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NORTHERN ARIZONA UNIVERSITY
PROPOSAL TO ESTABLISH A NEW DEGREE
DEGREE PROGRAM INFORMATION
Level of Degree: ___Undergraduate
XX Graduate
Proposed title of New Academic Plan:
Ph.D. in Earth Sciences and Environmental Sustainability
Subplans (on transcript):
Climate & Landscape Change
Earth & Planetary Systems
Engineering Sustainable Systems
College/School: College of Engineering, Forestry and Natural Sciences (CEFNS)
Academic Unit: School of Earth Sciences and Environmental Sustainability (SESES)
Term and year when proposal becomes effective: Fall 2012
1. PURPOSE AND NATURE OF THE DEGREE PROGRAM
Earth and environmental sciences, and their engineering and policy applications, are at the
forefront of critical issues facing society in the coming decades. Climate change, water
scarcity, the growing demand on natural resources, and environmental sustainability are all
challenges for the Southwest, the United States, and the global community. Northern
Arizona University (NAU) is poised to produce a new generation of leaders, scientists, and
engineers who will be uniquely trained to tackle these pressing problems through establishing
a new interdisciplinary Ph.D. program in Earth Sciences and Environmental Sustainability
that draws on the resources and strengths from many departments and community partners
including the School of Earth Science and Environmental Sustainability (SESES) (which
houses graduate programs in Geology, Environmental Sciences and Policy, and Climate
Sciences & Solutions), Biological Sciences, Chemistry and Biochemistry, Forestry, Physics
and Astronomy, Engineering Programs, W.A. Franke College of Business, and the Flagstaff
Science Center of the United States Geological Survey (USGS). Future partners may include
academic programs in the College of Social and Behavior Sciences and the College of Arts
and Letters.
The new Ph.D. program in Earth Sciences and Environmental Sustainability will produce
professionals who are in high demand for: (i) environmental science and policy positions in
non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and private companies, (ii) applied scientists in the
energy and environmental & engineering consulting industries who have focused expertise
and bridge science and policy, (iii) applied scientists with a complementary policy and
professional training for work in governmental agencies and academe.
The proposed doctoral program will provide a unique and distinct interdisciplinary graduate
education experience that cannot be found in traditional academic units in Arizona’s other
state universities. The Ph.D. program will reach across the applied and basic sciences and
environmental policy and engineering solutions by focusing on three subplans (see figure):
Climate & Landscape Change, Earth & Planetary Systems, Engineering Sustainable
Systems. Over the next 1-2 years (starting in 2012-2013), a fourth subplan may be
developed in the more general area of Sustainability with other units at NAU (Social and
Behavioral Sciences [SBS] and College of Arts and Letters [CAL]). This fourth subplan would
build upon NAU’s institutional, interdisciplinary strength in incorporating Sustainability in all
levels of curriculum and into service learning and community engagement.
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The goal of the Ph.D. will be to foster integrative and transformative research that lies
between the traditional science and environmental engineering sub disciplines. Student
training will be built around a core set of classes with all Ph.D. students taking classes in
environmental policy, in-depth seminars in research, an individualized group of classes
specific to their subplan and degree plan, and classes in a professional component suited to
their individual career goals.
2. STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES AND ASSESSMENT
RELATION TO NAU MISSION: The new Ph.D. program in Earth Sciences and
Environmental Sustainability will significantly enhance NAU’s mission of “providing an outstanding
undergraduate residential education strengthened by research and graduate programs”, and
aligns with the NAU value of environmental sustainability of “model environmentally responsible
and sustainable operations and education”. Faculty from across the various departments in
CEFNS and across campus will contribute to and benefit from the Ph.D. program and provide it
with an interdisciplinary focus unparalleled in graduate degree programs at NAU.
A. List the knowledge, competencies, and skills students should have when they
graduate from the proposed degree program.
• Each Ph.D. student will learn a set of skills translating to outcomes that are both across all
students in the degree and unique to their degree program. To achieve the depth of
knowledge and skills expected of a Ph.D., All students will have an understanding of the
interacting realms of science and policy through the Ph.D. Core Class. Each student will
achieve these learning outcomes and skills.
From the Core class, ENV 555: Environmental Science/Policy Interface:
• analyze and assess best practices in adaptive management and governance theory
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• critique case studies at the science – environmental policy interface
• assess and discuss scientific and engineering ethics
• discuss and critique the scientific method in environmental sciences
• demonstrate success in professional writing and public speaking
From the student’s individual classes and research:
(i)
Demonstrate a wide range of knowledge across their specific subdiscipline;
(ii)
Analyze data and comprehend, evaluate, and critique other data and interpretations;
(iii) Synthesize original and derived data to develop new hypotheses, models, or policies;
(iv) Use new hypotheses and original data and interpretations to solve problems;
(v)
Demonstrate effective oral and written communication of the results of the original
research through varied techniques.
