Note: In the event the prerequisites or corequisites listed on this web page do not match those in the UNL catalog, the prerequisites in the catalog have precedence. The prerequisites/corequisites and course objectives listed here are those approved by the School of Natural Resources Faculty.
- ENVR 489
- Environmental Studies Seminar (1 cr, II) Lec. Prereq: Senior standing; ENVR major or minor; or permission of program director. Majors must have passed ENVR 289. Series of speakers dealing with topics related to an environmental theme selected for its appropriate and timely nature by the Environmental Studies Coordinating Committee. Topic varies. (Course cross-listing: none.)
- ENVR 497
- Internship in Environmental Studies (1-4 cr, max 12) Prereq: Junior standing; environmental studies major; prior arrangement with and permission of environmental program director and emphasis adviser. Experience in off-campus setting that is directly relevant to environmental studies. (Course cross-listing: none.)
- ENVR 498
- Independent Study (1-4 cr, max 12) Prereq: Environmental studies major; prior arrangement with and permission of program director and emphasis adviser. (Course cross-listing: none.)
- ENVR 499B
- Environmental Studies Senior Thesis II (2 cr) Prereq: ENVR 499A. Second course of a two-semester sequence of courses consisting of ENVR 499A and 499B. The thesis is to be written under the supervision of the emphasis adviser or a faculty member designated by the adviser. A committee of two (the faculty member guiding the thesis and an additional member with expertise in the topic) will review the thesis. (Course cross-listing: none.)
- ENVR 499A
- Environmental Studies Senior Thesis I (1 cr) Prereq: Junior or senior standing; environmental studies major or minor; prior arrangement with program director and emphasis adviser or academic adviser. First course of a two-semester sequence of courses consisting of ENVR 499A and 499B. Pass/No Pass only. Preparation for writing the senior thesis (Course cross-listing: none.)
- ENVR 499H
- Honors: Environmental Studies Senior Thesis I and II (3 cr) Lec, rct, ind. Prereq: Junior standing; good standing in the University Honors Program; ENVR major or minor; prior arrangement with program director, emphasis adviser, and honors program adviser. First course of a two-semester sequence of courses consisting of ENVR 499A and 499B. Pass/No Pass only. Preparation for writing the senior thesis. Second course of a two-semester sequence of courses consisting of ENVR 499A and 499B. The thesis is to be written under the supervision of the emphasis adviser or a faculty member designated by the adviser. A committee of two (the faculty member guiding the thesis and an additional member with expertise in the topic) will review the thesis. (Course cross-listing: none.)
- GEOG 281
- Introduction to Water Science (GEOG, NRES 281) (3 cr II) Prereq: High school chemistry or one semester college chemistry; one course in geology or physical geography or soil. Survey of the water science from the perspective of both natural and social sciences. Water budget, precipitation, evapotranspiration, runoff and stream flow, groundwater, water quality parameters, economics of water, water policy, water law and water politics. (Course cross-listing: NRES/WATS 281.) View a Sample Syllabus.
- GEOG 467
- Great Plains Field Pedology (AGRO 477/ 877, GEOG 467/867, SOIL 477) (4 cr II) Lec 3. Lab. Prereq: AGRO/SOIL 153 or permission. Spatial relationship of soil properties on various parts of landscape typical of the Plains, causal factors, and predictions of such relationships on other landscapes. Grouping these properties into classes, naming the classes, and the taxonomy that results from this grouping. Application of a taxonomy to a real situation through making a field soil survey in a region representative of the Plains border, predicting land use response of various mapped units as it affects the ecosystem, and evaluating the effectiveness of the taxonomic system used in the region surveyed. (Course cross-listing: AGRO 877, GEOG/NRES 867.) View a Sample Syllabus.
