Environmental Science

This course introduces students to the fundamentals of ecology and evolution through discussions of and laboratory activities related to the history of life on Earth, interactions among organisms and between organisms and the environment, population and community dynamics, the mechanisms of evolution, speciation, and extinction. Students successfully completing the course will be able to draw connections between ecology and evolution as interrelated aspects of biology and will be prepared to continue on to genetics (BIO 260) and upper-level electives, particularly courses focusing on ecology, evolution, and organismal biology. Prerequisite: BIO-120, or permission. Offered spring term.

An introductory course to the use of statistics and study designs in biology in preparation for Biology 495/496, Senior Research. Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to design experimental, quasi-experimental and observational studies that will meet regulatory guidelines; collect, analyze, and interpret data using appropriate statistical tools; and submit their study for publication.

An introduction to the legal system of the United States which focuses on the function and authority of administrative agencies. Students explore the rights and responsibilities of individuals and business entities within the context of regulatory schemes contained in the spheres of environmental issues (such as the Environmental Protection Act and the Clean Air Act) and business issues (such as the Occupational Safety and Health Act and the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act). Students will be able to identify and analyze problems found in business situations involving regulatory issues, while applying legal concepts, cases and statutes in determining a recommended course of action for individuals and organizations.

Through lecture and lab experience, students will be exposed to and will demonstrate an understanding of the factors that determine the speed and extent of chemical reactions - kinetics, equilibria, thermodynamics, and electrochemistry. Prerequisite: Chemistry 125. Offered spring term.

An examination of the relationship between economic analysis and the quality of the natural environment in which we live. Students successfully completing this course will be able to: 1)understand economic theory and terminology as they relate to issues of environmental quality; 2)apply economic theory, where appropriate, to various environmental problems; 3)comprehend the interactions between both the private and public sectors in the struggle to find workable solutions to environmental problems; 4)appreciate the global dimension of environmental issues; and 5)analyze and evaluate environmental policy proposals to determine feasible solutions. Prerequisite: Economics 203. Offered alternate fall terms.

In this introduction to research, each student chooses an environmental topic, investigates it thoroughly in the scientific literature, and presents both a written and a formal report in a formal setting. The report will include a proposal for further research. The topic will then be investigated during the student's senior research project. Upon successful completion of this course, the student will have developed information retrieval skills in regard to primary scientific literature and will have developed skills in formal scientific writing, speaking, and experimental design. Prerequisite: Environmental Science major and junior standing.

A two-semester laboratory or field project required of all senior environmental science majors. This course is a continuation of the student's Environmental Science 351 Environmental Science I topic. Students conduct an environmental study concluding with a report in an appropriate format. Upon successful completion of this course, students will have developed skills in experimentation, scientific writing, presentation, and critical thinking. Prerequisite: Senior Environmental Science major, Environmental Science 351.

An examination of diverse literary responses to the environment. Through poetry, fiction and non-fiction, students explore the role of the environment in the development of human language and literature. Even as environmental literature seeks to explain human relationships with the physical world, students will be able to identify, categorize and interpret the literary meanings of various environments. Moreover, by examining "Ecocriticism," an approach that emphasizes the role of the natural environment in literature, students will be able to recognize and use important environmental concepts in their own critical writing.

This is a basic problem-solving course suitable for students in any major. It is a survey of a wide variety of problem-solving strategies and concepts. Students successfully completing this course will effectively communicate mathematically, utilize various strategies in analyzing problems, increase problem-solving persistence, and sharpen problem-solving skills.

A study of topics in algebra and trigonometry that are used in calculus. Topics include functions, advanced algebra, logarithmic and exponential functions, and trigonometry. Students who successfully complete this course will have the mathematics background needed to study calculus. Prerequisite: Two years of high school algebra or Mathematics 105.

Microbiology introduces the student to the structure and function of prokaryotic life forms and relevant eukaryotic microbes. Topics addressed include diversity in habitat and metabolic capabilities, historical and current impacts (both positive and negative) on humans and human society, and control and evolution of medically relevant forms. Upon completion of this course, students will be competent in handling microorganisms in lab, understand the importance of microbes to the human state, understand how the metabolic diversity of microbes impacts the earth in its current form, understand that evolution is a central concept in biology, a concept that includes biodiversity, adaptability, change, survival, and mutagenesis, and how evolution fits into a study of microbiology.

