The University of Idaho Environmental Science Program offers a number of web-based courses.  Web-based classes are designed for working professionals and students statewide, nationally, and internationally.  Students must apply and be accepted to the University of Idaho (Undergraduate or Graduate Admissions).  After being accepted to UI, students register for classes online (Registration - log in and pin information is on this page).  For a complete list of web based courses offered by the University of Idaho http://www.vandalweb.uidaho.edu/schedule.htm.

All University of Idaho regulations and calendar deadlines regarding courses apply. This includes dates for changing sections, and dropping or withdrawing from a course. Students must complete all requirements for the course on time in order to receive a completion grade. 

Technical requirements to access web-based classes:
    Mac or PC
    Internet Access
    Audio system 
    28.8 Kbps modem 

Fall 2008 Courses

For a full list of courses being offered at UI, click here.

Introduction to Environmental Science, EnvS 101 (CRN 26767) (www) (3 cr.) Introduction to basic principles in the biological, physical, and social science areas of environmental science.

Ecology, Range 221 (CRN 32502) (www; see advisor for technological requirements) (3 cr.) Principles of plant and animal ecology. Major topics covered by the course include the physical environment, how organisms interact with each other and their environment, evolutionary processes, population dynamics, communities, energy flow and ecosystems, conservation biology, and human influences on ecosystems.

Planning and Decision Making for Watershed Management, CSS 573 (CRN 29670) (www) (3 cr.) Focus on ecological and human factors in process-oriented approaches to watershed analysis and planning for effective decision-making; emphasis on practical applications of current tools and approached, e.g., GIS, MAU Theory, collaborative management.

Pollution Prevention, EnvS 428 (CRN 30896) (www) (3cr.) Basic concepts of pollution prevention and waste minimization; pollution prevention strategies and case studies for solid waste, hazardous waste, water and energy use, and air pollution

Principles of Environmental Toxicology, EnvS 409/509 (CRN 27549/27550) (www) (3 cr.) Fundamental toxicological concepts including dose-response relationships, absorption of toxicants, distribution and storage of toxicants, biotransformation and elimination of toxicants, target organ toxicity and teratogenesis, mutagenesis, and carcinogenesis; chemodynamics of environmental contaminants including transport, fate, and receptors; chemicals of environmental interest and how they are tested and regulated; risk assessment fundamentals. Registration for 509 requires preparation of an additional in-depth report. Prereq: Biol 100 or 201, Chem 111, 275; Chem 113 and Stat 251 recommended.

Watershed Science Management, For 462 (CRN 27989) (www)   (3 cr.) Influence of land management practices on hydrologic processes, water quality, and riparian habitat w/emphasis on wildland watersheds. Prereq: Math 143 or 160, high school physics or Phys 100 or 111, or perm.

Wetland Restoration, Fish 540 (CRN 30715) (www) (3 cr.)

Summer 2008 Courses

Advanced Technical Writing, Engl 319, (CRN 78794, CRN 80292) (3 cr.) (www) Prereq:  Engl 102

Environmental Philosophy, EnvS 552 (CRN 77909) (3 cr.) (www)

International Environmental Issues, EnvS 225 (CRN 79823) (3 cr.) (www) This course is designed for individuals who have an interest in understanding environmental issues from a global perspective.The course focuses on various social and physical issues related to the environment and natural resources using human population dynamics as a backdrop. In general, the goals of the course are: (1) to gain insight into a specific country's environmental problem area of: air, water, biodiversity, energy, waste management, soil, and marine and coastal resources; (2) to consider the relationship and impacts of economy, politics, history, culture, demographics, and religion on an environmental issue in a given country; (3) to understand the various approaches that have been attempted toward mitigating these issues; and (4) to propose viable alternatives and sound arguments for adopting the alternatives.

Spring 2008 Courses

Advanced Geochemistry of Natural Waters, Geol 478/578, (CRN 60511) (3 cr.)(www) Detailed application of aqueous geochemistry to natural waters at an advanced level; advanced treatment of subjects introduced in Geol J468/J568, plus computer modeling of aqueous equilibria; accompanying lab will stress familiarity with analytical techniques including those adaptable for field use. Students must complete an in-depth term project involving design, execution, and interpretation of analyses of contaminated water. Prereq: Geol J468/J568 or perm.

Environmental Hydrology, BAE 450, (CRN 62452)(3 cr.)(www)  This course is designed for non-engineers in the fields of environmental science, natural resources, geography, soil science, and other related sciences. The overall objective of this course is to provide a comprehensive understanding of hydrologic processes associated with environmental processes and to develop initial conceptual evaluations that are part of most assessments.

