AENV 105 Introduction to Environmental Science (3)
Survey of contemporary environmental issues related to health and disease, nuclear waste disposal, water resources, energy use and conservation, land reclamation, global climate change, and industrial pollution. Scientific principles and data needed for gaining an understanding of environmental challenges on local, regional, and global scales will be emphasized. Offered spring semester only.
AENV 106 Introduction to Environmental Science Laboratory (1)
This course is a lab that supplements AENV 105, Introduction to Environmental Science, and is available for Environmental Science majors and Climate Science majors only. The course, which is designed to be taken concurrently with AENV 105, provides students an opportunity to investigate concepts covered in AENV 105 in greater depth. Topics addressed will include ecosystems and biogeochemical cycles, environmental history, population dynamics, biodiversity, water resources, land use and pollution, global climate change, energy use and conservation, and environmental health and toxicology. Corequisite(s): AENV 105. Open only to Environmental Science and Climate Science majors.
AENV 221 Understanding the Earth (3)
Provides an introduction to geology, with an emphasis on the solid Earth. Topics include the evolution of the solar system and the early Earth; structure of the Earth; plate tectonics and seismic processes; the chemical composition, structure, and physical properties of rock-forming minerals; formation of rocks through igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic processes; geologic age determination and geologic time. The interaction between the solid Earth and other components of the Earth system will be stressed. Prerequisite(s): ACHM 115 or 120 (or TCHM 130 or TCHM 135). Offered Fall semester only.
AENV 250 Sustainable Development: Energy and Resources (3)
Examination of energy production using non-renewable (coal, oil, natural gas, uranium) versus renewable resources (hydroelectric, solar, wind, geothermal) relative to present and future environmental and societal impacts. A transition to a more sustainable renewable energy infrastructure presents challenges and opportunities that will be examined in this course. In addition to the traditional energy resources, the course covers the sustainability of other mineral resources that may be important in this transition. Prerequisite(s): ACHM 115 or 120 (or TCHM 130 or TCHM 135); AMAT 111 or AMAT 112 or TMAT 118; APHY 140 or TPHY 141. Offered spring semester only.
AENV 297 Independent Study I (1-3)
Introductory review of a topic in the scientific literature, guided by a faculty mentor. S/U graded. Maximum of 3 credits will be counted towards degree.
AENV 302 Ocean Science (3)
An introduction to ocean science, and the role of the oceans in physical, climatic, chemical, and biological aspects of the Earth system. Description of the properties, dynamics, thermodynamics, and processes of oceans that contribute to the formation of ocean circulations, eddies and waves, the transport of heat and freshwater, and the regulation of weather, climate and marine ecosystems. Topics include interdisciplinary aspects of the oceans, such as El Nino, global warming, the carbon cycle, and energy. Primarily lecture format, but short presentations by students are required. Prerequisite(s): AATM 210; ACHM 115 or 120 (or TCHM 130 or TCHM 135); AMAT 100 or AMAT 106 or AMAT 111 or 112 or TMAT 118; APHY 140 or TPHY 141.
AENV 315 (= AATM 315) Environmental Statistics and Computation (4)
This course builds an understanding of natural systems through an introduction to statistical and computational methods used to analyze atmospheric and environmental data. Key goals of the course are to become proficient at drawing conclusions about the behaviors of natural systems using common visualizing methods and statistically analyzing data from observations and dynamical models in a variety of Earth-systems applications. Includes a concise but comprehensive introduction to computation and programming methods suited for students with no background in computer coding via the general-purpose programming language Python. Only one version of AATM/AENV 315 may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): AATM 210, AMAT 111 or AMAT 112 or TMAT 118, and CINF 108. Corequisite: AATM 210. AATMAMATTMAT Offered spring semester only.
AENV 327 (= AATM 327) Meteorological and Environmental Measurement (3)
Basic exposition of principles involved in the measurement of primary meteorological and environmental parameters. Topics to be covered include measurement uncertainty and the propagation of errors. Instruments for measuring temperature, pressure, humidity, wind field, solar and terrestrial radiation, precipitation, atmospheric aerosols, soil moisture, water quality, and data logging will be examined. Two lectures and one laboratory or demonstration per week. Only one version of AENV 327 may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): AATM 210; AMAT 108 or AENV 315; AMAT 100 or AMAT 111 or AMAT 112 or TMAT 118; APHY 105 or APHY 140 or APHY 141 or TPHY 141. Offered spring semester only.
AENV 350Y Environmental Geochemistry (4)
Contemporary topics are used to develop concepts of geochemical processes operating in Earth’s environmental system. These topics (a) PCBs in the Upper Hudson River, (b) biogeochemical cycles in the global climate system, and (c) geochemical constraints on long-term disposal of high-level, nuclear wastes. 3 hours per week in classroom setting and one hour per week of oral presentations by students. Only one version of AENV 350Y may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): AENV 250.