B. Describe the plan and methods to assess whether students have achieved the
knowledge, competencies, and skills identified in the Learning Outcomes. Each following
assessment method is linked to at least one learning outcome listed in section A.
• qualifying exam (Ai)
• dissertation (Aii, Aiii, Aiv, Av)
• dissertation defense (Aiv, Av)
• published manuscripts and presentations at conferences (Av)
3. CURRICULUM OF THE PROPOSED PROGRAM
Class categories
Notes (1)
Credits
Ph.D. Core: required
classes for all
students
ENV 555: Environmental Science/Policy Interface (2)
EES 605: Regional Topics in Earth and Environmental
Science and Policy
EES 606: Research Methods in Earth and Environmental
Science
2 classes selected by student and committee from:
• Environmental law & policy;
• Public outreach & communications;
• Management & Business;
• Education;
• Engineering
2 seminars selected by student and committee
3+1+1
30 total units required that are specific to student’s area of
emphasis and specific dissertation topic (3);
• 6 to 9 units in area of emphasis as listed below;
• specific focus areas or committees may require more
classes in individual cases
15 minimum 799 credits for the research, writing, and oral
defense of an approved dissertation
30
Ph.D. Core:
Professional
Component Electives
Ph.D. Core:
Research Seminar
Dissertation specific
classes
(4A), (4B), (4C)
Dissertation
GRAND TOTAL
6
4
15
60
1) the student dissertation committee must approve all courses
2) ENV 555 - includes adaptive management and policy and governance theory and case
studies; practice and discussion of scientific methods, professional writing, public
communication, proposal writing, project management, and ethics
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3)
4)
EES 605 - includes an introduction to regional earth and environmental science and
policy topics
EES 606 - includes writing dissertation proposal, assembling dissertation committee,
developing course plan of study and learning methods for doing analysis/interpretation of
science/policy data
No more than 20 units from the professional component electives or dissertation specific
classes, beyond the bachelor’s degree, can be credited toward the degree program
Students choose from one of the following subplan focus areas:
Courses in areas A, B, and C will be cycled to provide sufficient opportunities to the Ph.D.
students, to meet minimum enrollment criteria and to be consistent with cycling of these
courses for the graduate programs which currently rely upon the courses.
a. Climate & Landscape Change area class requirements: (ENV595 and ENV540;
24 units chosen from the following classes in IV through XVII)
I. ENV 595: (3 credits) Global environmental and climate change
II. ENV 540: (3) Conservation Biology
III. ENV 530 Arid land geomorphology
IV. ENV 544 Landscape ecology
V. ENV 550 Historical ecology: Reconstructing past ecosystems
VI. ENV 555 Environmental science-policy interface
VII. ENV 580 Atmospheric change
VIII. ENV 591 Science and management of greenhouse gases
IX. ENV/GLG 596 Quaternary climate change
X. GLG 537 Quaternary geology
XI. GLG 670 Advanced hydrogeology
XII. BIO 426 Plants and climate
XIII. BIO 479 Ecosystems and climate change
XIV. FOR 500 Ecosystem science and management principles
b. Earth & Planetary Systems area class requirements: (30 units chosen from the
following)
I.
GLG 516 Petrologic Phase Equilibria
II.
GLG 520 Volcanology
III.
GLG 542 Advanced Structural Geology
IV. GLG 560 Introduction to Applied Geophysics
V.
GLG 561 Regional Tectonics
VI. GLG 565 Introduction to Solid Earth Geophysics
VII. GLG 570 Geochemistry
VIII. GLG 575 Geochemistry of Natural Waters
IX. GLG 612 Igneous Petrology
X.
GLG 615 Metamorphic Petrology
XI. GLG 617 Isotope Geology
XII. GLG 625 Siliciclastic & Carbonate Petrology
XIII. GLG 627 Depositional Systems
XIV. GLG 629 Evolution of Sedimentary Basins
XV. PHY 590 Physics of the Solar System
c. Engineering Sustainable Systems area class requirements: (30 units chosen
from the following)
I.
CENE 502 Principles of Environmental Transport Processes
II.
CENE 540 Environmental Protection: Today and Tomorrow
III.
CENE 543 Urban Transportation Planning
IV. CENE 550 Geotechnical Evaluation and Design
V.
CENE 551 Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering
VI. CENE 560 Classical Open Channel Flow
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VII. CENE 562 Water Quality Monitoring
VIII. ME 510 Finite Element Analysis
IX. ME 520 Applied Fluid Dynamics
X.
