University-Wide Instructional Programs
Environmental Studies
(from the Colorado State University Catalog)
Colorado State University is second to none in terms of relevant
academic, research, and outreach programs which address the
environmental needs of Colorado, the nation, and the world.
A key component of Colorado State's 21st-century, land-grant
mission is to provide "liberal and practical" education in the
science and technology of environmental management. The broad
spectrum of environmental studies at Colorado State is uniquely
dispersed over 100 majors and concentrations housed in 31 of the
55 departments of the University. At Colorado State, it is hard
to find a degree or department that does not directly connect
with environmental issues.
Campus-wide participation in environmental science and management
is a result of the fundamental linkages between basic science and
management of critical environmental issues that are a part of the
Colorado State culture. A unique strength of the campus is the
integration of its many programs. Integration results from a
long-standing institutional culture and commitment that is very
supportive of interdisciplinary research, teaching, and service.
Regardless of the majororprogram of study selected by the student,
the goal of each is to:
1. Understand that scientific knowledge, policy considerations,
and ethical issues are necessarily joined;
2. Comprehend the interrelationships among the environment,
natural resources, and human society;
3. Perceive the need to integrate diverse social, political,
legal, institutional, and biophysical considerations inherent
in attaining environmental goals;
4. Educate students to be articulate, sensitive, and knowledgeable
about the complex environmental issues facing society;
5. Provide a balanced understanding of the natural and social
processes as they relate to the environment.
All programs of study relating to environmental studies at Colorado
State are incorporated in existing majors in the following departments.
Programs in Environmental Studies
College of Agricultural Sciences
Agriculture and Natural Resource Economics (B.S., M.S., Ph.D.)
Environmental program focus: Water, land, and soil management:
risk assessment: waterquality; policy analysis: sustainable systems,
natural resources and environmental management.
Bio-Agricultural Sciences and Pest Management (Entomology,
Plant Pathology and Weed Science) (M.S., Ph.D.). Environmental
program focus: Water, land. and soil management; ecology and
ecosystem management; pollution control; natural resources
management: water quality: biodiversity; risk assessment; pest
management in ecosystems.
Horticulture (B.S., M.S., Ph.D.). Environmental program
focus: Water, land. and soil management; ecology; plant, landscape,
and ecosystem management; natural resources management; environmental
design and planning.
Soil and Crop Sciences (B.S., M.S., Ph.D.). Environmental
program focus: Water, land, and soil management; risk assessment;
global warming: ecology and ecosystem management; pollution control:
natural resources management; water quality; sustainable management.
College of Applied Human Sciences
Manufacturing Technology and Construction Management (B.S.,
M.S.). Environmental program focus: Air and climate.
College of Engineering
Atmospheric Science (M.S.. Ph.D.). Environmental program
focus: Air and climate; global warming, ecology and ecosystem
management; pollution control.
Chemical and Bioresource Engineering (B.S., M.S., Ph.D.).
Environmental program focus: Water, land, and soil management-,
irrigation engineering; tion-point source pollution control;
groundwater hydrology; water quality management; bioremediation;
natural resources management.
Civil Engineering (B.S., M.S., Ph.D.). Environmental program
focus: Water resources, land and soil management; air and climate;
risk assessment and management; policy analysis, global warming,
pollution control; natural resources management.
Mechanical Engineering (B.S., M.S.. Ph.D.). Environmental
program focus: Air and climate; risk assessment and management:
pollution control, waste minimization.
College of Liberal Arts
Anthropology (B.A., M.A.). Environmental program focus:
Policy analysis; ecology and ecosystem management.
English (B.A., M.A.). Environmental program focus:
Nature writing; interpretation.
History (B.A., M.A.). Environmental program focus:
Western natural resources management; water management, land
management: historical preservation: environmental history.
Philosophy (B.A., M.A.). Environmental program focus:
Land and soil: policy analysis; normative policy ethics;
environmental ethics; sustainable development ethics.
Political Science (B.A., M.A.. Ph.D.). Environmental program
focus: Water management; air and climate; policy analysis; natural
resources management: international and trans-boundary resource
management; comparative environmental policy, pollution and
hazardous waste control.
Sociology (B.A., M.A., Ph.D.). Environmental program focus:
Water management: risk management; policy analysis. natural
resources management; pesticide management: rural development.
College of Natural Resources
Earth Resources (B.S., M.S., Ph.D.). Environmental program
focus: Water, land, and soil management; environmental monitoring,
ecosystem management; risk assessment; geographic information systems;
environmental equity; natural resource management; hydrogeology;
surface and groundwater quality; alpine and wetland hydrology;
environmental geology; sedimentology.
Fishery and Wildlife Biology (B.S., M.S., Ph.D.). Environmental
program focus: Water, land, and soil management;
risk assessment and management; policy analysis; ecology and
ecosystem management; pollution control; natural resource management;
biodiversity; conservation biology.
Forest Sciences (B.S., M.F., M.S., Ph.D.). Environmental program
focus: Water, land, and soil management; risk assessment and management;
policy analysis; global warming; ecology and ecosystem management;
pollution control; geographical information systems; natural resources
management; biodiversity; conservation biology.
Natural Resource Recreation and Tourism (B.S., M.S., Ph.D.).
Environmental program focus: Natural resources management;
historical preservation; human dimensions in natural resources;
ecotourism; interpretation; park and protected area management;
environmental education.
Rangeland Ecosystem Science (B.S., M.S., Ph.D.). Environmental
program focus: Climate; risk management; policy analysis; global
warming; ecology and ecosystem management; natural resource management;
biodiversity; riparian systems.
Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory. Water, land, and
soil management; air and climate; risk assessment and management;
policy analysis; global warming; ecology and ecosystem management;
pollution control; natural resources management.
College of Natural Sciences
Biology (B.S., M.S., Ph.D.). Environmental program focus:
Water, land, and soil management; risk assessment; global warming;
ecology and ecosystem management; pollution control.
Chemistry (B.S., M.S., Ph.D.). Environmental program focus:
Water chemistry; water quality.
Physics (B.S., M.S., Ph.D.). Environmental program focus:
Pollution control.
Psychology (B.S., M.S., Ph.D.). Environmental program focus:
Policy analysis; ecology and ecosystem management; natural resources
management.
College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences
Clinical Sciences (M.S., Ph.D.). Environmental program focus:
Veterinary health management; zoological medicine.
Environmental Health (B.S., M.S., Ph.D.). Environmental
program focus: Toxicology; epidemiology; industrial
hygiene/occupational safety; public health; risk assessment.
Microbiology (B.S., M.S., Ph.D.). Environmental program focus:
Human and veterinary health; ecosystem function.
Pathology (M.S., Ph.D.). Environmental program focus:
Causes and mechanisms of disease processes.
Physiology (M.S., Ph.D.). Environmental program focus:
Environmental biology.
Radiological Health Sciences (M.S., Ph.D. Environmental program
focus: Radiation protection/health physics; radioecology;
radiobiology.