ARCHIVED CATALOG: Visit catalog.ucsb.edu to view the 2023-2024 General Catalog.

UC Santa Barbara General CatalogUniversity of California, Santa Barbara

Bren School of Environmental Science & Management

2400 Bren Hall
Telephone: (805) 893-7611
Website: www.bren.ucsb.edu
Dean: Steven D. Gaines 


 

Some courses displayed may not be offered every year. For actual course offerings by quarter, please consult the Quarterly Class Search or GOLD (for current students). To see the historical record of when a particular course has been taught in the past, please visit the Course Enrollment Histories.

Environmental Science & Management
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ESM 201. Ecology of Managed Ecosystems
(4) DAVIS
Principles of individual ecology, population ecology, community ecology, and ecosystem ecology. Emphasis on applications (conservation, resources management, ecological effects of pollution and habitat fragmentation, etc.).
ESM 202. Environmental Biogeochemistry
(4) KELLER, MELACK, HOLDEN
Prerequisite: Chemistry 1A-B-C or equivalent; graduate standing.
Recommended Preparation: ESM 203 highly recommended.
Biogeochemical processes as applied to the earth's atmosphere, oceans, land and inland water, and applications to environmental issues such as eutrophication, toxic pollution, carbon sequestration and acidification.
ESM 203. Earth System Science
(4) DUNNE, DOZIER
Prerequisite: Geography 3 or equivalent; graduate standing in ESM.
Energy and mass transport as applied to the atmosphere, oceans, and land models of the earth's climate and hydrology.
ESM 204. Economics of Environmental Management
(4) PLANTINGA, COSTELLO
Environmental regulation (incentives and command and control), asymetric information (cost revelation and auditing, regulatory incidence, dynamics and discounting, exhaustible and renewable resources, valuation, environmental macroeconomics, trade and the environment, comparative regulatory analysis.
ESM 206. Data Analysis for Environmental Science and Management
(4) STAFF
Develop skills and conceptual framework to effectively use data to solve practical problems. Topics include descriptive statistics, hypothesis testing, experimental design, exploratory data analysis, probability and uncertainty, time series analysis, and spatial stats. Emphasis on case studies from environmental problems.
ESM 207. Environmental Law and Policy
(4) SALZMAN
Prerequisite: GRADUATE STANDING IN ESM OR CONSENT OF INSTRUCTOR.
Basic elements of the legal system as it specifically relates to environmental issues. Study of the different stages and different institutions involved in environmental policy making.
ESM 210. Business and the Environment
(4) LIBECAP
Introduction to business objectives and structure, discuss new business models and tools that incorporate principles of environmental management and corporate performance. Emphasis on corporate strategies that deliver value to shareholders while responding to environmental concerns.
ESM 211. Applied Population Ecology
(4) KENDALL
Prerequisite: ESM 201 or equivalent; AND ESM 206 or equivalent.
Examination of the application of population ecology to conservation of rare species and management of harvested populations. Topics include population regulation, population viability analysis, fisheries management, metapopulation dynamics, and population monitoring.
ESM 212. Biological Community Survey and Analysis
(4) DAVIS
Prerequisite: ESM 201.
Design and execution of field sampling campaigns to characterize, map, and inventory plant and animal communities. Includes review of basic sampling theory, measurements for terrestrial vegetation, vertebrate and invertebrate survey methods, multivariate analysis of community data, vegetation and species habitat mapping and modeling.
ESM 214. Biological Waste Treatment
(5) HOLDEN
Concepts and approaches to prevent and alleviate the effects of environmental pollution using biological processes. Physical, chemical, and biological processes used in wastewater treatment. Extension of principles to hazardous waste treatment and pollution remediation. Exposure to real treatment installations to demonstrate applications.
ESM 214L. Laboratory in Biological Waste Treatment
(1) HOLDEN
Prerequisite: ESM 214 must be taken concurrently.
Introduction to systems used for biologically treating non-hazardous and hazardous wastes and pollution through site visits to real installations or through laboratory exercises to demonstrate basic principles.
ESM 215. Landscape Ecology
(4) DAVIS
Prerequisite: ESM 201.
Relationship between spatial patterns in landscape structure (physical, biological, and cultural) and ecological processes. Role of ecosystem pattern in mass and energy transfers, disturbance regimes, species' persistence, and applications of remote sensing and GIS for landscape characterization and modeling.
ESM 219. Microbial Processes in the Environment
(5) HOLDEN
Prerequisite: ESM 202 or equivalent.
Environmental microbiology: microbial diversity, habitat, and function related to nutrient cycling and pollution fates; pathogens in the environment; microbial biotechnology for solutions to environmental problems. Lecture integrated with laboratory-based exercises for detecting, describing, and quantifying what microbes do in natural and polluted samples.
ESM 219L. Laboratory in Microbial Processes
(1) HOLDEN
Prerequisite: ESM 219 must be taken concurrently.
Enrollment Comments: Concurrently offered with ESM 219.
Introduction to laboratory based tools and techniques for enumerating and characterizing microbes in environmental samples, and for quantifying microbial processes related to nutrient cycling and biodegradation.
ESM 222. Pollution Risk Management
(4) KELLER
Prerequisite: ESM 202.
