Course Descriptions (updated 8/2/07)

[print friendly version]

EES. 70400 The Nature of Scientific Research , 2 credits, 2 hrs.
The nature of scientific research in the earth and environmental sciences, including human geography. Research paradigms and paradigm shifts. Research design, research ethics, literature searches, professional writing techniques, research funding. ‘Deep' time and spatial analysis-concepts peculiar to geology, geography and many environmental sciences.

EES. 70700 Human Geography , 3 credits, 3 hrs. lect.
Study of the manner in which people and societies perceive, use and alter the environment they occupy. Emphasis on the principal concepts of cultural, political and economic geography. Land use, law of the sea, location theory, farming practices, diffusion of innovation. Theory and selected case studies concerning causal relationships between culture and environment. Boundary creation, the politics of ecology, energy and land use, consequences of population growth, the nature of resources, perception and regulation of environmental quality.

EES. 70900 Geographic Thought and Theory , 3 credits, 30 hrs. lect.
This course traces the history and evolution of geographic thought from Ancient Greece to modern times. Western geographic traditions are emphasized, particularly the development of academic geography in the United States. Major geographers are identified and discussed, as are the processes of paradigm development and paradigm change.

EES 71200 Geographical Knowledge in Action , 3 credits, 45 hours
This integrated course takes the for of an investigative workshop in which students and faculty collaborate in the examination of a specific geographic problem using the New York metropolitan region as a focus for study. Students with different research interests will be encouraged to integrate their skills (along with those of participating faculty).

EES. 71400 Introduction to Geophysics , 3 credits, 30 hrs. lecture, 45 hrs. lab. or 15 hrs. recitation.
Introduction to major topics in geophysics including the continental and crustal structure of the earth. Survey of the figure of the earth, its gravitational and magnetic fields; seismology and the deep structure of the earth. Heat flow, methods of geophysical exploration and comparison of the Earth and other planets. Geophysical basis of plate tectonics and sea floor spreading.
Prerequisites: One year of college physics and calculus through differential equations or permission of instructor.

EES 71600 Earth Systems Science, 3 credits, 30 hrs. lecture,
This class emphasizes systems that prevailed at various stages of earth history and therefore created the platform for major geologic, biologic, and environmental changes that have rippled through time. This requires a familiarity with processes ongoing at a given stage, the nature of the proposed interactions, and the consequences with respect to the evolution of earth, life, and environment. For example, early stages of earth history include the formation of the earth's core, the various stages of stratification and rock diversity that occurred early-on, and the remnants (geologic structures, if any) that date back to this period. Here, we run immediately into the question of evidence. Evidence can take many forms, from fossils to stable isotopes. In an overview course, it is important to keep a thread from topic to topic - central lines of evidence. In the view of many, isotopes provide this key. Therefore, in addition to introducing the systems concept relative to earth history, we also key on isotopes as an essential point of most arguments relative to occurrences taking place millions and even hundreds of millions of years in the past, as well as to those occurring now.

EES. 72000 Mineralogy , 3 credits, 30 hrs. lect., and either 15 hrs. recitation or 30 hrs. lab.
Symmetry; Crystal chemistry; mineral genesis and crystal growth, physicochemical principles governing crystal structures; mineral properties related to several structures; study of methods of analysis.

EES. 73000 Paleontology of the Invertebrates , 4 credits, 75 hrs.
An advanced treatment of the functional morphology, systematics, evolutionary history, and paleoecology of invertebrate animals through geologic time. Laboratory techniques in the use of fossils as primary data of organic evolution and indicators of paleoenvironments.

EES. 74500 Hydrology , 3 credits, (30 hrs. lect., 30 hrs. problem sessions and recitation.)
Introduction to the hydrologic cycle and processes related to the movement of water in the surficial environment -- precipitation, evaporation and transpiration, infiltration, runoff and stream flow. Numerical calculations and problems will be emphasized. Discussion of case studies that describe hydrologic systems in differing climatic and geologic settings.

EES. 74600 Groundwater Hydrology , 3 credits, (30 hrs. lect., 30 hrs. problem sessions and recitation.)
Physical principles of ground-water flow, Darcy's law, flow equations, flow nets, pumping tests, methods of ground-water investigation, ground-water geology. Numerical calculations and problems will be emphasized. Discussion of case studies that describe different types of ground-water systems.

EES. 74700 Coastal and Estuarine Geology , 3 credits, (30 hrs. lecture, 30 hrs. lab + field trips.)
Field and laboratory examination of the geology, oceanography and geomorphology of temperature and tropical coastal zones. Field work may include shipboard operations.
Prerequisite: EES. 70500 or permission of instructor.

