2013-2014 Academic Catalog

May 04, 2024

2013-2014 Academic Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

EN 204 - Field Methods: Air, Water, and Soil Quality

This course is designed to give students experience gathering and interpreting field data on air quality, water quality, and soil quality toward professional development for careers in environmental science. Students gain practical skills using portable instruments and follow appropriate guidelines or methods to collect measurements in the field. Many labs will be outdoors and involve field trips. Collected data is processed and interpreted as students develop an understanding of the applications and limitations of the techniques. Guidelines for the overall process are based on existing policies that govern air, water, and soil quality. Discussions will evaluate the relationship between monitoring practices and these policies. Skills learned in the first half of the semester will be applied to design a project and carry out research to study relevant environmental questions. Students should gain competency evaluating and discussing their scientific approach, results, and conclusions as they would be applied in the field.