4.         Mode of delivery:                              x  Classroom             x  Web Based

x  Other (Specify) Internships, Exchange Programs & Laboratory Experiences 

5.         Proposed date for initiation of program:       Fall 2004

6.         Objectives, Rationale and Impact

a)      Explain purpose (objective) of the program and the specific contribution the program will make to the University goals, objectives and priorities as reported in the Strategic Framework for Action.

The mission of the Graduate Environmental Studies Program (GESP) is to produce graduates prepared to take leadership positions in research, education and outreach in the environmental arena—with particular emphasis on the training of African American students.  GESP will achieve this through the implementation of an interdisciplinary program of teaching and research focused on the quest for solutions to the complex environmental problems currently plaguing societies throughout the United States and abroad. The interdisciplinary areas of study will include foci in four broad areas, Environment, Development & Sustainability; Environmental Management, Law & Policy; Environmental Health; and Environmental Science & Engineering, and involve faculty from most of the schools and colleges.  The program described herein has been designed to provide the competitive and well-rounded curriculum and training necessary for addressing current environmental issues and problems.

GESP will contribute significantly to Strategic Framework for Action II, which acknowledges the importance of an integrated approach to complex environmental problems and urges the University to promote new interdisciplinary programs.  Through GESP, the University’s environmental research capabilities would be strengthened, allowing for the development of collaborations with other leading universities, increased research funding in the environmental area and enhanced student learning – all critical components of SFAII.

Environmental issues are expected to be among the most serious challenges of the 21^st century.  The sheer magnitude and complexity of these issues, and the critical need to address them, have spurred increasing attention to the environment—especially among people of color who have increasingly recognized the disproportionate impact of environmental problems on their communities. The creation of GESP would:

·        recognize that both basic and applied research are critical to understanding the causes and impacts of environmental problems, as well as to the developing methodologies to address these problems.

·        identify environmental hazards and associated risks for populations of varying ethnic, social, and economic backgrounds.

·        provide an effective environmental education for affected people.

·        address “the need to ameliorate the rapidly deteriorating state of the environment and to enhance its capacity to sustain the needs of the world’s population” (Lubchenco et al. 1991. Ecology 72: 371-412).

·        increase the representation of individuals from underrepresented groups in the environmental decision-making process.

Establishment of an interdisciplinary graduate environmental studies program would involve faculty in all of Howard University’s schools and colleges (Table A), thereby stimulating collaborative, interdisciplinary research, providing research and educational opportunities for graduate training, facilitating environmental educational programs, and fostering outreach programs for all sectors of society. Thus, GESP would aid in the development of practical and inclusive solutions to the critical environmental problems at global and local levels.

Table A. Degree-granting Academic Schools and Colleges at Howard University.  Those known to have expressed interest in affiliating with the program are high-lighted.

An interdisciplinary graduate program in environmental studies builds on two foundations: 1) the university’s rich and varied history of environmental research and teaching, and 2) the work of a number of faculty committees over the past six years to establish an interdisciplinary environmental studies program at Howard University. This proposal recognizes the full spectrum of current faculty activities across the university, the growing demand among students for training in environmental areas, the availability of external funding to support environmental research, and the unique opportunities that the university enjoys in the environmental field. This program aims to take advantage of Howard University's strengths while at the same time establishing specializations in several niche areas. The program acknowledges that the university's location at the seat of the national government presents an opportunity for exploring the legislative and regulatory implications of environmental policy, particularly as they affect African Americans and other persons of color both in the United States and throughout the world.

b)      Provide a strong rationale for the proposed program that addresses, among other things, potential demand on the part of students, employment (or subsequent educational) opportunities of graduates, and the relationship of the proposed program to similar programs at neighboring or peer institutions. The rationale should employ factual rather than anecdotal evidence, with supporting documents and testimonials attached.

