What will you learn?

In addition to the molecular environmental science research, students will gain a broad knowledge through a variety of multidisciplinary courses in environmental (molecular)science, toxicology, (micro)biology, and geosciences include soil sciences. They will go through vigorous training in wet chemistry experiments, synchrotron based X-ay techniques, and electron microscopes, and will gain important professional development skills (e.g., mentoring, teaching, presenting research, publishing and writing grant proposals) during the graduate career.

ABOUT THE COURSE WORK
Our graduate students and I will select courses (not all) from the following list to help their research and future career. While students in Environmental Toxicology (ENTOX) program are required to follow ENTOX curriculum, students in Plant and Environmental Science (PES) program have freedom of choosing courses. Most of applicants ask me about the graduate course work. Hope this list will help you.

BIOLOGICAL SCIENCE (BIOSC)
BIOSC 687/687L:  Microscopy Theory (Fall)
Basic principles and theory of light and electron microscopy.

BIOSC 871 Scientific Writing in Life Science (Spring)
(Instructor: Dr. Temesvari, Lesly)

BIOSC 888: Microscopy Practicum Laboratory (Spring)
Continuation of BIOSC687, offering graduate students practical training on light and electron microscopes. Proficient students become approved end users by performing approved, independent imaging projects. Preq: Biosc 687 and consent of instructors.

BIOSYSTEMS ENGINEERING (BE)
BE 412/612 Biological kinetics and reactor modeling 3(2, 6) (Fall)
undamentals of microbial and biochemical kinetics used in analysis and design of biological systems. Topics include mathematical and computer modeling of biological kinetics and systems, estimating model coefficients, and development of microbial kinetic models as basis for batch and continous reactor design. Preq: B E 212, MTHSC 208. (Instructor: Dr. Caye Drapcho)

CHEMISTRY (CH)
CH 330 Introduction to Physical Chemistry 3 (3,0) (Fall)
One- semester treatment of physical chemistry emphasizing topics that are especially useful in the life sciences, agriculture, and medicine: chemical thermodynamics, equilibrium, kinetics, electrochemistry, macromolecules, and surface phenomena.

CH 331 Physical Chemistry 3 (3,0) (Spring)
Includes the gaseous state, thermodynamics, chemical equilibria, and atomic and molecular structure, from both experimental and theoretical points of view. Preq: MTHSC 206, PHYS 221.

CH 332, H332 Physical Chemistry 3 (3,0) (Fall)
Continuation of CH 331, including chemical kinetics, liquid and solid state, phase equilibria, solutions, electrochemistry and surfaces. Preq: CH 331 or consent of instructor.

CH 413, H413 Chemistry of Aquesou Systems 3 (3, 0) (Spring)
Chemical equilibria in aqueous systems, especially natural waters; acids and bases, dissolved CO2, precipitation and dissolution, oxidation-reduction, adsorption, etc. Preq: CH 012 or 106. (Instructor: Dr. Cindy Lee)

CH 602 Inorganic Chemistry 3 (3, 0) (Fall)
Principles of inorganic chemistry with emphasis on atomic structure, chemical bonding, solid state, coordination chemistry, organometallic chemistry and acid-base theories; chemistry of certain selected elements. Prerequisites: CH 331/332 Click here for a recent syllabus.

CH 604 Bioinorganic Chemistry 3 (3 and 0) (Spring) (even numbered years)
An overview of bioinorganic chemistry, including metal uptake, transport, and storage in biological systems; functions of metals in proteins; metal ion interactions with nucleic acids; physical methods used in bioinorganic chemistry; heavy element toxicity; radiopharmaceuticals and other metallodrugs. Prerequisite: CH 205 or BIOCH 305 (or equivalents), or permission of instructor.

CH 635: Atomic and Molecular Structure 3 (3, 0) (Spring)
Quantum theory and its application to atomic and molecular systems; harmonic oscillator, hydrogen atom, atomic and molecular orbital methods, vector model of the atom, atomic spectroscopy and molecular spectroscopy. Prerequisite: CH 332 or consent of instructor.

