ESM Courses

ESM Undergraduate Level Courses
(401-499)

ESM401
Research (Credit to be arranged.)
Consent of instructor and program director.

ESM 402
Independent Study (Credit to be arranged.)

ESM 403
Thesis (Credit to be arranged.)

ESM 404
Cooperative Education/Internship (Credit to be arranged.)
This requires a prior approval of a faculty advisor. For info review the Guidelines for Internships.

ESM 405
Reading and Conference (Credit to be arranged.)

ESM 406 
Special Projects (Credits to be arranged.)

ESM 407
Environmental Seminar: Speaker Series (0-6cr)
Weekly seminar series involving student-led discussion of topical environmental issues. May be repeated for up to 3 credits.
Required for 1 term only, however the department encourages students to attend as often as possible.

ESM 410
Selected Topics (Credit to be arranged.)
Consent of instructor.

Snow Hydrology (2024)

ESM 415
Road Ecology (4cr)
Environmental impacts of roads and mitigation. Issues associated with road system construction, maintenance, and operation. Projects on the ecological effects of roads will bring real-world perspectives to the class, helping students understand current problems and research needs.
Prerequisites: Any undergraduate environmental science course.
ESM415/515 Syllabus (2016)

ESM 416
Ecosystem Restoration (4cr)
Ecological theories and principles that guide restoration practices in a variety of ecosystems, including rivers, wetlands, forests, and prairies. Causes of ecosystem degradation, motivations for restoration, and factors that influence success in restoration. Interactions between science, philosophy, engineering, environmental management, policy, and politics in the dynamic world of ecosystem restoration. Also offered for graduate level credit as ESM 516 and may be taken only once for credit. 
Prerequisites: ESM355 or GEOG345 or BI357 or ESM321
ESM416/516 Syllabus (2023)

ESM 417
Applied Watershed Restoration (4cr)
Fundamentals of applied watershed/stream restoration: hydrologic, hydraulic, geomorphic, and ecological principles and tools applicable to the assessment of watershed and reach-scale processes and evaluations of stream channel condition. Emphasis on the inter-related nature of physical processes and aquatic and riparian ecology at both the watershed and reach-scale.
Prerequisite: ESM416

ESM 418
Landscape Ecology (4cr) 
Examines the structure, function, and change of natural and human-modified communities at the scale between individual communities and regional biomes. Focuses on spatial patterns and processes as they relate to patch mosaic of inter-acting ecological communities. Expected preparation: GEOG313 or BI357. Upper-division standing required. Also offered at graduate level as ESM518; this is the same course as GEOG418 and may be taken only once for credit. 
Cross Listed With GEOG418
ESM418/518 Syllabus (2012)

ESM 420
Ecological Toxicology (4cr)
Effects of environmental contaminants at the individual, population, and ecosystem level. Topics will include toxicity test methods, environmental fate of contaminants, and the physiological and ecological effects of selected heavy metals, chlorinated organics, and pesticides. Also offered for graduate credit as ESM520 and may be taken only once for credit.
ESM420/520 Syllabus (2023)

ESM 424
Wetland Ecology (4cr)
Structure and function of wetland ecosystems, with an emphasis on the diversity of regional wetland systems. Topics also include wetland soils, plants, and hydrologic setting and requirements for wetland delineation. Also offered for graduate level credit as ESM524 and may be taken only once for credit.
ESM424/524 Syllabus (2021)

ESM 425
Watershed Hydrology (4cr)
Study of the movement and storage of water in watersheds, emphasizing physical processes. Includes systems analysis of watersheds, precipitation, snowmelt, infiltration, evapotranspiration, groundwater flow, streamflow generation, open channel flow, hydrograph analysis and an introduction to watershed hydrologic modeling. Also offered for graduate level credit as ESM525 and may be taken only once for credit.
Expected preparation: MTH252, PH201.
ESM425/525 Syllabus (2020)