One of the major functions of GESP is to correct the severe shortage of African Americans in environmental fields, while at the same time assuring that all program graduates—regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, or nationality—will be strong competitors for professional job opportunities. With increasing recognition that environmental issues will preoccupy both the technological and the policy agendas of the twenty-first century, Howard University, like other major research institutions, has a direct stake in education and scholarship bearing on the environment. The intellectual and political problems associated with the environment are now far too complex to be addressed in the traditional academic fashion and understanding and ameliorating them today requires broadly-based interdisciplinary scholarship, and smoothly-functioning interdisciplinary work groups. The proposed program will enable Howard University to assume a lead role in creating knowledge about the environment, to produce an outstanding cadre of environmental professionals and members of the professorate, as well as to prepare students to address the environmental issues that disproportionately affect African American communities.

In 1992, Howard University was one of two HBCUs providing students with access to an environmental studies curriculum.  At that time, Howard offered an undergraduate environmental studies program in the School of Human Ecology (now housed in Engineering), but did not offer an opportunity for graduate study in the discipline.    At the present time, 11 HBCUs offer Masters’ degrees and four offer Ph.D.s in a variety of environmental areas, while Howard still does not (Table X; see also Table 3 in the appendix for a listing of HBCUs with undergraduate environmental programs). We note our understanding that Clark Atlanta University is in the midst of establishing a program.

Table B2. Graduate programs in the environmental area at “local” institutions as of Spring 2003.

c)      Describe any effects that the proposed program will have on other programs within the College/School and the University. Will this program replace/compete with any existing programs? Will the enrollment for the proposed program affect enrollment in other programs (e.g., # of new students to the program versus existing students who will transfer to the program)?

Currently, various departments throughout the University offer environmental courses, but no degree program exists in environmental studies at either the undergraduate or graduate levels. The Department of Civil Engineering offers a minor in environmental engineering at the BS level and an environmental program at the MS level, with both leading to degrees in Civil Engineering. These course offerings can provide an interested student the opportunity to take electives in the environmental area and unofficially develop a subspecialization while majoring in the degree program offered by the parent department. However, there is no formal mechanism to recognize this effort, let alone award a degree in environmental studies.

A large number of Howard University faculty are actively engaged in environmental-related research.  From the last data (2000) available from the Office of Research Administration (ORA), the external funding for the environmental research was estimated to be about 32 million dollars.

Therefore it is clear that GESP will not compete with any existing programs.  On the other hand, it would provide a two-fold opportunity. First, it would bring the existing courses and research activities in the environmental area under one umbrella, thereby increasing the potential for more interdisciplinary research collaborations and external funding. Second, GESP would provide an opportunity for interested students to matriculate with a degree in environmental studies. Because of the large extent of faculty participation from several departments in the University, the program of study can be tailored to suit students’ educational background and career goals while maintaining the highest standards of graduate education at Howard University.  This would provide flexibility in meeting the students’ needs and in addressing contemporary issues in the environmental field.

The proposed program would draw graduate students from the existing pool of students currently enrolled at Howard University and also recruit new students who otherwise may not apply to Howard if this type of program does not exist.  Since the students will be admitted to the home department participating in the Interdisciplinary Graduate Environmental Studies Program, GESP will add to the enrollment of graduate students in the participating departments. It is estimated that 25% of the students in GESP will come from the existing pool while 75% of the students will be new students, who otherwise would not have come to Howard University. This will amount to 4 students from the existing pool and 12 new students.   

7.         Curriculum

a)      Provide a full catalogue description of the proposed program. Include the core curriculum required of all students; the courses required for the degree; the total number of elective courses (Will these change is there is a specialization?); clinical, practicum or fieldwork component; and thesis or dissertation requirement.

See Appendix I.

Master's Degree Requirements

·        Graduate School regulations require a minimum of thirty credit-hours beyond the bachelor's degree, no more than six hours of which may be earned for the master's thesis; all other pertinent regulations of the Graduate School regulations also apply

·        Non-thesis option – Students may elect to pursue a course-based, non-thesis Master’s program of study in which they do not conduct and write a research-based thesis. They must, instead, take additional courses (core and advanced) for a total of 33 credits.  No thesis or research credits may be used toward this degree. This is a terminal degree and students pursuing it may not apply for or be admitted to the Environmental Studies Ph.D. program.