- GEOG 469
- Bio-Atmospheric Instrumentation (AGRO, GEOG, MSYM, METR 469/869; HORT 407/807) (3 cr I) Lec 2/lab 1. Prereq: Junior standing; MATH 106; 4 hrs physics; physical or biological science major. Offered fall semester of odd-numbered calendar years. Discussion and practical application of principles and practices of measuring meteorological and related variables near the earth's surface including temperature, humidity, precipitation, pressure, radiation and wind. Performance characteristics of sensors and modern data collection methods are discussed and evaluated. (Course cross-listing: AGRO/GEOG 469, HORT 407, METR/MSYM 469.) View a Sample Syllabus.
- GEOG 481
- Water Resources Seminar (GEOG 481/881; GEOL, NRES 415/815) (1 cr II) Prereq: Junior standing or above or permission. Seminar on current water resources research and issues in Nebraska and the region. (Course cross-listing: AGRO/GEOG/NRES 881, GEOL 815.)
- GEOG 484
- Water Resources Seminar (AGRO, GEOG, GEOL, NRES 484/884; WATS 484) (1 cr II) Prereq: Junior standing or above or permission. Seminar on current water resources research and issues in Nebraska and the region. (Course cross-listing: AGRO/GEOL/NRES/WATS 484, AGRO/GEOG/GEOL/NRES 884.)
- GEOG 867
- Great Plains Field Pedology (AGRO 477/ 877, GEOG 467/867, SOIL 477) (4 cr II) Lec 3. Lab. Prereq: AGRO/SOIL 153 or permission. Spatial relationship of soil properties on various parts of landscape typical of the Plains, causal factors, and predictions of such relationships on other landscapes. Grouping these properties into classes, naming the classes, and the taxonomy that results from this grouping. Application of a taxonomy to a real situation through making a field soil survey in a region representative of the Plains border, predicting land use response of various mapped units as it affects the ecosystem, and evaluating the effectiveness of the taxonomic system used in the region surveyed. (Course cross-listing: AGRO 877, GEOG/NRES 867.) View a Sample Syllabus.
- GEOG 869
- Bio-Atmospheric Instrumentation (AGRO, GEOG, MSYM, METR 469/869; HORT 407/807) (3 cr I) Lec 2/lab 1. Prereq: Junior standing; MATH 106; 4 hrs physics; physical or biological science major. Offered fall semester of odd-numbered calendar years. Discussion and practical application of principles and practices of measuring meteorological and related variables near the earth's surface including temperature, humidity, precipitation, pressure, radiation and wind. Performance characteristics of sensors and modern data collection methods are discussed and evaluated. (Course cross-listing: AGRO/GEOG/METR/MSYM 869, HORT 807.) View a Sample Syllabus.
- GEOG 881
- Water Resources Seminar (GEOG 481/881; GEOL, NRES 415/815) (1 cr II) Prereq: Junior standing or above or permission. Seminar on current water resources research and issues in Nebraska and the region. (Course cross-listing: AGRO/GEOG/NRES 481, GEOL 815.)
- GEOG 884
- Water Resources Seminar (AGRO, GEOG, GEOL, NRES 484/884; WATS 484) (1 cr II) Prereq: Junior standing or above or permission. Seminar on current water resources research and issues in Nebraska and the region. (Course cross-listing: AGRO/GEOG/GEOL/NRES/WATS 484, AGRO/GEOL/NRES 884.)
- NRES 104
- Climate in Crisis (3 cr II) Lec. 3. Past, present and future climate change. Climate science basics in the context of global changes (such as global warming, droughts, deforestation) that impact Earth and its inhabitants. Future climate change scenarios and possible impacts. View a Sample Syllabus.
- NRES 105
- Justin Smith Morrill Scholars Seminar (1 cr I) Lec 1. NRES 105 is open to Justin Smith Morrill Scholars Program students only. The life, experience, and accomplishments of Justin Smith Morrill, author of the Land-Grant College Acts of 1862 and 1890. The role of the Land-Grant University in the modern era. View a Sample Syllabus.