ME 525 Applied Computational Fluid Dynamics
XI. ME 530 Applied Thermal Analysis
XII. ME 535 Wind Energy Engineering
XIII. ME 540 Combustion Energy Systems and Emissions
XIV. ME 544 Non-Linear Analysis
XV. ME 555 Manufacturing Systems & Management
XVI. ME 560 Applied Solid Mechanics
XVII. ME 570 Fracture Mechanics
XVIII. ME 575 Adaptive Materials and Systems
XIX. ME 580 Composite Materials
XX. ME 698 Graduate Seminar
XXI. EGR 501Topics in Sustainable Systems Engineering
XXII. EGR 502 Topics in Advanced Engineering Design
XXIII. GLG 670 Advanced Hydrogeology
4. PROGRAM NEED:
A 2007 nationwide census indicated that there are now over 1,200 interdisciplinary (mostly
undergraduate) environmental degree programs at academic institutions in the U.S (Vincent,
2010) and that enrollment in these programs is soaring. Enrollment in geoscience
undergraduate degree programs has hit its highest level in a decade (AGI, 2010). Only 5% of
these programs are interdisciplinary environmental sciences or environmental studies Ph.D.
programs, such as described in this proposal, and very few include environmental
engineering. The proliferation of interdisciplinary environmental degree programs and
students seeking to enroll in these programs has brought the need to “develop regional
centers for sustainability that can provide professional development and support for faculty”
(AASHE 2010). Our proposed Ph.D. program will train the future faculty leaders for these
degree programs.
Vincent, S. 2010. Interdisciplinary Environmental Education on the Nation’s Campuses:
Elements of Field Identity and Curriculum Design, a research study conducted by the
Council of Environmental Deans and Directors of the National Council for Science and
the Environment).
AASHE 2010. Sustainability Curriculum in Higher Education: A Call to Action, Association for
the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education).
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There is a pressing need for a new generation of leaders who are grounded in the natural
sciences and competent in its applications for solving environmental and engineering
challenges that meet societal needs.
This Ph.D. program, based in research and interdisciplinary applications, is clearly
different from and complementary to the excellent, existing Ph.D. programs at Arizona
State University (ASU) (School of Earth and Space Exploration and School of
Sustainability), NAU (Biology and Forestry), and University of Arizona (U of A) (School of
Earth and Environmental Sciences).
The Ph.D. program will provide broadly interdisciplinary doctoral training with the main
focus on emerging environmental – societal problems that will face the greater Southwest
and the nation in the next few decades.
The program will rely heavily upon the significant talent pool available at the Flagstaff
Science Center of the USGS to help teach cutting-edge courses, advise students, and
leverage funding.
The Ph.D. will further enhance relations of NAU with government agencies, NGOs, and
industries that need Ph.D. employees and can provide NAU students with internships,
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assistantships, and possible fellowships (such as agencies in the U.S. Departments of
Interior, Agriculture, and Commerce, renewable and non-renewable energy industries).
The Ph.D. program will increase NAU’s research productivity, leading to increases in the
numbers, sizes, and duration of sponsored projects by opening access to programs only
available to Ph.D. programs (NSF-IGERT, STC, and others).
The Ph.D. program will enhance ongoing research in undergraduate and M.S. programs
by increasing the cadre of knowledgeable and scientifically literate scientists that can
engage students in the classroom, field, and laboratory. This, in turn, will enhance NAU’s
core mission of teaching and research, increasing efficiencies through collaboration, and
capturing economies of scale associated with a mature Ph.D.-level academic program.
Arizona and the nation are facing unprecedented challenges in the areas of natural
resources, the environment, and sustainability. Meeting these challenges will require a
workforce that is grounded in rigorous science and engineering, and able to translate and
communicate the relevance of emerging science and engineering to policy makers, business
leaders, and the public. The proposed Ph.D. Program in Earth Sciences and Environmental
Sustainability will provide the subject-matter depth and interdisciplinary perspective that will
allow graduates to work at the highest level to link sound science to effective policy and
management, and – through those efforts – to address emerging issues including water
scarcity, biodiversity loss, and climate change. Drawing on Northern Arizona University’s
demonstrated strengths in the natural sciences, environmental sustainability, and
environmental engineering, we will provide a curriculum that will enable students to move
effectively among themes traditionally segregated into separate degrees, so that these
students can become creative problem solvers. The program will stress a mastery of
quantitative science and a deep understanding of the economic and social contexts
underlying environmental challenges, along with a policy sophistication that will allow
students to mobilize scientific knowledge appropriately and effectively in our complex society.
Earth systems science and the environmental professions are growth areas, where
employment opportunities and advancement are linked to both technical ability and problemsolving skills. Employment in these fields is expected to increase by 22-25 percent in the
decade ending in 2016 (AGI, 2010), much faster than the average for all occupations.
