Introduction

The Sciences Secondary Core is intended to support students interested in careers in natural, biological, or social science research, especially academic programs, environmental consulting, or any other areas where a quantitative, experimental background is required. The sciences include all natural, biological, and social science research disciplines focused on questions that can be addressed empirically. This core sequence is very broad and could encompass research in biology or physical science as well as research in technology (e.g. energy technologies), or any of the quantitative or qualitative social science research areas. The course structure is focused on the development of methodological skills -- usually quantitative, but also qualitative in select areas. The elective list also is broad and includes the possibility for a substantive focus in areas such as Energy, Water, Environmental Sociology and many other topics.

Curriculum

1. Common Core Requirements (8 credit hours)

• ENVS 5000 (3): Science Policy and Values
• ENVS 5XXX (3): Theory and Methods in Environment
• ENVS 5909 (2): Colloquium* (Independent Study) – two semesters

Note: students will have the opportunity to participate in the organization of the colloquium after their first year for one (1) unit of academic credit. Students are required to participate in Colloquium for two out of their three first semesters.

2. Theory and Methods (6-9 credit hours)

Choose two:
* PSCI 7116/ENVS 5740: Context Sensitive Research Methods
* CVEN 5454: Statistical Methods for Natural & Civil Engineering System
* CVEN 6833: Special Topics: Advanced Data Analysis
* PSCI 7085: Data 1
* SOCY 6111: Data 2
* ECON 4848: Applied Econometrics
* PSYC 5741, 5751; Statistics and Data Analysis
* GEOG 5023: Introduction to Quantitative Methods
* ENVS 5120: Topics in Quantitative Methods

3. Required Interdisciplinary Elective Categories (6 credit hours)

Policy (3 credit hours)
Choose one:
* ENVS 5710: Introduction to Policy Sciences
* ENVS 5720: Problem Orientation
* ENVS 5730: Decision Process
* ENVS 5100: Science and Tech Policy
* ENVS 5110: Science Technology and Society
* ENVS 5820: Renewable Energy Policy
* ENVS 5810: Water Resources and Environmental Sustainability

AND

Values (3 credit hours): Choose one:
* ENVS 5001/PHIL 5240: Environmental Philosophy
* PSCI 7024: Environmental Political Theory

4. Electives: 10 credit hours for MS; 22 credit hours for PhD
See Cluster Options. Students are allowed to use 4 credit hours of thesis credit hours toward the 30 hours total.

Total Course Credit Hours for MS: 30 credit hours + 6 thesis credits = 36 total
Total Course Credit Hours for PhD: 32 credit hours + 30 dissertation credits = 62 total

CU Boulder Resources

Campus-wide Initiatives:

• Western Water Assessment
• Carbon, Climate and Society Initiative

Departments:

• Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences
• Civil and Environmental Engineering
• Economics
• Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
• Geography
• Geological Sciences
• Hydrologic Sciences
• School of Law
• Political Science

Institutes/Centers:

• CIRES (Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences)
• INSTAAR (Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research)
• IBS (Institute of Social and Behavioral Sciences)
• CADWES (Center for Advanced Decision Support for Water and Environmental Systems)
• NRCL (Natural Resources Law Center)

Federal Agency Laboratories, Offices in Boulder/Ft. Collins/Denver:

• U.S. Geological Survey, Water Resources Division
• U.S.D.A. Forest Service
• U.S. Department of Interior Bureau of Reclamation
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
• NOAA Office of Global Programs
• NOAA Climate and Societal Interactions
• NOAA Paleoclimate
• NOAA Climate Diagnostics Center
• NCAR

Faculty

• James White

• Joseph Ryan

• Diana Nemergut

• Diane McKnight

• Jill Litt

• Lisa Dilling

• Sharon Collinge

• Lisa Barlow

Grad Students

Grad Program: