ESPP Doctoral Specialization

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Doctoral Specialization
How to apply [pdf]

New Course for Fall 2009

Philosophy - In the 21st century, environmental professionals will need both interdisciplinary breadth and disciplinary depth. This is the model that some have called the "T-shaped" graduate student. Disciplinary depth is the pillar of the "T" that provides command of a literature in detail and the meticulous skills required to conduct sound research. Interdisciplinary breadth is the crossbar of the "T", providing language and conceptual frameworks that allow communication across disciplines. Together, these develop professionals who understand the context of their research and can work effectively in multidisciplinary teams.

Program - Doctoral students pursue a Ph.D. in one of MSU's many existing doctoral programs that have an environmental focus. In addition, they complete the coursework for the Specialization in Environmental Science and Policy. The Specialization provides students with an understanding of the diverse disciplines brought to bear on contemporary environmental problems. Each course is designed to provide an understanding of how various disciplines conceptualize environmental issues and how scientific information can be brought to bear on environmental decision-making and environmental policy.

Learn more about the Environmental Science and Policy Program:

For further information:

Email: espp@msu.edu
Phone: 517/432-8296

For general requirements for graduate programs at MSU:

http://www.grad.msu.edu/

Coursework - The Doctoral Specialization in Environmental Science and Policy is based on a sequence of four courses. Students are expected to complete the courses in sequence. Students may be allowed to opt out of one course on demonstrating appropriate background.

Fall 2009 Courses

ESP 801 - Physical, Chemical and Biological Processes of the Environment
Credits: 3
M,W,F 12 - 1 p.m. in 273 Giltner Hall
Dr. Tom Voice and Dr. Dave Long (voice@msu.edu, long@msu.edu)
Informational Flyer | Syllabus

This course is being substantially revised for Fall 2009 to enable diverse students to understand the scientific principles behindenvironmental challenges and how these principles affect policy solutions. The course goals are:
1. Review the key physical, chemical and biological processes that affect and control environmental quality
2. Develop a systems analysis approach that integrates these processes into a framework that can be used to analyze environmental problems and explore solutions
3. Use this systems approach to analyze environmental challenges involving different media, scales, and time frames.
4. Explore approaches for relating scientific end-points to human and ecosystem impacts
5. Consider the scientific evidence behind proposed policy solutions to a series of environmental problems.
Students should have had exposure to university level science courses.
ESP 803 - Human and Ecological Health Assessment and Management
Credits: 3
Mondays 2:10 - 5 p.m. in 273 Giltner Hall
Dr. Karen Chou (chouk@msu.edu)
Informational Flyer | Syllabus

This course introduces the concepts and basic skills regarding risk assessment of human and ecological health used in environmental decision-making. The goal is to enable students to critically evaluate environmental decisions in a multifaceted scientific, social, and global context. The course focuses on the intellectual basis of risk assessment, with emphasis on approaches in health risk assessment and uncertainties in the information associated with toxicology, epidemiology and other field studies. The course also uses historical cases, institutional strategies and current environmental issues to illustrate the roles of human and ecological health, commerce, culture and other global factors in management decisions. Each student will participate in a group project to apply his/her in-depth disciplinary knowledge as a member of a multidisciplinary team to analyzean environmental health case.

Spring 2010 Courses

ESP 802 - Human Systems and the Environment
Credits: 3
Informational Flyer | Syllabus

This course addresses human systems and environmental change at multiple scales from local to global. Materials covered explore linkages between natural and human systems, but focus primarily on human drivers of environmental and natural resource change and the social responses that such changes precipitate, including individual action, social movements, policy, legal and institutional responses. The course is designed for graduate students, especially those from the physical and life sciences, seeking to better understand the social forces giving rise to environmental problems as well as social responses taken to mitigate them.
ESP 804 - Environmental Applications and Analysis - CANCELLED
Credits: 3

This course provides the opportunity to apply knowledge learned in previous ESP courses. Global, regional and local environmental issues will be presented and explored. Class projects will be identified from these issues. Students will be assigned projects and will use a systems approach to identify and solve environmental problems associated with the assigned issues. This course is designed for graduate students with ecology, biology, physical, or social science backgrounds seeking an interdisciplinary, environmental science approach to problem solving.

ESPP also offers courses outside of the four requirements to encourage an interdisciplinary educational experience.

ESP 891/SOC 950 - Climate Change and Society
Credits: 3
Thursdays 3 - 6 p.m. in 273 Giltner Hall
Dr. Thomas Dietz (tdietz@msu.edu)
Informational Flyer | Syllabus

Global warming is unequivocal, and the resulting climate change, and our efforts to respond to it, will affect nearly every aspect of every contemporary society. This seminar will examine the state of the science of human dimensions of climate change. Readings will be drawn from recent and emerging assessment reports, such as that of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, as well as from the emerging literature. The seminar will address climate science. We will examine social aspects of different forms of mitigation, including geoengineering, as well as the vulnerability of coupled human and natural systems. We will also examine human drivers of climate change, public perceptions of climate change, human health effects and international agreements. Major theoretical approaches to human dimensions of climate change will be a theme throughout. The course will also engage with the 2009-2010 ESPP/ MAES sponsored climate change distinguished lecture series.

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