Growth rates for business leaders in environmental, infrastructure, and consulting firms have
generally exceeded 10% since figures began being compiled in the 1990s. A recent survey
by the American Geological Institute shows that “salaries for all geosciences-related
professions continue to exceed the national mean salary for all other science occupations in
2008”. For example, more (~45%) new geoscience Ph.D. graduates work in the academic
sector, with government following next at about 10%. The scientific basis for most
environmental issues demands strong technical skills, but success also requires the ability to
integrate knowledge and insights from various scientific and policy perspectives, and to work
effectively with a diverse range of professional colleagues. For the broadly educated,
technically proficient environmental scientist, employment opportunities are expanding
rapidly. From earth scientist to energy consultant, from conservation biologist to air quality
specialist to environmental engineer, our students will be prepared to work with both cuttingedge researchers and policy analysts. Graduates of NAU’s Ph.D. in Earth Sciences and
Environmental Sustainability will possess the expertise that is needed to compete
successfully for desirable positions in a rapidly changing workplace. Equally important, they
will master the interdisciplinary approaches necessary to become leaders in the emerging
earth science and environmental professions and have the capacity to deliver information to
the public.
AGI 2010. Status of Geoscience Workforce, American Geological Institute.
5. IMPACT ON OTHER PROGRAMS.
Potential Participating Programs at NAU: Biological Sciences, Chemistry & Biochemistry,
Environmental Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Forestry, Mechanical Engineering,
Physics and Astronomy
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The Ph.D. program in Earth Sciences and Environmental Sustainability will be the third Ph.D.
in CEFNS and will complement the existing, strong Ph.D. programs in Biological Sciences
and Forestry and the existing Political Science Ph.D. program in SBS. This new program will
not compete with these existing Ph.D. programs, but provide them with additional peer and
colleague support to raise the visibility, success and productivity of all Ph.D. programs. This
new program will attract new students who cannot currently be served by these other
programs.
6. EXISTING PROGRAMS AT OTHER CAMPUSES
No Ph.D. programs in Arizona are explicitly interdisciplinary across the earth and
environmental sciences and engineering with a policy/professional component built into the
core of the program. U of A and ASU have programs that cover parts of this new Ph.D., but
they are across multiple degrees at each institution, they have an academic and research
mission, and they do not explicitly combine the sciences and sustainability as the new Ph.D.
at NAU will. Units at U of A are in the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, and at
ASU are the School of Earth and Space Exploration and School of Sustainability.
7. PROJECTED ENROLLMENT.
5-YEAR PROJECTED ANNUAL ENROLLMENT
1st yr.
2nd yr.
3rd yr.
4th yr.
5th yr.
new students
5-8
5-8
5-8
5-8
8 - 10
Total
5-8
10 - 16
15 - 24
17 - 27
20 - 27
Graduates
0
0
3-5
6 - 10
6 - 10
8. ACCREDITATION OR LICENSING REQUIREMENTS (IF APPLICABLE).
N/A
9. FACULTY and STAFF
a. List the name, rank, highest degree, area of specialization/expertise and estimate the level of
involvement of all current faculty members who will teach in the program.
Based on recent surveys, the following faculty members have indicated their desire to
advise and provide funding in support of a PhD student. Additional faculty members (not
listed) have indicated their interest in participating in the program by serving on thesis
committees and offering graduate seminars:
Climate & Landscape Change:
 S. Anderson, Ph.D., Paleoclimate
 B. Dickson, Conservation Biology
 D. Huntzinger, Climate Science and Solutions – new faculty
 N. Johnson, Ph.D., Soil Ecology
 D. Kaufman, Ph.D., Paleoclimate
 T. Sisk, Ph.D., Conservation Biology
 A. Springer, Ph.D., Ecohydrology and Sustainable Hydrogeology
Earth & Planetary Systems:
 N. Barlow, Ph.D., Impact Cratering and Planetary Surfaces
 E. Duebendorfer, Ph.D., Structural Geology
 T. Hoisch, Ph.D., Metamorphic Petrology and Tectonics
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D. Koerner, Ph.D., Astrobiology
R. Parnell, Ph.D., Aqueous Geochemistry
M. Reid, Ph.D., Igneous Petrology and Isotope Geochemistry
N. Riggs, Ph.D., Volcanology and Tectonics
J. Sample, Ph.D., Low-temperature Geochemistry and Structural Geology
D. Trilling, Planetary Sciences
P. Umhoefer, Ph.D., Tectonics
Engineering Sustainable Systems:
 T. Acker, Ph.D., Energy Systems and Renewable Energy
 B. Bero, Ph.D., Environmental Transport, Air Quality
 C. Ciocanel, Ph.D., Engineering Mechanics and Advanced Materials
 R. Decker, Ph.D., Snow and Avalanche Engineering