In modern society we use thousands of chemicals in consumer products, food and clothing, living spaces, transportation, energy generation and many of the underlying industrial and agricultural activities. The course covers the key aspects throughout a chemical's life cycle to understand its health risks (human and ecological) as well as its footprint. The course covers tools to estimate their use and release, fate in indoor and outdoor environments, and end of life.
ESM 223. Management of Soil and Groundwater Quality
(4) KELLER
Prerequisite: ESM 202 and 203 and 222.
Recommended Preparation: Groundwater hydrology strongly recommended.
Focuses on protection and remediation of contaminated soil, vadose zone and groundwater, including site and basin characterization, planning, and methods for corrective action. Discussion includes the determination of groundwater quality objectives based on risk assessment, technology development and testing, and cost evaluation of management strategies.
ESM 224. Sustainable Watershed Quality Management
(4) KELLER
Prerequisite: ESM 202 and 203.
Recommended Preparation: ESM 222; and ESM 234 or 235.
Integrates environmental science and management to address sustainable watershed management. Learn the elements of a watershed management plan and become familiar with the planning process that takes into consideration various issues and concerns and provides concrete actions to address them. Addresses both water quantity and quality issues in a comprehensive approach.
ESM 225. Water Policy
(4) WILKINSON
Explores key water policy issues in the context of science, technology, and the practical management of water systems. Focuses on the nexus of science, technology, economics, law, and the role social and political factors play in the policy process.
ESM 226. Groundwater Management
(4) STAFF
Examines the principles and tools for groundwater management and stewardship of groundwater resources in the US and includes examples drawn from global groundwater management challenges.
ESM 228. Monitoring and Evaluation
(4) BUNTAINE
Prerequisite: ESM 206
Covers the methods and techniques that non-profit organizations and public agencies can use to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of their programs. Focuses on the design of primary data collection and analysis practices that provide credible evidence of a program's impacts. Topics covered in the course include impact evaluation, performance evaluation, measurement, multi-method evaluation techniques, and the analysis of experimental and non-experimental monitoring data.
ESM 229. Economics and Policy of Climate Change
(4) MENG
Prerequisite: ESM 204 and graduate standing.
Explores the economic impacts of climate change, design of optimal climate mitigation policies, and existing constraints on implementation of such policies. Emphasis on developing intuition on climate policy issues and familiarity with relevant analytical and statistical tools.
ESM 230. Strategic Planning for Non-Profit Ventures
(4) COTTER
Recommended Preparation: ESM 256B is valuable but not essential preparation.
Strategic planning issues unique to non-profits. Provides an entrepreneurial perspective for charitable organizations, non-government organizations, social ventures and not-for-profit organizations. Topics include stakeholder analysis, the mission statement, strategic objectives and goals, board development, fiscal management and fundraising.
ESM 231. Creating Value through Environmental Solutions
(2) COTTER
Recommended Preparation: ESM 256A
In this practicum, students explore environmental challenges faced by a specific corporation and identify opportunities to improve environmental impact through business model innovation. Working on a team with an industry mentor, students evaluate the financial potential, expected social/environmental impact and innovation risks of their ideas. Practical application of theory and tools from ESM 281.
ESM 232. Environmental Modeling
(4) COSTELLO, DOZIER, TAGUE
Prerequisite: Mathematics 3A-B-C or equivalent. ESM 262.
Enrollment Comments: No previous computer experience required.
Introduction to the development, evaluation, interpretation, and presentation of models as applied to environmental problems. Course consists of theory and many practical examples building and interpreting models using computers.
ESM 233. Testing Innovation Opportunities and Organizational Readiness
(2) COTTER
Recommended Preparation: ESM 256A
In this practicum, students test a business model innovation designed to improve environmental impact for a specific corporation. Working on a team with an industry mentor, students conduct customer and market research to validate their idea and assess their corporation's innovation culture. Practical application of theory and tools from ESM 281.
ESM 235. Watershed Analysis
(4) DUNNE
Prerequisite: ESM 203.
Hydrologic and geomorphic basis of environmental management problems concerning land surfaces and channels in small drainage basins, particularly the effects of land use and engineered alteration to stream channels. Emphasis placed in the integrated application of both theory and field methods to analyze existing conditions, evaluate the potential effectiveness of alternative solutions, and understand the limitations imposed by intrinsic watershed conditions and other human constraints. Implications for in-stream biota and water quality are acknowledged but not emphasized in this course.
ESM 237. Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation
(4) TAGUE
How does a changing climate impact natural and human-dominated systems. The use of observations and models to identify impacts that are already occurring and to project future changes and vulnerability. Strategies for adaption at local, regional and global scales.
ESM 239. Advanced Climate Change Science for Policy Makers
(4) STAFF
Prerequisite: ESM 203
Examines the science of climate change with a focus on those issues most relevant to policy makers. Topics include: Climate Forcing Agents and their Efficacy; Climate Sensitivity and Feedbacks; Anthropogenic Climate Change; Extreme Events; Energy and Greenhouse Gas Emissions; Global Temperature Limits and Mitigation Scenarios; and Geoengineering. Discussion will focus on topical issues at the nexus of climate policy and science, such as mitigation of short-lived climate pollutants like black carbon.
ESM 240. Climate Change Biology
(2) STAFF
Prerequisite: Graduate standing in ESM or consent of instructor.
