University General Course Catalog 2022-2023

Nov 23, 2024

University General Course Catalog 2022-2023 ARCHIVED CATALOG: LINKS AND CONTENT ARE OUT OF DATE. CHECK WITH YOUR ADVISOR.

Environmental Sciences and Health, M.S.

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The Environmental Science and Health Graduate Program is based on the tenet that graduate education in the environmental sciences requires an interdisciplinary approach encompassing the fields of chemistry, geology, biology, ecology, physics, and human health. The program offers programs of study leading to M.S. and Ph.D. degrees.

The Environmental Sciences and Health Graduate Program offer a research-based Masters degrees Thesis (Plan A) or Non-Thesis (Plan B). The Environmental Sciences and Health graduate program provides education and research training in the areas of:

environmental chemistry,
ecological toxicology (environmental biology and ecology),
environmental toxicology as it relates to human health, and
microbiological toxicology.

Students may choose one of these specializations or work with their advisor to develop a custom plan of study. To foster interdisciplinary interactions, the program recognizes that students must have a strong core curriculum within the environmental sciences. Beyond that, flexible graduate-level education and research is promoted. The program’s faculty comes from the University on Nevada, Reno’s, College of Agriculture, Biotechnology and Natural Resources, College of Science, College of Engineering, School of Public Health, School of Medicine, and the Desert Research Institute.

Contact Information

Stanley T. Omaye, Professor
Graduate Program Director
omaye@unr.edu
(775) 784-6447
Mail Stop 202

Graduate Handbook *

Program Objectives/Student Learning Outcomes

This program is designed to allow the student an opportunity to design a curriculum to meet his or her disciplinary interests and professional aspirations.

Outcomes include:

a broad and deep factual and theoretical understanding of their area of specialization,
awareness of modern research methods and technology,
ability to independently design experiments to study scientific hypothesis, interpret experimental results, present their work through effective scientific communication,
understand the societal and scientific significance of their work, and possess professional character as illustrated by their ethical behavior, continued educational pursuits and commitment to health and protection of the environment.

Admissions Requirement

Admissions Deadline

Fall: March 1

Spring: November 1

If you miss the admission deadline and would like to enroll in graduate special coursework that could be applied to the M.S. or Ph.D. degree please contact Stanley T. Omaye, Professor at omaye@unr.edu.

Admissions Requirements

an undergraduate degree in a related science is desirable including courses in calculus, chemistry (organic chemistry), biology and physics.
an undergraduate GPA of 2.75 on a scale of 4.00,
graduate record exam (GRE),
international students must have TOEFL score of at least 600 (paper version), 250 (computer version) or 100 (internet based version) results,
3 letters of recommendation,
a letter stating goals and choice of disciplinary interest,
documentation from an Environmental Sciences Graduate faculty member who agrees to be your research advisor.

Applicants must meet the Graduate School, University of Nevada, Reno and the Environmental Sciences Graduate Program requirements for graduate student status.

I. Program Requirements

M.S. students are required to complete a thesis (Plan A) or a professional paper (Plan B). Plan A students must complete at least 30 units in acceptable graduate courses, including 6 units for the thesis. Plan B students must complete at least 30 units in acceptable graduate courses, including 3 units for the professional paper.

At least 12 units in the program must be at the 600-level.
At least 9 units for thesis and 12 units for non-thesis in the program must be at the 700-level.
At least 18 units must be earned in on-campus courses at the university.
As many as three units of satisfactory/unsatisfactory (S/U) grade, including transfer are acceptable.
Any transfer of credits from another institution must be recommended in the program of study by the advisory/examining committee and must be officially accepted by the Graduate School.
As many as nine graduate units completed prior to admission to graduate standing may be applied toward the master’s degree.

All requirements for the master’s degree must be satisfied within the period of six years immediately preceding the granting of the degree.

A. Required Courses (12 units)

All students must take 4 courses listed below, unless a student’s advisor and committee members recommend substitutions that correspond with a specific research focus.

ATMS 612 - Introduction to Air Pollution (4 units)
ATMS 747 - Atmospheric Chemistry (3 units)
CEE 653 - Environmental Microbiology (3 units)
CEE 658 - Environmental Chemistry Concepts and Design (3 units)
CHS 636 - Environmental Exposure Assessment (3 units)
CHS 712 - Epidemiology in Public Health (3 units)
CHS 725 - Health and the Environment (3 units)
NRES 632 - Advanced Environmental Toxicology (3 units)
NRES 633 - Environmental Chemicals: Exposure, Transport and Fate (3 units)
NRES 746 - Advanced Analysis Methods in Natural Resources (3 units)
NRES 765 - Biogeochemical Cycles (3 units)
NUTR 624 - Food and Nutrition Toxicology (3 units)

B. Additional Courses (9-12 units)

In addition to the Core courses listed above, Environmental Sciences students take:

NRES 790 - Seminar (1 unit) (3 units required) OR
NUTR 726 - Seminar in Nutrition (1 to 2 units) (3 units required)
NRES 797 - Thesis (1 to 6 units) (6 units required for Plan A only) OR
NRES 796 - Professional Paper (1 to 2 units) (3 units required for Plan B only) (another course may substitute with prior advisor approval)
Statistics (3 units) (must be taken at the graduate level)

C. Specialization (4-14 units)

i. Environmental Chemistry Specialization

The environmental chemistry specialization focuses on the source, transport, transformation and fate of chemicals in the environment. Students must work with their advisory committee to select appropriate courses.

ii. Environmental Toxicology Specialization

The environmental toxicology specialization addresses issues in human health and environmental quality, including air pollution, biochemistry, physiology and nutrition. Students must work with their advisory committee to select appropriate courses.

iii. Ecological Toxicology Specialization

The ecological toxicology specialization addresses biological and ecological issues of fate and effects, ranging from biochemical mechanisms of toxicity in nonhuman species to biogeochemistry of xenobiotics in manmade and natural ecosystems. Students must work with their advisory committee to select appropriate courses.

iv. Microbiological Toxicology Specialization

Students in the microbiological toxicology specialization will study how microbes interact with the environment and each other and associated implications for human health and the environment. Students must work with their advisory committee to select appropriate courses.

v. Suggested Specialization Courses

Each student’s program of study is based on the disciplinary track she/he has chosen. Specialization courses may be selected from a variety of departments, including but not limited to Atmospheric Sciences (ATMS), Biochemistry (BCH), Chemistry (CHEM), Civil Engineering (CEE), and Nutrition (NUTR).

ATMS 747 - Atmospheric Chemistry (3 units)
BCH 600 - Introductory Biochemistry (4 units)
CEE 653 - Environmental Microbiology (3 units)
CHS 753 - Health Informatics (3 units)
CHS 780 - Biostatistics in Public Health (3 units)
NUTR 735 - Micronutrients (3 units)

II. Program Total Hours (30-35 units)

Undergraduate Prerequisites/Notes

A degree in a related science is desirable including courses in calculus, chemistry (organic chemistry), biology and physics. Upon admission to the Environmental Sciences Program and prior to beginning classes, each student and faculty advisor will design the academic course work for the first year. By the conclusion of the first year, the student in collaboration with their advisory committee will develop the rest of the program of study.

* Curriculum requirements in the catalog supersede the Graduate handbook.