- NRES 108
- Earth's Natural Resource Systems Laboratory (3 cr) Lab. Introduction to Earth's natural resource systems. Interactions between the geosphere (solid earth) and the hydrosphere. The atmosphere and biosphere over many different spatial and temporal scales, and role of humans as part of the system.
- NRES 279
- Soil Evaluation (AGRO, NRES 279) (1 cr, max 3 I, II) Soil profile characteristics and evaluation of these characteristics in terms of soil genesis, classification, and land use. (Course cross-listing: AGRO/SOIL 279.) View a Sample Syllabus.
- NRES 281
- Introduction to Water Science (GEOG, NRES 281) (3 cr II) Prereq: High school chemistry or one semester college chemistry; one course in geology or physical geography or soil. Survey of the water science from the perspective of both natural and social sciences. Water budget, precipitation, evapotranspiration, runoff and stream flow, groundwater, water quality parameters, economics of water, water policy, water law and water politics. (Course cross-listing: GEOG/WATS 281.) View a Sample Syllabus.
- NRES 361
- Soils, Environment and Water Quality (AGRO, GEOL, WATS 361) (3 cr II) Lec 3. Prereq: PHYS 141 or equivalent, one year chemistry, one semester biology and one of the following: AGRO 153 or GEOL 101 or CHEM 116 or 221. Selected soil properties that influence environmental and water quality. Waste site selection criteria, cleanup and remedial action, as well as federal regulations. Particular contaminants discussed vary but can include radioactive materials, pesticides, oil, sewage, nitrates, as well as other organic and inorganic materials. Identifying processes and role soil plays in modifying waste. Effects of particle soil properties on contaminant movement and attenuation. (Course cross-listing: AGRO/WATS/SOIL/GEOL 361.)
- NRES 415
- Water Resources Seminar (GEOG 481/881; GEOL, NRES 415/815) (1 cr II) Prereq: Junior standing or above or permission. Seminar on current water resources research and issues in Nebraska and the region. (Course cross-listing: AGRO/GEOG 481/881, GEOL 415/815.)
- NRES 422
- Fundamental concepts related to understanding Earth's changing natural systems in the past, present and the future. Specific emphasis on the cycling of matter and energy, the relationship between human activity and environmental change, and the consequence of these relationships. (Course cross-listing: NRES 422/822.)
- NRES 451
- Soil Environmental Chemistry (ENVE *851) (3 cr II, offered even-numbered calendar years) Lec 3. Prereq: CHEM 252. Theory, mechanisms and processes related to chemical behavior in soil-water environments. Application of computer simulation models for predicting contaminant fate in soil. Basic chemical and biological principles of remediating contaminated soil and water. (Course cross-listing: ENVE 851, NRES 851.)
- NRES 458
- Soil Physical Determinations1 (SOIL 458, AGRO 458/858) (2 cr I) Lab 3, plus 3 hrs arr. Prereq: AOIL/AGRO/GEOL/ WATS 361; PHYS 141 or equivalent; MATH 102 or 103. Graduate students in NRES/AGRO 458/ 848 or SOIL 458 are expected to carry out an independent project and give an oral report. Survey of measurement techniques and principles used in characterizing the physical properties of soils. Includes analysis of experimental design and sources of experimental error. Techniques included: particle size analysis, soil water content, pore size analysis, field sampling techniques, soil strength, and saturated hydraulic conductivity. (Course cross-listing: AGRO458/858, NRES 858, SOIL 458.)
- NRES 461
- Soil Physics (AGRO, GEOL 461/861; SOIL, WATS 461) (3 cr I) Lec 3. Prereq: AGRO/SOIL 153; PHYS 141 or equivalent, one semester of calculus. Recommended: Parallel AGRO/NRES/SOIL 458. Principles of soil physics. Movement of water, air, heat, and solutes in soils. Water retention and movement, including infiltration and field water regime. Movement of chemicals in soils. (Course cross-listing: AGRO,GEOL,SOIL,WATS 461.)