 H. Feigenbaum, Ph.D., Advanced Sustainable Materials
 P. Flikkema, Ph.D., Computational Ecological Systems
 J. Hewes, Ph.D., Sustainable Structural Engineering
 B. Nelson, Ph.D., Energy, Renewable Energy, Thermal Processes
 E. Penado, Ph.D., Applications of Composite Sustainable Materials
 J. Tester, Ph.D., Systems Engineering and Engineering Education
 P. Vadasz, Ph.D., Energy Systems and General Sustainability
 N. Venkatraman, Sustainable Electrical Engineering
Faculty from Bridge areas:
 P. Beier, Wildlife Ecology
 P. Fule, Forest Ecology
 J. Ingram, Ph.D., Environmental Analytical Chemistry
 M. Ketterer, Ph.D., Environmental Isotopic Chemistry
 Yeon-Su Kim, Forestry, Ecological Economics
 J. Marks, Aquatic food webs
 M. Robinson, Ph.D., Environmental Atmospheric Chemistry
 S. Shuster, Evolution and population structure
 A. Tecle, Hydrology and Systems Analysis
 T. Whitham, Ecology and evolution
 many adjunct faculty from the USGS
SESES and other units’ minimum level of participation based on partial response to
an electronic survey
Unlikely to supervise a Ph.D. student
Likely to supervise & fund from time to time
Likely to supervise & fund one or more
continuously
Topics of participation
Focus areas
Earth & Planetary Systems
SESES faculty
(tenured = 14,
tenure track =
1)
2
9
5
Other units
(Chemistry = 3,
Engineering = 4,
Forestry = 3,
Physics &
Astronomy = 2,
USGS = 2)
NA
13
1
9
3
Total
22
6
12
8
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Climate & Landscape Change
Engineering Sustainable Systems
6
2
4
5
10
7
Bridges: Integrative themes
Surface Dynamics (hazards)
Earth Resources (water, air, energy)
Societal Solutions
5
3
3
3
5
2
8
8
5
b. Administration of the program. Explain how the program will be administered for the
purpose of admissions, advising, course offerings, etc. Discuss the available staff support.
The current contributing units to the Ph.D. Council include: SESES, Biological Sciences,
Chemistry & Biochemistry, Environmental Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Forestry,
Mechanical Engineering, Physics and Astronomy, and Flagstaff USGS. A contributing unit is
defined as a unit that has faculty who will either advise Ph.D. students in the program or who
will teach 698 or other courses for students in the program. There are discussions with the
leaders of SBS and CALS as to the viability of a subplan in Sustainability.
The Ph.D. program will be run by these groups:
Policy: A Ph.D. Council that will involve a faculty of between 3 and 7 from SESES and one
faculty representative from each participating unit across campus and the USGS. Every
academic unit that is providing courses or supervising students in the Ph.D. program is
eligible to have a representative on the Ph.D. Council pending review and approval of the
Council. The USGS will always be granted at least one member on the Council. Other nonNAU partners (such as NPS, or USFS) may join the council if they make a request and are
approved by the Council. The Council will control policies and procedures to be followed by
the Ph.D. Program.
Admissions: For the first three years of the program, a faculty member in SESES will be
designated to coordinate the program and chair the Ph.D. Council. The Ph.D. coordinator will
manage admissions along with SESES staff. No student will be admitted until a faculty
member agrees to advise a student and demonstrate at least 2 years of external support.
Program of Study approval: PhD Graduate Program Coordinator and at least two members
of the Ph.D. Council.
10. RESOURCES (necessary to launch and sustain the program)
The SESES faculty and Ph.D. Council understand the current difficult budget
environment. To implement a successful Ph.D. program, we feel these resources are
required. We understand that these resources will be reviewed annually by the new Director
of SESES with the faculty and Ph.D. Council, and in consultation with the Dean of CEFNS.
We note that there are likely to be 3 – 5 faculty retirements in SESES in the next 3 – 5 years
that will provide significant resources.
Faculty:
1. Faculty lines being hired in 2011-12 academic year that will be active in the Ph.D.:
••• R. Sanford, Director of SESES
••• D. Huntzinger, Assistant Professor in Climate Science
2. New Faculty lines directly related to starting new Ph.D. program:
If these lines are not related to retirements within SESES, as long as the hire provides
significant support to the Ph.D. program, their appointment could be in any academic unit
which provides support to the Ph.D. program.
••• Assistant Professor in Earth & Planetary Systems focus area in 2012***
••• Assistant Professor in Climate & Landscape Change focus area in 2013***
••• Assistant Professor in the broadly defined area of Sustainability in 2014
3. Faculty lines related to sustaining Ph.D. program:
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••• Two (2) Assistant Professors in the two remaining bridge areas between the focus areas.
