Graduate Courses in Natural Resources (NR)

NR 220 - Landscape Ecology

Study of pattern, process, and dynamics in the landscape. Considers the role of landscape pattern in determining habitat quality and ecosystem function. Prerequisites: One biology, one ecology course; senior standing. Alternate years, 2002-03.

Credits: 2

NR 228 - Ecosystem Ecology

(Cross-listed with Forestry 228.) Examination of the structure and function of terrestrial ecosystems using a systems approach. Laboratory sessions involve modeling and data analysis. Prerequisites: Biology 1, 2, Chemistry 23, an intermediate ecology course, Natural Resources 140, Math. 19, Physics 11 or equivalent. Alternate years, 2002-03.

Credits: 2

NR 235 - Legal Aspects Envir Planning

Comparison of environmental planning law at local, state, and national levels. Case studies in environmental and natural resource planning and land use controls. Pre/co-requisites: Senior Standing.

Credits: 3

NR 238 - Ecological Landscape Design

Studio course synthesizing work from fields of landscape ecology and landscape design, exploring ecological design alternatives at multiple scales, and developing multifunctional landscape solutions. Pre/co-requisites: Minimum junior standing; PSS 137 or one course in ecology plus one course in design or drawing. Cross-listed with CDAE 238, ENVS 238, PSS 238.

Credits: 4

NR 240 - Park and Wilderness Mgmt

(Cross-listed with PRT 240.) History, philosophy, and management of wilderness, national parks, and related areas. Prerequisite: Junior or senior standing in Parks, Recreation and Tourism.

Credits: 3

NR 242 - Adv Geospatial Techniques

Advanced course encompassing a wide range of topics in GIS, remote sensing, GPS, modeling, and visualization designed to provide technical expertise in geospatial techniques. Prerequisite: Introductory GIS (NR 143 or GEOG 184 or NR 343) or remote sensing (NR 146, NR 346, GEOG 185) course as determined by instructor.

Credits: 1 to 3

NR 243 - GIS Practicum

An applied course in geospatial technology with a focus on ESRI's ArcGIS software suite. Prerequisites: NR 143/NR 343.

Credits: 3

NR 245 - Integrating GIS & Statistics

Advanced approaches in integrating Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and statistical methods to analyze quantitatively spatial patterns and relationships. Prerequisites: senior/Grad standing, one introductory GIS course, one introductory statistics course.

Credits: 3

NR 250 - Limnology

Ecology of lakes and reservoirs, including their origin, physics, chemistry and biology, and the effects of anthropogenic perturbations. Field and laboratory experience. Prerequisites: One year biology, one year chemistry, and ecology course.

Credits: 0 or 4

NR 255 - Field Mthds in Water Resources

Techniques used in field assessment of water quality in rivers and lakes. Case studies on the LaPlatte River and Lake Champlain. Sampling strategies, field measurements, and data evaluation. Extensive field work. Prerequisite: 102 or equivalent basic course in water.

Credits: 3

NR 260 - Wetlands Ecology & Mgmt

Structure, dynamics and values of natural and artificial wetlands; wetlands management and issues. Prerequisites: Biology 1 and 2, and an upper-level ecology course.

Credits: 3

NR 262 - Int'l Problems in NR Mgmt

Discussion of problems associated with the management of natural resources which have international implications. Topics may include deforestation, desertification, fisheries, wildlife, refuges, fuelwood, pollution. Prerequisites: Senior standing, permission.

Credits: 3

NR 265 - Environment & Human Behavior

Applies social psychological frameworks--attitudes, exchange theory, symbolic interaction, group processes, social cognition, discourse theory--to help understand environmentally related behaviors, conflict, and management. Prerequisite: Junior standing.

Credits: 3

NR 268 - Soil Ecology

Underlying concepts and theory of modern soil ecology will be reviewed including spatial and temporal distributions, sampling methods, biogeochemical cycles, and ecological functions of soil. Prerequisites: BCOR 102 or NR 103, PSS 161. Cross-listed with PSS 268.

Credits: 0 or 4

NR 270 - Toxic&Hzrds Subst in Srf Water

The fate of toxic and hazardous pollutants, including trace elements and organics, in surface waters; effects on human health and aquatic biota. Prerequisites: Biology 1, Chemistry 23, 42; 102 or equivalent; senior standing.

Credits: 3

NR 275 - NR Planning: Theory & Methods

Investigates theoretical development of natural resource planning. Studies planning methods appropriate to protection and use of scenic, recreational, forest, agriculture, and historic resources and ecologically sensitive areas. Prerequisite: Senior standing.

Credits: 3

NR 276 - Water Quality Anlys & Interp

Selected aspects of water chemistry and bioassay as related to surface and ground waters. Laboratory analysis of water quality parameters and data interpretation. Prerequisite: One course in chemistry, calculus, statistics; senior standing.

Credits: 0 or 3

NR 279 - Watershed Management Hydrology

Fundamental elements of hydrology and contaminant transport in watersheds. Application of dynamic simulation techniques. Discussion of new technologies for watershed management. Prerequisites: 170 or equivalent (or as a co-requisite), Math. 20, Physics 11, Chemistry 23, 26 or equivalent, senior standing.

