Undergraduate Course Catalog 2016-2017

College of Life Sciences and Agriculture

» http://www.colsa.unh.edu/

Environmental Conservation and Sustainability

Professor: John E. Carroll, Russell G. Congalton, Mark J. Ducey, Marianne Klauser Litvaitis, James T. Taylor
Associate Professor: Heidi Asbjornsen, Thomas D. Lee
Assistant Professor: Catherine M. Ashcraft
Lecturer: Clayton R. Mitchell, Jennifer L. Purrenhage
Principal Lecturer: Debra Straussfogel

Mission of the ECS Major
Graduates of the environmental conservation and sustainability major understand the complexity of social-ecological systems and meet environmental challenges in innovative ways. ECS students understand ecological principles and comprehend the connections between natural resource and social systems (history, economics, law, policy, international perspectives). They integrate scientific information and human values and articulate problems in ways that point to solutions leading to a sustainable future.

ECS graduates have the theoretical, methodological, technical, and practical skills necessary to solve complex problems. They work collaboratively and across disciplinary boundaries and at all scales from the local to the international. Their critical thinking and communication skills allow them to serve as liaisons among diverse interest groups and to design, implement, and facilitate policy and action toward a sustainable future.

ECS graduates are environmental citizens, sustainability advocates, and leaders for constructive change. They typically serve as policy analysts, sustainability officers, resource managers, journalists, scientists, and teachers in business, non-profit organizations, and government agencies, including the Peace Corps and AmeriCorps. Many ECS graduates attend graduate or professional programs following graduation.

ECS Major Curriculum
The ECS major is comprised of 15 core requirements providing integrative courses in both environmental conservation and sustainability, along with a foundation in biology, ecology, physical and social science, and the basic tools and skills applied to problem solving. These core requirements are typically fulfilled in the first two years. Beginning in their junior year, ECS students, in consultation with their advisers, create a seven course focus area based on an ecological system or natural resource of their choosing. The focus area provides advanced study in ecology and natural resources; social sciences; tools, skills, and/or natural history and should reflect the student’s interests and future goals. Additionally, each ECS student completes a practicum experience and a capstone option.

The ECS major provides the opportunity for students to gain a common foundation of knowledge and skills emphasizing integration and critical thinking, while allowing for sufficient flexibility to pursue their interests and passions within a large and complex field of study. The design of the curriculum will allow each student at least four, and as many as six, free electives, which they may fulfill as they choose. Many students pursue international experiences, such as the UNH EcoQuest program in New Zealand, add a minor or dual degree (such as the dual degree in international studies), and/or pursue research opportunities with our faculty or through another of UNH's undergraduate research opportunity programs.

In addition to the ECS degree requirements (below), students must complete the University Discovery Program and the University Writing Requirements.

ECS Major Requirements

Degree Core Requirements (15 Courses)

Foundational Courses (two required courses):
NR 435, Contemporary Conservation Issues and Environmental Awareness (ETS)
NR 437, Principles of Sustainability

Natural Science
Biology (two required courses):
BIOL 412, Introductory Biology: Ecology, Evolution, and Biodiversity (BS DLAB, INQ)\
NR 439, Environmental Biology

Ecological Principles (choose two from the following):
BIOL 541, General Ecology (WI)
NR 527, Forest Ecology
SAFS 502, Agroecology

Physical Science (choose one from the following):
NR 403, Introduction to Environmental Science (INQ)
NR 458, The Science of Where? (Summer, on-line, PS DLAB)
CHEM 403, General Chemistry (PS DLAB)
CHE 410, Energy and the Environment (PS)
ESCI 409, Geology and the Environment (PS DLAB)
ENE 520, Environmental Pollution (ETS, WI)
PHYS 401, Introduction to Physics (PS DLAB)

Social Science
Resource Economics (one required course):
EREC 411, Environmental and Resource Economics Perspectives (SS)

Environmental Ethics and Values (Choose one from the following):
NR 701, Ecological Sustainability and Values (WI)
NR 784, Sustainable Living: Global Perspectives
SOC 565, Environmental Ethics

Natural Resources Policy (one required course):
NR 602, Natural Resources and Environmental Policy, or
NR 662 Environmental Policy, Planning and Sustainability in New Zealand (WI)
(EcoQuest Students Only)

Essential Tools and Skills
Field Methods (one required course):
NR 415, Natural Resources Field Methods