Human Dimensions of Restoration Ecology, CSS 572, (CRN 56637)(3 cr.)(www) An in-depth investigation of multi-dimensional human considerations, including economic, social, and cultural values and the role they play in maintaining, restoring, or sustaining ecosystems. Explores the major premise that projects designed for the restoration and sustainable management ecosystems and associated resources must be ecologically sound, economically viable, and socially desirable to be successful.

Sampling and Analysis of Environmental Contaminants, EnvS 541, (CRN 61355)(3 cr.) (www) Monitoring system design, sampling procedures, RCRA/CERCLA sampling, quality assurance data quality objectives. Prereq: Stats 251

Wildland Restoration Ecology, Rnge 440, (CRN 52952)(3 cr.) (www) Ecological principles and management practices involved in restoring and rehabilitating wildland ecosystems after disturbance or alteration to return damaged ecosystems to a productive and stable state. Recommended Preparation: a course in general ecology.

Fall 2007 Courses

Introduction to Environmental Science, EnvS 101 (CRN 26767)(3 cr.) (www)  Introduction to basic principles in the biological, physical, and social science areas of environmental science.

Ecology, Range 221 (CRN 21489)(www;see advisor for technological requirements)(3 cr). Principles of plant and animal ecology. Major topics covered by the course include the physical environment, how organisms interact with each other and their environment, evolutionary processes, population dynamics, communities, energy flow and ecosystems, conservation biology, and human influences on ecosystems.

Engineering Risk Assessment/Hazardous Waste, ChE 480/580 (CRN 28112/28113)(www)(3 cr.) Quantitative and qualitative approaches to assessing risks to public health and environment from chemical contaminants; toxicology, exposure assessment, risk characterization, and environmental modeling; critical reviews of specific toxins and actual waste site studies.  Additional projects/assignments reqd for grad cr. Prereq: Sr or grad standing in science or engineering; Biol 201 or 100 and Stat 251 or perm; ChE J470/J570 recommended.

Hydrologic Applications of GIS and Remote Sensing, Geog 424/524 (CRN 27840/27841)(www)(3 cr.)  Concepts of area-based hydrologic modeling and assessment and the various types of spatially distributed information commonly used in these activities, such as topographic data, types of data sets for hydrologic capplations.  Recommended Preparation:  Geog 385, For 462 or BAE 351

Plant Ecophysiology, RNGE 560 (CRN 28529)(www)(3 cr.)  Adaptations of individual plant species to their environment, emphasizing morphological and physiological mechanisms that influence plant establishment, the physical environment, below- and above-ground productivity, and plant interactions such as competition, herbivory, and allelopathy.  Prereq:  Course in general ecology, botany or plant physiology, or perm.

Planning and Decision Making for Watershed Management, CSS 573 (CRN 29670)(www)(3 cr.)  Focus on ecological and human factors in process-oriented approaches to watershed analysis and planning for effective decision-making; emphasis on practical applications of current tools and approached, e.g., GIS, MAU Theory, collaborative management.

Pollution Prevention, EnvS 428 (CRN 30896)(www)(3cr.) Basic concepts of pollution prevention and waste minimization; pollution prevention strategies and case studies for solid waste, hazardous waste, water and energy use, and air pollution

Principles of Environmental Toxicology, EnvS 409/509 (CRN 27549/27550)(www)(3 cr.) Fundamental toxicological concepts including dose-response relationships, absorption of toxicants, distribution and storage of toxicants, biotransformation and elimination of toxicants, target organ toxicity and teratogenesis, mutagenesis, and carcinogenesis; chemodynamics of environmental contaminants including transport, fate, and receptors; chemicals of environmental interest and how they are tested and regulated; risk assessment fundamentals. Registration for 509 requires preparation of an additional in-depth report. Prereq: Biol 100 or 201, Chem 111, 275; Chem 113 and Stat 251 recommended.

Watershed Science Management, For 462 (CRN 27989)(www)(3 cr.)  Influence of land management practices on hydrologic processes, water quality, and riparian habitat w/emphasis on wildland watersheds.  Prereq:  Math 143 or 160, high school physics or Phys 100 or 111, or perm.

Wetland Restoration, Fish 540 (CRN 30715)(www)(3 cr.)

Spring 2007 Courses

Advanced Technical Writing, Engl 404, (CRN 57539) (3 cr.) (www) Prereq:  Engl 102

Human Dimensions of Restoration Ecology,CSS 572, (CRN 56637) (3 cr.) (www)  An in-depth investigation of multi-dimensional human considerations, including economic, social, and cultural values and the role they play in maintaining, restoring, or sustaining ecosystems.  Explores the major premise that projects designed for the restoration and sustainable management ecosystems and associated resources must be ecologically sound, economically viable, and socially desirable to be successful.