Ph.D. Degree Requirements

·        Graduate School regulations require a minimum of seventy-two hours beyond the bachelor's degree, no more than twelve of which may be earned for the doctoral dissertation; all other pertinent regulations of the Graduate School regulations also apply

·        Doctoral students will begin their studies by taking core courses during their first year

·        Students who enter the doctoral program having already earned a master’s degree in an appropriate discipline may, at the discretion of their academic advisory committee, satisfy core course requirements by courses earned in their master’s programs.

·        After completing the required and elective core courses, students will fulfill the remaining  hours [between 44-48, depending on core course credits] needed to complete the doctoral degree through a combination of didactic, methodology, and research courses approved by their dissertation committees

·        All students must enroll in at least one course in advanced statistical/research methods

·        Students may either fashion a distinctive program of advanced study and research or concentrate their studies in one of the nine areas of specialization (described below)

·        Every student must enroll in at least one course from each of the four advanced areas of study

·        Students will develop a five-person dissertation committee, which will assist the student in course selection and research focus, composed of current members of the Graduate Faculty doing research in or having knowledge of the area of specialization; the committee must review and approve the student’s thesis proposal prior to the initiation of any research and before the student may advance to candidacy

         Curriculum

Designed to prepare students in the broad field of environmental studies, the academic program consists of three components: a required core to which all students will be exposed, a set of elective core courses which allows for some initial specialization but ensures exposure to the breadth of the environmental field, and advanced courses in areas of concentration which ensure depth. A full listing and description of courses associated with the Graduate Environmental Studies Program can be found in Appendix I.

Core Curriculum

The required and elective core courses comprise approximately 16 credit hours of study and acquaint students with various interdisciplinary theories and tools for understanding the environment and the associated biological, legal, economic, technological, political, social, and ethical issues. Exposure possibilities include both general theories regarding the functioning of environmental systems as well as specific applications for assessing the environmental impact of technological choices. For example, with regard to major pollutants, students will become familiar with ecosystem cycling, environmental stresses induced, effects on living organisms, and associated costs of remediation. With regard to the consequences of the pollutants, students will also learn the political mechanisms of amelioration, including the establishment of regulatory guidelines and agencies, the mobilization of interest groups, and the political aspects involved in developing “green technologies”. Thus, both individually and collectively, the core courses will emphasize the need to think across traditional disciplinary boundaries and to develop strong communication and teamwork skills. Following completion of the core requirement (core courses are listed below), students will be equipped to undertake upper-level coursework, conduct research within their areas of concentration, and complete requirements for the master's or doctoral degree.

Students must take three required core courses—the Environmental Studies seminar (the only new course proposed for the program), the Environmental Justice course, and one of a variety of numerical analysis courses.

Required environmental studies seminar:

                              Seminar in Environmental Studies                                  1 cr

Required environmental justice course is selected from either:

      SWPS 328       Environmental Justice & Community Health                   2 cr

Required numerical analysis course is selected from the following list of courses in statistics, cost-benefit analysis, and engineering applications:

      BIOG 430        Biostatistics                                                                  4 cr

      CIEG  350       Analytical Methods                                                       3 cr

      CIEG  351       Probability and Statistics                                               3 cr   

     ECOG 210      Advanced Statistics                                                       3 cr

      ECOG 250      Cost-Benefit Analysis                                                   3 cr

      PHAR 202       Statistical Methods                                                      4 cr

      PSYG 207       Statistics                                                                     3 cr     

Students must take two elective core courses from two different concentration areas. Courses that may be used to fulfill this requirement are listed below by concentration area. Students may take additional courses from this listing as advanced courses as appropriate.

ENVIRONMENT, DEVELOPMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY

      ANTG 248      Medical Anthropology                                                  3 cr

      ECOG 220      Theory of Economic Development                                3 cr

      PHIL 335         Ethics and Public Policy                                                3 cr

      POLS 208       Problems of World Organizations                                  3 cr

      SOCI 435        Growth and Development                                             3 cr

      SWPS 300       Displaced Populations II                                               2 cr

ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT, LAW AND POLICY

      BUS 450          Legal Environments of Business I                                  3 cr

      LAW 653        Environmental Law and Policy                                      3 cr

ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH

      BIOC 101        Introduction to Biochemistry*                                       4 cr