Statistics (choose one from the following):
BIOL 528, Biostatistics
EREC 525, Statistical Methods and Applications

Geospatial Analysis (one required course):
NR 658, Introduction to GIS

Writing Skills (choose one from the following):
ENGL 502, Professional and Technical Writing (WI)
ENGL 503, Persuasive Writing (WI)
ENGL 521, Nature Writers (WI)

Presentation Skills (choose one from the following):
CMN 500, Public Speaking
THDA 520, Creative Drama
THDA 583, Introduction to Puppetry
THDA 622, Storytelling, Story Theater and Involvement Dramatics
THDA 624A, Theater for Young Audiences

Focus Area (seven courses):
Students create a focus area addressing an environmental issue, ecological system, or natural resource of their choice. The focus area is based upon at least one course in the ecology and natural resources category, along with a combination of courses in the social sciences; tools, skills, and natural history categories; and any additional courses from the ecology and natural resources category reflecting the student’s interests and future direction. Focus areas should be designed in close consultation with the adviser. (Note: Courses used to fulfill core requirements may not be used in the focus area.)

Ecology and Natural Resources (one to four courses):
Choose at least one (1) course from this category and up to three (3) additional courses.
No more than one course may be at the 400 or 500 level. Additional courses must be at the 600 or 700 levels.

ESCI 405, Global Environmental Change
NR 433, Wildlife Ecology (BS DLAB)
NR 501, Studio Soils
NR 502, Forest Ecosystems and Environmental Change (ETS)
NR 504, Freshwater Resources (PS DLAB)
NR 603, Landscape Ecology
NR 625, Physiological Ecology
NR 640, Wildlife Population Ecology
NR 642, Introduction to Biogeography
NR 650, Principles of Conservation Biology
NR 660, Ecology and Biogeography of New Zealand (5 credits)
NR 661, Restoration Ecology and Ecosystems NZ
NR 663, Applied Directed Research NZ
NR 664, Conservation Genetics
NR 706, Soil Ecology
NR 711, Wetland Ecology and Management
NR 729, Silviculture
NR 730, Terrestrial Ecosystems
NR 734, Tropical Ecology
NR 744, Biogeochemistry
NR 751, Aquatic Ecosystems
NR 761, Environmental Soil Chemistry
NR 765, Community Ecology
NR 782, Monitoring Forest Health
NR 783, Forest Communities of NH
PBIO/ZOOL 717, Lake Ecology (General Limnology)
PBIO/ZOOL 725, Marine Ecology
PBIO 747, Aquatic Plants in Restoration, Management and Conservation
PBIO 760, Insect Pest Management
ZOOL 628, Marine Invertebrate Evolution and Ecology
ZOOL 708, Stream Ecology
ZOOL 726, Conservation Behavior
ZOOL 750, Biological Oceanography
ZOOL 772, Fisheries Biology
MEFB 571, Estuarine Ecology
MEFB 616, Tropical Coastal Plant Ecology
MEFB 674, Ecology and the Marine Environment
MEFB 702, Sustainable Marine Fisheries

Social Sciences (two to five courses):
Choose at least two (2) courses from this category and up to three (3) additional courses.
No more than one course may be at the 400 or 500 level. Additional courses must be at the 600 or 700 levels.

CEP 415, Community Development Perspectives
NR 507, Introduction to Our Energy Systems and Sustainable Energy
NR 643, Economics of Forestry
NR 662, Environmental Policy, Planning and Sustainability in NZ (WI)
NR 701, Ecological Sustainability and Values (WI)
NR 718, Law of Natural Resources and the Environment
NR 720, International Environmental Politics and Policies for 21st Century (WI)
NR 724, Resolving Environmental Conflicts (WI)
NR 784, Sustainable Living – Global Perspectives
NR 787, Advanced Sustainable Energy
ANTH 680, Globalization, Development and Poverty (WI)
ANTH 695, Globalization and Population Health (WI)
CEP 508, Applied Community Development
CEP 614, Fundamentals of Planning (WI)
ECON 605, Intermediate Micro
ECON 645, International Economics
ECON 668, Economic Development (WI)
ECON 669, Women and Economic Development (WI)
ECON 706, Economics of Climate Change
ECON 707, Economic Growth and Environmental Quality
EREC 627, Community Economics
EREC 633, Economics of Travel and Tourism
EREC 680, Agricultural and Food Policy
EREC 708, Environmental Economics
EREC 711, Marine Resource Economics
EREC 756, Rural and Regional Economic Development (WI)
GEOG 673, Environmental Geography (WI)
HIST 618, American Environmental History
POLT 751, Comparative Environmental Politics and Policies (WI)
POLT 780, International Environmental Politics, Policy and Law (WI)
SOC 665, Environmental Sociology (WI)
SOC 730, Communities and the Environment

