The online catalog includes the most recent changes to courses and degree requirements that have been approved by the Faculty Senate, including changes that are not yet effective.
School of Earth and Environmental Sciences
tricities.wsu.edu/cas/
Campus Registrars Office - Floyd 269
509-372-7351
Professor: A. Felsot; Assistant Professor: S. Roley; Teaching Assistant Professor: J. Rosso; Professor Emeritus: J. Pratt.
Schedules of Studies
Honors students complete the Honors College requirements which replace the UCORE requirements.
Environmental and Ecosystem Sciences (120 Credits)
A student maintains eligibility for the major by completing each of the following courses with a C or better by the end of the fourth semester in the major: MATH 106, MATH 108, BIOLOGY 106, BIOLOGY 107, CHEM 101 or 105, CHEM 102 or 106, SOE 101 or 102, and SOE 110. In addition, admitted students must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0.
A student who does not meet these minimum requirements for maintaining eligibility in the major may be released by the School of the Environment after two semesters of failing to meet minimums. A student may be eligible to re-enter into the same major when minimum requirements are met.
| First Year | |
| First Term | Credits |
| BIOLOGY 106 | 4 |
| HISTORY 105 [ROOT] | 3 |
| MATH 106 or electives1 | 3 |
| SOE 110 [BSCI] | 4 |
| Second Term | Credits |
| Arts [ARTS] | 3 |
| CHEM 101 [PSCI] or 105 [PSCI] | 4 |
| ENGLISH 101 [WRTG] | 3 |
| MATH 108 or electives1 | 2 |
| SOE 101 or 102 | 4 |
| Second Year | |
| First Term | Credits |
| BIOLOGY 107 | 4 |
| ECONS 101 [SSCI] | 3 |
| SOE 210 or 2502 | 3 or 4 |
| Foreign Language, if needed3 | 0 - 4 |
| 200-level Required Electives4 | 2 or 3 |
| Second Term | Credits |
| CHEM 102 or 106 | 4 |
| Humanities [HUM] | 3 |
| SOE 300 or BIOLOGY 372 [M]2 | 3 or 4 |
| STAT 212 [QUAN], MATH 140 [QUAN], or 171 [QUAN] | 4 |
| Foreign Language, if needed3 | 0 - 4 |
| Complete Writing Portfolio | |
| Third Year | |
| First Term | Credits |
| COM 102 [COMM] or H D 205 [COMM] | 3 or 4 |
| Equity and Justice [EQJS] | 3 |
| SOIL SCI 368 | 3 |
| Professional Electives5 | 7 |
| Second Term | Credits |
| Diversity [DIVR], if needed, or Electives6 | 3 |
| SOE 312 [DIVR] or POL S 4306 | 3 |
| SOE 315 or 461 | 3 |
| SOE Experiential Requirement or Electives7 | 3 |
| Professional Electives5 | 4 |
| Fourth Year | |
| First Term | Credits |
| SOE 403, STAT 360, 370, or 412 8 | 3 |
| SOE 404 [CAPS] [M], 454 [CAPS] [M], or 477 [CAPS] 9 | 3 |
| Writing in the Major [M] or Electives10 | 3 |
| Professional Electives5 | 7 |
| Second Term | Credits |
| Writing in the Major [M] or Electives10 | 3 |
| Professional Electives5,9 | 13 |
| Exit Survey 11 | |
Footnotes
| 1 | MATH 106 and 108 are required courses. However, if students have tested into or taken MATH 140, 171, 172 or ALEKS with an 80% or better, MATH 106 and 108 will be waived. If waived, students may need to take additional credits to meet the University minimum of 120 credits. |
| 2 | Students who take SOE 250 must also take BIOLOGY 372. |
| 3 | Two years of high school foreign language or at least two semesters of college-level foreign language are required by the College of Arts and Sciences for graduation. |
| 4 | Approved 200-level required electives include SOE 204, 230, 250, 275, 285. Not all courses available on all campuses. |
| 5 | Environmental and Ecosystem Sciences Professional Electives (31 credits) are courses selected by students in concert with their advisor and pertain to their major and/or to a specific sub-discipline of interest. Professional electives may also include courses from outside of their major as needed to complete a minor in another field of study. Approved courses include but are not limited to: ECONS 330, or any 300-400-level SOE or SOIL SCI course, or as approved by advisor. |
| 6 | SOE 312 satisfies both the [DIVR] and the Society and Environmental Management requirements. |
| 7 | SOE Experiential Requirement: Students in the School of the Environment are required to fulfill the SOE Experiential Requirement before graduation. This requirement is designed to give students experience they will not receive in the traditional classroom-oriented course, and to better prepare them for a successful career after graduation. Students may choose 3 credits of coursework from SOE 492 or 495, or as approved by advisor. As an alternative to coursework, students may meet the requirement by documenting at least 135 hours of relevant practical experience. Students choosing the practical experience option may need an additional 3 credits of electives to meet the University requirement of 120 total credits. |
| 8 | MATH 172 is a prerequisite for STAT 360 and 370. |
| 9 | Students who take SOE 477 [CAPS] may need to take an [M] course within their Professional Electives to fulfill the requirement for 3 [M] courses. |
| 10 | The School of the Environment requires students to complete 3 [M] courses. Check with advisor for course recommendation. |
| 11 | Students must complete a School of the Environment exit survey, administered during the final semester. |
Courses
The online catalog includes the most recent changes to courses and degree requirements that have been approved by the Faculty Senate, including changes that are not yet effective. Courses showing two entries of the same number indicate that the course information is changing. The most recently approved version is shown first, followed by the older version, in gray, with its last-effective term preceding the course title. Courses shown in gray with only one entry of the course number are being discontinued. Course offerings by term can be accessed by clicking on the term links when viewing a specific campus catalog.
