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Core Areas and Courses
The Core Educational Areas of the WSSS program encompass the disciplines we deem necessary for integrated analysis of water issues. They support our six research areas and in turn are deepened by our research projects. All WSSS students are required to take one course each in three of the four core areas. Prerequisites may be excused with the permission of the instructor. In addition, an exceptionally well-qualified student may obtain exemption credit in one core area if the required approvals are obtained (see the Exemption form).
The required core areas and associated courses include the following. Several are cross-listed.
1. Water Resources Science and Technology
2. Biological Aspects of Water, Health,
and Nutrition
3. Water Planning and Policy
4. Economic and Systems Analysis
1. Water Resources Science and Technology courses concentrate on the physical aspects of water science and management. Eligible courses include:
• CE 112 Hydrology/Water Resource
An introduction to the science of hydrology and to the design of water resource systems. Basic hydrologic processes such as precipitation, infiltration, groundwater flow, evaporation, and streamflow are discussed. Applications of hydrology to water supply, flood control and watershed modeling are emphasized. Students develop their own hydrologic models using computer software. Fall.• CE 172 Fate and Transport of Environmental Contaminants
This course focuses on the behavior of man-made chemicals that have been released into the environment. The basic processes by which chemicals move through surface water, ground water, soil, and air are examined. Chemical transformation mechanisms and partitioning are described for different chemical classes in different environmental media. Emphasis is placed on developing and using analytical tools to predict spatial and temporal variations in chemical concentrations in water, air, and soil. Spring.• CE 212 Chemical Principles in Environmental and Water Resources Engineering
Basic principles of water chemistry related to environmental and water resources engineering. Thermodynamics, chemical equilibrium, acid-base reactions, alkalinity, complexation, precipitation, dissolution, sorption, and reduction-oxidation reactions. Quantitative problem solving. Prerequisites: undergraduate chemistry. Fall.• CE 213 Transport Principle in Environmental and Water Resources Engineering
An examination of transport phenomena in the natural or engineered environment. Topics include: momentum transport, energy transport, mass transport, interphase mass transfer, and environmental applications of ideal and non-ideal reactor models. Students will enhance their ability to apply a first principles approach for analysis of complex environmental systems. Prerequisites: Equivalent of Mathematics 38 and Engineering Science 8. Fall.• GEO 131 Groundwater (Cross-listed as CEE-113 and Environmental Studies 113)
The geology and hydrology of groundwater. Topics include: hydraulic properties of soils, sediments, and rocks; physics of groundwater low; flow nets, modeling groundwater systems; geology of regional flow; aquifer exploration and water well construction methods; well hydraulics and aquifer testing; applications in the geosciences and in civil/geotechnical/environmental engineering. Fall.
2. Biological Aspects of Water, Health, and Nutrition courses cover public health, epidemiology, biology, ecology, and environmental impacts. Eligible courses include:
• BIO 142 Population and Community Ecology
Introduction to population dynamics (population structure and growth), species interactions (predator-prey, competition, mutualism), and community structure (adaptations to the physical environment, patterns and processes governing the world’s biomes). Prerequisites: Biology 13, 14, or permission of instructor. Fall.• BIO 143 Evolutionary Ecology
Theory and evidence on mechanisms of evolutionary change in natural populations. Population genetics, speciation, biogeography, biochemical coevolution, life history strategies, sexual selection, and genetics of endangered species. Prerequisites: Biology 13, 14, 41, or equivalent. Fall.• BIO 144 Principles of Conservation Biology
Learning and application of principles from population ecology, population genetics, and community ecology to the conservation of species and ecosystems. Focus on rare and endangered species, as well as threatened ecosystems. Includes applications from animal behavior, captive breeding, and wildlife management. Readings from current texts and primary literature. Prerequisite: Biology 14 or equivalent. Spring.• BIO 181 Tropical Ecology and Conservation
Ecology and evolution of biodiversity in the tropics. Meets three times per week during the semester and is followed by a trip to Costa Rica. Discussions of original literature; presentations of particular ecosystems, communities, or organisms; team design of research project to be completed during two weeks of intensive fieldwork in December/January in Costa Rica. Funding may be available for those in need. Prerequisites: Biology 14L, and permission of instructor. Fall.• CE 241 Biology, Water, and Health
This course explores the influence of waterborne pathogens on human and environmental health. The course allows participants to become familiar with different disciplinary approaches to addressing the assessment and control of environmental and health effects of waterborne contaminants. Fall.
