongside optional online or in-person weekly help sessions to facilitate student learning.
Offered in Fall and Spring