- NRES 468
- Wetlands (BIOS 458, WATS 468) (4 cr II) Lec 4. Prereq: 12 hrs biological sciences; BIOS 220; CHEM 109 and 110. Offered even-numbered calendar years. Physical, chemical and biological processes that occur in wetlands; the hydrology and soils of wetland systems; organisms occurring in wetlands and their ecology wetland creation, delineation, management and ecotoxicology. (Course cross-listing: BIOS 458, NRES 868, WATS 468.)
- NRES 469
- Bio-Atmospheric Instrumentation (AGRO, GEOG, MSYM, METR 469/869; HORT 407/807) (3 cr I) Lec 2/lab 1. Prereq: Junior standing; MATH 106; 4 hrs physics; physical or biological science major. Offered fall semester of odd-numbered calendar years. Discussion and practical application of principles and practices of measuring meteorological and related variables near the earth's surface including temperature, humidity, precipitation, pressure, radiation and wind. Performance characteristics of sensors and modern data collection methods are discussed and evaluated. (Course cross-listing: AGRO/GEOG 469, HORT 407, METR/MSYM 469.) View a Sample Syllabus.
- NRES 477
- Great Plains Field Pedology (AGRO 477/ 877, GEOG 467/867, SOIL 477) (4 cr II) Lec 3. Lab. Prereq: AGRO/SOIL 153 or permission. Spatial relationship of soil properties on various parts of landscape typical of the Plains, causal factors, and predictions of such relationships on other landscapes. Grouping these properties into classes, naming the classes, and the taxonomy that results from this grouping. Application of a taxonomy to a real situation through making a field soil survey in a region representative of the Plains border, predicting land use response of various mapped units as it affects the ecosystem, and evaluating the effectiveness of the taxonomic system used in the region surveyed. (Course cross-listing: AGRO 477/877, GEOG 467/867, NRES 877, SOIL 477.) View a Sample Syllabus.
- NRES 484
- Water Resources Seminar (AGRO, GEOG, GEOL, NRES 484/884; WATS 484) (1 cr II) Prereq: Junior standing or above or permission. Seminar on current water resources research and issues in Nebraska and the region. (Course cross-listing: AGRO/GEOG/GEOL/WATS 484, AGRO/GEOG/GEOL/NRES 884.)
- NRES 809
- Laboratory Earth: Earth and Its Systems (3 cr) Lec, lab. The earth as a system and the "real world" applications of fundamental physical science processes in this system. Interaction of energy and matter in the geosphere, in the hydrosphere, and in the atmosphere. The earth's relationships to the sun, moon, and other astronomical objects in the solar system. (Course cross-listing: .)
- NRES 814
- Laboratory Earth: Earth's Natural Resource Systems (3 cr) Lec, lab. Fundamental concepts in the Earth and physical sciences in the understanding of Earth's natural resource systems. Rock and mineral, water, soil, and energy resources. Social factors, human dependence, and the impact of these on natural resource systems
- NRES 815
- Water Resources Seminar (GEOG 481/881; GEOL, NRES 415/815) (1 cr II) Prereq: Junior standing or above or permission. Seminar on current water resources research and issues in Nebraska and the region. (Course cross-listing: AGRO/GEOG 881, GEOL 815.)
- NRES 822
- Fundamental concepts related to understanding Earth's changing natural systems in the past, present and the future. Specific emphasis on the cycling of matter and energy, the relationship between human activity and environmental change, and the consequence of these relationships. (Course cross-listing: NRES 422/822.)
- NRES 851
- Soil Environmental Chemistry (ENVE *851) (3 cr II, offered even-numbered calendar years) Lec 3. Prereq: CHEM 252. Theory, mechanisms and processes related to chemical behavior in soil-water environments. Application of computer simulation models for predicting contaminant fate in soil. Basic chemical and biological principles of remediating contaminated soil and water. (Course cross-listing: ENVE 851, NRES 451.)