Biological changes in response to climate, their causes, emerging conservation responses and policy implications.
ESM 241. Environmental Politics and Policy
(2) ANDERSON
The politics of environmental policy making from agenda formation to the stages of implementation, assessment, and reforms. Emphasis on national and state level policy making in the U.S. coupled with a consideration of interactions across levels of social organization and comparisons across socio-political systems.
ESM 242. Natural Resource Economics and Policy
(4) COSTELLO
Prerequisite: ESM 204 or equivalent.
Economic principles and policy issues of the use of exhaustible and renewable resources including fossil fuels, water, minerals, fisheries, forests, and biodiversity. Management of resource markets on regional and international scale.
ESM 243. Environmental Policy Analysis
(4) ANDERSON
Prerequisite: ESM 204 and ESM 241.
Developing and analyzing environmental policies involves balancing social, political, and economic considerations. This process is covered, including problem identification, formation of alternative policy responses, methods of analyzing and selecting the most appropriate policy response, and effective communication of results to clients/policymakers.
ESM 244. Advanced Data Analysis for Environmental Science and Management
(4) KENDALL
Prerequisite: ESM 206AB or ESM 206 or equivalent
Learn to use specialized data analysis techniques commonly employed in ESM. Topics include: environmental monitoring, incorporating methods for censored data and for time series; spatial data interpolation and prediction; and multi- criteria decision analysis
ESM 245. Cost-Benefit Analysis and Nonmarket Valuation
(4) STAFF
Prerequisite: ESM 204.
Economic theory of environmental policy, with special emphasis on the role of cost-benefit analysis. Techniques for estimating economic values for nonmarket environmental resources. Case studies involving ecosystem protection, pollution control, and other topics to illustrate the necessary analytical tools.
ESM 246. Econometrics
(4) DESCHENES, COSTELLO
Prerequisite: ESM 206
Presents research designs and econometric methods for estimating causal effects with non-experimental data. It prepares students for conducting high-quality empirical research with applications in cross-sectional data and panel data settings. Primarily emphasizes research designs and identification (relative to statistical techniques) and applications (relative to theoretical proofs). Methods and concepts covered include: regression adjustment and matching, instrumental variables techniques, regression discontinuity methods, and panel data methods. Each concept will be introduced in class through relevant real-world applications.
ESM 248. Environmental Institutions: Rights, Rules, and Decision- making Systems
(4) BUNTAINE
Comparative study of management systems or regimes addressing natural resource and environmental concerns and operating at scales ranging from local to global. Topics include characterization of individual regimes and factors affecting the formation, evolution, and effectiveness of these institutional arrangements.
ESM 249. Environmental Persuasion
(2) POTOSKI
An introduction to the practice of environmental communications in professional settings. Topics include environmental psychology, message framing, persuasion, and decision making, with a focus on public media and communication. Focuses on how to design and implement public media communication programs to be effective for particular audiences, goals and circumstances.
ESM 254. Coastal Marine Ecosystems Processes
(4) LENIHAN
Prerequisite: ESM 201, 203, and 202 (may be concurrent).
Examination of physical, chemical, and geological processes in coastal ecosystems, including estuaries, that are influenced by human activities. Focus centers on dynamical processes that control biological communities and resources, and the relationship of the science to marine resource management and policy.
ESM 256A. Introduction to Entrepreneurship and New Venture Creation
(2) COTTER
Introduction to entrepreneurship for students interested in launching a new product or service that offers an environmental and/or social benefit. Provides an entrepreneurial perspective and overview of the venture creation process. Emphasis on idea generation, opportunity recognition and initial concept development.
ESM 256B. New Venture Opportunity Analysis
(2) STAFF
Prerequisite: ESM 256A.
Development of the analytical and conceptual skills required to assess the feasibility of a new venture opportunity. Topics include industry analysis, concept development, market definition, customer discovery, elements of a business model and competitive analysis.
ESM 257. Coastal Marine Policy & Management
(4) STAFF
Overview of international, U.S. and California coastal and marine policy and management, including case studies and tools that can be used to inform and shape current and future policy and management actions
ESM 260. Applied Marine Ecology
(4) LENIHAN
Prerequisite: ESM 201.
The application of ecological principles and methods to environmental problems in marine ecosystems. Emphasis is placed on design and execution of field sampling and experiments to access biological impacts of antheiopogenic disturbances and restoration activities. Concepts illustrated with case studies.
ESM 261. Management of Scientific Data
(2) FREW
Theory, techniques, and tools for managing heterogeneous scientific information. Database architectures and data models. Metadata standards and data characterization. Design and use of relational databases. Aspects of the science data life cycle: collection, storage, retrieval, analysis, presentation.
ESM 262. Computing for Environmental Science and Management
(2) TAGUE
Recommended Preparation: Previous programming experience is recommended but not required.
Introduction to computing for environmental applications. Provides MESM students with the basic computing and programming skills used in data science. Topics include the programming language concepts (data types, operations and control structures, and functions), program design and workflows, and data science best practices (modularity, documentation, reproducibility, testing and code sharing).
ESM 263. Geographic Information Systems
(4) FREW
Prerequisite: Graduate standing in ESM.
Advanced introduction to Geographic Information System (GIS) theory and technology, emphasizing spatial analysis and cartographic presentation. Typical algorithms and data structures. Role of GIS in environmental information management. Integration of GIS with other analytical tools.