ESM 426
Ecology of Streams and Rivers (4cr)
Evaluation of streams and rivers from an ecosystem perspective, including stream development, biological communities, ecological processes, and methods of assessment as applied to evaluation of common environmental problems. Also offered for graduate level credit as ESM526 and may be taken only once for credit.
ESM426/526 Syllabus (2020)

ESM 427
Watershed Biogeochemistry (4cr)
Study of the chemistry of watershed-based eco-systems, emphasizing physical and biological processes. Mechanisms of atmospheric input; rock weathering and soil development; physical and biological controls on the storage and flux of minerals, carbon, and nutrients in terrestrial ecosystems; and impacts of management on bio-geochemical processes in watershed-based eco-systems. Also offered for graduate level credit as ESM527 and may be taken only once for credit.
Expected preparation: BI253, CH221.
ESM427/527 Syllabus (2025)

ESM 428
Urban Ecology (4cr)
Study of ecological processes in urban environments. Emphasis on responses of flora and fauna to changes in climate, hydrology, geomorphology, geochemistry, soils and available habitat in urban areas. Includes issues of species conservation, ecosystem management and sustainability in urban systems. Also offered for graduate level credit as ESM528 and may be taken only once for credit.
Expected preparation: an undergraduate biology course or permission of instructor.
ESM428/528 Syllabus (2025)

ESM 429
Environmental Impact Assessment (4cr)
Environmental assessments and impact assessment techniques; regulatory and technical requirements of impact assessment. The National Environmental Policy Act, its implementation, implications and uses. Also offered for graduate level credit as ESM529 and may be taken only once for credit.
ESM429/529 Syllabus (2025)

ESM 435
Natural Resources Policy & Management (4cr)
The impact of natural resource policy and management on regional and federal levels. Case studies will focus on the complex setting, difficult socioeconomic contexts and charged political environments. Also offered for graduate level credit as ESM535 and may be taken only once for credit. 
Prerequisite: ESM 335
ESM435/535 Syllabus (2021)

ESM 440
The Ecology & Management of Wildfire (4cr)
A field-based class offered jointly by Departments of Environmental Science & Management and Geography. This class focuses on the complex challenges of managing wildfire in integrated social and ecological systems (SESs) and uses the western US as case study to focus on the biophysical and social science behind those challenges. The course adds field studies in NE Oregon to understand how integrated SESs manage wildfire and wildfire risks in practice.
Prerequisite: Upper-division standing
Cross Listed With: Geog440

ESM 444
Forest Ecology (4cr) 
Study of forested ecosystems, there biotic and abiotic drivers, and the theories and tools that we use to understand forest ecosystems and project how they will change. Forest ecology considers forest succession, carbon and nitrogen dynamics of forests, forest soils, climate and weather, water and energy balances, and disturbances. Also offered for graduate-level credit as ESM544 and may be taken only once for credit.
Pre-requisite: ESM320 and ESM321 
ESM444/544 Syllabus (2025)

ESM 445
Old-growth Forest Ecology (4cr)
Exploration of the ecological characteristics of west-side-old-growth forests, including their outstanding biodiversity. Landscape level aspects of forest ecosystems, including the role of fire; plus the use of basic forestry measurements to contrast old-growth, second-growth, and plantation stands of trees. Emphasizing field study, this eight-day course is based at an off-campus location for easy access to forest ecosystems. Field site costs in addition to tuition. Also offered for graduate level credit as ESM545 and may be taken only once for credit. 
Recommended prerequisite: Upper-division or graduate level standing required and an undergraduate sequence in biology.

ESM 450 
Case Studies in Environmental Problem Solving (6cr)
Evaluation of selected cases of environmental problems, including field studies and project work with government and private agencies.
Expected preparation: ESM320, ESM321, ESM322.
ESM450 Syllabus (2016)

Case Studies in ESM: Urban Backyard Restoration (6cr)
This class will involve students in monitoring the ecological impacts of backyard habitats that are near Portland parks. Students will work in teams in particular targeted neighborhoods. They will monitor some of the following: native and non-native plants, birds, and insects. They will learn about the ecology behind backyard restoration, the procedure for establishing backyard habitats, and assist as residents implement new habitats. They will develop presentations about benefits of restoration and promote the results of this work at neighborhood association meetings, at tables in Farmer’s markets and other venues to disseminate the information about the value of these habitats.
This course may be cross-listed with UNST as a UNST Capstone.
This course can count as one of the four 400-Level ESM required courses.

