Undergraduate Courses

ECS111 Introduction to the Earth’s Ecosystems
3 credits                       Fall & Spring Semester
Earth’s ecosystems and the interactions of humans with them. Concepts in ecology, environmental science and policy.

ECS112 Problems in Ecosystem Science and Policy
2 credits                        Spring Semester      
Problem solving in ecology and environmental management. Class projects and case studies providing experience in identifying problems, quantifying  scientific issues, and considering management options and outcomes. Extensive field experience.

ECS113 Introduction to Environmental Policy   
3 credits                         Fall & Spring Semester
Theories and case studies from various fields, including anthropology, economics, ethics, geography, political science and psychology, will be used to explore the multiple perspectives that influence group and individual perceptions of environmental issues.
PREREQUISITE: ECS 111

ECS195 Studies in Ecosystem Science and Policy
1- 5 credits                    Not Offered; Transfer Credit Only
Courses taken at other institutions but having no direct equivalents here.
PREREQUISITE: PERMISSION OF INSTRUCTOR.  

ECS196 Studies in Ecosystem Science and Policy
1- 5 credits                    Not Offered; Transfer Credit Only 
Courses taken at other institutions but having no direct equivalents here.
PREREQUISITE: PERMISSION OF INSTRUCTOR.   

ECS197 Studies in Ecosystem Science and Policy
1- 5 credits                    Not Offered; Transfer Credit Only
Courses taken at other institutions but having no direct equivalents here.
PREREQUISITE: PERMISSION OF INSTRUCTOR.   

ECS198 Studies in Ecosystem Science and Policy
1- 5 credits                    Not Offered; Transfer Credit Only
Courses taken at other institutions but having no direct equivalents here.
PREREQUISITE: PERMISSION OF INSTRUCTOR.   

ECS199 Studies in Ecosystem Science and Policy
1- 5 credits                    Not Offered; Transfer Credit Only
Courses taken at other institutions but having no direct equivalents here.
PREREQUISITE: PERMISSION OF INSTRUCTOR.   

ECS201 Seminar Series in Contemporary Environmental Issues I
1 credit                        Fall Semester
Current environmental topics involving interaction of science and policy.

ECS202 Seminar Series in Contemporary Environmental Issues II
1 credit                         Spring Semester
Current environmental topics involving interaction of science and policy.  

ECS204 Environmental Statistics
3 credits                          Fall & Spring Semester
An overview of parametric and nonparametric statistics with an emphasis on applications in the analysis of environmental data.
PREREQUISITE: MTH 103 OR HIGHER, PLUS SIX (6) CREDITS IN ECS.

ECS232 Ecological Principles and Environmental Applications
3 credits                        Fall & Spring Semester
Overview of the science of ecology and its basic principles.  Covers aspects of organismal ecology (including population genetics, structure, growth and regulation; adaptations and responses to the physical environment and biological communities); community ecology; and ecosystems (including energy flow, biogeochemical cycles, and biomes). Students will learn to apply ecological principles to understand and solve environmental problems.  
                                       (not for BIL majors or minors)

ECS272 Special Topics in Ecosystem Science and Policy
1- 3 credits                   Offered By Announcement Only
Content varies by semester and is indicated in parentheses following course  number and title in class schedule.

ECS295 Studies in Ecosystem Science and Policy
1- 5 credits                   Not Offered; Transfer Credit Only
For courses taken at other institutions that have no equivalents here.
PREREQUISITE: PERMISSION OF INSTRUCTOR.

ECS296 Studies in Ecosystem Science and Policy
1- 5 credits                   Not Offered; Transfer Credit Only
For courses taken at other institutions that have no equivalents here.
PREREQUISITE: PERMISSION OF INSTRUCTOR.

ECS297 Studies in Ecosystem Science and Policy
1- 5 credits                   Not Offered; Transfer Credit Only
For courses taken at other institutions that have no equivalents here.
PREREQUISITE: PERMISSION OF INSTRUCTOR.