3. Water Resources Policy and Planning courses explore the use of policy and planning to achieve desired outcomes in water resources management. Eligible courses include:
• CE 294 Section 02 Special Topics: Integrated Water Resources Planning and Management
This course will introduce you to the challenging concept of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM), which has been defined by the Global Water Partnership as "a process which promotes the coordinated development and management of water, land and related resources in order to maximize the resultant economic and social welfare in an equitable manner without compromising the sustainability of vital eco-systems." May fulfill either the Water Resources Policy and Planning requirement or the Economics and Systems Analysis requirement. Fall.• DHP P250 Elements of International Environmental Policy
This course is designed to provide an introduction to international environmental policy development beginning with the scientific identification of the problem, the assessment of its economic and social impact, and the political forces that shape international agreements. It is recommended that students intending to concentrate in the environment and resource field take this course unless they have a solid environmental background. Following a short introduction to some of the basic scientific and economic factors that characterize most environmental problems, the course examines five case studies that illustrate the range of international problems facing diplomats and corporations. Bilateral, multilateral and commons issues are studied using examples of air, climate, hazardous waste, fisheries, and biological diversity. The emphasis is on the development of effective policy solutions based on sound scientific and economic information that meet the often-divergent political positions of nations. Fall.• NUTR 233 Agricultural Science and Policy I
First part of a two-semester sequence required of AFE students. This course covers the major biological, chemical and physical components of agricultural systems. Each is discussed from the viewpoints of both the underlying natural processes and principles, and their significance for major agricultural, food safety, and environmental policy issues in the US today. In the first semester, the topics covered are soils, water, nutrients, and genetic resources. This course was previously listed as NUTR 212. Prerequisites: NUTR 215. Spring.• NUTR 333 Agricultural Science and Policy II
NUTR 333 is second part of a two-semester sequence required of AFE students. This course covers the major biological, chemical and physical components of agricultural systems. Each is discussed from the viewpoints of both the underlying natural processes and principles, and their significance for major agricultural, food safety, and environmental policy issues in the US today. In this second semester, the topics are best management practices, livestock systems, food systems, climate change and bio-energy. Major policy issues associated with these areas include protecting groundwater from nitrogen contamination; regulating and monitoring pesticide use; regulating agricultural biotechnology; and regulating "factory" animal production. This course was previously listed as NUTR 213. Prerequisites: NUTR 215 and NUTR 233. Fall.• PS 194 Politics of the Environment in the U.S.