Advanced Tools & Skills and Natural History (choose one course):
NR 425, Field Dendrology
NR 655, Vertebrate Biology
NR 703, Watershed Water Quality Management
NR 707, Environmental Modeling
NR 712, Mammalogy
NR 713, Quantitative Ecology
NR 716, Wetlands Delineation
NR 719, Wetlands Restoration and Mitigation
NR 745, Forest Management
NR 749, Forest Inventory and Modeling
NR 757, Remote Sensing of the Environment
NR 759, Digital Image Processing for NR
NR 760, GIS in Natural Resources
NR 785, Systems Thinking for Sustainable Solutions
SOC 601, Methods of Social Research
PBIO/ZOOL 719, Field Studies in Lake Ecology
PBIO/ZOOL 732, Lake Management
PBIO 752, Mycology
ZOOL 542, Ornithology
ZOOL 712, Ichthyology
ZOOL 745, Biology and Diversity of Insects

Senior Capstone Options:
The ECS major capstone experience may be filled by any one (1) of the following options:

Option 1
NR 795, Critical Issues seminars (2cr)
Two seminars must be scheduled. At least one must be taken in the senior year

Option 2
NR 786, Sustainability Leadership (4cr)

Option 3
NR 663, (NZ Directed projects) if taken in the senior year
If NR 663 is taken in the junior year or earlier, then one Critical Issues seminar (2cr) or Leadership for Sustainability must be taken in the senior year to fulfill the capstone requirement.

Option 4
Directed projects fulfilling one of the following: McNair Research Theses, Hamel Center Programs (IROP, SURF USA, SURF Abroad, etc.) may be applied in consultation with the adviser and ECS program coordinator.

NR 600, Work Experience (0 credits):
Each ECS major will engage in a practical experience reflecting their interests and goals. The choice of the experience will be made in conjunction with the adviser and may occur any time beginning with the sophomore year.

Electives (four to six courses):
Students may choose four to six courses as electives to complete their major, in consultation with their adviser. The number of possible electives will be a function of the degree to which the student chooses to maximize the use of Discovery courses as ECS core requirements.

Environmental Conservation and Sustainability Minor

Two required courses: NR 435 and NR 437
Three other courses: one course from each of the designated categories (2-4) below.
A grade of C or better in each of the 5 courses.
No more than 8 credits used to satisfy major requirements may be used for the minor
Credit/fail courses may not be used for the minor.

Required Courses
NR 435, Contemporary Conservation Issues & Environmental Awareness
NR 437, Principles of Sustainability

Choose one course from each of the following categories:

Ecology
BIOL 541, General Ecology
NR 433, Wildlife Ecology
NR 502, Forest Ecosystems and Environmental Change
NR 527, Forest Ecology
NR 660, Ecology and Biogeography of New Zealand

Social Science and Management
NR 507, Introduction to Our Energy System and Sustainable Energy
NR 662, Environmental Policy, Planning & Sustainability in New Zealand
NR 718, Law of Natural Resources and Environment
NR 720, International Environmental Politics & Policies for the 21st Century
NR 724, Resolving Environmental Conflicts
NR 731, Ecosystem Based Governance: Policies & Management Strategies
NR 786, Leadership for Sustainability
EREC 606, Land Economics Perspectives: Uses, Policies, and Taxes
EREC 627, Community Economics

Advanced Topics in Conservation and Sustainability
NR 603, Landscape Ecology
NR 650, Conservation Biology
NR 661, Restoration Ecology & Ecosystem Mgmt. in New Zealand
NR 711, Wetland Ecology and Management
NR 784, Sustainable Living
NR 785, Systems Thinking for Sustainable Solutions
NR 787, Advanced Topics in Sustainable Energy
MEFB 702, Sustainable Fisheries

Students interested in the ECS minor should contact Debra Straussfogel, Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, (603) 862-3923, debra.straussfogel@unh.edu.

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