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CORE COURSES
FIELD & LAB TECHNIQUES CORE:
Take the following courses:
The overall goal of this hybrid course is for students to become familiar with a variety
of laboratory and field techniques for wildlife and natural resource research and
management. This course is not comprehensive, rather, our goal is to expose you to
the applications, assumptions, and limitations of many common techniques you may encounter
as a wildlife professional. The course addresses techniques to measure population
size, habitat assessment and environmental impacts as well as recording animal behavior.
In-field data collection, data entry, and management are emphasized throughout the
course. Students also receive IACUC training. NOTE: This course will be delivered
in a hybrid format with the first portion conducted asynchronously online and the
second in-person in the classroom/field. 2 Credits In this course we will analyze and explore how plants interact with their living and
non-living environments in ways that influence their distribution and abundance. We
will study and practice methods of plant community analysis and description (i.e.
vegetation analysis) as well as principles of the scientific method inherent to our
understanding of plant communities. 4 Credits At the heart of most in-situ biological conservation is the conservation of primary
producers. To conserve any species, we must conserve plants. This course will explore
and analyze the relevant practical and ethical concerns around plant conservation,
the tools and methods for planning and executing plant conservation, and several specific
plant conservation case studies. NOTE: This course will be delivered in a hybrid format
with the first portion conducted asynchronously online and the second in-person in
the classroom/field. 2 Credits The focus of this course is monitoring ecological health of watersheds through assessments
of riverine ecosystems. The course presents advanced principles of watershed ecology,
field techniques, and analytical methods to conduct ecological assessments. These
skills are essential for documenting conditions, monitoring the health of our nation's
aquatic resources under Clean Water Act mandates, and evaluating effectiveness of
stream restoration projects. NOTE: This course will be delivered in a hybrid format
with the first portion conducted asynchronously online and the second in-person in
the classroom/field. 3 Credits Field Herpetology focuses on techniques, methods, data collection and best practices
for working with amphibians and reptiles in a scientific context. This course will
address aspects of field work with amphibians and reptiles as it relates to ecology,
physiology and conservation efforts. This is a hands-on experience intended to provide
skills and knowledge related to identifying local taxa. Students will apply this knowledge
by developing and carrying out a short independent research project. NOTE: This course
will be delivered in a hybrid format with the first portion conducted asynchronously
online and the second portion in-person in the classroom/field. 3 CreditsENRM-526 Wildlife Techniques
ENRM-533 Advanced Plant Ecology
ENRM-534 Plant Conservation Practicum
ENRM-540 Watershed Monitoring
ENRM-570 Field Herpetology
ANALYSIS CORE:
Take the following courses:
The goal of the course is to advance student understanding of a broad range of numerical
and graphical techniques used to analyze complex dataset in the natural sciences.
Students will learn the context to properly apply these techniques to address research
questions. The purview is ecological; but is applicable to all other quantitative
endeavors. 4 Credits This course will cover Habitat Suitability Analysis; Land Use Land Cover Change/Climate
Dynamics; Spatial Statistical Models; Geographic Information Science for NEPA and
ESA review; and automating GIS processing using R, Python, and ArcGIS. 3 CreditsENRM-535 Advanced Quantitative Ecology
ENRM-577 Geospatial Ecology & Remote Sensing
WRITING CORE:
Take the following courses:
This course is designed to introduce students to the principles and practices of effective
grant writing. Through a blend of lectures, workshops, and peer-review sessions, students
will learn how to develop compelling research proposals, effectively communicate their
research ideas, and navigate the grant submission and review process. 3 CreditsBIN-510 Scientific Grant Writing
POLICY & PLANNING CORE:
Take the following courses:
This course in environmental policy and planning will explore theories of the policy
process, environmental regulations, environmental impact assessment, negotiation and
mediation, the dominant political actors as they apply to environmental conflicts
in the US. 3 CreditsENRM-537 Environmental Policy & Planning
ADVANCED ELECTIVE
Take one the following courses below:
This course explores the ecological implications of abrupt natural and anthropogenic
changes to ecosystems. A major focus will be on how ecosystems respond to these changes
over time. Topics covered in this course will include concepts in classical ecology,
ecosystem ecology, as well as contemporary theories on restoration ecology. Focus
on local altered ecosystem case studies will aid to reinforce principles of ecosystem
ecology and field trips to local sites will be used for student projects. 4 Credits Conservation Biology encompasses biology, politics, ethics, economics and anthropology.
The major course objective is the exploration of conservation complexities--important
for successful conservation efforts. Other objectives are to gain an understanding
of extinction, community conservation, population genetics and demography. 4 CreditsENRM-512 Altered Ecosystems
ENRM-525 Advanced Conservation Biology
CAPSTONE EXPERIENCE
Take the following courses. (A minimum of 4.00 credits is required)
The capstone project could be a research paper or a report resulting from an internship.
The goal of the Capstone Experience in the Master of Applied Ecology and Natural Resource
Management is to give students an interdisciplinary real-world experience. The intent
of the course is to introduce relatively minimal new material, but rather have the
students work independently, utilizing skills they have learned during their tenure
at Juniata College.
1-3 Credits The capstone project could be a research paper or a report resulting from an internship.
The goal of the Capstone Experience in the Master of Applied Ecology and Natural Resource
Management is to give students an interdisciplinary real-world experience. The intent
of the course is to introduce relatively minimal new material, but rather have the
students work independently, utilizing skills they have learned during their tenure
at Juniata College. 1-8 CreditsENRM-597 Applied Ecology & Natural Resource Management Capstone I
ENRM-598 Applied Ecology & Natural Resource Management Capstone II
Program Credit Total = 35-37
Any course exception must be approved by Dr. Uma Ramakrishnan.
Uma Ramakrishnan Biography →
- Professor of Environmental Science and Studies
- Natural Science Division Head
- Environmental Science & Studies Department Chair
- BAC B213
- (814) 641-3436
- ramakrishnan@juniata.edu