Seaver College of Science and Engineering LMU.edu
Apply Visit Give
Apply Visit Give
Seaver College of Science and Engineering LMU.edu
Apply Visit Give
Apply Visit Give

Courses

The Environmental Science Master of Science program offers a variety of courses. Core (required) courses for each emphasis are typically offered once per year and electives are typically offered every other year. As the program is tailored to the individual student, elective courses can be offered based on request and pending sufficient enrollment. In addition, Independent Studies can be potentially offered on a specific topic of interest not covered by the curriculum. Many courses have pre- and co-requisites that can be waived on a case by case basis depending on the previous experience of the individual student.

The following courses are offered in the Master of Science Environmental Science program. For more details and information, please visit the LMU Bulletin.

  • ENVS 601: Sustainable Water Quality and Resources (3 semester hours) Review of stoichiometry, oxidation-reduction reactions, thermodynamics, and chemical kinetics. Equilibrium chemistry concepts including acid-base, gas, and solid-liquid equilibria applied to aquatic systems with an emphasis on problem-solving methods to determine chemical speciation and pH effects in natural and treated aquatic systems.
  • ENVS 605: Aquatic Chemistry (3 semester hours) Review of stoichiometry, oxidation-reduction reactions, thermodynamics, and chemical kinetics. Equilibrium chemistry concepts including acid-base, gas, and solid-liquid equilibria applied to aquatic systems with an emphasis on problem-solving methods to determine chemical speciation and pH effects in natural and treated aquatic systems.
  • ENVS 606: Applied Environmental Microbiology (3 semester hours) Emphasis on the practical physical and biochemical aspects of bacterial metabolism and behavior in the environment as applied to environmental engineering and environmental science; kinetics and energetics of micobial growth as applied to wastewater treatment, biosolids stabilization, and biogas generation. Prerequisite: CIVL 601 or ENVS 605.
  • ENVS 607: Environmental Engineering and Science Lab (3 semester hours) Students will learn the theory, application, and techniques of several key environmental laboratory tests and methods of instrumental analysis associated with environmental monitoring and wastewater treatment operations. Tests will be performed on samples collected from various field sites (e.g., Ballona Creek, Dockweiler Beach), local wastewater treatment facilities, or during a field trip to Ballona Wetlands. Students will develop strong technical and scientific writing skills through the course. Prerequisite: CIVL 601 or ENVS 605.
  • ENVS 608: Contaminant Fate, Transport, and Remediation (3 semester hours) Introduction to physical, chemical, and biological processes governing the movement and fate of contaminants in the surface and coastal water environment. Practical quantitative problems solved based on contaminant mass transport, equilibrium partitioning, and chemical transformations in the environment. Regulatory implications and remediation approaches. Prerequisite: CIVL 601 or ENVS 605.
  • ENVS 651: Remote Sensing with Civil Engineering and Environmental Science Applications (3 semester hours) The course introduces the fundamental concepts of remote sensing from space, remote sensing data, and image data processing. Topics include characteristics of electromagnetic spectrum and remote sensing devices, digital processing methods for interpreting, manipulating and analyzing remotely-sensed image data, and applications of satellite remote sensing to civil engineering and environmental fields.
  • ENVS 652: Spatial Data Analysis and Geographical Information Systems (3 semester hours) Concepts, principles, and use of geographic information systems (GIS) to investigate spatial patterns associated with physical and social processes. Specific topics include dataset management, site suitability analysis, modeling, remote sensing, cartography and visualization, with a focus on civil and environmental engineering and environmental science applications.
  • ENVS 678: Research Civl Engr & Env Sci (3 semester hours) This course is designed to provide undergraduates and graduate students with research opportunities and better prepare undergraduates for advanced degrees. Students perform research in accordance with the scientific methodology in areas civil engineering, environmental engineering, and/or environmental science under the supervision of a research advisor who may or may not be the primary course instructor. The precise research topic is selected together by each student and/or advisor. Topics include the research process; hypothesis formulation and testing; modern scientific research; relevant research topics; analysis of scientific articles; data interpretation; critical assessment of public opinion versus scientific evidence; and article, report, and presentation preparation. Requires Permission of instructor.
  • ENVS 680: Engineering Geology (3 semester hours) Evaluation of the significance of geologic origin, composition, and structure on the characteristics of soils and rocks. Influence geology and plate boundary impacts have on design and construction of engineering projects.
  • ENVS 681: Ecosystem Services in Urban Landscapes (3 semester hours) This course focuses on the concept of ecosystem services and how they are integrated into urban watersheds to make cities more sustainable and resilient to a changing climate. Key topics include the structure and dynamics of watersheds, the impacts of poor resource management and pollution to environmental quality within urban watersheds, and reestablishing ecosystem services through green infrastructure and similar strategies, and habitat restoration activities. Material is learned through class discussions, presentations by guest researchers and resource managers, several mandatory weekend field trips, and class projects.
