MES Electives
Each year's elective offerings change somewhat, but will typically follow these three thematic areas of study: Energy and Climate Change, Sustainable Communities, and Ecology.
Other electives may be offered that will address issues of current interest. Electives are taken for four credits, and usually meet one night each week with field trips scheduled on weekends. Please see the online course catalog for more information about elective courses. Students may also earn a limited number of elective credits by participating in internships or independent study contracts (8 credits max), taking MPA electives (8 credits max), or transfering graduate credits from other accredited institutions (8 credits max), such as Willamette University's Sustainable Enterprise Certificate. Electives are also available to non-enrolled students who have special grad student status.
Electives Currently Available
Fall 2011
Global & Regional Climate Change – Kurt Unger (PDF) – Wednesdays 6-10 PM
Focus: the science and policy of global and regional climate change. This elective will address questions such as these: How does current climate change differ from past changes? How do climate change models work? What are some of the key effects of climate change? How are policy makers addressing climate change, what should they be doing and what can individuals do? We will also discuss the roles of technology and the media, as well as a variety of economic, legal, political and social perspectives.
GIS and Spatial Analysis – Greg Stewart – Mondays 6-10 PM
Syllabus (PDF)
In this course, we will focus on creating and analyzing spatially-referenced data using ArcGIS. Instruction will be offered through a combination of lecture and lab. Weekly lab assignments are likely to require to use of computing facilities outside of class. By the end of the term, students will have identified and completed a geo-spatial analysis project, which they will present to the class. Students should be well-versed in Microsoft Windows file management, but the course requires no previous experience with ArcGIS.
Sustainable Forestry: A Study in Natural Resources Management – Richard Bigley (PDF) – Wednesdays 6-10 PM
Syllabus (PDF)
Sustainable Forestry: a study in Natural Resource Management is lecture and field-based introduction to forests of the Pacific Northwest, the science of forests and associated aquatic habitat management and the forces of change on their management. Case studies from forest, wildlife and fisheries management will examine 1) how society catalyzed, and forest science has fueled, recent developments towards a sustainable forestry; 2) the role of habitat restoration in sustainability of both forests and fisheries; and 3) insights into the future of ecosystem-based management. Weekend field trips will provide an insider's perspective into the fount line of natural resources management science and policy. The course will provide background, and an introduction to analysis skills to help evaluate policies and strategies for management, restoration and protection of forests and the services they provide.
Environmental Education – Jean MacGregor (PDF) – Mondays 6-10pm
Syllabus (PDF)
It is widely agreed that an environmentally literate and concerned citizenry is crucial to environmental quality and long-term sustainability --but how and where is environmental and sustainability literacy fostered? And where "environmental education" occurs, is it effective? This class explores the history, philosophical underpinnings, and current trends in environmental education for both youth and adults, in both formal sectors (schools and colleges) and non-formal ones. This class provides a theoretical and practical introduction to the field of environmental education and interpretation. It will be useful to students interested in environmental teaching or communications as a career, or to those whose environmental work might involve education or outreach components.
Winter 2012
Conserving and Restoring Biodiversity – Tim Quinn - Mondays 6-10pm
This course focuses on the biology that underlies conservation and restoration issues around the world. There are many ways to approach the study of conservation and restorationbiology and I will mostly emphasize the scientific elements of these disciplines. I also will provide you with a practitioner's perspective of the relationship of biology and policy from work done in Washington State. This course will introduce you to the literature, controversies, and promising methodologies for a variety of conservation/restoration biology applications. In addition, I will invite a number of local experts to come and provide perspectives on their work in applied fields of conservation. We will read, discuss, and write on a variety of topics. Your assignments include written and oral exercises, and peer evaluations aimed at helping you develop your ideas and increas your ability to communicate those ideas. I want to introduce you to the principal concepts and methodologies of conservation and restoration biology, enrich your understanding of the scientific contributions necessary for solving conservation problems, foster your understanding of the scientific process in general and as applied in conservation settings, and further your powers of analysis and ability to communicate effectively.
Marine Mammal Ecology in the Pacific NW - John Calombokidis - Mondays 6-10pm
We will examine the ecology and natural history of marine mammals (seals, sea lions, porpoises, dolphins, and whales) in the Pacific Northwest and especially the Salish Sea (including Puget Sound). The class will have a focus on current and recent research findings as well as well as on management and conflicts with human activities. Students will also conduct more detailed research on a specific topic that will be chosen working with the faculty and will prepare a research paper summarizing their findings as well as make a presentation to the class at the end of the course. Course will include at least one field trip and labs including a trip to a harbor seal haul out area and a marine mammal necropsy to allow direct exposure to marine mammals in the wild and research techniques. Lectures will be conducted during evening classes but at least one field trip will involve a half day additional session conducted during the week.
Contemporary Challenges to Building a Clean Energy Future – Alan Hardcastle (PDF) - Wednesdays 6-10pm
Syllabus (PDF)
This course will examine current trends in the clean energy sector and the intersections with efforts to develop a green and sustainable economy and environment that also enhances social equity. The class will integrate research and readings with guest lectures and seminar discussion to explore the current social, technical and political context for the shift to clean energy. The class will include a special focus on the energy labor market, human resources, education and training, and societal implications for regional alternative energy and energy efficiency initiatives.