      PHAR 216       Introduction to Medical Pharmacology                          2 cr

      PHAR 203       Survey of Toxicology (Toxicometrics)                           4 cr

      PHSI 172         Introduction to Physiology*                                           3 cr

                              *(may only be taken if student’s area of concentration is not Environmental Health)

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING

      BIOG 533        Ecological and Environmental Biology                           4 cr

      CHEM 232      Introduction to Environmental Chemistry                       3 cr

      CIEG  601       Special Topics in Environmental Engineering                 3 cr           

Advanced Curriculum

The areas of advanced study and specialization reflect present areas of faculty research and teaching as well as new interdisciplinary combinations and extensions of currently existing strengths. They include major (in bold) and minor concentrations in the following areas:

Environment, Development and Sustainability

      Urbanization

      Socio-Economic Development

Environmental Management, Law and Policy

      Law and Public Policy

      Industrial Practice and Policy

Environmental Health

      Environmental Public Health

Environmental Science & Management

      Remediation, Treatment, and Restoration

      Conservation and Resource Management

      Earth System Science

      Green Technology/Engineering

         ADVANCED COURSES BY CONCENTRATION AREA

ENVIRONMENT, DEVELOPMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY

African Studies

      AFST 225        Public Policy and Development in Africa                       3 cr

      AFST 240        Rural Development                                                       3 cr

      AFST 242        Development Policy and Administration                         3 cr

Anthropology

      ANTG 248   Medical Anthropology The Ecology of Health       3 cr

Atmospheric Science

      ATMS 530   Air Pollution Meteorology                                    3 cr

Economics

      ECOG 221      Economic Development Policy and Planning      3 cr

      ECOG 230      Urban Economics                                             3 cr

      ECOG 233      Economics of Health Services                           3 cr

      ECOG 235      Urban Transportation                                        3 cr

      ECOG 244      International Economics I: Trade Theory                       3 cr

      ECOG 245      International Commercial Policy                                    3 cr

      ECOG 260      Agriculture and Economic Development                        3 cr

Education

      HUDE 202       Interdisciplinary Perspective on Human                        

                              Development I: Childhood and Adolescence     3 cr

      HUDE 204       Interdisciplinary Perspective on Human            

                              Development II:  Adult and Aging                     3 cr

History

      HIST 319         Readings in United States Foreign Relations                  3 cr

Human Communication

      HUCO 551      Mass Communication and Society                                 3 cr

      HUCO 610      Communication and Social Issues                                  3 cr

      HUCO 756      Seminar in Mass Communication & Development          3 cr

Philosophy

      PHIL 335         Ethics and Public Policy                                                3 cr

      PHIL 341         Ethics and Social Institutions                                         3 cr

      PHIL 802        Environmental Philosophy                                                                3 cr

Political Science

      POLS 208       Problems of World Organizations                                  3 cr

      POLS 213       American Foreign Policy-Making Process                     3 cr

      POLS 232       Nature and Uses of Political Theory                              3 cr

      POLS 245       Seminar in International Development                             3 cr

      POLS 264       Problems in International Security                                  3 cr

      POLS 275       Urban Political Economy                                               3 cr

Sociology and Anthropology

      SOCI 230        Principles of Demography                                             3 cr

      SOCI 231        Introduction to Human Ecology                                     3 cr

      SOCI 232        Population                                                                    3 cr

      SOCI 260        Problems of Black Community                                     3 cr

      SOCI 340        Urban Society                                                              3 cr

      SOCI 341        Urbanization and Development                                     3 cr 

      SOCI 386        Social Epidemiology                                                     3 cr

      SOCI 435        Population Growth and Development                            3 cr

      SOCI 610        Seminar Interdisciplinary Research                                3 cr

Social Work

      SWPS 222       Community Organization                                              3 cr

      SWPH 605      Pro-seminar  - Communities and Organizations             3 cr

      SWPH 706      Social Policy and Mental Health                                    x cr

      SW PS 300      Displaced Populations I                                               2 cr

      SWHB 207      Human Behavior & Soc. Environment II                       2 cr     

ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT, LAW AND POLICY

General Management

BUSG 410