ESM 266. Remote Sensing of the Environment
(4) DOZIER
Prerequisite: ESM 203.
Advanced introduction to remote sensing theory, technology, and applications in environmental science and management. Survey of principles and analytical methods throughout the electromagnetic spectrum. Integration of remote sensing with other tools.
ESM 267. Advanced GIS: Tools and Techniques
(4) FREW
Prerequisite: ESM 263 or instructor permission.
Intensive lab sessions focused on advanced GIS tools and techniques. Emphasis on using open-source tools and scripting languages to ingest and manage real-world data, orchestrate complex analyses, and communicate spatial information.
ESM 269. Survey Design and Environmental Public Opinion
(2) ANDERSON
Issues of survey design, including sampling, questionnaire design, data collection and data processing. Students will design and field an original survey, analyze the survey data and report the results.
ESM 270. Conservation Planning and Priority Setting
(4) LARSEN
Prerequisite: Environmental Science and Management 201 and 263.
Analytical approaches that can be used to direct energy and resources toward conservation that yields the greatest return on investment. Case studies of how government agencies, international multilateral institution and non- governmental agencies identify where to invest their conservation efforts.
ESM 270P. Conservation Planning Practicum
(4) HALPERN
Prerequisite: ESM 263 & 270.
In depth development and analysis of a specific conservation plan, from start (goal setting) to finish (spatially explicit recommendations). Practical application of theory and tools from ESM270. If appropriate, MESM Group Project locations can be used as the case study.
ESM 271. Carbon footprints and Carbon Accounting
(4) SUH
Prerequisite: None
Recommended Preparation: ESM 288
Using the BSI?s PAS 2050, the WRI?s GHG Protocols, and the ISO14067, basic skills and knowledge necessary to establish corporate carbon accounts and to calculate carbon footprints will be covered.
ESM 272. Energy and Resource Productivity
(4) SUH
Prerequisite: None
Recommended Preparation: ESM 288
Options for improving energy and resources productivity are evaluated from technology, economics, and policy point of view. Energy, housing, transportation and agro-food sectors will be elaborated, and energy-resource nexus will be discussed.
ESM 273. Life Cycle Assessment
(4) GEYER
Advanced introduction to life cycle assessment (LCA) tools and practice. Students will conduct an LCA according to ISO 14040/44 (2006) using professional LCA software. Goal and scope definition, parametric life cycle inventory modeling, impact assessment, sensitivity analysis, reporting.
ESM 275. Principles and Practice of Environmental Planning
(4) STAFF
Principles, concepts, and techniques of environmental planning at the state, regional, and local government levels, with emphasis on emerging trends in addressing environmental problems. Green plans, sustainable communities, coastal planning, agricultural land preservation, smart development, new urbanism, and mitigation monitoring.
ESM 277. International Environmental Law
(2) SALZMAN
This short course provides a general introduction to international environmental law and policy. After reviewing the rise of the international environment agenda, the course concentrates on how societies have responded to global-scale environmental challenges, including biodiversity loss, climate change, ozone depletion, and the loss of living marine resources. The principal response to date has been in the area of international environmental law and policy, where a major new field of law and diplomacy has developed and new multilateral institutions created.
ESM 278. Natural Resources Law and Policy
(2) SALZMAN
Examines the law and policy of how nature's resources are used-- from forests and fisheries to biodiversity and parks. Special attention is paid to the historical and political origins of humanity's competing ideas of why nature matters and what should be done with it, from economically productive use and outdoor recreation to preserving the natural world for its own sake. The complicated interplay of science and law is also examined.
ESM 279. Financial Management and Environmental Accounting
(4) STAFF
Corporate financial management and reporting and environmental accounting. Function of stock markets, discounted cash flows, investment appraisal and decisions, valuation of bonds and stocks, the capital structure decision, the accounting model, management and control of enterprises, financial reporting and financial statement analysis.
ESM 280. Organizations and Environmental Leadership
(4) STAFF
Enrollment Comments: Not open to students that have completed ESM 208: Organization Behavior and Theory.
Individuals play an important role in leading organizations toward environmental sustainability. Participants learn about their own behaviors, which can effectively influence the environmental decision-making of groups, organizations, and society. This course explores both theory and practice.
ESM 281. Corporate Environmental Management
(4) STAFF
Prerequisite: ESM 210
This course prepares students to use creatively conceptual tools and management strategies to improve the environmental performances of firms. Corporate, societal, and political barriers to implementing these innovative strategies will be analyzed and methods for overcoming these constraints discussed.
ESM 282. Pollution Prevention
(4) GEYER
Prerequisite: None
An alternative to pollution control or remediation is to prevent it in the first place. This can be achieved through increased efficiency, material and technology substitution, and reuse and recycling. This course introduces pollution prevention through theory building and case studies. It also teaches and applies pertinent concepts and tools from industrial ecology.
ESM 283. Environmental Negotiation
(4) STAFF
Strategic negotiations take palce daily. Their successful outcome depends on the competence of the negotiators. Using environmental case studies and negotiation exercises, course participants gain a hands-on understanding of the negotiation process and how they can influence it.
ESM 284. Environmental Accounting and Financial Management
(4) STAFF
Prerequisite: ESM 279 or equivalent.