Examines the recent history and contemporary political debates surrounding governmental decisions affecting the environment. Environmental policy making in the general context of U.S. policy-making processes and institutions, emphasizing the roles of federal, state, and local actors, including the president, executive and regulatory agencies (especially the Environmental Protection Agency), the legislature, and the courts, as well as their state and local counterparts, in defining environmental policy. Addresses such issues as policies toward air pollution, water pollution, hazardous waste management, environmental justice, sustainability, and public opinion toward the environment. Prerequisites: PS 61. Fall.• UEP 174 Clean Air & Clean Water Policy
This seminar course examines air and water policy from the perspective of law, regulation, economics and politics, with particular focus on – and comparison among – the primary statutory programs that promise to deliver clean air and water: the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act and the Safe Drinking Water Act, as well as related federal and state programs. We look at the major challenges facing the process today, particularly those crossing media boundaries – for instance, global warming and mercury contamination. Although the main focus is on U.S. policies, discussion topics will range from international regulatory regimes (e.g., carbon emissions trading) to highly localized efforts (e.g., watershed advocacy). Featured will be guest speakers with broad experience in the field. Students can expect to gain a stronger substantive understanding of air and water policy, and a clearer sense of how citizen activists shape that policy – as well as a deeper appreciation of the work that regulatory bodies do; of the complex relations among federal, state and local governments; and of the growing opportunity for of broad policy reform. Summer.• UEP 279 Water Resources Policy & Planning and Watershed Management
Presents a comprehensive approach to water resources management through the integration of environmental science and policy. Intended for students with or without technical backgrounds. Course examines groundwater, lake, riverine, wetland, and coastal management issues and relies heavily on practical case studies to illustrate successful methods. Fall.• UEP 294 Planning for Low Impact Development (LID)
Designed for students in the field of planning, engineering, and environmental policy. Provides a land use planning approach and specific site planning skills. Low impact development (LID) is a land use planning and a site planning approach that integrates conservation design principles and specific best management practices to minimize or eliminate the environmental impacts associated with development. Course will present planning approaches using actual case studies. A field trip to visit LID projects will be scheduled.
4. Economics and Systems Analysis courses provide tools to analyze and evaluate complex, multifaceted problems. In most cases, students are also taking statistic courses as part of departmental requirements. Eligible courses include:
• CE 214 Environmental and Water Resources Systems
Mathematical models of water resource and environmental systems are presented in combination with optimization procedures, decision theory, and environmental applied statistics to generate an integrated approach to the planning, design, and management of complex water resources systems. Water resources systems applications are formulated as decision problems where an optimal solution is sought, yet cost, safety, environment, and technology appear as competing constraints. Applications include regional water quality management; siting treatment plants; reservoir system operations; and design, irrigation, flood control, and watershed planning. Spring.• CE 294 Section 02 Special Topics: Integrated Water Resources Planning and Management
This course will introduce you to the challenging concept of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM), which has been defined by the Global Water Partnership as "a process which promotes the coordinated development and management of water, land and related resources in order to maximize the resultant economic and social welfare in an equitable manner without compromising the sustainability of vital eco-systems." May fulfill either the Water Resources Policy and Planning requirement or the Economics and Systems Analysis requirement. Fall.• ECON 130 Topics in Environmental Economics
Research seminar for students who wish to pursue environmental economics beyond the level of Economics 30. Topics may include the design and administration of environmental excise taxes, the theory and practice of benefit-cost analysis, the economics of renewable and exhaustible resources, and the sustainability of economic growth. Prerequisites: Economics 11 and 30, or consent. Fall.• ES 152 Engineering Systems: Stochastic Models
An introduction to network models in the study/design of engineering, economic, environmental, and social systems with an emphasis on systems exhibiting probabilistic behavior. Topics include network models, Markov chains, queuing theory, reliability analysis, and genetic algorithms (GAs). Practical treatment is stressed; applications and projects are chosen from several areas, including civil and environmental engineering. Prerequisites: permission of instructor.• Fletcher EIB E246 Natural Resource and Environmental Economics
This course will introduce students to the underlying concepts and major debates in contemporary environmental economics. Building on basic concepts from microeconomics, this course emphasizes how environmental degradation takes place in market economies and how incentives can be designed to protect the environment. Topics covered will include resource consumption, innovation, international trade and the environment, global climate change and environmental regulation. Special attention will be paid to how such issues play out in Mexico and Latin America .Students will engage in empirical data analysis to test relevant environmental economics hypotheses. Open to students who have completed E201 or equivalent. Background in basic statistics and working knowledge of Excel is encouraged. Spring.
The Water: Systems, Science and Society (WSSS) program is a graduate research and education program that provides Tufts students with interdisciplinary perspectives and tools to manage water-related problems around the world.
617.627.3645 | wsss@tufts.edu | WSSS, c/o Tufts Institute of the Environment | 210 Packard Ave | Medford, MA