School Of The Environment (SOE)
101 [PSCI] Welcome to the Earth: An Introduction to Geology 4 (3-3) Course Prerequisite: Enrollment not allowed if credit already earned for SOE 102. Introductory physical geology for non-science majors; emphasis on western US. Credit not granted for both SOE 101 and 102.
102 Geology for Science Majors 4 (3-3) Enrollment not allowed if credit already earned for SOE 101. Exploration of the many ways in which geoscience supports society, and an examination of how the properties of rocks and minerals relate to features such as volcanoes and mountain ranges on the Earth's surface. Credit not granted for both SOE 101 and 102.
103 [PSCI] The Solar System: An Introduction to Planetary Science 3 Study of the geological processes and environments on planets and moons of our solar system.
103 (Effective through Spring 2024) [PSCI] Other Worlds: Comparative Planetology of our Solar System 3 Study of the geological processes and environments on planets and moons of our solar system.
110 [BSCI] The Environment, Human Life, and Sustainability 4 (3-3) Interactions between humans and their environment; multidisciplinary introduction to environmental concepts and concerns.
210 [PSCI] Earth's History and Evolution 4 (3-3) Evolution of the Earth across its 4.6-billion-year history; important milestones in the story of our dynamic planet and the biological and geological processes that have shaped the Earth in the past and continue to shape it today.
230 [PSCI] Introductory Oceanography 3 Interdisciplinary study of ocean systems: marine geology, chemistry, physics and biology; oceans' influence on climate and response to human activity.
250 [PSCI] Introduction to Earth System Science 3 Course Prerequisite: SOE 110 or BIOLOGY 106, each with a C or better. Earth's fundamental systems (the geo-, atmo-, hydro-, and bio-spheres) in the context of global change. Recommended: CHEM 101 or 105.
285 The Science and Policy of Climate Change 3 The science of the climate system; the case for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and the best policies to do so.
300 [M] Natural Resource Ecology 3 Ecology as applied to management of natural resource ecosystems; biological diversity, conservation biology, global climate change in natural resource ecology. Field trips required.
301 Forest Plants and Ecosystems 3 (2-3) Course Prerequisite: SOE 300 or BIOLOGY 372 or concurrent enrollment in either. Identification and ecology of forest plants with emphasis on trees and the ecosystems in which they occur. Field trips required.
303 Environmental Geology 3 Course Prerequisite: SOE 101 or 102. Geologic concepts at intersections of human society and the environment; complex and nuanced socio-scientific questions impacting communities in the Pacific Northwest. Required field trip.
306 Plants in the Environment 3 Course Prerequisite: SOE 300 or BIOLOGY 372. How plants interact with their physical and biotic environments; physiological function of plant acclimation, adaptation, and tolerance with emphasis on forests and trees.
306 (Effective through Summer 2024) Plants in the Environment 3 Course Prerequisite: SOE 300. How plants interact with their physical and biotic environments; physiological function of plant acclimation, adaptation, and tolerance with emphasis on forests and trees.
311 Modeling the Environment 4 (3-3) Construction and testing of computer simulation models of environmental systems. Cooperative: Open to UI degree-seeking students.
312 [DIVR] Natural Resources, Society, and the Environment 3 Social views of natural resources; processes by which these views are developed and expressed; social conflict over natural resources.