- NRES 853
- Hydrology (CIVE 853) (3 cr) Prereq: MATH 106 Credit in CIVE 353/853/NRES 853 will not count towards a major in civil engineering. Introduction to the principles of hydrology, with emphasis on the components of the hydrologic cycle: precipitation, evaporation, groundwater flow, surface runoff, infiltration, precipitation runoff relationships. (Course cross-listing: CIVE 353, 853.) View a Sample Syllabus.
- NRES 858
- Soil Physical Determinations1 (SOIL 458, AGRO 458/858) (2 cr I) Lab 3, plus 3 hrs arr. Prereq: AOIL/AGRO/GEOL/ WATS 361; PHYS 141 or equivalent; MATH 102 or 103. Graduate students in NRES/AGRO 458/ 848 or SOIL 458 are expected to carry out an independent project and give an oral report. Survey of measurement techniques and principles used in characterizing the physical properties of soils. Includes analysis of experimental design and sources of experimental error. Techniques included: particle size analysis, soil water content, pore size analysis, field sampling techniques, soil strength, and saturated hydraulic conductivity. (Course cross-listing: AGRO 458/858, NRES 458, SOIL 458.)
- NRES 861
- Soil Physics (AGRO, GEOL 461/861; SOIL, WATS 461) (3 cr I) Lec 3. Prereq: AGRO/SOIL 153; PHYS 141 or equivalent, one semester of calculus. Recommended: Parallel AGRO/NRES/SOIL 458. Principles of soil physics. Movement of water, air, heat, and solutes in soils. Water retention and movement, including infiltration and field water regime. Movement of chemicals in soils. (Course cross-listing: AGRO/GEOL 861.)
- NRES 868
- Wetlands (BIOS 458, WATS 468) (4 cr II) Lec 4. Prereq: 12 hrs biological sciences; BIOS 220; CHEM 109 and 110. Offered even-numbered calendar years. Physical, chemical and biological processes that occur in wetlands; the hydrology and soils of wetland systems; organisms occurring in wetlands and their ecology wetland creation, delineation, management and ecotoxicology. (Course cross-listing: BIOS 458, NRES 468, WATS 468.)
- NRES 869
- Bio-Atmospheric Instrumentation (AGRO, GEOG, MSYM, METR 469/869; HORT 407/807) (3 cr I) Lec 2/lab 1. Prereq: Junior standing; MATH 106; 4 hrs physics; physical or biological science major. Offered fall semester of odd-numbered calendar years. Discussion and practical application of principles and practices of measuring meteorological and related variables near the earth's surface including temperature, humidity, precipitation, pressure, radiation and wind. Performance characteristics of sensors and modern data collection methods are discussed and evaluated. (Course cross-listing: AGRO/GEOG/METR/MSYM 869, HORT 807.) View a Sample Syllabus.
- NRES 877
- Great Plains Field Pedology (AGRO 477/ 877, GEOG 467/867, SOIL 477) (4 cr II) Lec 3. Lab. Prereq: AGRO/SOIL 153 or permission. Spatial relationship of soil properties on various parts of landscape typical of the Plains, causal factors, and predictions of such relationships on other landscapes. Grouping these properties into classes, naming the classes, and the taxonomy that results from this grouping. Application of a taxonomy to a real situation through making a field soil survey in a region representative of the Plains border, predicting land use response of various mapped units as it affects the ecosystem, and evaluating the effectiveness of the taxonomic system used in the region surveyed. (Course cross-listing: AGRO 477/877, GEOG 467/867, NRES 877, SOIL 477.) View a Sample Syllabus.
- NRES 884
- Water Resources Seminar (AGRO, GEOG, GEOL, NRES 484/884; WATS 484) (1 cr II) Prereq: Junior standing or above or permission. Seminar on current water resources research and issues in Nebraska and the region. (Course cross-listing: AGRO/GEOG/GEOL/NRES/WATS 484, AGRO/GEOG/GEOL 884.)