Credits: 0 or 3

NR 280 - Stream Ecology

Ecology of streams including hydrodynamics, morphology, sediment transport, chemistry, biology and human impacts. Field and laboratory experience. Prerequisites: One year biology, one year chemistry, an ecology course. chemistry.

Credits: 0 or 4

NR 285 - Advanced Special Topics

Advanced special topics in natural resource planning beyond the scope of existing formal courses. Prerequisites: Graduate or senior standing, instructor's permission.

Credits: 1 to 6

NR 288 - Ecol Design & Living Technol

The course explores the potential for ecological design to shape a sustainable future. It analyzes living technologies for food production, waste management and environmental restoration. Pre/co-requisites: Jr/Sr standing; background in ecology/systems theory.

Credits: 3

NR 289 - Advanced Ecological Design

A problem-based, cross-disciplinary design course in which existing conditions are integrated with the redesign of place and system in alignment with ecological design principles.

Credits: 3

NR 306 - Envisioning a Sust Future

Seminar orienting graduate students to RSENR and providing frameworks for collaborative leadership, whole systems thinking, and intercultural competency.

Credits: 2

NR 333 - Professional Writing

Writing workshop that explores essay and report writing, as published in both popular and professional journals that examine the natural world and its resources. Prerequisites: None, but preference is given to FN and EP graduate students; other students may enroll with instructor permission. Cross listed with PBIO 333

Credits: 1

NR 334 - Professional Writing

Writing workshop that explores essay and report writing, as published in both popular and professional journals that examine the natural world and its resources. Prerequisites: None, but preference is given to FN and EP graduate students; other students may enroll with instructor permission. Cross listed with PBIO 334

Credits: 1

NR 343 - Fndmtls of Geog Info Systems

Concepts and methods in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) presented at an accelerated pace for graduate students using ArcGIS software. Pre/co-requisites: graduate standing

Credits: 3

NR 346 - Digital Image Processing

Principles and applications of digital image processing of remotely sensed imagery. Hands-on analyses of satellite imagery will address environmental issues using ERDAS Imagine software.

Credits: 2

NR 354 - Seminar:Envrmntl Policy & Mgmt

Seminar examining contemporary environmental policy at local, state, national, and international levels; policy formulation, implementation and design relative to current environmental problems. Prerequisties: Graduate standing.

Credits: 3

NR 356 - Conservation, Systems&Sustain

Conservation concepts and practice, viewed through the lens of history, systems, and sustainability. From site to landscape scale, with case studies and practioner interviews. Prerequisite: An upper-level ecology or field science course. Cross-listed with PBIO 356.

Credits: 3

NR 360 - Environmental Sociology

An in-depth exploration of how sociologists understand the relationship between a) the physical environment's effects on society, and b) society's effects on the natural environment. Prerequisite: Graduate Standing or permission. Fall, alternate years.

Credits: 3

NR 361 - Politic:Landscape,Place,Nature

Seminar exploring the social and political construction of nature, emphasizing how natural resources and environment are defined through social relationships in particular landscapes and places.

Credits: 2

NR 375 - NR Planning: Laboratory

Experiential laboratory applying natural resource planning theory and methods to local or regional issues. Students conduct a planning exercise for a town or region. Prerequisites: To be taken concurrently with 275.

Credits: 1

NR 376 - Graduate Teaching Practicum

Natural Resource teaching practicum for doctoral students in the Rubenstein School. Course is required if students are following the academic option. Should be taken concurrently or one semester in advance of completion of the doctoral teaching requirement. Prerequisite: doctoral standing.

Credits: 2

NR 377 - Land Use Policy & Economics

Economic and social forces that drive urban and suburban land use patterns, such as urban sprawl, and the policy mechanisms designed to intervene in those processes. Pre/co-requisites: Grad standing or instructor permission.

Credits: 3

NR 378 - Integrating Analyses NR Issues

Resource Issues. Seminar contrasting epistemologies and ontologies of natural resource disciplines. Applications from fields such as ecology, policy, sociology, engineering, and ethics. Prerequisite: Graduate standing.

Credits: 2

NR 380 - Seminar in Natural Resources

Presentation and discussion of advanced problems, research, and current topics in natural resources by faculty, graduate students, and outside guest speakers. Prerequisites: Permission. hours. School of Natural Resources faculty (Chairman of Curriculum Committee).

Credits: .5 to 2

NR 382 - Seminar in Research Planning

Discussions of the planning and activities associated with graduate student projects and research. Prerequisite: Permission.

Credits: 1

NR 384 - Independent Study in NR

Readings, with conferences, to provide graduate students with backgrounds and specialized knowledge relating to an area in which an appropriate course is not offered.

Credits: 1 to 18

NR 385 - Special Topics in NR

Graduate topics and material that may eventually develop into a regular course offering; in addition, it may include topics and material presented only once.

Credits: 0 to 3

NR 391 - Master's Thesis Research

Credits: 1 to 18

NR 392 - Master's Project Research

Credits: 1 to 12

NR 491 - Doctoral Dissertation Rsch

Credits: 1 to 18