314 Service Learning in Ecuador: Building Sustainable Local Solutions for Human and Environmental Health 3 Experience working alongside local communities in Ecuador on projects that will improve rural access to sustainable energy, clean water, improved ecosystem health, and sustainable livelihoods. Spring break field trip required.
315 Water and the Earth 3 (2-3) Course Prerequisite: CHEM 102 or 106; one of MATH 108, 140, 171, 172, 182, 201, 202, or ENGR 107; one of SOE 101, SOE 102, 4 credits PHYSICS 101 or 201, or PHYSICS 101 and 111, or PHYSICS 201 and 211. Global hydrologic cycle, including rivers and weathering, groundwater, rainwater and the atmosphere, oceans, human impacts. Field research required.
322 Geology of the Pacific Northwest 3 Course Prerequisite: SOE 101 or 102. Physical geology of the Pacific Northwest focusing on geological processes important in its evolution. Field trips required.
335 [M] Environmental Policy and Law 3 Course Prerequisite: SOE 110. Global, national, and regional environmental issues and policy.
390 Living on the Edge: Global Climate Change and Earth History 3 Course Prerequisite: Junior standing. Global earth system: ocean, earth, atmosphere, biosphere, and cryosphere; human impact on the climate system; climate change data predictions; debates.
402 Human Health and the Environment 3 Problem-solving approach to adverse effects on human health caused by contamination of environmental media or anthropogenic changes in ecosystems.
404 [CAPS] [M] The Ecosystem 3 Course Prerequisite: SOE 110; BIOLOGY 106; BIOLOGY 372 or SOE 390, or concurrent enrollment in either; junior standing. Ecosystem organization and processes; theory and applications to contemporary environmental problems.
411 [M] Limnology and Aquatic Ecosystem Management 4 (3-3) Course Prerequisite: BIOLOGY 106; CHEM 101 or 105. Introduction to the science and management of aquatic ecosystems, emphasizing lakes.
412 [M] Global Biogeochemistry 3 Course Prerequisite: BIOLOGY 106; CHEM 101 or 105. Cycles of biogeochemically important elements and anthropogenic changes to those cycles in terrestrial and aquatic environments on a global scale. Field trip required. Credit not granted for both SOE 412 and SOE 512. Offered at 400 and 500 level.
438 Natural Resource and Public Lands Policy and Law 3 Course Prerequisite: Junior standing. Development, content and implementation of natural resources and environmental policy and law in the U.S. Emphasis on both historical development and current issues in this field. Recommended preparation: SOE 312.
444 Environmental Assessment 3 National and state policy frameworks for environmental assessment that support integration of science and the public into agency decision-making process. Credit not granted for both SOE 444 and SOE 544. Offered at 400 and 500 level. Cooperative: Open to UI degree-seeking students.
445 Hazardous Waste Management 3 Environmental, technical, and political aspects of hazardous waste management; evaluative methods, risk assessment, and current management requirements. Credit not granted for both SOE 445 and SOE 545. Offered at 400 and 500 level. Cooperative: Open to UI degree-seeking students.
446 [M] Wildlife Habitat Ecology 3 (2-3) Course Prerequisite: SOIL SCI 368 or concurrent enrollment; STAT 212 or 412; senior standing. The ecology of how wildlife use, respond to, and affect resources in their environment. Field trip required.
450 [M] Conservation Biology 3 Course Prerequisite: Junior standing. Patterns of biological diversity, factors producing changes in diversity, values of diversity, management principles applied to small populations, protected areas, landscape linkages, biotic integrity, restoration, legal issues and funding sources.
454 [CAPS] [M] Restoration Ecology 3 (2-3) Course Prerequisite: Senior standing. Ecological principles used to restore biological communities; ecological processes and species on degraded landscapes.
460 Biotechnology and the Environment 3 Course Prerequisite: BIOLOGY 106, 107, or 120; 3 credit hours CHEM. Benefits, regulations, and human and environmental impacts of biotechnology used for crop protection, agricultural and energy production, and environmental remediation and management. (Crosslisted course offered as ENTOM 460, SOE 460).
461 Watershed Management 3 Course Prerequisite: BIOLOGY 106; CHEM 101 or 105. Principles and practices of management of forest and rangelands for protection, maintenance, and improvement of water resource values. Field trip required. Recommended preparation: SOE 204 or sufficient background in spreadsheets.
465 Aquatic Microbial Ecology 3 Course Prerequisite: BIOLOGY 372. Biological, ecological and environmental impact of microbes in aquatic systems. Credit not granted for both SOE 465 and SOE 565. Offered at 400 and 500 level.