Their appointment could be in any academic unit which provides support to the Ph.D.
program.
4. *** We are aggressively pursuing external funding for some of these requested faculty
positions:
A) We are working closely with USGS – Flagstaff leadership and Vice President of Research
Laura Huenneke to obtain funding for a joint NAU – USGS faculty hire in climate science.
B) We in the process of finalizing with our energy-industry partners that they fund a Visiting
Professor in Stratigraphy specializing modern seismic methods for 3 – 5 years.
Graduate Assistantships - request 3-5 GA - Fellowship lines by end of 3rd year
a. 1 new Presidential Doctoral Fellowship in Environmental Sustainability
b. 1 new TA line dedicated to teaching practicum – replace need for 1 part-time instructor
c. 1-3 new TA lines for Ph.D. These TA lines can potentially replace part-time instructors;
the TA lines are needed because of strong enrollment growth in SESES core and liberal
studies classes and to support the Ph.D. program.
Potential Graduate Assistantships from other funding sources
 will require at least 2 years of external support for GA’s from each Ph.D. advisor for each
Ph.D. student, or the equivalent from students who bring their own support.
 1-2 TA lines from current SESES pool for MS degrees (based on continued success of all
programs in SESES)
 1-2 competitive GA lines dedicated to completion of PhD
 1-2 GA lines from foundation support
 Potential new RA lines from new IGERT (“Integrative Natural Sciences: Linking climate,
landscape, and ecologic changes”) (submit pre-proposal in March 2013)
Staff
 Half-time staff position for anticipated increase in grad student administration and
anticipated increase in sponsored project administration.
Space
 New contiguous, modern space that will integrate faculty and graduate students in a
research environment; this is necessary for consolidating the currently fragmented
SESES programs and sustaining an effective doctoral research and training environment.
 The faculty new hires in some cases will be new lines requiring office and lab space; in
other cases, new faculty will replace retiring faculty with no or little labs.
 Graduate student space – the new Ph.D. students will need offices.
Culture
 To support the interdisciplinary nature of the program, an open and communicative
culture needs to be developed and provided with adequate resources for appropriate
forums to cultivate this culture, such as joint seminar series with other colleges at NAU
and with the USGS, and such as a dedicated, joint meeting space.
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Appendix A
Additional Information for New Graduate Academic Plans Only
1. Admission Requirements
A. Degree. Minimum of a bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) or a graduate degree from a
regionally accredited College or University of recognized standing in Geology, Earth
Sciences, Environmental Sciences, Environmental Policy & Sustainability,
Engineering, Ecology, or a closely related field.
B.
GPA. Minimum of a 3.00 cumulative GPA (scale is 4.0=A).
C.
English Proficiency Requirement for International Applicants. TOEFL exam
minimum score must be 213 computer-based, 550 paper-based, or 80 Internet-based
or IELTS score of 7.0. (NAU Graduate College Requirements, Academic Catalog
2011-12)
D.
Required Admission Examinations.
GRE
GMAT
Millers Analogies
None Required
2. Application Review Terms. Indicate all terms for which applications for admissions are
accepted and the corresponding application deadline dates, if any:
Fall
Spring
Summer
Deadline (month/year): February 1
Deadline (month/year):
Deadline (month/year):
3. Academic Plan Requirements. Below provide the curricular requirements for the proposed
degree program.
A.
Total credit hours (credit hrs) required for the academic plan: 60 hours
(include supporting letters for courses to be completed in other units)
B.
Core courses. List all required core courses and total credit hours for the core
(required courses other than internships, thesis, dissertation, capstone course, etc).
Total credit hours for required core courses: 9
Course
Course title
prefix &
number
ENV 555
Environmental Science and Policy Interface (1)
EES 605
Regional Topics in Earth and Environmental Science and
Policy (2)
EES 606
Research Methods in Earth & Environmental Science (3)
EES 698
Research seminar (4)
EES 698
Research seminar (4)
Credit
hours
New
course?
3
1
Y
Y
N
N
1
2
2
Y
Y
Y
N
N
N
(1) Faculty qualified to teach these courses will be determined during continued planning.
Faculty who have currently taught ENV555 will continue to teach the course.
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(2) This course will be a renumbered version of the GLG 505 course. Faculty qualified to
teach it come from all faculty within SESES, and faculty who currently teach GLG 505.
(3) This course will be a renumbered version of the GLG 506 course. Faculty qualified to
teach it come from all faculty within SESES, and faculty who currently teach GLG 506.
(4) Faculty to teach these seminars will come from the faculty participating in the Ph.D.
program.