AENV 365 Environmental Science Fieldwork Experience (1)
Students will participate in "hands on" fieldwork at one of the department's local environmental science partners (Albany Pine Bush Preserve, the Huyck Preserve and Biological Research Station, the Hollyhock Hollow Sanctuary of Audubon International, or others), depending upon availability. A minimum of 15 hours will be spent in the field carrying out directed activities under supervision of the host institution's staff. Most fieldwork activity will originate from ongoing projects at the host entity, but student initiated projects can be proposed. These should be submitted in consultation with the department course coordinators. The specific nature of the fieldwork undertaken by the student is at the discretion of the host institution. A written final report and oral presentation is required that should summarize the overall fieldwork experience, and, if relevant, the measurements, observations, analysis, and significance of the work. Students are also required to spend time working with department faculty members on developing presentation skills; dates and times for the fieldwork and presentation practice will be arranged on an individual basis. May not be repeated for credit and open only to environmental science majors. Prerequisite(s): ABIO 330; corequisite(s): AATM/AENV 315 or 327. S/U graded. Offered each summer and fall.
AENV 398 Introductory Research in Environmental Science (1-3)
Introductory research experience, guided by a faculty mentor. S/U graded. Maximum of 6 credits will be counted towards degree. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.
AENV 404 The Adirondack Environment (3)
An interdisciplinary survey of environmental science topics using New York's Adirondack Mountains as an example. Topics range from aspects of the natural environment to human-environment interactions. Specific topics include: regional geology and geomorphology, impacts of acid rain and air quality regulation, forestry and mining practices, ecosystem changes and management, environmental conservation of the Adirondack park, impacts of climate change. Prerequisite(s): AENV 221 and AATM 210 or permission of the instructor.
AENV 415 (= AATM 415) Climate Laboratory (3)
A hands-on course in climate modeling; students will gain an appreciation for what climate models are, their limitations, and how they can be used to study natural phenomena. Topics include the physical laws governing climate and climate change, the hierarchy of model complexity, parameterization versus simulation, using models for prediction versus understanding, application of simple climate models to past and future climates on Earth (including radically different climates of the past such as Snowball Earth), accessing and analyzing results from IPCC models. Students will gain significant computer experience making calculations, analyzing results, and interpreting their significance. Prerequisite(s): AATM 210, CINF 108 or AATM 315 or AENV 315 or permission of instructor for students with computer programming experience; AMAT 111 or AMAT 112 or TMAT 118. Offered alternate spring semesters, will next be offered spring 2028.
AENV 441 Conservation Biology (3)
As an introduction to the discipline of conservation biology, the course will provide students with an overview of patterns of biodiversity, causes and consequences of biodiversity loss, and approaches for protecting, maintaining, and restoring biodiversity across biological (genes to ecosystem) and geographical (local to global) scales. The course will focus on the application of biological sciences (ecology, evolution, genetics, and biogeography) to biodiversity conservation but also will cover human dimensions (social, economic, and political) of this issue. Prerequisite(s): A MAT 108 or AENV 315, A BIO 212Y, and A BIO 330. Offered alternate spring semesters.
AENV 450 Paleoclimatology (3)
Introduction to the field of Paleoclimatology. Focus will be on the use of sediments and other biological and geological archives to reconstruct environmental, climatic, and oceanographic change over a range of time scales. Lecture will also provide an introduction to the fields of climatology, age dating techniques, climatic environmental proxies (tracers), micropaleontology, and time-series analysis. In addition to lectures, the class will involve review of current scientific studies, class presentations by each student, and a review paper on a relevant topic of choice. Three lectures each week and two hours each week of oral presentations by students. Prerequisite(s): ACHM 115 or 120 (or TCHM 130 or TCHM 135) or permission of instructor. Offered alternate fall semesters.
AENV 455 Special Topics in Environmental or Geological Science (2-3)
A structured program of reading and seminars leading to an in-depth understanding of a chosen topic in environmental or geological science. May be repeated once for credit. Prerequisite(s): AATM 210, AGEO 221, and permission of instructor.
AENV 480 Special Topics in Environmental Science (1-4)
In-depth analysis of a special topic in environmental science. May be repeated if topic changes. Prerequisite(s): permission of instructor.
AENV 490 Major Topics in Environmental Science (3)
A required course for environmental science majors in their senior year that brings together students from all four concentrations (Ecosystems, Geography, Climate Change, and Sustainability Science and Policy) to address major topics in environmental science. Formal presentations by faculty, students, and invited speakers will promote discussion and debate from multi-disciplinary perspectives. Prerequisite(s): AATM 210, AENV 302. Offered spring semester only.
AENV 496 Internship in Environmental Science (1-3)
Provides students with practical work experience in environmental science through placements with federal, state, or local government agencies, or private firms. The supervisor's reference, a mid-internship and a final report are required. Internships are open to qualified juniors and seniors with a GPA of at least 2.50 overall, or through a petition to the Undergraduate Program Director. A maximum of 3 credits may be applied toward the major. May be repeated once for credit. Prerequisite(s): permission of the department internship coordinator. S/U graded.
AENV 497 Independent Study II (1-3)
Advanced review of a topic in the scientific literature, guided by a faculty mentor. S/U graded. Maximum of 3 credits will be counted towards degree. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor and senior standing in ENV or CLM major.
AENV 498 Undergraduate Research in Environmental Science (3)
Guided research leading to a written thesis. Oral presentation of results required. May be repeated once for credit. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing and permission of department chair. S/U graded.