ESM 460
Air Quality (4cr)
An overview of urban air quality issues facing cities in the US and globally. Examine effects of air pollution on public health and environment, as well as technologies and regulatory practices. Review pollution measurement and modeling techniques. This is the same course as CE488 and may be taken only once for credit. Also offered for graduate level credit as ESM560 and may be taken only once for credit.
Expected preparation: ESM320
Cross Listed With: CE488
ESM460 Syllabus (2024)

ESM 463
Water Quality Policy & Management (4cr)
Review and assessment the efficacy of water quality laws, regulations, and policies. Focus on the Water Quality Standards for the State of Oregon for temperature, bacteria, chemical toxins and nutrients. Role of science in decisions protecting and restoring rivers from water pollution. Also offered for graduate level credit as ESM563 and may be taken only once for credit.
Prerequisite: ESM335
ESM463/563 Syllabus (2025)

ESM 464
Climate Adaptation: Managing Environmental Risks and Vulnerabilities (4cr)
Contribution to climate risk management will require an understanding of the fundamentals of adaptation planning, climate impacts, risk and vulnerability, and implementation. An adaptation-centered view focuses on the power of local actors to develop strategies that protect and facilitate human and environmental values under threat from global change. Also offered for graduate-level credit as ESM564 and may be taken only once for credit.
Prerequisite: ESM355 or equivalent 
ESM464/564 Syllabus (2020)

ESM 475
Limnology and Aquatic Ecology (4cr)
Encompasses biological, physical, geological, and chemical aspects of freshwater environments. Overview of lake ecosystems, emphasizing fundamental interactions, processes, and ecology, as well as an appreciation of the impact of human activities on these waterbodies. A field trip is required. Also offered for graduate level credit as ESM575 and may be taken only once for credit.
Expected preparation: CH223.
Prerequisite: ESM321 or BI357
ESM475/575 Syllabus (2016)

ESM 477
Limnology Laboratory (2cr)
Techniques in field and laboratory analysis of freshwater systems. Also offered for graduate level credit as ESM577 and may be taken only once for credit. 
Recommended Pre- or Corequisite: ESR475/575.

ESM 478
Aquatic Vascular Plants (4cr)
Classification, biology, ecology, and management of aquatic vascular plants. Course will focus on freshwater systems and include a laboratory featuring field identification and laboratory experimentation. Also offered for graduate level credit as ESM578 and may be taken only once for credit. 
Expected preparation: BI357.

ESM 480
Coastal Marine Ecology (4cr)
Introduces the relationships between marine species and their environment, intra- and inter-specific interactions, and factors structuring marine communities. Community structure and distribution presented in the context of both oceanography and coastal zone ecology. Marine conservation issues, including fisheries, addressed. A field trip is required. Also offered for graduate level credit as ESM580 and may be taken only once for credit.
Expected preparation: ESM321
ESM480/580 Syllabus (2021)

ESM 483
Marine Conservation and Management (4cr)
This course will be divided into three sections. We will begin by discussing the state of the oceans, and ecological differences between marine and terrestrial/aquatic systems. The second part of the course will discuss the major threats to ocean systems. The third part of the course will focus on solutions in terms of protected areas, management and policy strategies, and various aspects of the human dimension. Also offered for graduate level credit as ESM583 and may be taken only once for credit.
Recommended prerequisite: ESM355
ESM483/583 Syllabus (2025)