C. Elective Courses
Total credit hours for plan electives: 6
Provide a sample list of elective courses: PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND – SAMPLE
CLASSES ONLY – student and committee select 2 classes
Course
prefix &
number
ENV 698
EGR 501
ETC 647
Course title
Environmental Leadership course
Topics in Sustainable Systems
Creating Technology Learning Environments
Credit
hours
3
3
3
New
course?
Y
Y
Y
N
N
N
(Please expand table as needed. Right click in white space of last cell. Select “Insert Rows
Below”)
D. 400-Level Courses. No more than 6 credit hours of 400-level coursework can be included on
graduate student program of study.
1. Are 400-level NAU only courses allowed on student program of study for this degree?
Yes
No
2. If yes, how many credit hours (maximum 6 units allowed)? 6
E. Additional Requirements (if applicable). N/A
F. Total credit hours required for research (if applicable): 15
G. Culminating experience for the proposed plan (please check all that apply and provide
requested information):
Brief description of the applied
Course
Credit
Required
project or the capstone course, as
prefix and
hours
?
applicable.
number
Thesis
(master’s only)
Applied Project
(master’s only)
Capstone
course
(master’s only)
Dissertation
Dissertation based on original research
EES 799
15 (+)
(doctoral only)
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Other (specify)
(Please expand table as needed. Right click in white space of last cell. Select “Insert Rows
Below”)
H. Please specify whether you have emphases
Note: Emphasis will be coded as sub plans in LOUIE and will appear on the
student’s transcript. It generally includes at least 12 units unique to the emphasis
area. Concentration are generally fewer than 12 units, though it may include on
occasion include more than 12 units.
1. Concentration/Emphasis name: CLIMATE & LANDSCAPE CHANGE
Total credit hours for the courses required for the proposed concentration/emphasis: 30
(20 hours can be transferred from a MS degree; classes chosen by student and committee to
align with dissertation topic)
List concentration/emphasis courses:
Course prefix &
number
ENV 595
ENV 540
ENV 544
ENV 550
ENV 580
ENV 591
ENV/GLG 596
GLG 537
GLG 670
BIO 426
BIO 479
FOR 500
STA 570
Course title
Global environment and climate change
Conservation Biology
Landscape ecology
Historical ecology: Reconstructing past ecosystems
Atmospheric change
Science and management of greenhouse gases
Quaternary climate change
Quaternary geology
Advanced hydrogeology
Plants and climate
Ecosystems and climate change
Ecosystem science and management principles
Statistical methods 1
Credi
t
hour
s
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
New
Course?
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
(Please expand table as needed. Right click in white space of last cell. Select “Insert Rows
Below”)
2. Concentration/Emphasis name: EARTH & PLANETARY SYSTEMS
Total credit hours for the courses required for the proposed concentration/emphasis: 30
(20 hours can be transferred from a MS degree; classes chosen by student and committee to
align with dissertation topic)
List concentration/emphasis courses:
Course prefix &
Course title
Credi
New
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number
GLG 516
GLG 520
GLG 542
GLG 560
GLG 561
GLG 565
GLG 570
GLG 575
GLG 612
GLG 615
GLG 617
GLG 625
GLG 627
GLG 629
PHY 590
STA 570
Petrologic Phase Equilibria
Volcanology
Advanced Structural Geology
Introduction to Applied Geophysics
Regional Tectonics
Introduction to Solid Earth Geophysics
Geochemistry
Geochemistry of Natural Waters
Igneous Petrology
Metamorphic Petrology
Isotope Geology
Siliciclastic & Carbonate Petrology
Depositional Systems
Evolution of Sedimentary Basins
Physics of the Solar System
Statistical Methods 1
t
hour
s
3
3
4
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
Course?
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
(Please expand table as needed. Right click in white space of last cell. Select “Insert Rows
Below”)
3. Concentration/Emphasis name: ENGINEERING SUSTAINABLE SYSTEMS
Total credit hours for the courses required for the proposed concentration/emphasis: 30
(20 hours can be from a MS degree; classes chosen by student and committee to align with
dissertation topic)
List concentration/emphasis courses:
Course prefix &
number
CENE 502
CENE 540
CENE 543
CENE 550
CENE 551
CENE 560
CENE 562
ME 510
ME 520
ME 525
ME 530
ME 535
ME 540
ME 544
ME 555
ME 560
ME 570
Course title
Principles of Environmental Transport Processes
Environmental Protection: Today and Tomorrow
Urban Transportation Planning
Geotechnical Evaluation and Design
Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering
Classical Open Channel Flow
Water Quality Monitoring
Finite Element Analysis
Applied Fluid Dynamics
Applied Computational Fluid Dynamics
Applied Thermal Analysis
Wind Energy Engineering
Combustion Energy Systems and Emissions
Non-Linear Analysis
Manufacturing Systems & Management
Applied Solid Mechanics
Fracture Mechanics
Credi
t
hour
s
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
New
Course?