Introduction to environmental accounting and its role in corporate financial management. Extensive use of case studies allows consideration of environmental accounting's role in corporate financial reporting, the management and control of enterprises and environmental accounting in long-term investment decisions.
ESM 287. Energy Demand Analysis
(4) MASANET
Recommended Preparation: ESM 288 (Energy, Technology and the Environment)
Develop an in-depth understanding of past and future societal demand for energy across major end use sectors (buildings, transport, industry); develop and apply fundamental analysis techniques and systems modeling skills to construct energy demand forecasts and alternative scenarios considering possible technological, behavioral, and policy interventions for more sustainable energy use.
ESM 288. Energy, Technology and the Environment
(4) GEYER
Covers the main physical principles of energy conversion and the environmental impacts related to it. Also explores the balance between resource availability and demand, and the relationship between energy use and technology.
ESM 289. Environmental Law in Practice
(1) SALZMAN
Features a series of in-depth presentations and the opportunity to engage in discussion with leading environmental lawyers. Students write short response papers on the topics presented in lectures.
ESM 293. Advanced Special Topics in Climate and Energy
(1-4) STAFF
Enrollment Comments: May be repeated for credit with changes in content.
Advanced topics in climate and energy.
ESM 294. Advanced Special Topics in Environmental Law
(1-4) STAFF
Enrollment Comments: May be repeated for credit with changes in content.
Advanced topics in environmental law.
ESM 295A. Equity & the Environment
(2) LEOMBRUNI
This seminar-style course provides an overview and foundational understanding of environmental justice. We begin by examining different attempts to define "environmental justice," finding ways to start applying it, and understanding it in the context of environmental racism, history, and colonialism. The remaining classes are devoted to exploring special topics in environmental justice, such as water, energy, pollution, coastal resources, conservation, and corporate management. Each class is discussion-based, relying on case studies, relevant papers, student presentations, and guest lecturers. The ultimate goal of this course is to help you identify and define environmental injustices you see.
ESM 295B. Advanced Topics in Environmental Justice
(2) LEOMBRUNI
Prerequisite: ESM 295A: Equity & the Environment
This course considers what it means to rectify environmental injustices and create meaningful change. Understanding historic and systemic oppression, silenced voices, colonialism, racism, and lack of representation of marginalized groups is essential knowledge for anyone working in the environmental field. But where do we go from here? This course considers ways that we can co-develop equitable solutions and share power and access responsibly-with sensitivity, creativity, and resourcefulness. Building on concepts introduced in ESM 295A: Equity & Environment, this course challenges students to collaborate and create smart responses to some difficult social and environmental realities, through case studies, group work, and guest speakers.
ESM 296. Advanced Special Topics in Environmental Management
(1-4) STAFF
Repeat Comments: May be repeated for credit with changes in content.
Covers advanced special topics in environmental management.
ESM 297. Advanced Special Topics in Environmental Policy
(1-4) STAFF
Repeat Comments: May be repeated for credit with changes in topic.
Advanced advanced special topics in environmental policy.
ESM 298. Advanced Special Topics in Eco-Entrepreneurship
(0.5-4) STAFF
Covers advanced special topics in eco-entrepreneurship.
ESM 299. Advanced Special Topics in Environmental Science
(1-4) STAFF
Enrollment Comments: May be repeated for credit for different topics.
Advanced topics in environmental science.
ESM 401A. Group Project in Environmental Science and Management
(4) TAGUE
Prerequisite: Graduate standing. MESM students only.
First quarter of a year-long group study of an environmental problem. Includes in-class training sessions to develop skills necessary to efficiently and effectively conduct the study.
ESM 401B. Group Project in Environmental Science and Management
(4) STAFF
Prerequisite: ESM401A - MESM students only.
Second quarter of a year-long group study of an environmental problem.
ESM 401C. Group Project in Environmental Science and Management
(4) STAFF
Prerequisite: ESM401A, ESM401B. MESM students only.
Third quarter of a year-long group study of an environmental problem. Requires completion of a final report and defense.
ESM 401D. Group Project in Environmental Science and Management
(2) STAFF
Prerequisite: ESM 401A, 401B, and 401C. Graduate standing in ESM.
Final quarter of a year-long group study of an environmental problem. Requires completion of a policy brief, poster, and public presentation.
ESM 402A. New Venture Formation
(4) STAFF
Prerequisite: Graduate standing. MESM students only.
Recommended Preparation: ESM 256A & 256B
This course teaches students how to pursue opportunities for new ventures and transform them into real enterprises, focusing on development of viable business models.
ESM 402B. Masters Eco-E Project
(4) STAFF
Prerequisite: ESM402A - MESM students only.
Second quarter of a year-long team project to develop a new environmental venture.
ESM 402C. Masters Eco-E Project
(4) STAFF
Prerequisite: ESM402A and ESM402B. MESM students only.
Third quarter of a year-long team project to develop a new environmental venture. Requires completion of a final report and public presentation.
ESM 402D. Masters Eco-E Project
(2) CHAN, LIBECAP
Prerequisite: ESM402A,402B and 402C. MESM students only.
Final quarter of a year-long team project to develop a new environmental venture. Requires completion of marketing communication materials and a public presentation.
ESM 410. Internship Practicum
(1) STAFF
Prerequisite: Completion of a Summer internship.