EES. 74800 Environmental Geology of the Coastal Zone , 3 credits, (30 hrs. lecture, 30 hrs. lab + field trips.)
A detailed laboratory and field examination of the environmental geology of temperature and tropical coastal zones. Field exercises, aerial photo interpretation and Environmental Impact Statements will be used to analyze specific problem areas.
Prerequisite: EES. 74700 or permission of instructor.

EES. 75200 Principles of Remote Sensing , 5 credits, (45 hrs.)
This course will provide the student with an introduction to the field of remote sensing. Four major topical areas will be discussed: photographic systems for remote sensing; earth satelite systems for remote sensing; thermal sensing devises for remote sensing; and active and passive microwave systems for remote sensing. The student will also work with a software package designed for the analysis of digital remotely sensed data.
Prerequisite: EES 703 and Intro. to Statistics

EES. 75400 Environmental Conservation , 3 credits, 45 hrs.
Study of the interrelationship between natural systems and the environment; Topics in environmental crisis; Development of the environment movement; Study of specific problem area.

EES. 75500 Digital Image Processing , 4 credits, (30 hrs. lect., 60 hrs. lab.)
Quantitative processing of digital imagery; enhancement, information extraction, classification; algorithms; registration, recertification.
Prerequisite: EES. 75400 (Geological Applications of Remote Sensing) required EES 74900 (Quantitative Methods in Geology is recommended.

EES. 75600 Coastal Dynamics , 3 credits, 36 hrs. lecture, 8 hrs. lab., Field Trips
Quantitative focus on the dynamic processes affecting the coast and the resulting varied geomorphology. Processes include wave and beach dynamics, eolian, nearshore bars, cliff processes, sea level changes, and global climatic effects on coasts.
Prerequisite: 70500 or permission of instructor.

EES. 75700 Environmental Problems of Urban and Metropolitan Coasts , 3 credits, 45 hrs. lecture, Field Trips.
Processes affecting the unique urban and metropolitan coastal landscape. Emphasis is on the specific environmental problems resulting from the interaction between the urban setting and the surrounding marine environments, and the planning and management of the urban coast.
Prerequisite: 75600 or permission of instructor.

EES. 75800 Introduction to Environmental Modeling , 3 credits, 30 hours
This course is intended to introduce graduate students to basic concepts used in the dynamic modeling of environmental systems. The types of models used in this course will fall under the general category of dynamical system models. There will be a review of some basic mathematics. It will be a very “hands on” course, in the sense that students will be working with models throughout the course. Students will work with models from diverse fields including ecology, hydrology, population, biogeochemistry, and climate.

EES. 75900 Quantitative Methods II: Multivariate Statistical Analysis in Geography , 3 credits, 30 hours
Multivariate statistical methods will be introduced, with a strong focus on regression techniques. The course will be mostly applied in nature, with an emphasis on how to use these techniques, and interpret the results, rather than on the underlying mathematics. The goal of the course is to prepare the student: 1) to read and understand statistical results that are encountered in professional literature; 2) to be able to apply these techniques in her/his own research; and 3) to understand the use of these techniques in applications common to geographers, including the use of spatial data.
Prerequisite: Introduction to Statistics

EES. 76300 Geological Applications of Remote Sensing , 3 credits, 60 hrs.
Fundamentals of remote sensing as applied to geology. Electromagnetic spectrum; sensing devices; image processing techniques and enhancements; information-extracting algorithms. Applications in geologic mapping, mineral prospecting, structural geology, geohydrology, engineering geology and geomorphology.

EES. 76500 Urban Application of GIS , 3 credits, 30 hours
Discussion of data, methodology, and examples of using GIS to solve urban problems in economic, social, planning, and political settings. Students are expected to conduct small research projects addressing real world issues.

EES. 77000 Principles of Geochemistry , 3 credits, 45 hours.
Chemical processes involved in the development of the earth and distribution of the elements in the earth's crust, atmosphere, and ocean.

EES. 77100 Geobiochemistry of Soils , 3 credits, 30 lect. hrs., + conferences.
An examination of the physical chemistry of soils including soil mineralogy (formation, relative stability, ion exchange properties) and surface chemistry.
Prerequisite: EES. 70500 or permission of instructor.

EES. 77300 Low Temperature Geochemistry , 3 credits, 45 hours.
Chemical equilibria in aqueous systems and at low temperature are studies and applied to such problems as water quality, weathering, sedimentology, and ore formation.
Prerequisite: EES. 77000 or permission of instructor.

EES. 77400 Physical Geochemistry , 3 credits, 45 hrs. (lect. conferences, computations)
Principles of thermodynamics. Application of thermochemistry to high and low temperature processes. Calculation of equilibrium constraints and energy budgets in various physico-chemical environments.