  • ENVS 682: Urban Coasts: Habitats, Stressors, and Resilience (3 semester hours) Urban coastal regions provide a wealth of ecosystem services associated with their shallow marine, shoreline, estuarine, and wetland habitats, but are under constant stresses from human activities and a changing climate. Through this course, students will learn about: 1) the nature of coastal habitats; 2) the natural and anthropogenic interactions between oceanic, coastal, and watershed processes impacting these habitats; and 3) policies and strategies, both behavioral and structural, to mitigate stressors resulting in more resilient coastal cities.
  • ENVS 683: Environmental Toxicology and Health Risk (3 semester hours) An introduction to the principles of risk assessment, perception of risk and risk communication as it relates to chemicals, pathogens, and radiation in the environment and their effect on humans and animals considering dermal, ingestion, and inhalation pathways; chronic daily intake, potency factors, dose response, bioconcentration, and bioaccumulation are discussed along with regulatory fundamentals.
  • ENVS 684: Climate Change and Impacts (3 semester hours) Overview of Earth's climate system and exploration of the science, impacts, and politics of global climate change. Specific topics include the greenhouse effect; climate drivers; atmospheric and oceanic circulations; observations and projections; climate modeling; politics; vulnerability; resiliency, adaption, and mitigation; impacts on water resources, extreme climate events, and agriculture.
  • ENVS 686: Climate Change Mitigation (3 semester hours) Opportunities and challenges of climate change mitigation in different sectors such as energy, agriculture, health, transport, housing, urban planning, etc. Co-benefits to the environment and health of climate change mitigation policies at the local, urban, national, and global levels. Linkages with the Paris Climate Change Treaty and the National Determined Contributions.
  • ENVS 687: Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience (3 semester hours) Current and future climate impacts on planetary and human health, ecosystems, food systems, socioeconomic determinants, human security, etc. Vulnerability issues. Opportunities of climate adaptation and resilience. Disaster Risk Reduction and Risk Management. Climate adaptation strategies, policies, and planning at the community, city, national, and global levels. The Paris Climate Change Treaty and adaptation in the National Determined Contributions.
  • ENVS 688: Environmental Health (3 semester hours) Introduction to the field of environmental health sciences. Examination of series of topics relevant to science of environmental health (e.g., population, agriculture/food, microbiology, energy, climate change, water, waste, air) by introducing scientific basis from ecological perspective and describing how topics relate to health. Risk assessment, risk management, and risk communication. Application of scientific information to real world problems and ability to communicate effectively with different stakeholders. Emerging issues and solutions.
  • ENVS 689: Sustainability, Health, and Equity (3 semester hours) Sustainability Development goals and practices to protect the planet, human health, welfare, equality, biodiversity, oceans, peace, etc. as part of the new sustainable development 2030 agenda with a focus on health and equity targets. Sustainable production and consumption, sustainable cities, climate action, education, etc. Inter-sectoral, innovative, socio-economic, and environmentally sustainable and equitable solutions. Design an implementation strategy for a specific community on a specific item that is part of one of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Emerging circular economy.
  • ENVS 690: Comprehensive Oral Exam (0 semester hours) The oral examination provides an opportunity to assess the student's understanding of some of the fundamental principles of environmental engineering, water resources engineering, and/or environmental science. It provides an opportunity for the student to demonstrate her/his problem-solving abilities using knowledge learned through coursework and an indication of student accomplishment broader than what is obtained from conventional classroom assessment. The exam is generally offered on the Friday of final examinations week. Students can register for the class only if all of course requirements will be complete at the end of the semester in which they plan to take the exam. Credit/No Credit grading.
  • ENVS 695: Master Thesis (3 semester hours)
  • ENVS 696: Thesis Defense (0 semester hours) Students who opt for a thesis must defend their research to a thesis committee in the form of a written thesis and an oral presentation. It is the intent of the thesis committee to determine if the student 1) has mastered the subject matter of the thesis, 2) understands the work done by others, and 3) can critically assess that work and his/her own work. No later than two weeks prior to the thesis defense presentation, the student must provide their written thesis to their thesis committee for review. The presentation should take no longer than one house including questions and answers from the committee and audience. Immediately after the presentation, the committee will deem the thesis complete, complete with exceptions, or incomplete. Credit/No Credit grading.
  • ENVS 698: Special Studies (1-4 semester hours)
  • ENVS 699: Independent Studies (1-4 semester hours)