Students complete a summer internship, prepare a short paper, and present internship experiences to the Bren School community through an informal presentation.
ESM 425. Communications Workshop
(0.5-4) STAFF
Repeat Comments: Can be taken multiple times as long as content for individual offerings differs.
Special workshops to help Bren students strengthen communication skills.
ESM 430. Workshop in Environmental Science and Management
(1) STAFF
Workshops to develop professional skills for careers in environmental science and management.
ESM 437. Writing Skills for Environmental Professionals
(2) STAFF
Enrollment Comments: May be repeated for credit with changes in content.
Provides the skills to write effectively across academic and applied genres in the environmental sciences. A focus on understanding audience, good writing mechanics, and the principles of good scientific and analytical writing will help students ?translate science? effectively. Topics include thesis, audience, tone, organization, structure, and citations. Also covers writing styles and formats likely encountered in an environmental career, such as proposals, evaluations, writing for the public, and professional correspondence.
ESM 438. Presentation Skills for Environmental Professionals
(4) STAFF
Enrollment Comments: Concurrently offered with ESM 538.
Students will learn to clearly and effectively present quantitative and qualitative scientific information, focusing on oral presentations and posters at professional conferences, project defenses, and job interviews. Lectures, activities and assignments will emphasize strong verbal communication and visual presentation.
ESM 439. Environmental Data Visualization
(2) STAFF
Eplores how people perceive and interpret graphical representations, and how information visualization frameworks can apply to design intuitive and impactful data visualizations. Students explore ?storytelling with data? -- integration of visual elements and text in a way that is clear, concise and engaging. Assignments involve applying such frameworks and concepts in critique of existing visualizations, and in creation of data visualizations using popular software packages.
ESM 440. Strategic Environmental Communication
(4) LEOMBRUNI
Workshop to provide effective strategies for workplace writing. Focus of this course is on concise and targeted communication of a clear message. Students will also learn data visualization techniques and effective presentation slide and poster design.
ESM 441. Intro to Enviro Media Production
(2) STAFF
Prerequisite: ESM 440
Hands-on course designed to give students the core skills needed to conceptualize, capture, edit, and deliver short-form environmental documentaries. The basic tools of film-making --cinematography, lighting, sound, and editing -- are covered.
ESM 442. Communication for Civic Engagement and Grassroots Organizing
(2) STAFF
Reviews the role and effectiveness of grassroots environmental efforts on local, statewide, and national scales. Students will explore organizing strategies and tactics based on various theories of change, addressing topics such as community outreach and collaboration, policy campaigning and more.
ESM 444. Writing about the Environment for the Public
(2) STAFF
Prerequisite: ESM 440
Explores written genres for scientists to educate and influence public audiences. Students will analyze and practice message/story development with emphasis on interviewing, analyzing and framing environmental issues in news. Students will complete course with media-ready work.
ESM 445. Social Media and the Environment
(2) STAFF
Prerequisite: ESM 440
Students learn about and use different social media tools to engage and activate social networks to generate environmental awareness and action.
ESM 449. Environmental Communication Practicum
(4) STAFF
This capstone course provides students the opportunity to apply their knowledge and communication skills in a practical setting. Working in teams, students will develop and implement an information campaign in association with an environmental firm, organization, governmental or other institution.
ESM 510. Faculty Research Speaker Series
(1) STAFF
Enrollment Comments: Quarters usually offered: Spring, Fall.
Repeat Comments: Bren PhD students must complete a minimum of 2 quarters of ESM 510 for core requirements, but are encouraged to participate each quarter it is offered.
Students will learn about interdisciplinary research conducted by Bren School faculty and will be exposed to diverse perspectives about the process of conducting interdisciplinary research. Students will attend research seminars given by four faculty members, read manuscripts or published papers on this research, and have discussions with the faculty members about their approaches to research.
ESM 512. Research Ethics and Conduct
(2) STAFF
Enrollment Comments: Quarters usually offered: Fall.
Introduces incoming Bren PhD students to the ethical principles that apply to scientists. Discusses key concepts and cases including: (1) Brief history and basic terms and concepts; (2) Plagiarism and authorship; (3) Falsification and fabrication; (4) Peer-review process; (5) Human subjects and bioethics; (6) Conflict of interest; (7) Policies and protocols to prevent misconduct; and (8) Miscellaneous issues in the academic environment. We will review historical cases of research misconduct and analyze recent retraction cases.
ESM 514. Collaborative Interdisciplinary Research
(4) STAFF
Enrollment Comments: Quarters usually offered: Winter, Spring.
Students will learn when and how to conduct interdisciplinary collaborative research by working on a multi-authored research paper that engages different disciplinary perspectives. The co-instructors will contribute their expertise in two or more disciplines (science, management, policy, economics, business, law, etc.) to explore a research question in the field of environmental science. Students will learn and practice techniques for comprehensive literature review, data synthesis and analyses, excellent group writing, oral presentation, peer review, and appropriate referencing.
ESM 526. Environmental Politics Workshop
(2) ANDERSON, BUNTAINE
An interdisciplinary seminar focusing on research at the intersection of political science and public policy as it pertains to environmental issues. The expectation is that students specializing in environmental politics will enroll continuously, with differentiated assignments appropriate to stage in the program. Students will present their own work, comment on the work of others, and engage in professional development activities.
