Graduate Course Offerings
Students in the environmental science graduate program may select courses from many departments in most colleges at UNLV. The courses will be selected based on the theoretical, applied, and skill requirements of the student as determined by the student's Advisory Committee and the Graduate Coordination Committee.
Core Courses | Approved Graduate Courses | Proposed Graduate Courses
Environmental Science Core Courses
ENV 701 Environmental Science Pro Seminar
(required for M.S. and Ph.D.)
Introduction to research approaches appropriate to the environmental sciences. Includes quantitative and qualitative research design. Development of literature review and thesis/dissertation prospectus.
Prerequisites: Graduate standing in environmental science or consent of instructor (3 credits)
ENV 702 Environmental Problem Solving
(required for M.S. and Ph.D.)
Instruction and experience in the development of conceptual and quantitative systems models useful in analyzing environmental problems, understanding the effects of those problems on human and natural systems, and identifying optimal solutions to those problems. Examines the dynamic, interdependent and interactive relationships between human activities and ecosystem function and structure. Effects of these activities on biogeochemical cycles, energy flow, and biodiversity and examines and evaluates opportunities to shift toward more sustainable human behavior.
Prerequisites: Graduate standing in environmental science or consent of instructor (3 credits)
ENV 703 Environmental Law and Policy Seminar
(required for M.S. and Ph.D.)
The course will concentrate on the substantive aspects of major federal environmental laws and their concomitant regulations, as well as the policy underlying their promulgation and implementation. The present status and implementation of the National Environmental Policy Act, the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, and the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act will constitute the major federal environmental laws discussed in this course. This course will examine the policies underlying the existing laws, their derivative regulations, and the changes being considered by Congress for these laws. The class will be required to discuss and evaluate the potential impacts on the environment and the nation that may derive from these policy changes.
Prerequisites: Graduate standing in environmental science or consent of instructor (3 credits)
Approved Graduate Courses
ENV 601 Advanced Environmental Toxicology
Study of the basic principles of toxicology, including routes of exposure, dose response, and target organ effects using environmental toxicants as primary examples. Toxicology concepts applied to risk assessment and the development of acceptable exposure limits for toxic substances regulated by EPA and OSHA.
Prerequisites: CHE 170 and Graduate standing in Environmental Science or consent of instructor. (3 credits).
ENV 611 Environmental Risk Management
This course teaches environmental risk problem solving. Students develop a toolbox of risk analysis and management methods, as well learn the appropriate role of these methods in effective public and private decision making. To this end, the course is divided into sections that develop risk analysis methods, and then explore policy implications of those methods.
Prerequisites: Graduate standing in Environmental Science or consent of instructor. (3 credits).
ENV 614 Air Pollution Science Management
Principles of air pollution science and management. Covers physics, chemistry, and mathematics of complex atmospheric processes. Topics include sources of air pollution, physical and chemical transformations in the atmosphere, the role of meteorology in air pollution, and quality regulations.
Prerequisites: Graduate standing in Environmental Science or consent of instructor. (3 credits).
ENV 660 Environmental Modeling
Introduction to dynamic modeling of environmental systems including use of modeling to support management and policy making. Develops systems thinking skills and ability to build system dynamics models. Emphasizes modeling as a framework for environmental analysis and problem solving.
Prerequisites: ENV 260 and Graduate standing in Environmental Science or consent of instructor. (4 credits).
ENV 711 Environmental Risk Assessment
Develops the concepts of risk identification, risk evaluation, and risk management with strong emphasis on the genesis and importance of dose-response curves and exposure assessment. Potential effects of uncertainties in the risk assessment process will be addressed.
Prerequisites: Graduate standing in Environmental Science or consent of instructor. (3 credits).
ENV 712 Environmental Risk Decision Making
Explores interface of technical information, experts, and environmental decision arenas. Major issues include decision making under uncertainty, risk perception, risk communication, and public participation in environmental risk modeling.
Prerequisites: Graduate standing in Environmental Science or consent of instructor. (3 credits).
ENV 720 Natural Resource Valuation
Exploration of the valuation literature including traditional, environmental, and experimental economics; physical sciences and philosophy. Methodologic and normative issues. Application and design of valuation tools.