ECS298 Studies in Ecosystem Science and Policy
1- 5 credits                   Not Offered; Transfer Credit Only
For courses taken at other institutions that have no equivalents here.
PREREQUISITE: PERMISSION OF INSTRUCTOR.

ECS299 Studies in Ecosystem Science and Policy
1- 5 credits                   Not Offered; Transfer Credit Only
For courses taken at other institutions that have no equivalents here.
PREREQUISITE: PERMISSION OF INSTRUCTOR.

ECS301 Tools for Environmental Decision-Making: The Quantitative Perspective
3 credits                         Fall Semester
Quantitative decision-making techniques and methodologies.
PREREQUISITE: ECS 111, 112.

ECS302 Perspectives on Environmental Decisions
3 credits                         Fall & Spring Semester
Techniques for assessing human impacts on the environment. Covers approaches from law, ethics, anthropology and includes cases involving local, regional and global
environmental management issues.
PREREQUISITES: ECS 111 & 113

ECS309 Microbes and the Environment
3 credits                          Fall Semester
This course is designed to provide students in geology, biology and environmental science a fundamental understanding of the role microbes play in shaping the Earth and its environments as well as the basic principles and approaches to studying these interactions in both modern and ancient settings. The metabolic diversity displayed by microbial communities makes them an integral component of global elemental cycles. In this regard, microorganisms have shaped our planet over the past 4 billion years and continue to do so in a very prominent way. The goal of this course is to learn about microbial diversity and metabolism, and the ability of microbes to shape and influence the environment.
PREREQUISITES: ECS 111, GSC110/114, GSC 111 OR CONSENT OF INSTRUCTOR.

ECS310 Sustainable Living
3 credits                           Fall & Spring Semester
Sustainable Living explores ways of living that can be sustained for thousands of years, without further damage to earth, ocean and atmosphere. Topics covered include renewable energy, agricultural practices, water issues, green building, low carbon transportation and healthy living/eating. Students advocate for sustainable practices of their choice in writing and in oral/visual presentations. Frequent field trips.
PREREQUISITE: ECS 111 OR PERMISSION OF INSTRUCTOR.

ECS332 Ecology and Land Use in the Galapagos
3 credits                          Fall Semester
Fundamental principles of ecology manifested on Isla Isabela will be employed to evaluate land usages including subsistence and production agriculture, animal husbandry, fuel wood and timber, and conservation with ecotourism.  Habitats, flora, and fauna from the vicinity of Puerto Villamil to the rim of Volcán Sierra Negra; analysis of agricultural practices and problems of the mist zone on this volcano’s southeastern flank.
PREREQUISITE: BIL 250 or BIL 255 OR PERMISSION OF INSTRUCTOR

ECS371 Readings in Ecosystem Science and Policy
1- 2 credits                      Offered By Announcement Only
Supervised readings on special topics. Offered by special arrangement with a faculty.  May be repeated for credit.
PREREQUISITE: PERMISSION OF INSTRUCTOR.

ECS372 Special Topics in Ecosystem Science and Policy
1- 3 credits                      Offered By Announcement Only
Content varies by semester and is indicated in parentheses following course number and title in class schedule.
PREREQUISITE: PERMISSION OF INSTRUCTOR.

ECS373 Topics in Ecosystem Science
3 credits                           Offered By Announcement Only
Content varies by semester and is indicated in parentheses following course number and title in class schedule.

ECS374 Topics in Environmental Policy
3 credits                          Offered By Announcement Only
Content varies by semester and is indicated in parentheses following course number and title in class schedule.

ECS375 Topics in Environment and the Humanities
3 credits                         Offered By Announcement Only
Content varies by semester and is indicated in parentheses following course number and title in class schedule.

ECS376 Topics in Environmental Communication
3 credits                        Offered By Announcement Only
Content varies by semester and is indicated in parentheses following course number and title in class schedule.