CH 830: Fundamentals of Physical Chemistry 3 (3, 0) (Fall)
Principles of classical thermodynamics, chemical kinetics and quantum chemistry. Prerequisite: CH 331/631 or equivalent.

CH 835: Chemical Kinetics 3 (3, 0) (Spring, odd numbered years)
Rate processes and reaction mechanisms; order of reaction; theory of rate processes; relation of reaction rates to mechanism; homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis; experimental methods; chain reactions; diffusion; effects of solvent, temperature and pressure on reaction rates and mechanisms. Lectures are supplemented by assigned problems, paper and oral examination of topic of special interest to student.

CROP AND SOILS ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCEs (CSENV)
CSENV 202: Soils 4 (3, 2) (Spring)
This course introduces world land resources, soil formation, classification, and mineralogy. Emphasizes basic chemical and physical properties of soil. Also discusses soil microorganisms, plant nutrients, and fertilization. Soil properties are related to growth. Preq: CH 101 & 102 (not CH105 & CH106), or a geology sequence including GEOL 101; or consent of instructor.
*This undergraduate course can be taken through a graduate level course, CSENV806 Special Problem. Students will receive 3 credit hours for a 800 level. A term paper is required.

CSENV 485/685: Environmental Soil Chemistry 3 (3, 0) (Fall, even numbered years)
Study of soil chemical processes (sorption, desorption, ion exchange, precipitation, dissolution, and redox reactions) of nutrients and inorganic and organic contaminants in soils and organic matter. Chemical complex equilibria and adsorption phenomena at the solid (soil, sediments, minerals)-water interface will be emphasized. Students who desired laboratory experience in these topics may register for CSENV 406 after consultation with instructor. Preq: CSENV 202, CH101&102 (not CH105 & CH106) , or consent of instructor.

CSENV 808 Advanced Soil and Sediment Chemistry 3 (3, 0) (TBA)
Principles and theories concerning the structure and chemical properties of soils and sediments, aqueous and solid-state chemical speciation and surface phenomena, and oxidation-reduction reactions. Preq: CSENV 485/685 or CH444 or consent of instructor.

ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING & SCIENCES (EE&S)
EE&S 837 Biodegradation and Bioremediation 3 (3, 0)
Basic principles of biodegradation for major classes of organic contaminants including halogenated aliphatics and aromatics, fuel hydrocarbons, pesticides, and nitrated energetic compounds; biotransformations of metals; biodegradation principles applied to the development of bioremediation technologies including intrinsic, in situ, and on-site engineered approaches. Preq: EE&S 851.

EE&S 843 Environmental Engineering Chemistry I 3 (3, 0) (Fall)
Principles of chemical kinetics and thermodynamics applied to fundamental understanding of aqueous environmental samples including natural waters, wastewaters, and treated waters; factors controlling chemical concentrations, acid-base equilibria, solubility equilibria, complex formation, electrochemistry, adsorption phenomena. Preq: CH 102 or equivalent.

EE&S 844 Environmental Engineering Chemistry Laboratory I 3 (2, 3) (Fall)
Laboratory experience in basic analytical methods used in water quality studies; experimental design, sampling, wet chemical analytical techniques, data collection and analysis, data interpretation, and data quality techniques. Offered fall semester only. Preq: Two semesters of general chemistry.

EE&S 845 Environmental Engineering Chemistry II 3 (3, 0) (Spring)
Application of parameters that describe the equilibrium distribution and exchange rates for environmentally significant organic compounds to the modeling of processes in engineered and natural systems, including environmental parameter estimation techniques, structure-activity relationships, and integration of environmental processes to model contaminant distribution and residence time in environmental systems. Preq: Two semesters of general chemistry, EE&S 843 or equivalent.

