Descriptions of the courses to be offered in the Earth System Science and Policy Program are provided below. All courses will be new. A schedule by which they could be introduced is presented at the end of the course descriptions.

ESSP 501 Earth System Science and Policy I (required)
The course will provide students with an overview of the fundamental issues from the five research areas offered by the ESSP program: Biodiversity and Ecosystem Functioning; Climate and Environmental Change; Land and Resource Management; Environmental Policy, Management, and Communication; and Human Health and the Environment. Material will be presented “situationally” in a problem-based learning environment. ESSP faculty and guest lecturers will present background information relevant to the topics. Students are expected to engage actively in the learning process by 1) determining what further information they need to understand the problem, 2) researching the questions, 3) clearly and concisely presenting the findings of their research to one another. The course is designed to foster self-reliance, critical thinking, research methodology, and consensus building and to demonstrate the interrelationships of natural and social systems. All students taking ESSP 501 are required to enroll concurrently in ESSP 501R and 501L.

Prerequisites: Graduate standing in Earth System Science and Policy (Fall Semester, 5 credits)

ESSP 501R Earth System Science and Policy Recitation (required)
Small group discussion to accompany ESSP 501. Discussions to include many parties to an environmental issue.

Prerequisites: Graduate standing in Earth System Science and Policy; concurrent enrollment in ESSP 501 (Fall Semester, 3 credits).

ESSP 501L Earth System Science and Policy Laboratory I (required)
Laboratory session to accompany ESSP 501. Will require one or more full day field trips; may require one or more weekend field trips.

Prerequisites: Graduate standing in Earth System Science and Policy; concurrent enrollment in ESSP 501 (Fall Semester, 2 credits).

ESSP 502 Earth System Science and Policy II (required)
Course follows the design of ESSP 501 but with more emphasis on written reports and team projects. At the beginning of the semester, students will either select or be assigned a topic for an interdisciplinary team project for completion by the end of the semester. The team project helps students acquire an interdisciplinary outlook, and fosters communication and cooperation within a positive multi-disciplinary work environment. This will provide students with skills that are integral to the management of complex environmental problems they will face in the world beyond academia. All students taking ESSP 502 are required to enroll concurrently in ESSP 502R and 502L.

Prerequisites: Graduate standing in Earth System Science and Policy; ESSP 501, 501R, 501L (Spring Semester, 5 credits).

ESSP 502R Earth System Science and Policy Recitation II (required)
Small group discussion to accompany ESSP 502.

Prerequisites: Graduate standing in Earth System Science and Policy; ESSP 501, 501R, 501L; concurrent enrollment in ESSP 502 (Spring Semester, 3 credits).

ESSP 502L Earth System Science and Policy Laboratory II (required)
Laboratory to accompany ESSP 502.

Prerequisites: Graduate standing in Earth System Science and Policy; ESSP 501, 501R, 501L; concurrent enrollment in ESSP 502 (Spring Semester, 2 credits).

ESSP 506 Ecosystem Services: Valuing Nature in a Market Society
Analyzes the services and goods provided by natural and human-made ecosystems with a primary focus on the agroecosystems and grasslands of the northern Great Plains. Explores the scientific framework of ecosystem services, their disruption or disturbance, economic and ecological values, methods of analyzing these values, and policy implications.

Prerequisites: Consent of instructor (Fall Semester, 3 credits).

ESSP 520 Earth Systems Modeling
Introduction to statistical and deterministic approaches for modeling earth systems, including use of modeling to support management and policymaking. Develops systems thinking skills and emphasizes modeling as a framework for environmental analysis and problem solving. Students will learn how different classes and scales of models are used to explore different type of environmental questions. Emphasis will be on the dynamic, interdependent and interactive relationships between human activities and ecosystem function and structure as well as the effects of these activities on biogeochemical cycles, energy flow, and biodiversity. Students will use these analyses to evaluate opportunities to shift toward more sustainable human behavior.

Prerequisites: Graduate standing in Earth System Science and Policy, or consent of instructor (Spring Semester, 3 credits).

ESSP 540 Advanced Topics in Geospatial Technologies
The course’s intent is to stay abreast of technological developments in a rapidly evolving field. Course contents will vary according to where the advances have the most immediate impact. The goal is to provide students exposure and hands-on experience needed to apply technologies to significant Earth System problems. Among technologies to be discussed are sensors for satellites and aircraft, data acquisition and image processing tools, verification and validation techniques, precision navigation by Global Positioning Satellites, and advanced uses of Geographic Information Systems.

Prerequisites: Consent of instructor (Fall and Spring Semesters, 3 credits).

ESSP 562 Environmental Economics, Policy and Management
Examines the principles of economics, natural resource limitations and management, and the role of science in public policy decision-making, with the intent of preserving Earth’s vital life-support systems while meeting human needs and aspirations. Through case studies, guest speakers, and personal experience, studies how science does or does not inform environmental policymaking. Students apply economic theory and analysis to evaluate environmental problems and policies and apply ecological principles to shape economic policy. Particular emphasis will be on wetland habitats and agro-ecosystems.

Prerequisites: Consent of instructor (Spring Semester, 3 credits).

ESSP 570 Communicating Environmental Information
The focus of this class is on communication of scientific information to non-science audiences. Students will 1) probe the role of communication in the public perceptions of environmental issues, 2) examine the effectiveness of different tools in raising environmental awareness, 3) explore the barriers that hinder effective communication and subsequent motivation to action, and 4) profile a variety of environmental outreach activities. Ways to convert polarization among differing parties into consensus by communicating accurate, timely information will be explored.

Prerequisites: Consent of instructor (Fall Semester, 3 credits).

ESSP 590 Colloquium Series
Speaker series, approximately weekly, on timely topics and research. An emphasis will be to hear from outside speakers. Speakers may occasionally deliver presentations electronically. Graduate students in the Earth System Science and Policy Program are expected to attend.
(Fall and Spring Semesters, 1 credit).

ESSP 594 Directed Study
Directed reading or investigations tailored to the needs of individual students for advanced knowledge in specific areas. Typically requires weekly meetings with the assigned faculty member. Usually culminates in a paper on the specific topical area. Doctoral candidates may repeat once.

Prerequisites: Permission of an ESSP faculty member who agrees to serve as supervisor. (Fall, Spring, Summer semesters, 1-5 credits).

ESSP 597 Internship
Students work with practicing professionals in the community, industry, government, NGO’s, or other research facility in a paid internship that requires critical thinking and specialized science, policy, or technical skills.

Prerequisites: Graduate standing in Earth System Science and Policy (Fall, Spring, Summer Semesters, credits variable).

ESSP 599 Special Topics
Topics of current interest not covered in any existing course. May be provided by program or visiting ESSP faculty. May be repeated for credit.

Prerequisites: Graduate standing in Earth System Science and Policy, or consent of instructor (l-6 credits).

ESSP 997 Independent Study
Independent study and preparation of written and oral reports describing internships. Required for Master of Environmental Management program. Optional for MS and PhD programs in Earth System Science and Policy.

Prerequisites: Approval by student’s advisor of written proposal describing internship to be completed. (Fall, Spring, Summer semesters, 2 credits).