Spring 2012
Environmental Economics – Ralph Murphy - Mondays 6-10pm
This MES elective is designed with both theoretical and practical applied components to develop a strong understanding for how economics (and related topics) can improve and enhance environmental problem solving.A major goal of the class is to make students familiar and comfortable with the language, concepts, models and methodologies used in environmental economic analysis.The class explores the uses and applications of key concepts from micro, environmental, and ecological economics to develop a deeper understanding of public policy initiatives for the environment, sustainability, regulatory reform, and the challenges of the current fiscal crisis in the United States
Environmental Policy Making – Craig Partridge - Wednesdays 6-10pm
Syllabus (PDF)
The goal of this course is to introduce students to the important concepts and to both theoretical and practical problems in the making and carrying out of environmental and natural resource policy in the U. S. Students will learn several approaches to understanding how, why, and by whom environmental policy decisions are made, and will gain experience with policy analysis and evaluation techniques, negotiation, and with the particular problems of policy implementation. This course takes a process approach to the topic, rather than a descriptive or prescriptive approach, and is aimed primarily at students who see themselves as future practitioners or researchers in this field. Some prior familiarity with the main categories of environmental and natural resource legislation and with the fundamental topics of political science will help students gain the most from this course.
The Ecology of Harmful Algal Blooms – Gerardo Chin-Leo - Wednesdays 6-10pm
Description (PDF); 2011 Syllabus (PDF)
Coastal waters worldwide have experienced an increase in the occurrence of large concentrations (blooms) of harmful algal species. These events are now commonly referred to as harmful algal blooms (HAB). HAB species that contain toxins can cause direct mortality of marine life. Humans can be indirectly affected through the consumption of contaminated seafood. Large blooms of non-toxic species can also have negative impacts on aquatic habitats by shading benthic plants or by interfering with the activities of other organisms. Furthermore, if these algal blooms are not grazed or diluted, their decomposition by bacteria can deplete the dissolved oxygen in the water causing the mortality of aquatic organisms and forming "dead zones". This program will study the environmental factors controlling the abundance and productivity of aquatic algae, the ecology of harmful algal species and the possible role of human activities in causing the increase of HAB. In addition, we will examine the efforts of scientists and government agencies to monitor HAB, and to control their impact on fisheries and public health.
Fire Science and Society - Richard Bigley (PDF) and Sarah Hamman - Mondays 6-10pm
Description (PDF)
Fire plays the role of ecosystem engineer in forests and grasslands throughout the world. This role has changed over the past hundred years, however, with increasing human populations, sprawling development into fire-prone areas, and altered perceptions of this vital ecological process. With fire suppression and exclusion, we are seeing dramatic changes in the structure and functioning of fire-influenced ecosystems and the role of fire in natural resources management and policy. There are significant ecological, social and political implications of these changes, ranging from the listing of fire-adapted endangered species to more rigorous air quality regulations to altered pressures and priorities for the timber industry. Adapting policies in the anticipation to climate change has become a major priority. It is becoming more important for citizens to understand both the benefits and the risks associated with fire as it is increasingly impacting people in their daily lives. This course will introduce students to the language, the ecology and the politics surrounding wildland fire and increase your effectiveness with opportunities that involve fire science, application and management.
Summer 2012
Political Ecology and Environmental Decision-Making – Martha Henderson - Tuesdays & Thursdays 6-10pm, Summer Session I (June 25 - July 27)
Environmental leadership plays a significant role in American society. The current ‘environment' is the sum total of ecological and social relationships, cultural values, and decision-making at all levels of society. This course will investigate the origins of American environmentalism and the institutionalization of environmental decision-making. Historical events, cultural values, and social and economic conditions have transformed the ecology of North America encountered at the time of Euro-American expansion into the continent. The current landscape is a social and political process that requires examination as we engage in current and future decision-making. The class will include an overview of American environmental history, ecological transformation, and decision-making processes. Students will read texts, discuss ideas, seminar and engage in primary research. Effective leadership methods will be explored. Students will also be asked to observe and participate in a decision-making process around an environmental issue.
Research Methods in Environmental Studies - Martha Henderson - Monday - Friday 6-10pm (Aug 20-24); Saturday 9am-5pm (Aug 25), Summer Session II
Research at the graduate level in environmental studies is an important step for students working towards undergraduate and masters degrees. The sum total of the research work requires thoughtful definition of a problem, identification of theoretical and appropriate methods for data collection, use of standard tools of data analysis, and a desired logical conclusion. This class will help students articulate good research questions, determine methods of analysis with special emphasis on qualitative methods, and assist students in developing a reasonable research agenda. Students engaged in individual research projects or beginning work on their masters’ theses are welcome. We will collaborate and develop research strategies that will be effective in the pursuit of major individual research projects. The class will be a one week intensive class meeting in the evenings from 6-10pm. We will also meet on the last Saturday of the week.