Winter 2006-2007 Course List

Graduate Courses, MS in Environmental Science and Policy. To register for courses, visit the College of Graduate Studies.

ESP 5310  Snow Hydrology (2 credits) Instructor: Kevin McGuire  

January 16-19, 2007

This course will look at the role of snow in the hydrologic cycle with emphasize on measurements, atmospheric formation, snow distribution and metamorphosis, snowmelt & accumulation, runoff prediction, snow chemistry, and forest and land-use interaction effects. This is a field and lecture based course taught over an intensive period in the winter.  Prerequisites: a physical geography, hydrology, or equivalent course or permission of the instructor. Additional course fee required. The course will take place at Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest on January 16-19, 2007. There will be an advance organizational meeting prior to Tuesday, January 16, 2007, in addition to some follow up meetings. Please contact the instructor for additional information at kmcguire1@plymouth.edu.

ESP 5500 Special Topics: Ecosystem Science for Educators (3 credits) Instructors: Mary Ann McGarry & Jenna Guarino

January 9, 10, 11, & 20 9:00 am - 3:30 pm; January 19, 3:00 - 8 :00 pm; three additional online sessions

A veteran team of science educators from Plymouth State University and Hubbard Brook Research Foundation will focus on providing Ecosystem Science for Educators- a course integrating winter field monitoring experiences with analysis of longterm research results (30 years of acid precipitation data) from the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest, in Woodstock, N.H..  Educators will learn winter monitoring techniques, using GLOBE: Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment (www.globe.gov) protocols.   GLOBE protocols are designed for use with students in  the ecosystems outside their classrooms, so the goal is for educators to set up on going outdoor monitoring plots on their school grounds.  This workshop type course will take place both indoors at PSU and outdoors at the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest.  Participants will have an opportunity to interact with guest research scientist presenters, renowned in the field of snow hydrology and biogeochemistry of forested watersheds.  All content and activities will be discussed in relation to alignment with the newly revised NH science frameworks for high school educators and the international endorsed North American Environmental Education Association's environmental literacy standards.  Pre-service undergraduate and graduate teacher participants will be paired with local veteran in-service teacher mentors, so the former can acquire direct experience implementing and field testing actvities in regional schools.  A minimum of 8 and maximum of 15 students is required for the course to run.

ESP 5680 Social Marketing in Environmental Education ( 3 credits) Instructor: Mary Ann McGarry

December 11 & 18, 2006; January 8, 22, 29, February 5, 12, & 19, 2007; 5-8 pm

The course will examine effective stewardship or environmental education outreach programs which apply strategic communications, marketing, branding, and evaluation processes which foster sustainable behavioral change toward stewarding natural resources.  The course will focus on research studies on effective programs and how the best practices can inform design of new initiatives.  Participants will: examine prevailing public environmental attitudes & knowledge; explore the issue of motivating people beyond knowledge to action; and review the role of Social Marketing in behavior change and environmental education.

ESP 5720 Land Use Planning Seminar (2 credits) Instructors: June Hammond Rowan and Steve Whitman

January 11 & 25, February 1 & 8 from 4:00-7:00 pm; January 18 & February 15 from 6:00 - 9:00 pm

Land use planning is a dynamic field that involves the integration of a variety of components to improve communities and places. This graduate seminar will focus on furthering knowledge on specific topics related to planning and explore interrelationships between topics. Topics might include smart growth, low impact design, transportation, energy, sustainable design, drinking water protection, housing, economic development, and community involvement. In the Winter 2007, the course involves studying the Master Plan and land use regulations (Zoning Ordinance, Subdivision & Site Plan Review Regulations) of a Holderness, NH with the purpose of researching how the community addresses water resources and watershed planning in the land use planning process. An outcome of the seminar will be a report to the town about their planning process in these areas with recommendations. The work in the class has direct benefit to the community as well as for a larger effort on watershed planning in the Squam Lakes region.