Senate Document Number 4799S

Date of Senate Approval 5/06/99

Statement of Faculty Senate Action:

APC Document #29 Environmental Studies: AP Credit, 450, 381, 384, 490, 495 and Description of Track in General Environmental Studies

Add: on page 31, between English and Foreign Language in AP section of catalog, the following

Environmental Science 3 3 ENVR 130

Impact: None.

Rationale: A high school AP score of 3 or greater indicates that the student has mastered the important concepts and informational content of our introductory course. More and more the students who are highly interested in environmental science as a career are taking this test. If we do not accept these AP scores, we will lose many of our best prospective students to other Environmental Studies programs.

Add: on page 117 the following

381 Structural and Field Geology (4)

Field methods, deformation of rocks, including kinematic and dynamic analysis, primary structures, fold and fault classifications, stereographic projections, geologic maps and working with three-dimensional data. Prerequisite: ENVR 105. Every third year Spring.

Impact: None.

Rationale: Change in title to better reflect content, as currently being taught; change in course number to reflect level of difficulty with other 300-level courses; and change course description to better reflect content as currently taught.

Replace: the deleted description with the following

Introduction to landscape analysis through computer-based, geographically-referenced information systems. Data acquisition, processing, analysis and presentation will be emphasized in both lecture and laboratory. Some prior experience with computers is assumed. Prerequisites: ENVR 130 or permission of instructor. Odd years Fall.

Impact: None. Simply a change in course description. Course taught by existing faculty of Environmental Studies.

Rationale: Better reflects the course content.

Add: on page 118 to the course description for ENVR 490, immediately before the phrase before "Fall and Spring" the following

May be repeated for a total of up to 6 hours credit.

Impact: None.

Rationale: We always intended that a student could take ENVR 490 for up to 6 hours of credit if they put in a sufficient number of hours. We also intended that a student could do two internships of 3 credit hours each for a total of 6 credit hours. This change removes the current wording ambiguity in the catalogue.

May be repeated for a total of up to 6 hours credit.

Impact: None.

Rationale: We always intended that this course could be repeated for credit for up to 6 hours of credit. This statement removes the ambiguity from the current catalogue wording.

Replace: the deleted section with the following

26-30 hours distributed as follows: ENVR 105, 320, 385; two courses from ENVR 338, 381, 382; one course from ENVR 354, 383, 384; and either PHYS 131 or both CHEM 222 and 231.

Impact: None.

Rationale: The replacement of ENVR 360 with ENVR 383 reflects the content of Environmental Planning (ENVR 383) to be more appropriate for an Earth Science concentration, whereas Environmental Restoration (ENVR 360) is more focused on Ecology. Adding the phrase "at least two must be from ENVR 338, 381, 382" is to encourage students to take more science courses in the Earth Science concentration, but allow for different emphases (e.g., Environmental Planning or Environmental Geology).

Replace: the deleted paragraph with the following:

In consultation with his or her academic advisor, a student may select an individualized course of study of at least 25 credit hours in preparation for careers in such areas as Environmental Policy, Environmental Journalism, Environmental Planning or Human Ecology. Students choosing an Individualized Concentration must file an application with the department chair. The application must contain a letter of justification and a complete listing of courses in the proposed concentration. It must be submitted at the time the major is declared. The Individualized Concentration requires the completion of I, II and III above.

Rationale: The new wording clarifies what is expected of students selecting this option. It requires them to formulate a clear plan of study giving greater coherence to their program. It also gives the department greater responsibility for timely review of student plans and thus assists in advising students.