Geochemistry of Natural Waters,  Geol 464/564, (CRN 56419/56420) (3 cr.) (www)  Basic principles of aqueous geochemistry applied to natural waters (groundwaters, lake and river waters, seawater), presented at an intermediate level; carbonate equilibria and alkalinity, solubility of minerals, sorption processes and surface reactions, redox reactions and Eh-pH diagrams, organic geochemistry, etc.  For graduate credit, student are required to prepare two in-depth term papers and demonstrate through exam work and papers a more in-depth understanding of the material.  Prereq: Chem 111-112.  Suggested preparation: Geol 423

Sampling and Analysis of Environmental Contaminants, EnvS 541, (CRN 22831) (3 cr.)  (www)  Monitoring system design, sampling procedures, RCRA/CERCLA sampling, quality assurance data quality objectives. Prereq: Stats 251.

Western US Water Resource Policy & Environmental Equity, AgEc 404/504, (CRN 58698/58699) (3 cr.)  (www)  Western US Water Resource Policy & Environmental Equity uses an environmental equity conceptual framework to focus on the struggle over water resources management in the western United States. The course examines cases of institutional control of water, rural-urban conflicts over water distribution, and the cultural impacts on disenfranchised groups who lose access to water. Our primary goal in the course is to think critically about providing equity and water for the future of a growing region.

GIS Applications in Natural Resources, NR 402, (CRN 297445) (1 cr.)  (www) Application of GIS principles to natural resource problems. Topics include GIS/GPS integration, habitat inventory, site suitability studies, risk assessment, sources of spatial data, map accuracy, etc.  ArcView software and extension will be used in hands-on exercises.  Four hrs/week for six weeks. Prereq: Geog 385 or perm.

Remote Sensing of Active Fire and Post-fire Effects, For 435, (CRN295083) (2 cr.) (www)  Application, potential and limitations of methods for the remote sensing of active fire and post-fire effects, and interpretation of the results. Clarification of definitions of fire descriptors (fire intensity, fire severity, and burn severity) and relative merits of remote sensing tools for addressing them.  How to identify an appropriate mapping approach applicable to different types of imagery (depending on the specific questions to be addressed) and provide decision support for the user community.  Critically review and synthesize relevant scientific literature.  Field trips. Prereq: For 426.

Fall 2006 Courses

Introduction to Environmental Science, EnvS 101 (CRN 26767) (3 cr.) (www)  Introduction to basic principles in the biological, physical, and social science areas of environmental science.

Ecology, Range 221 (CRN 21489) Section 40.  (www; see advisor for technological requirements) (3 cr). Principles of plant and animal ecology. Major topics covered by the course include the physical environment, how organisms interact with each other and their environment, evolutionary processes, population dynamics, communities, energy flow and ecosystems, conservation biology, and human influences on ecosystems.

Hydrologic Applications of GIS and Remote Sensing, Geog 424/524 (CRN 27840/27841) (www) (3 cr.)  Concepts of area-based hydrologic modeling and assessment and the various types of spatially distributed information commonly used in these activities, such as topographic data, types of data sets for hydrologic capplations.  Recommended Preparation:  Geog 385, For 462 or BAE 351

Plant Ecophysiology, RNGE 560 (CRN 28529 (www) )3 cr.)  Adaptations of individual plant species to their environment, emphasizing morphological and physiological mechanisms that influence plant establishment, the physical environment, below- and above-ground productivity, and plant interactions such as competition, herbivory, and allelopathy.  Prereq:  Course in general ecology, botany or plant physiology, or perm.

Planning and Decision Making for Watershed Management, CSS 573 (CRN 29670) (www) (3 cr.)  Focus on ecological and human factors in process-oriented approaches to watershed analysis and planning for effective decision-making; emphasis on practical applications of current tools and approached, e.g., GIS, MAU Theory, collaborative management.

Pollution Prevention, EnvS 428 (www) (3cr.) (CRN 30896)  Basic concepts of pollution prevention and waste minimization; pollution prevention strategies and case studies for solid waste, hazardous waste, water and energy use, and air pollution

Principles of Environmental Toxicology, EnvS 409/509 (CRN 27549/27550) (www) (3 cr.) Fundamental toxicological concepts including dose-response relationships, absorption of toxicants, distribution and storage of toxicants, biotransformation and elimination of toxicants, target organ toxicity and teratogenesis, mutagenesis, and carcinogenesis; chemodynamics of environmental contaminants including transport, fate, and receptors; chemicals of environmental interest and how they are tested and regulated; risk assessment fundamentals. Registration for 509 requires preparation of an additional in-depth report. Prereq: Biol 100 or 201, Chem 111, 275; Chem 113 and Stat 251 recommended.

Watershed Science Management, For 462 (CRN 27989) (www) (3 cr.)  Influence of land management practices on hydrologic processes, water quality, and riparian habitat w/emphasis on wildland watersheds.  Prereq:  Math 143 or 160, high school physics or Phys 100 or 111, or perm.

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