2011 - 2012 Student Calendar - Helena College of Technology

Course DescriptionsENSC242 Environmental Sampling ICredits: 3Prerequisites: EVSC215 and EVSC220 or consent ofinstructorEnvironmental Sampling I expands on the fundamentalknowledge taught in Hydrologic Measurements, Surface WaterHydrology, and Groundwater Hydrology. Using the skills andmethods required for measuring and analyzing surface waterand groundwater, students will make predictions or decisionsin water resource applications. The course will emphasize thepractical application of knowledge learned in previous courses.ENSC270 Water QualityCredits: 3Prerequisites: ENSC272, M121, CHMY121 and CHMY122 orconsent of the instructorThis water quality course provides an understanding and anawareness of the basic principles of water quality. Coursecontent will include water quality parameters, pollution sources,and water treatment. This will be related to water regulations,requirements, policies, understanding the basics of a waterquality plan both locally and regionally, and testing procedures.The water quality course is designed to prepare students forfuture careers in applied water resource management.ENSC272 Water ResourcesCredits: 3Prerequisites: noneThis course provides a basic introduction to the fundamentalconcepts, techniques, and knowledge required to understandand manage water resources. The course will provide anintroduction to a variety of water resource topics, including:water resources terminology, the principles of the hydrologiccycle, water balance techniques, hydrology, hydrogeology, basiccomputational techniques, historic water information, waterlaw, and water rights overview. Through the use of professionalsources, the students will develop a working knowledge of thehydrologic, water quality, legal, economic, political, and socialfactors that determine water availability, hazards, use, demand,and allocation.ENST230 Nature and SocietyCredits: 3Prerequisites: WRIT101 or WRIT121TThis course is designed to provide students with anunderstanding of the relationship between human society andthe environment and how it has changed through the growthof modern civilization. The course applies the idea that trueenvironmental studies are a mixture of multiple disciplines andnot just a science topic. The course is presented to allow studentsflexibility to draw and present their own conclusions, similarto a philosophy course in the humanities. Students will readfrom multiple sources, and class discussions will reflect topicsof student interest and their applications to modern society.EVSC135 Topographic Maps and Aerial PhotoInterpretationCredits: 3Prerequisites: M121 or higher or consent of instructorThe course will introduce basic principles, techniques,processes, and procedures for quantitative and qualitativeinterpretation of topographic maps and aerial photographs.The course will entail not only formal explanation of principlesand concepts, but also hands-on exercises that focus on variouspractical applications for effective interpretation of maps and airphotos in order to make quality assessments of physical objectsor locations of interest. Each student is required to conductan individual research project, which will consist of problemsolving using the analytical skills learned during the semester.EVSC140 Introduction to Geographic Information Systems(GIS)Credits: 3Prerequisite: CAPP131 or higher or consent of instructorThis course teaches the basics of Geographic InformationSystems (GIS) and the science and technology behind it.Students will be introduced to the fundamentals of geographyand spatial relationships and the concepts and tools used tocreate, maintain, and display GIS data. The course will consistof online lessons and readings each with approximately 2-4hours of material.EVSC150 Hydrologic MeasurementsCredits: 3Prerequisite: M121 or higher and ENSC272 or consent of theinstructorIncreasing competition for water has led to the need for accuratewater measurement in order to more efficiently manage theresource. This course is designed to teach the basics of surfaceand ground water measurement and provide a theoreticalunderstanding of the science. Students will learn the mostcommonly used measurement and data collection techniquesand how to properly analyze the data.EVSC211 Environmental Policy and LawsCredits: 3Prerequisites: ENSC105 or consent of instructorThis course is an introduction to the study of environmentalpolitics, policy, and laws. It examines the development ofenvironmental policy in the United States while exploringthe opposing environmental relationships between scienceversus belief, rich versus poor, the powerful versus thedisenfranchised, and idealism versus practice. Throughanalysis and case studies, this course provides an overview andassessment of key environmental policy issues, developmentalframework of current laws, and their associated implicationsfor environmental issues.UM-Helena College of Technology 2011 - 2012 Academic Catalog 103