An introduction to modern analytical techniques, including sampling, sample preparation, instrument calibration and analysis. Students successfully completing the course will demonstrate an understanding of aqueous solution equilibria and statistical treatment of data. Lecture and laboratory. Prerequisite: Chemistry 126. Offered fall term.

A survey of the animal kingdom, stressing evolutionary relationships, anatomy, ecology, special adaptations, and biological significance of the various groups. Upon successful completion of this course students will have a broad understanding of the diversity of animal forms and their mechanisms for survival and evolutionary relationships.

This course provides an in-depth study of wetland ecosystems, including history, regulations, delineation, major types of wetland systems, hydrology, biogeochemical cycling, human impact and management of wetlands, and wetland creation and restoration. Particular emphasis will be placed on examination of and familiarization with Nebraska wetlands. Students will gain an understanding and appreciation of wetland function and the role wetlands play in the health of the environment on both local and global scales. Prerequisite: Biology 101 and one additional lab course in biology. Offered alternate fall terms.

An examination of the roles of microbes in the environment and of several distinctly different ecosystems and their microbial components. Upon successful completion of this course, the student will have an understanding of the roles of microbes and microbial processes in shaping the earth's biosphere as we know it today.

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are computer methods used to collect, organize, analyze, and present spatial data. Emphasis will be on GIS mapping, spatial analysis, and database development. Students complete hands-on computer activities using ArcGIS Desktop software and will develop skills and a knowledge base from which to use spatial information effectively as a professional. Upon completion, students will be able to create and edit spatial data, produce maps and conduct spatial analysis. Prerequisite: Fundamental computer skills (Windows operating system, spreadsheets, word processors), junior or senior standing or permission.

In this survey of the American West, students examine the major themes of conquest, migration, water, agriculture, urbanization, government, myth, race, region, class, and gender, with special emphases on the Great Plains region and environmental history. Students will gain a deeper understanding of social, racial and cultural diversity in the West, with emphasis on Native American "Indian" cultures. Students will also gain a deeper understanding of the significance of region and the environment as forces in history and the West as a source of themes in U.S. history. Offered spring terms.

Policy-making processes and behavior at the national and state levels. Includes the presidency, Congress, and bureaucratic politics.

A course designed to meet the needs of the preprofessional student and the science major as well as providing an introduction to physics for all students. Topics covered include mechanics, optics, thermodynamics, sound, electricity and magnetism, electronics, and selected areas of modern physics. Lecture and laboratory. Prerequisite: Mathematics 105, 125 (or equivalent).

A calculus-based introduction to physics. Topics include mechanics, optics, thermodynamics, sound electricity and magnetism, electronics, and selected areas of modern physics. Lecture and laboratory. Prerequisite: Physics 107 or permission; Mathematics 235, 236 (may be taken concurrently). Physics 201 offer spring; Physics 202 offered fall.

An introduction to the science and art of implementing solutions to problems using a high-level programming language. Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to design solutions to a variety of problems using top-down and structured design techniques and implement those solutions using programming constructs such as branching, loops, arrays, and functions or procedures. Prerequisite: Mathematics 105 or equivalent.

This course provides students the opportunity to develop the skills needed for careful analytic reasoning and problem solving. Students will examine the nature and structure of arguments, the argumentative categories of induction and deduction, the criteria of validity and soundness, fallacies, and the fundamentals of formal symbolic logic. Upon completion, students will be able to evaluate and construct arguments in both prose and symbolic formats. This course is particularly recommended for any student who anticipates taking an advanced test for admission to graduate or professional programs.

A survey of modern instruments - their components and uses. Through lecture and laboratory, students successfully completing the course will demonstrate an understanding of spectroscopy and chromatography which provides the bulk of the material, with emphasis on method development. Prerequisite: Chemistry 303 or permission. Offered alternate spring terms.