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
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ME 575
ME 580
ME 698
EGR 501
EGR 502
GLG 670
STA 570
Adaptive Materials and Systems
Composite Materials
Graduate Seminar
Topics in Sustainable Systems Engineering
Topics in Advanced Engineering Design
Advanced Hydrogeology
Statistical Methods 1
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
(Please expand table as needed. Right click in white space of last cell. Select “Insert Rows
Below”)
I.
Master’s program additional requirements(check all that apply): N/A
J. Doctoral Program Requirements Only (indicate N/A if not required; see Academic
Catalog for requirements)
a. For Doctoral Degrees, indicate the Master’s Degree Credit Allowance: If approved
by the student’s supervisory committee, specify how many credit hours from a previously
awarded master’s degree to count towards the degree requirements for this doctoral
program?
20 credit hours allowance from a Master’s Degree, which can be applied towards the
chosen concentration/emphasis area with committee approval.
b. For PhD/EdD Degrees, written /oral comprehensive exams are required per
Graduate College policy. Please include any required timelines for successful
passing of the comprehensive exams.
Comprehensive exam to be taken before end of 4th semester.
c. For PhD/EdD Degrees, submission of a written dissertation prospectus and its oral
defense are required. Please describe requirements and include any required
timelines for successful defense of the prospectus. For clinical doctoral degrees,
describe project or equivalent requirements.
Prospectus to be approved by the committee by the end of the 3rd semester after its oral
defense. Prospectus draft will be written in EES 606 by the end of the 2 nd semester.
d. Required Number of Dissertation Committee Members: 4
e. Foreign Language Exam/Alternative Requirements (Ph.D. Programs only).
i. Foreign Language Examination(s) required?
Yes
No
If yes, list all foreign languages required:
ii. List Alternative Requirements (e.g., Research Competency): SESES has chosen to
recognize ENV 555, EES 605 and EES 606, plus one graduate level course with
significant content in statistics and/or science/engineering research methods.
4. Course Prefix(es) Provide the following information for the proposed academic plan.
a. Will a new course prefix(es) be required for this degree program?
Yes
No
If yes, specify new prefix(es): EES (Earth and Environmental Sciences)
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5. New Courses Required for Proposed Academic Plan. Provide course prefix, number, title,
and credit hours and description for any new courses required for this academic plan (Include
timeline for development).
Course
Prefix
Course
Number
Course Title
Credit
Hours
Brief Description of
Course
Timeline for
Development
EES
605
1
606
EES
666
EES
799
Dissertation Research
1-9
Renumbered and
slightly revised
GLG605
Renumbered and
slightly revised
GLG606
Modeling and
statistics of Earth &
climate systems
Research related
to dissertation
2011-2012
EES
Regional Topics in
Earth & Environmental
Science and Policy
Research Methods in
Earth and
Environmental Science
Earth Systems
Modeling
1
4
2011-2012
2012 - 2013
2011-2012
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APPENDIX B
NEW ACADEMIC PLAN* INFORMATION FOR UCC/UGC/YCC
1. Contact and Support Information:
i. Program Office Location (Building & Room): 12 – 100
ii. Program Telephone Number: 523-4561
iii. Program email address:
iv. Program website address:
v. Program Director/Chair (Name): Richard (Buck) Sanford (starting December 2, 2012)
vi. Program Graduate Coordinator (Name): Abe Springer Interim for planning
vii. Program Support Staff (Name):
2. New Catalog Text (Include all catalog text that pertains to the new plan, including name
of the academic plan; brief purpose and overview of the program including intended
audience and unique admission requirements; course requirements for plans, and
emphases/concentrations; other requirements (e.g., thesis/dissertation, internships, etc.
This text will appear in the online academic catalog)
See attached document “Catalog Copy of PhD”
3. Keywords (List all keywords that could be used to search for this program. Keywords
should be specific to the proposed program.)
Earth, environmental sciences, sustainability, planetary systems, climate science,
landscape change, engineering, sustainable systems.
4. At the unit level, who may be contacted regarding details of this proposal? Abe
Springer or Paul Umhoefer
* UCC/YCC plan or sub plan proposals must include an 8-term plan and UGC plan must
include a program of study.
________________________________________________________________
Reviewed by Curriculum Process Associate
Date
Approvals
___________________________________________________________________
Department Chair/Unit Head (if appropriate)
Date
___________________________________________________________________
Chair of college curriculum committee
Date
___________________________________________________________________
Dean of College
Date
For Committee use only:
UCC/UGC/YCC Approval
Date
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