ESM 538. Presentation Skills for Environmental Professionals
(4) STAFF
Enrollment Comments: Concurrently offered with ESM 438.
Students will learn to clearly and effectively present quantitative and qualitative scientific information, focusing on oral presentations and posters at professional conferences, project defenses, and job interviews. Lectures, activities and assignments will emphasize strong verbal communication and visual presentation.
ESM 595AAZZ. Group Studies
(1-4) STAFF
Enrollment Comments: May be repeated for credit provided letter designations are different.
A critical review of research in selected fields of environmental science and management.
ESM 595A. Group Studies
ESM 595AA. Group Studies
ESM 595AL. Sustainable Food Systems Seminar
ESM 595B. Group Studies
ESM 595BB. Group Studies
ESM 595BK. Group Studies
ESM 595C. Group Studies
ESM 595CC. Group Studies
ESM 595CR. Group Studies
ESM 595D. Group Studies
ESM 595DD. Group Studies
ESM 595DT. Group Studies
ESM 595E. Group Studies
ESM 595EA. Group Studies
ESM 595EE. Group Studies
ESM 595F. Group Studies
ESM 595G. Group Studies
ESM 595GG. Group Studies
ESM 595GP. Group Studies
ESM 595H. Group Studies
ESM 595I. Group Studies
ESM 595II. Group Studies
ESM 595J. Group Studies
ESM 595JF. Group Studies
ESM 595JJ. Group Studies
ESM 595JM. Collaborative Research: Grant Writing
ESM 595K. Group Studies
ESM 595KM. Group Studies
ESM 595L. Group Studies
ESM 595LC. Group Studies
ESM 595M. Group Studies
ESM 595MB. Group Studies
ESM 595MM. Group Studies
ESM 595NT. Group Studies
ESM 595O. Group Studies
ESM 595P. Group Studies
ESM 595PB. Group Studies
ESM 595PH. Group Studies
ESM 595PP. Group Studies
ESM 595R. Group Studies
ESM 595RH. Environmental Research Design
ESM 595RR. Group Studies
ESM 595S. Group Studies
ESM 595SA. Group Studies
ESM 595SB. Group Studies
ESM 595SS. Group Studies
(1-4) STAFF
Enrollment Comments: May be repeated for credit provided letter designations are different.
A critical review of research in selected fields of environmental science and management.
ESM 595T. Group Studies
ESM 595TD. Group Studies
ESM 595TT. Group Studies
ESM 595W. Group Studies
ESM 595WS. Group Studies
ESM 595XX. Group Studies
ESM 596. Directed Reading and Research
(1-12) STAFF
Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.
Individualized reading and research. A written proposal for each tutorial must be approved by the school.
ESM 597. Individual Study for Ph.D. Examinations
(1-12)
Prerequisite: Graduate standing. Consent of instructor and graduate advisor.
Enrollment Comments: No unit credit allowed toward advanced degree. Instructor should be student's major professor or chair of doctoral committee.
Individual study for Ph.D. examinations.
ESM 599. Ph.D. Dissertation Research and Preparation
(1-12)
Prerequisite: Graduate standing; consent of instructor and graduate advisor.
Enrollment Comments: No credit allowed toward advanced degree.
Research toward and writing of dissertation. Instructor should be chair of student's doctoral committee.

 
Environmental Data Science
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EDS 211. Team Science, Collaborative Analysis and Project Management
(2) STAFF
Science in general, and data science in particular, are more and more requiring team science approaches to addressing the most pressing questions. Managing team science projects is therefore becoming an increasingly important skill for any scientist. This course explores the principles and practical tools available for effective and efficient project management.
EDS 212. Essential Math for Environmental Data Science
(2) HORST
Review of quantitative methods that are commonly used in environmental science. The course covers single and multi-variable functions and graphing, basic linear algebra, complex numbers, integral calculus and simple differential equations.
EDS 213. Metadata Standards, Data Modeling and Data Semantics
(2) STAFF
Metadata is the information that provides the context for environmental data, rendering it usable by programs and intelligible to humans. This course introduces students to the ontologies that define, and the tools needed to compose, standard environmental metadata. Examples drawn from evaluating fitness-for-use, synthesizing composite datasets, and reusing historical datasets will motivate the need for correct and complete metadata.
EDS 214. Analytical Workflows and Scientific Reproducibility
(2) BRUN
The generation and analysis of environmental data is often a complex, multi-step process that may involve the collaboration of many people. Increasingly tools that document help to organize and document workflows are being used to ensure reproducibility and transparency of the results. This course introduces students to conceptual organization of workflows as a way to conduct reproducible analyses, as well as various software tools that help users to manage multi-step processes that requires tools for storing, managing and sharing workflows, code, documents and data, including GitHub, Pegasus, remake and Kepler.
EDS 216. Meta-analysis and Systematic Reviews
(2) JASECHKO
Synthesis tools in environmental science are rapidly evolving and becoming standard, formalized tools for review and assessment. Synthesis can include data aggregation, narrative reviews, systematic reviews, and meta-analysis. Meta-analyses in particular are often viewed as the gold-standard methodology to quantitatively estimate the state-of-the-art of a research domain. The analytics and assumptions have changed significantly within the last 5 years. Key topics covered in this course include effect sizes, scope of inference, and statistical analyses using weighted measures.