Prerequisites: Graduate standing in environmental science and an introductory microeconomics course. (3 credits)
ENV 725 Quantitative Methods for Environmental Science
Quantitative research tools specifically developed for environmental science including models, data collection and statistical methods, both univariate and multivariate analyses. Emphasis on methods appropriate to student theses and dissertations.
Prerequisites: Graduate standing in environmental science or consent of instructor. (3 credits)
ENV 735 Risk-Benefit Assessment
History, philosophy and methodology of risk-benefit analysis for environmental and health decision making. Explores the history of assessing costs and benefits of public projects, describes the current status of cost-effectiveness analysis in risk regulatory policy. Develops tools to estimate and compare risks, costs and benefits associated with governmental, societal and private risk decision-making.
Prerequisites: Graduate standing in environmental science or consent of instructor. (3 credits)
ENV 749 Environmental Sciences Teaching Practicum
Introduction to methods and content for environmental science instructors. Tips, methods, styles, scholarship of teaching and learning.
Prerequisites: Currently teaching undergraduate ENV course. (3 credits)
ENV 750 Environmental Studies and Public Policy
Introduces the principles of public policy, science, and technology that shape environmental protection strategies in this nation and abroad. ENV 750 will act as a foundation policy course in the graduate program of the Department of Environmental Studies.
Prerequisites: Graduate standing in Environmental Science or consent of instructor. (3 credits).
ENV 751 International Environmental Policy
Examines environmental protection strategies on the international stage.
Prerequisites: Graduate standing in Environmental Science or consent of instructor. (3 credits).
ENV 752 Advanced Seminar in Environmental Studies and Public Policy
Explores special topics in the field of environmental policy.
Prerequisites: Graduate standing in Environmental Science, ENV 750 or consent of instructor. (3 credits).
ENV 790 Internship in Environmental Science
Individual students complete appropriate internship with private, public or non-profit organization involved in environmental management. Terms to be negotiated with and approved by internship supervisor and Graduate Coordinator
Prerequisites: Graduate standing in environmental science or consent of instructor. (1-3 credits)
ENV 791 Environmental Sciences Examination Preparation
Individual preparation for Masters Degree examination. May be repeated any number of times, but no more than 3 credits will count towards degree requirements.
Prerequisites: Graduate standing in environmental science or consent of instructor. (1-3 credits)
ENV 792 Environmental Sciences Professional Paper Research
Individual research towards professional paper under the direction of a faculty member. May be repeated any number of times, but no more than 6 credits will count towards degree requirements.
Prerequisites: Graduate standing in environmental science or consent of instructor. (1-6 credits)
ENV 793 Independent Study in Environmental Science
Independent study of a selected environmental science topic. May be repeated to a maximum of six credits.
Prerequisites: Graduate standing in Environmental Science or consent of instructor. (1-3 credits)
ENV 794 Special Topics in Environmental Science
Outlet for experimental science and other topics of current interest not covered in any existing course. May be repeated for credit.
Prerequisites: Graduate standing in Environmental Science or consent of instructor. (l-6 credits).
ENV 795 Thesis
Course to provide academic credit for thesis research which has been approved in advance by a students advisory committee. May be repeated but no more than six credits will be allowed in the degree program.
Prerequisites: Graduate standing in Environmental Science or consent of instructor. (3-6 credits).
ENV 797 Environmental Science Pre-Candidacy Dissertation Research
Individual research to develop doctoral dissertation prospectus under the direction of a faculty member. May be repeated any number of times, but no more than 6 credits will count towards degree requirements.
Prerequisites: Graduate standing in Environmental Science or consent of instructor. (1-6 credits)
ENV 798 Dissertation
Course to provide academic credit for Dissertation research which has been approved in advance by a students advisory committee. May be repeated but no more than 18 credits will be allowed in the degree program.
Prerequisites: Graduate standing in Environmental Science or consent of instructor. (3-6 credits)
Proposed Graduate Courses (pending approval)
ENV 699A Graduate Research Methods in Environmental Science I
ENV 699B Graduate Research Methods in Environmental Science II