EE&S 847 Advanced Environmental Chemistry 3 (3, 0)
Advanced principles and methods in environmental engineering chemistry with applications to both natural and treatment systems; current investigative and study techniques; nature, fluxes, and controlling processes of chemical species and radionuclides in environmental systems. Preq: EE&S 843 or equivalent.

EE&S 849 Environmental Engineering Chemistry Laboratory II 2 (0, 6) (Fall)
Theory and applications of instrumental methods of analysis as applied to measurements for environmental control; spectroscopy and spectrophotometric techniques; electrochemical analyses; chromatographic methods of analysis; light scattering and electrophoretic measurements.

EE&S 856 Pollution of the Aquatic Environment 3(3,0) (Fall)
Effects of domestic and industrial water pollution on the physical, chemical, and
biological characteristics of natural waters; associated environmental determinants of human disease, toxicology, and epidemiology of chronic disease.

EE&S 686, Pollution Prevention and Industrial Ecology  3 (3,0)  Topics include pollution prevention technology, the role of pollution prevention within a corporation, source reduction and recycling, pollution prevention assessments, treatment to reduce disposal, life-cycle assessment, design for environment, industrial ecology. Emphasis is on case studies. Preq: Senior standing in College of Engineering and Science.

EE&S 820 Environmental Systems Analysis  3 (3, 0) Analysis of a systems view of environmental problems, with particular emphasis on conflicting objectives such as economic and environmental concerns. Example problems span traditional environmental engineering processes, natural resources, proactive environmental management, and sustainability. Preq: MTHSC 311 or consent of instructor.

EE&S 806, Environmental Design 2-4 (2-4, 0) (Fall)
Integration of unit operations into complex systems for treatment of industrial/domestic water and wastewater, contaminated groundwater or air, landfill leachate, and toxic liquid wastes. Student teams design an integrated system for either water/ wastewater or a hazardous/toxic waste. Preq: EE&S 803, 804.

ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY (ENTOX)
Entox 621 Chemical Sources and Fate in Environmental Systems 3 (3, 0)
Chemical cycles in the environments are discusses on global and micro-scales. The dependence of fate processes on physical and chemical properties and environmental conditions is examined. Breakdown, movement, and transport of selected toxicants are addressed to illustrate the mechanism that govern chemical fate. Preq: Organic and analytical chemistry or consent of instructor.

Entox 630 Toxicology 3 (3, 0) (Fall)
Basic principles of toxicology, including quantitation of toxicity, toxicokinetics, biochemical action of poison, and environmental toxicology are studied. Acute and chronic effects of various classes of poisons are discussed (e.g., pesticides, drugs, metals, and industrial pollutants) in relation to typical routes of exposure and regulatory testing methods. Offered fall semester of odd-numbered years only. Preq: Organic chemistry, one year of general biology, or consent of instructor.

Entox 637 Ecotoxicology 3 (3, 0) (Spring)
Study of the effects of stressors on the ecosystem. Explores the integrative relationships that comprise the field of ecotoxicology in a hierarchical format that focuses on the various levels of ecological organization.

Entox 822 Analytical Toxicology 3 (1, 6)
Laboratory instrumentation and procedures and experimental methods used for identification and quantification of toxic substances and their transformation products in environmental and biological samples; application of these procedures in the isolation, detection, and quantification of toxicants in authentic samples. Preq: Organic and analytical chemistry or consent of instructor; Instrumental analysis recommended.

Entox 854 Aquatic toxicology 3 (3, 0) (Fall)
Combines concepts of solution chemistry with toxicology to establish stressor-response relationships for aquatic organisms at various trophies levels. Bioavailability is a unifying concept, and concepts of contaminant exposure and organism response are set in an ecological risk assessment framework. 

Entox 855 Sediment Toxicology and Chemistry 3(3, 0) (Summer)
Focuses on the chemistry and toxicology of contaminants in freshwater sediments. Sediment geochemistry, ecology, toxicology bioassay methodology, and sediment sampling are discussed in a course framework that deals directly with contaminant bioavailability questions. Preq: Entox 854 or consent of instructor.