- NRES 916
- Environmental Law and Water Resource Management Seminar (CIVE 916; LAW 774G) (1-4 cr, max 4) Prereq: Permission An interdisciplinary seminar with the Department of Civil Engineering. Contemporary environmental issues and water resource management. (Course cross-listing: CIVE916, LAW774, LAW 774G.)
- NRES 917
- Environmental Isotope Hydrology (GEOL 917) (3 cr) Prereq: NRES 819 or equivalent or permission Theory and use of stable, radiogenic and radioactive isotopes in hydrologic studies. Abundance and variation of the stable isotopes of oxygen, hydrogen, carbon, sulphur, chlorine, nitrogen, and strontium. Application of the isotopes to determine water origin, movement, geochemical history, recharge age and residence time, and to delineate contaminant sources and solute migration. (Course cross-listing: GEOL 917.) View a Sample Syllabus.
- NRES 918
- Applied Groundwater Modeling (3 cr I) Lec 3. Prereq: GEOL/NRES 488/888 or *889, MATH 208/208H, or equivalent Offered fall semester of odd-numbered calendar years. Forward and backward numerical analysis of groundwater flow systems and their interactions with other hydro-logic components. Groundwater model development and parameter estimation using MODFLOW, PEST, and other widely used modeling packages.
- NRES 920
- Xenobiotics in the Environment (AGRO 920; ENTO 920; HORT 920; TOXI 920) (3 cr II) Lec 3. Prereq: Recommend one course each in organic chemistry, soil science, biochemistry, plant physiology, microbiology and ecology Offered odd-numbered calendar years. Fate and ecotoxicological impacts of biologically foreign compounds in soil-water-plant environments; uptake, mechanisms of toxicity and metabolism in plants and other biota. Herbicides and other pesticides. (Course cross-listing: AGRO/ENTO/HORT/TOXI 920.)
- NRES 961
- Advanced Soil Physics (AGRO 961) (3 cr II) Lec 3. Prereq: MATH 208 and PHYS 212, or equivalent; or permission Offered odd-numbered calendar years. Physics of soils and porous media, with emphasis on the physics and mathematics of the movement of water, air, and heat through soils. (Course cross-listing: AGRO 961.)
- WATS 281
- Introduction to Water Science (GEOG, NRES 281) (3 cr II) Prereq: High school chemistry or one semester college chemistry; one course in geology or physical geography or soil. Survey of the water science from the perspective of both natural and social sciences. Water budget, precipitation, evapotranspiration, runoff and stream flow, groundwater, water quality parameters, economics of water, water policy, water law and water politics. (Course cross-listing: GEOG/NRES 281.) View a Sample Syllabus.
- WATS 361
- Soils, Environment and Water Quality (AGRO, GEOL, WATS 361) (3 cr II) Lec 3. Prereq: PHYS 141 or equivalent, one year chemistry, one semester biology and one of the following: AGRO 153 or GEOL 101 or CHEM 116 or 221. Selected soil properties that influence environmental and water quality. Waste site selection criteria, cleanup and remedial action, as well as federal regulations. Particular contaminants discussed vary but can include radioactive materials, pesticides, oil, sewage, nitrates, as well as other organic and inorganic materials. Identifying processes and role soil plays in modifying waste. Effects of particle soil properties on contaminant movement and attenuation. (Course cross-listing: AGRO/GEOL/SOIL 361.)
- WATS 484
- Water Resources Seminar (AGRO, GEOG, GEOL, NRES 484/884; WATS 484) (1 cr II) Prereq: Junior standing or above or permission. Seminar on current water resources research and issues in Nebraska and the region. (Course cross-listing: AGRO/GEOG/GEOL/NRES 484, AGRO/GEOG/GEOL/NRES 884.)