ESM 485
Ecology and Management of Bio-Invasions (4cr)
Invasive, or non-indigenous, species present us with global ecological and economic problems and have been ranked as second only to habitat destruction as a threat to our natural areas and native species. These invasive species are a concern because they restructure ecosystems, affect the evolutionary trajectory of native species, lead to the extinction of species, and impact local industries. Also offered for graduate level credit as ESM585 and may be taken only once for credit.
Expected preparation: ESM321
ESM485/585 Syllabus (2023)

ESM 487
Environmental Justice (4cr)
Explores the foundations of environmental justice theory and how they apply to historical, current and emerging global issues. This course explores philosophies of justice and fairness as they relate to environmental ‘goods’ and ‘bads.’ We will explore a variety of case studies, touching on interrelated topics including food justice, climate and energy justice, water justice and infrastructure supply and demand, etc. This course blends sociological perspectives with natural resource management and policy implications.
Prerequisite: Upper-division standing
Expected preparation ESM 335 or Geog 345U.
ESM 487/587 Syllabus (2023)

ESM 493
Advanced Environmental Science Lab and Field Methods (2cr)
Trains seniors and graduate students in skills that can be used in field and laboratory research. The specific application and topics will rotate from term to term allowing students to learn skills necessary to their own research but also to learn methods employed by other research groups in ESM.
Prerequisite: Senior or graduate standing. 
ESM 493/593 Syllabus (2017)

ESM499
Special Studies (Credit to be arranged.)
Consent of instructor and program director.

ESM Graduate Level Courses
(551-599)

ESM 551
Project Management (4cr)
Managing a science or environmental project is unique, requiring knowledge of the science discipline, project management, public participation and regulatory requirements. Topics include: defining project and tasks; understanding client or internal needs; establishing project organization, staffing, costs; public participation; satisfying regulatory requirements; adaptive management. Group work using case studies included. Prerequisites: upper-division standing.
ESM551 Syllabus (2025)

ESM 555 / ESR 655
Science Communication (1cr)
Students will outline objectives involved in presenting scientific information to different audiences, including the role of the speaker, visual presentation data, written and mixed media. This is the same course as ESR655 and may be taken only once for credit.
Cross Listed With: ESR655
ESM 555 Fall 2023 Syllabus

ESM 556 / ESR 656
Advanced Science Communication Skills (1cr)
Students will explore more advanced topics on presentation and proposal preparation. All students will prepare a mocked up poster based on cognitive and graphic design principles. They will create an extended outline for a research proposal. Peers in class will critique posters and proposals. This is the same course as ESR656 and may be taken only once for credit. 
Prerequisite: G610 Writing Skills or ESM555 
Cross Listed With: ESR656
ESM556 Syllabus (2023)

ESM 557 / ESR 657
Science, Media, and the Public: Working with the Media to Create Effective Scientific Messages (1cr)
Scientists need to explain their studies to the public through mass media. Topics include; audience, different media, the reporters’ process, editor's view of science stories, and how inaccuracies get perpetuated. Students will evaluate a wide variety of mass media materials, interview practice, and guests' description of various media. This is the same course as ESR657 and may be taken only once for credit. 
Cross Listed With: ESR657 

ESM 560
Air Quality (4cr)
An overview of urban air quality issues facing cities in the US and globally. Examine effects of air pollution on public health and environment, as well as technologies and regulatory practices. Review pollution measurement and modeling techniques. This is the same course as CE488 and may be taken only once for credit. Also offered for graduate level credit as ESM560 and may be taken only once for credit.
Expected preparation: ESM320
Cross Listed With: CE488
ESM460 Syllabus (2024)

ESM 563
Water Quality Policy & Management (4cr)
Review and assessment the efficacy of water quality laws, regulations, and policies. Focus on the Water Quality Standards for the State of Oregon for temperature, bacteria, chemical toxins and nutrients. Role of science in decisions protecting and restoring rivers from water pollution. Also offered for graduate level credit as ESM563 and may be taken only once for credit.
Prerequisite: ESM335
ESM463/563 Syllabus (2025)