EES. 77600 Climate and Climate Change , 4 credits, 30 hours lecture + 20 hours lab.
A detailed study of the principles of climate, observed climates, climates of the past and theories of climate change.
Prerequisites: EES. 70500 or permission of instructor.

EES. 79900 Special Topics in Earth and Environmental Sciences , 1-4 credits, 15-60 hours.
Modern topics in a particular field in the geological sciences. Topics may vary from semester to semester.
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor

EES. 79903 Advanced Oceanography with Matlab, 3 credits, 30 hours
The oceans play a significant role in how the climate system responds to anthropogenic perturbations. To understand past, present and future climate, therefore, we need to know and understand our oceans. This course will offer an in-depth ‘tour’ to the fascinating and complex subject of Oceanography and an introduction to quantitative methods in oceanography using Matlab. We will begin with an introductory overview of the historic advancements within the four main sub-disciplines of oceanography: physical, chemical, biological,and geological oceanography, as well as a summary of current scientific questions that drive cutting-edge research within the field. This will set the stage for class projects and will guide the work that we will be doing through laboratory exercises with Matlab.The course will ‘walk’ through physical properties of sea-water;heat, salt and water budgets of the oceans; causes of ocean currents;and large-scale air-sea interactions that in the tropics result in El Niño. We will end the ‘tour’at our coasts (coastal oceanography) with a discussion of the impact of atmospheric storms called Nor’easters within the New York region.

EES. 79903 - Soil/Wetlands & Bioremediation, 3 credits, 30 hours lec.
Discover how wetlands function and how restored and constructed wetlands can treat pollution and waste. An introduction to wetland science, with an emphasis on the capacity of wetlands and soil systems for biogeochemical remediation of pollutants. The course will provide and overview of wetland structure, diversity, and function, with particular emphasis on biogeochemical mechanisms of nutrient cycling and pollutant uptake and degradation. Engineering, design, and monitoring necessary for wetland construction and restoration will be covered. Case studies will be examined of uses of wetlands for wastewater, heavy metals, and hydrocarbon treatment.

EES 79903 Space, Place and Nature, 3 credits, 30 hours lec.
This seminar introduces first and second year graduate students to competing theoretical approaches commonly employed in the study of space, place and nature. The course is divided into four parts: 1) From nature to history moves from approaches that naturalize social and spatial relations, to theories that insist on an historical understanding of nature, society and space. 2) Structure/agency and beyond explores the problematic category of ‘agency’ in theories of society and space, first as a response to the aporias of structuralism, and then as a problem in its own right, and asks what it might mean to abandon it. 3) In Theories of practice we will examine various approaches that emphasize the central role of everyday practices and embodied encounters in the constitution of subjects and spaces, moving from Erving Goffman’s symbolic interactionism to the immanent materialism of Gilles Deleuze. 4) Finally, Thinking difference: identities or singularities takes up the question of how we understand social (and physical) difference in the study of space, place and nature, with a specific focus on the robust critique of ‘identity’ in recent social and political theory.

EES. 78000 Economic Geography, 3 credits, 30 hours lec.
The impacts of people on their physical environment through the use of land, water and air for such human endeavors as agriculture, industry and settlement will be studied. The impacts of these interactions on economic, political and cultural endeavors are investigated in this course. Theories of land use, transportation and location are employed to understand the implications of these human/environmental environmental interactions and models are developed to forecast their impacts. The intended and unintended results of human policies towards the environment are discussed.

EES. 78100 Urban Geographic Theory , 3 credit, 30 hours
Spatial analyses of contemporary and theoretical issues concerning the economic growth, transportation, land use, social segregation, and political fragmentation in metropolitan areas.

EES. 78200 Populaton Geography , 3 credits 30 hours
Population Geography focuses on people – their settlement and migration patterns, and their impact on the social, political, economic, and cultural landscapes.

EES. 78600 Latin Americanist Geography , 3 credits, 30 hours
This seminar will focus on selected research questions and methodologies used in the field of Latin Americanist geography. This course is not a course on Latin America, although you will learn more about the geography of Latin America. The goal is that you understand some of the types of questions asked by Latin Americanists, the paradigms and methodologies used, and the interpretations of the results.

EES. 80500 Independent Study
(Credits variable, one or more credits per semester)

EES. 81000 Research for the Doctoral Dissertation
(Credits variable, one or more credits per semester)

EES. 82100 Special Topics in Paleoclimatology and Paleoceanography , 3 credits, 45 hours.
Lecture subjects and independent study of selected aspects of paleoclimatology and paleoceanography.