EXPERIMENTAL STATISTICS (EX ST)
EX ST 801: Statistical Methods I, 4 (3, 3) (Fall, Spring and Summer)
Role and application of statistics in research; estimation, test of significance, analysis of variance, multiple comparison techniques, basic designs, mean square expectations, variance components analysis, simple and multiple linear regression and correlation, and nonparametric procedures.

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE ADN POLICY (ENSP)
EN SP 400 3(3,0) Studies in Environmental Sci. 3 (3,0) 
Study of historical perspectives, attitudes, and government policy within the framework of environmental case studies to illustrate the interaction between human and natural factors as they mutually affect the environment and man's ability to deal with that environment. Preq: EN SP 200 or consent of instructor.

EN SP 472/672 2(2,0)  Environmental Planning and Control 2 (2,0) 
Application of planning and control to effective environmental quality improvement. Water supply and treatment, wastewater treatment and disposal, solid waste disposal, air pollution abatement, and land use and zoning are considered from the standpoint of control. Not intended for graduate students in engineering. Preq: Consent of instructor.

GEOLOGY (GEOL)
GEOL 306 Mineralogy 4 (3, 3) (Fall)
Introduction to fundamental concepts of crystallography, crystal chemistry, and mineral optics. Topics include crystal symmetry, principles of crystal structures, composition and stability of minerals, and optical properties. Laboratory exercises emphasize recognition of crystallographic features, identification of minerals from their physical properties, and introduction to study of minerals with polarizing microscope. Preq: GEOL 101, 103 or consent of instructor. Instructor: (Instructor: Dr. Richard Warner).

GEOL 608 Geohydrology 3 (3, 0) (Fall)
Hydrologic cycle, aquifer characteristics, theory of groundwater movement, mechanics of well flow, experimental methods, and subsurface mapping. Prerequisites: GEOL 101, 102.

GEOL 806 Aquifer Characterization 3 (3, 0) (Fall even numbered years)
Characterization of aquifers from the microscopic scale to the regional scale. Geological origin of aquifers and modification by diagenetic and deformational processes. Application of subsurface geological techniques to data acquisition and interpretation. Prediction of fluid occurrence and flow by integrating results of subsurface analysis.

MICROBIOLOGY (MICRO)
MICRO 401/601 Microbial Diversity and Ecology 4 (2, 6) (Fall)
In-depth survey of microbial morphology, ecology, and diversity. Study of the interaction and adaptation of microbes in a wide range of environmental conditions, including consideration of the metabolism, nutrition, growth, and the use of microbiological assays. Preq: CH201 or 223, 227, Micro 305.

MICRO 402/602 Environmental Microbiology 3 (3, 0) (Fall)
This course describes the interactions of microbes with the soil, subsurface, aquatic, and atmospheric environments by discussing the distribution of microbes and their ecology.  Provide discussions about the use of microbes for environmental restoration. (Instructor: Dr. Mike Henson)

MICRO 403/603 Marine Microbiology 3 (2, 3) (Fall)
Discussion of the microbes that inhabit the marine environment, their peculiar physiological traits, and contributions to the ecology of oceans. Preq: Micro 305, organic chemistry. (Instructor: Dr. Mike Henson)

PLANT AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES (PES):
PES 825: Scientific Communication 1 (1, 0) (Spring)
It has two objectives: (1) to develop skills in the critical analysis of scientific presentations (2) to practice analyzing and preparing for specific professional communication situations. To meet these objectives, students in PES 825 will spend the semester developing a 12-15 minute scientific presentation on a subject of their choice.  Students may choose to prepare a conference talk, thesis committee presentation, extension talk, or other presentation aligned with their career goals.  Students will also attend scientific seminars in the department of their choice once per week and will prepare written assessments of the seminars. Prerequisites: none (Instructor:  Dr. Christina Wells)