ESM 564
Climate Adaptation: Managing Environmental Risks and Vulnerabilities (4cr)
Contribution to climate risk management will require an understanding of the fundamentals of adaptation planning, climate impacts, risk and vulnerability, and implementation. An adaptation-centered view focuses on the power of local actors to develop strategies that protect and facilitate human and environmental values under threat from global change. Also offered for graduate-level credit as ESM564 and may be taken only once for credit.
Prerequisite: ESM355 or equivalent 
ESM464/564 Syllabus (2020)

ESM 566
Environmental Data Analysis I (4cr) 
Application of probabilistic and statistical models to the description of environmental data with a focus on hydrology and water quality. Graphical and quantitative techniques of exploratory data analysis, selection and fitting of appropriate probability distributions, simple and multiple and multivariate regression and their applications to analysis and modeling, and detection of changes and trends in environmental time series. This is the same course as CE566 and may be taken only once for credit.
Prerequisite: Graduate standing and STAT243 or 244 or STAT460.
Cross Listed With: CE566
ESM566 Syllabus (2021)

ESM 567
Multivariate Analysis of Environmental Data (4cr)
Biological and environmental data are usually complex, consisting of many observations and variables. This course provides an overview of the main techniques of multivariate data analysis that are relevant and useful in ecology and environmental sciences. Emphasis is on ordination and cluster analysis.
Prerequisite: one college-level statistics course.
ESM567 Syllabus (2025)

ESM 575
Limnology and Aquatic Ecology (4cr)
Encompasses biological, physical, geological, and chemical aspects of freshwater environments. Overview of lake ecosystems, emphasizing fundamental interactions, processes, and ecology, as well as an appreciation of the impact of human activities on these waterbodies. A field trip is required. Also offered for graduate level credit as ESM575 and may be taken only once for credit.
Expected preparation: CH223.
Prerequisite: ESM321 or BI357
ESM475/575 Syllabus (2016)

ESM 577
Limnology Laboratory (2cr)
Techniques in field and laboratory analysis of freshwater systems. Also offered for graduate level credit as ESM577 and may be taken only once for credit. 
Recommended Pre- or Corequisite: ESR475/575.

ESM 578
Aquatic Vascular Plants (4cr)
Classification, biology, ecology, and management of aquatic vascular plants. Course will focus on freshwater systems and include a laboratory featuring field identification and laboratory experimentation. Also offered for graduate level credit as ESM578 and may be taken only once for credit. 
Expected preparation: BI357.

ESM 580
Coastal Marine Ecology (4cr)
Introduces the relationships between marine species and their environment, intra- and inter-specific interactions, and factors structuring marine communities. Community structure and distribution presented in the context of both oceanography and coastal zone ecology. Marine conservation issues, including fisheries, addressed. A field trip is required. Also offered for graduate level credit as ESM580 and may be taken only once for credit.
Expected preparation: ESM321
ESM480/580 Syllabus (2021)

ESM 583
Marine Conservation and Management (4cr)
This course will be divided into three sections. We will begin by discussing the state of the oceans, and ecological differences between marine and terrestrial/aquatic systems. The second part of the course will discuss the major threats to ocean systems. The third part of the course will focus on solutions in terms of protected areas, management and policy strategies, and various aspects of the human dimension. Also offered for graduate level credit as ESM583 and may be taken only once for credit.
Recommended prerequisite: ESM355
ESM483/583 Syllabus (2025)

ESM 585
Ecology and Management of Bio-Invasions (4cr)
Invasive, or non-indigenous, species present us with global ecological and economic problems and have been ranked as second only to habitat destruction as a threat to our natural areas and native species. These invasive species are a concern because they restructure ecosystems, affect the evolutionary trajectory of native species, lead to the extinction of species, and impact local industries. Also offered for graduate level credit as ESM585 and may be taken only once for credit.
Expected preparation: ESM321
ESM485/585 Syllabus (2023)