475 Groundwater 3 (2-3) Course Prerequisite: CE 317 or SOE 315; MATH 140 or concurrent enrollment, or MATH 172 or 182 or concurrent enrollment. Introduction to groundwater occurrence, movement, quality, and resource management, emphasizing physical and biogeochemical principles. Field trip required. (Crosslisted course offered as SOE 475, CE 475). Cooperative: Open to UI degree-seeking students.
476 Biology and Ecology of Pacific Salmon 3 Course Prerequisite: BIOLOGY 106 or 107; CHEM 101 or 105. The life histories, habitat requirements, and current issues facing Pacific salmon. Credit not granted for both SOE 476 and SOE 576. Offered at 400 and 500 level.
477 [CAPS] Environmental Collaborative Governance and Dispute Resolution 3 Course Prerequisite: Junior standing. Exploration of the consequences of complex social, economic, and environmental dynamics that lead to disputes and conflicts over environmental and natural resources; develop toolbox of skills and approaches that may be used to facilitate collaborative solutions and resolution of disputes.
485 Disturbance Ecology 3 (2-3) Course Prerequisite: SOE 204; SOE 301; SOE 302 or concurrent enrollment. Fire, disease, and other disturbances are primary drivers of structure and composition in terrestrial ecosystems; study of management of insect outbreaks and fungal organisms in combination with fire and other disturbances.
486 Applied Remote Sensing: From Drones to Satellites 3 Course Prerequisite: SOIL SCI 368 or concurrent enrollment, or SOIL SCI 374 or concurrent enrollment. Remote sensing to measure changes in forests, plants, wildlife, wildfire, crops, and geologic features; analyzing and applying data from satellites, drones, airplanes, and lidar to measures on the ground. Credit not granted for both SOE 486 and SOE 586. Offered at 400 and 500 level.
491 Senior Seminar 1 Course Prerequisite: Senior standing. Recommended preparation: Admission to a major in science, mathematics, or engineering.
492 Special Topics V 1-3 May be repeated for credit; cumulative maximum 12 credits. Specialized topics within the discipline; content will vary each term. Open to all SOE majors. Cooperative: Open to UI degree-seeking students.
495 Undergraduate Internship V 1-12 May be repeated for credit; cumulative maximum 12 credits. Course Prerequisite: By interview only. Practical experience in appropriate agencies; for career students in earth science, environment and ecosystem science, forestry, and wildlife. S, F grading.
498 Seminar 1 May be repeated for credit; cumulative maximum 3 credits. Research papers presented by students, faculty, and visiting scientists on geological research. Credit not granted for both SOE 498 and SOE 598. Offered at 400 and 500 level. S, F grading.
499 Special Problems V 1-4 May be repeated for credit. Course Prerequisite: By department permission. Independent study conducted under the jurisdiction of an approving faculty member; may include independent research studies in technical or specialized problems; selection and analysis of specified readings; development of a creative project; or field experiences. S, F grading.
501 Graduate Skills Seminar 1 Seminar designed to introduce first year graduate students to the science graduate program; roles and responsibilities of graduate students, teaching assistants and researchers. S, F grading.
512 [M] Global Biogeochemistry 3 Cycles of biogeochemically important elements and anthropogenic changes to those cycles in terrestrial and aquatic environments on a global scale. Field trip required. Credit not granted for both SOE 412 and SOE 512. Offered at 400 and 500 level.
520 Radiation Instrumentation 3 (2-3) Methods for analysis of radiation and radiative materials, including use of radiation monitoring equipment and analysis of instrument data.
526 Ecology of the Columbia River 3 Interdisciplinary approach to the interconnections between the physical, geological, chemical, biological, and social dimensions of this large, iconic aquatic ecosystem. Recommended preparation: BIOLOGY 372.
531 Fundamentals of Environmental Toxicology 3 Fundamentals of toxicology; environmental fate and biological effects of chemical pollutants in air, water, and food. Cooperative: Open to UI degree-seeking students.
532 Applied Environmental Toxicology 3 Overview of and current issues in the field of environmental toxicology.
535 Integrated Water Resources Science and Management 3 Introduction to the physical, social, and cultural drivers that shape how water is managed within the larger environmental and human landscape. Cooperative: Open to UI degree-seeking students.
536 Climate Change Impacts on Physical, Natural, and Human Systems 3 Methods for studying human-caused climate variability and change; discussion of impacts on the physical environment and natural and human systems.