ECS377 Topics in Environmental Economics and Development
3 credits                        Offered By Announcement Only
Content varies by semester and is indicated in parentheses following course number and title in class schedule.

ECS380 Field Studies in Ecosystem Science and Policy
1- 4 credits                   Offered By Announcement Only
Field course to various U.S. and international regions, focusing on current and historic interactions of humans with the local environment. Includes water, land and mineral resources as well as impacts on local ecosystems. Emphasis on current management efforts and potential impacts of climate change.
PREREQUISITE: ADVANCED UNDERGRADUATE STANDING AND PERMISSION OF DEPARTMENT.

ECS391 Studies in Ecosystem Science and Policy
1- 4 credits                   Transfer Credit Only
Courses taken at other institutions with no direct equivalents here.
PREREQUISITE: PERMISSION OF INSTRUCTOR

ECS392 Studies in Ecosystem Science and Policy
1- 4 credits                   Transfer Credit Only
Courses taken at other institutions with no direct equivalents here.
PREREQUISITE: PERMISSION OF INSTRUCTOR

ECS393 Studies in Ecosystem Science and Policy
1- 4 credits                   Transfer Credit Only
Courses taken at other institutions with no direct equivalents here.
PREREQUISITE: PERMISSION OF INSTRUCTOR

ECS394 Studies in Ecosystem Science and Policy
1- 4 credits                   Transfer Credit Only
Courses taken at other institutions with no direct equivalents here.
PREREQUISITE: PERMISSION OF INSTRUCTOR

ECS395 Studies in Ecosystem Science and Policy
1- 4 credits                   Transfer Credit Only
Courses taken at other institutions with no direct equivalents here.
PREREQUISITE: PERMISSION OF INSTRUCTOR

ECS401 Internship
3 credits                        Fall & Spring Semester & First & Second Summer Session
Students selecting the internship will be required to spend a minimum of 120 contact hours working in an outside firm or agency whose mission is to address environmental issues where science and policy intersect.
PREREQUISITE: SENIOR STANDING OR PERMISSION OF INSTRUCTOR.

ECS402 Thesis
3 credits                        Fall & Spring Semester & First & Second Summer Session
Individual, original research of independent study supervised by a UM faculty member and concluded by formal thesis preparation, public oral defense and submission of the thesis.
PREREQUISITE: SENIOR STANDING OR PERMISSION OF INSTRUCTOR.

ECS403 Interdisciplinary Approaches to Complex Human-Environmental Problems (Capstone)
3 credits                        Spring Semester
Students with diverse disciplinary backgrounds will design an interdisciplinary study focused on an environmental problem with a major science component and significant societal implications. Students will apply quantitative methods, formulate usable policy, and communicate their results.
PREREQUISITES: ECS 111, 113, 301, 302

ECS405 Applied Research in Ecosystem Science and Policy
1- 3 credits                   Fall & Spring Semester & Second Summer Session
Faculty-mentored applied research in environmental topics. Projects in natural ecosystems, sustainable design and business, and communication of environmental issues.
PREREQUISITE: 9 CREDITS IN ECS

ECS432 Ecology in the Galapagos
3 credits                       Fall Semester
Organisms in relation to their environment, with a focus on interactive hands-on learning experiences that connect empirical nature with abstract thinking.   Lectures, discussion and field work will help students begin to understand ecosystem ecology, plant dispersal and colonization, organisms’ responses to spatial and temporal variability in their environments, plant/animal interactions. Origins and effects of invasive species and actions of bio-control agents.

ECS433 Conservation in Practice
3 credits                        Fall Semester
Intersection between economic development, science and conservation in one of the world’s most pristine and fragile ecosystems.  Exploration of how tourism offers an alternative to unsustainable fisheries that once drove the local economy, yet has created a new set of pressures on the people and the environment.  Mitigation efforts, science, and international conservation mesh with an understanding of local politics, customs, and cultures.