ESM 587
Environmental Justice (4cr)
Explores the foundations of environmental justice theory and how they apply to historical, current and emerging global issues. This course explores philosophies of justice and fairness as they relate to environmental ‘goods’ and ‘bads.’ We will explore a variety of case studies, touching on interrelated topics including food justice, climate and energy justice, water justice and infrastructure supply and demand, etc. This course blends sociological perspectives with natural resource management and policy implications.
Prerequisite: Upper-division standing
Expected preparation ESM 335 or Geog 345U.
ESM 487/587 Syllabus (2023)

ESM 588
Environmental Sustainability (4cr)
Sustainability in natural and human-influenced ecosystems, with a focus on processes of regeneration, maturity, collapse and renewal. Topic areas include natural provisioning of ecosystem services, processes of change in ecological systems, interactions among ecological and social systems, economic valuation of ecosystem services, and ecosystem management. 
ESM 588 Syllabus (2021)

ESM 593
Advanced Environmental Science Lab and Field Methods (2cr)
Trains seniors and graduate students in skills that can be used in field and laboratory research. The specific application and topics will rotate from term to term allowing students to learn skills necessary to their own research but also to learn methods employed by other research groups in ESM.
Prerequisite: Senior or graduate standing. 
ESM 493/593 Syllabus (2017)

ESM 599
Special Studies (Credit to be arranged) 
Consent of instructor and program director.

Center for Science Education Courses (continued)

SCI338U
Investigating Forest Ecosystems (4cr)
Fundamental concepts of terrestrial ecology in the context of present unresolved forest management issues. Participants will learn an appropriate set of field skills in soil and vegetation monitoring and engage in a short-term research project at a local site. Socio-political context of Pacific Northwest forest management will be covered through guided controversies and guest speakers.
Prerequisite: One Ecology or One Environmental Science course. 
SCI338U Syllabus (2023)

SCI341U
Biology Concepts and Applications I (4cr)
Two-term course focusing on four main topics: classical Mendelian and current molecular genetics, evolution and predator/prey interactions, growth and metabolism, and biomes and biodiversity. In each topic area students will participate in laboratory and or field components, discussion, and Internet exercises. Includes laboratory and/or fieldwork. This is the first course in a sequence of two: SCI341U and SCI342U.
Recommended prerequisite: Natural Science Inquiry
SCI341U Syllabus (2015)

SCI341L
Lab for SCI341U (0)
Co-requisite: SCI341U

SCI342U
Biology Concepts and Applications II (4cr)
Two-term course focusing on four main topics: classical Mendelian and current molecular genetics, evolution and predator/prey interactions, growth and metabolism, and biomes and biodiversity. In each topic area students will participate in laboratory and or field components, discussion, and Internet exercises. Includes laboratory and/or fieldwork. This is the second course in a sequence of two: SCI341 and SCI342.
Recommended prerequisite: Natural Science Inquiry 
SCI342U Syllabus (2017)

SCI342L
Lab for SCI342U (0cr)
Co-requisite: SCI342U 

SCI347U
Science, Gender, and Social Context I (4cr)
Two-term course explores the strengths and limitations of science to describe and predict nature through laboratory and field investigations. These activities will illustrate the transition from a reductionist view of our natural environment to a systems-oriented view. It will place this historical shift in understanding and scientific practice in the contexts of gender, race, and class using selected case studies in environmental management. Includes laboratory and/or fieldwork. This is the same course as WS347U and may be taken only once for credit. This is the first course in a sequence of two: SCI347 and SCI348.
Recommended prerequisite: Natural Science Inquiry
Cross Listed With: WS347U
SCI347U Syllabus (2009)

SCI348U
Science, Gender, and Social Context II (4cr)
Two-term course explores the strengths and limitations of science to describe and predict nature through laboratory and field investigations. These activities will illustrate the transition from a reductionist view of our natural environment to a systems-oriented view. It will place this historical shift in understanding and scientific practice in the contexts of gender, race, and class using selected case studies in environmental management. Includes laboratory and/or fieldwork. This is the same course as WS348U and may be taken only once for credit. This is the second course in a sequence of two: SCI347 and SCI348.
Recommended prerequisite: Natural Science Inquiry
Cross Listed With: WS348U