540 Agroecology 3 Social and ecological aspects of agriculture and human food systems.
544 Environmental Assessment 3 National and state policy frameworks for environmental assessment that support integration of science and the public into agency decision-making process. Credit not granted for both SOE 444 and SOE 544. Offered at 400 and 500 level. Cooperative: Open to UI degree-seeking students.
545 Hazardous Waste Management 3 Environmental, technical, and political aspects of hazardous waste management; evaluative methods, risk assessment, and current management requirements. Credit not granted for both SOE 445 and SOE 545. Offered at 400 and 500 level. Cooperative: Open to UI degree-seeking students.
555 System Dynamics Models of Environmental Systems 3 Analysis of environmental system dynamics; development and uses of simulation models using the Stella software on Macintosh. Cooperative: Open to UI degree-seeking students.
562 Watershed Biogeochemistry 3 Sources, transformations, fates and impacts of biogeochemically important compounds as they move downstream through watersheds to the coastal zone.
565 Aquatic Microbial Ecology 3 Biological, ecological and environmental impact of microbes in aquatic systems. Credit not granted for both SOE 465 and SOE 565. Offered at 400 and 500 level.
576 Biology and Ecology of Pacific Salmon 3 The life histories, habitat requirements, and current issues facing Pacific salmon. Credit not granted for both SOE 476 and SOE 576. Offered at 400 and 500 level.
577 Advanced Environmental Hydrology 2 Water (ground, soil, surface, plant, atmosphere) dynamics and support of ecosystem functions and organization in natural, disturbed, and human/impacted systems. Recommended preparation: college-level physics, multivariate calculus, and introduction to hydrology.
583 Radiogenic Isotopes and Geochronology 3 Radiogenic isotopes and their uses as chronometers (radiometric dating) and as tracers of earth evolution and differentiation. Cooperative: Open to UI degree-seeking students.
584 Stable Isotope Geochemistry 3 Principles and applications of isotope geochemistry in the geological sciences. Cooperative: Open to UI degree-seeking students.
586 Applied Remote Sensing: From Drones to Satellites 3 Remote sensing to measure changes in forests, plants, wildlife, wildfire, crops, and geologic features; analyzing and applying data from satellites, drones, airplanes, and lidar to measures on the ground. Credit not granted for both SOE 486 and SOE 586. Offered at 400 and 500 level.
592 Advanced Topics in Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences V 1-4 May be repeated for credit; cumulative maximum 6 credits.
592 (Effective through Summer 2024) Advanced Topics in Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences V 1-4 May be repeated for credit; cumulative maximum 6 credits. Course Prerequisite: By instructor permission.
593 Graduate Seminar in Earth and Environmental Sciences 1 May be repeated for credit; cumulative maximum 8 credits.
594 Environmental and Natural Resources Issues and Ethics 3 Ethical systems applied to natural resources; issues of professionalism and ethics in natural resource management. Cooperative: Open to UI degree-seeking students.
597 Advanced Topics in Geology V 1-4 May be repeated for credit; cumulative maximum 6 credits. Topics of current interest in geology.
598 Seminar 1 May be repeated for credit; cumulative maximum 3 credits. Research papers presented by students, faculty, and visiting scientists on geological research. Credit not granted for both SOE 498 and SOE 598. Offered at 400 and 500 level. S, F grading.
600 Special Projects or Independent Study V 1-18 May be repeated for credit. Independent study, special projects, and/or internships. Students must have graduate degree-seeking status and should check with their major advisor before enrolling in 600 credit, which cannot be used toward the core graded credits required for a graduate degree. S, F grading.
700 Master's Research, Thesis, and/or Examination V 1-18 May be repeated for credit. Independent research and advanced study for students working on their master's research, thesis and/or final examination. Students must have graduate degree-seeking status and should check with their major advisor/committee chair before enrolling for 700 credit. S, U grading.
702 Master's Special Problems, Directed Study, and/or Examination V 1-18 May be repeated for credit. Independent research in special problems, directed study, and/or examination credit for students in a non-thesis master's degree program. Students must have graduate degree-seeking status and should check with their major advisor/committee chair before enrolling for 702 credit. S, U grading.
800 Doctoral Research, Dissertation, and/or Examination V 1-18 May be repeated for credit. Course Prerequisite: Admitted to a School of the Environment PhD program. Independent research and advanced study for students working on their doctoral research, dissertation and/or final examination. Students must have graduate degree-seeking status and should check with their major advisor/committee chair before enrolling for 800 credit. S, U grading.
- Earth and Environmental Sciences
Courses
- School Of The Environment
Schedules of Studies
- Environmental and Ecosystem Sciences