EDS 217. Python for Environmental Data Science
(4) STAFF
Prerequisite: None required
This course teaches the fundamentals of programming in Python. Students learn foundational skills and concepts including data structures, programming basics, and how to clean, subset, aggregate, transform and visualize data. Course materials demonstrate the application of these techniques for environmental data analysis and problem solving.
EDS 220. Working with Environmental Data
(4) STEVENSON
Introduces students to the broad range of data sets used to monitor and understand human and natural systems. Covers field and station data, remote sensing products, and large-scale climate datasets including climate model projections. Skills include evaluating data collection and quality control methods used in existing datasets, and working with existing databases of time-series and spatial information including cloud computing databases and new repositories of environmental datasets. Students learn basic workflows for selecting, obtaining, and visualizing datasets, and best practices for reliable data intercomparisons.
EDS 221. Scientific Programming Essentials
(4) STAFF
This course teaches key scientific programming skills and demonstrates the application of these techniques to environmental data analysis and problem solving. Topics include structured programming and algorithm development, flow control, simple and advanced data input-output and representation, functions and objects, documentation, testing and debugging. The course is taught using a combination of the R and Python programming languages.
EDS 222. Statistics for Environmental Data Science
(4) CARLETON
Teaches a variety of statistical techniques commonly used to analyze environmental data sets and quantitatively address environmental questions with empirical data. Covers fundamental statistical concepts and tools, including sampling and study design, linear regression, inference, and time series analysis, as well as foundational concepts of spatial and space-time dependency and associated impacts on inference.
EDS 223. Geospatial Analysis and Remote Sensing
(4) OLIVER
Introduces the spatial modeling and analytic techniques of geographic information science to data science students. The emphasis is on deep understanding of spatial data models and the analytic operations they enable. Recognizing remotely sensed data as a key data type within environmental data science, this course also introduces fundamental concepts and applications of remote sensing. In addition to this theoretical background, students become familiar with libraries, packages, and APIs that support spatial analysis in R.
EDS 230. Modeling Environmental Systems
(4) TAGUE
Computer-based modeling and simulation for practical environmental problem solving and environmental research. The course covers both the selection and application of existing models and best practices for designing new models. Topics include conceptual models, static and dynamic models, spatial models, and models of diffusion, growth and disturbance. Techniques include sensitivity analysis, calibration and model scenario design.
EDS 231. Text and Sentiment Analysis for Environmental Problems
(2) STAFF
Covers foundations and applications of natural language processing. Problem sets and class projects leverage common and emerging text-based data sources relevant to environmental problems, including but not limited to social media feeds (e.g., twitter) and text documents (e.g., agency reports), and builds capacity and experience in common tools, including text processing and classification, semantics, and natural language parsing.
EDS 232. Machine Learning in Environmental Science
(4) STAFF
Machine learning can help process big/complex data and extract knowledge. It forms one of the foundations in data science. This course provides a broad introduction to machine learning and statistical pattern recognition. Topics include supervised learning (decision tree, random forest, support vector machines, neural networks) and unsupervised learning (clustering, dimensionality reduction, deep learning). Problems and exercises are framed within environmental science applications. The course uses programming languages like R and Python to support learning how to do advanced scientific programming to solve real environmental problems.
EDS 240. Data Visualization and Communication
(4) LEGRADY
Effective display and analysis of scientific information is a critical skill. This course includes a discussion of the theory of good visual design and interactive analysis and also presents software tools and techniques supporting visual analysis. Students learn how to ask an interesting data question through MySQL, learn processing software to visualize it in 2D, do a 3D interactive visualization, then follow with a project of a data of their choice. Additional topics include dynamic and interactive visualization and web-based visualization frameworks.
EDS 241. Environmental Policy Evaluation
(4) DESCHENES
This course presents state of the art program evaluation techniques necessary to evaluate the impact of environmental policies. The program evaluation methods presented aim at identifying and measuring the causal effect of policies, regulations, and interventions on environmental outcomes of interest. Students learn the research designs and methods for estimating causal effects with experimental and non-experimental data. This will prepare students for interpreting and conducting high-quality empirical research, with applications in cross-sectional data and panel data settings.
EDS 242. Ethics & Bias in Environmental Data Science
(2) STAFF
This course focuses on ethical considerations in collecting, using, and reporting environmental data, and how to recognize and account for biases in algorithms, training data, and methodologies. Students also examine the human and societal implications of these issues within environmental data science.
EDS 411A. Capstone Project
(4) STAFF
First quarter of a two-quarter group study/analysis of how to apply data science and tools to an environmental problem. In this quarter students are expected to work with their project client to finalize project plans, assign individual roles and responsibilities, develop a project plan and deliverables, and make significant headway on implementing those plans.
EDS 411B. Capstone Project
(4) STAFF
Prerequisite: EDS 411A
Second quarter of a two-quarter group study/analysis of how to apply data science and tools to an environmental problem. In this quarter students are expected to complete all project plans and deliverables, write and submit a project report, give an oral defense of the project, present the research to a general audience, and produce a policy brief of the main results.
EDS 430. Workshop in Environmental Data Science
(1) STAFF
Workshops to develop professional skills for careers in Environmental Data Science