Gannon University

Director: Harry R. Diz, Ph.D., P.E.

The environmental program at Gannon University is a rigorous interdisciplinary program which builds on the basic sciences to emphasize the application of science and technology to environmental problem solving in industry and society. The curricula demand strong analytical skills and a broad understanding of environmental problems. The Department of Environmental Science & Engineering offers two master's degrees (M.S. in Environmental Health and Engineering, and M.Ed. in Natural and Environmental Sciences) and a Certificate in Environmental Health and Safety, which requires 18 credits beyond the Bachelor's degree. All of the programs can be completed on a part-time or full-time basis.

Master of Science in Environmental Health and Engineering
The program in Environmental Health and Engineering is diverse and dynamic, focusing on challenges in research as well as site-specific problem solving. The Department of Environmental Science & Engineering draws upon the resources of the departments of Chemistry and Biology, and the School of Business to contribute to this program, making Gannon University a regional leader in the Environmental Sciences. Students interested in technical expertise choose one of two areas of concentration, depending on their area of preparation and interest: Environmental Science & Engineering, or Industrial Hygiene (Occupational Health and Safety). Students whose career plans are more management and administrative in nature may pursue the Environmental Management option. In all cases, students benefit from Gannon's location in the city of Erie on the shores of Presque Isle Bay and Lake Erie, with access to the Environaut, Gannon's research vessel, and utilizing the University's relationships with various local industries and environmental agencies. Through this program, Gannon University has become the center of environmental research, exploration, education, and protection in the region.

OBJECTIVES

• To encourage the development of decision-making skills in students and to promote the identification of both problems and potential solutions;
• To teach new and current concepts in the science and technology of environmental protection, remediation, modeling, and natural resource conservation;
• To train students to use scientific research methods to define problems, gather relevant information, and analyze research results;
• To teach state-of–the-art computer applications that assist in managing information and solving problems in the area of environmental science.

Employment Outlook
The application of environmental science is felt in essentially every walk of life today, including agriculture, manufacturing, mining, water and wastewater treatment, land reclamation, and recreation. Opportunities for employment include not only government and non-profit agencies, but private corporations needing professionals to manage their in-house programs.

ADMISSIONS CRITERIA
Students are expected to have a Bachelor's degree in one of the sciences from an accredited college or university, with courses in math (calculus preferred), biology (preferably including ecology and microbiology), chemistry, physics, and earth sciences. A course in statistics is required (if no course in statistics, it can be taken while at Gannon). If the applicant's undergraduate grade point average is less than 3.0 (4 point scale), the Graduate Record Exam is required as part of the application package.  

Master of Science Curriculum
A minimum of 36 credits are required for the M.S. degree; number of credits per course are indicated. Each student's program is crafted by the student and advisor to meet the student's individual career needs.

Core Requirements for all students except for those in the Management option:
GENV 500	Experimental Design	3
GENV 536	Environmental Chemistry	3
GENV 537	Environmental Chemistry Lab	1
GENV 542	Environmental Toxicology	3
GENV 544	Environmental Law & Reg.	3
GENV 643	Principles of Environmental Science & Engineering	3

Concentration in Environmental Science & Engineering: For those who would like to gain greater competence and understanding in the areas of water quality, water/wastewater treatment, air pollution control, water quality modeling, and/or waste-management.

• GENV 520 Environmental Site Assessment    2
• GENV 522 Wetlands Science & Engineering    2
• GENV 535 Water Quality Modeling    3
• and/or GENV 565 Soil & Groundwater Pollution    3
• GENV 551 Water/Wastewater Treatment Engineering    3 and/or GENV 555 Air Pollution Control Engineering    3
• GENV 694 Thesis:    6-9 a thesis (6-9 credits) involving original research is required of full-time students in the Environmental Science & Engineering concentration. Part-time students who are employed full-time may, with the permission of the program director, prepare a research paper (3 credits) instead of undertaking a thesis project.
• Additional Environmental Electives to satisfy degree requirements.

Concentration in Industrial Hygiene: This concentration prepares students in occupational health and safety and environmental issues in the workplace, particularly in a manufacturing setting. For full-time students, an internship and a literature-based research paper is required rather than a thesis. Internship: For all students who have not worked in a position related to environmental health and safety, an internship experience is deemed to be a desirable component of this educational program. The student and advisor will determine exactly if and how an internship, especially for part-time students who work full-time, will be incorporated into the individual student's program.

• GENV 540 Industrial Health I       3
• GENV 541 Industrial Health II       3
• GENV 546 Industrial Sampling Techniques       2
• GENV 549 Industrial Safety       3
• GENV 694 Internship       3
  or an additional elective for those employed full-time
• Additional Environmental Electives to satisfy degree requirements.

Environmental Management
The role of the environmental manager has evolved rapidly over the past thirty years, since the enactment of sweeping environmental legislation of the early 1970s. The creation of the US EPA, and the passage of the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), better known as “Superfund”, and the Toxic Substance Control Act, to name just a few, have created a highly regulated structure in which every business must operate. Each commercial entity must have a sophisticated understanding of its legal, moral, and ethical obligations to bring products and services to the market with minimal environmental harm. While this responsibility has initially been viewed simply as a burden and additional cost of operation, it has more recently been realized that pollution prevention along with resource recovery and/or recycling contribute to higher quality, higher productivity, and reduced costs of operation. Thus, proper environmental stewardship can lead to greater competitiveness and profitability. The need for individuals who understand business and management principles, and who also have a thorough understanding of environmental science and technology has thus grown. These individuals are in short supply, and thus command high salaries.

OBJECTIVES

• To gain an understanding of current concepts in the science and technology of pollution management and the remediation of contaminated sites, and of the role of pollution prevention and minimization in the manufacturing and service sectors;
• To develop an understanding of the health effects of pollution, and the strategies employed to promote a safe and healthy workplace;
• To develop an understanding of business and management issues and strategies;
• To use scientific methods to define problems, gather relevant information, and analyze research results.

Requirements for the option in Environmental Management (36 credits)
Environmental Science Courses (21 credits):
GENV 643	Principle of Environmental Science & Engineering	3
GENV 542	Environmental Toxicology	3
GENV 544	Environmental Law & Regulations	3
GENV 549	Industrial Safety or GENV 540 Industrial Health I	3
GENV 695	Research Paper or Project	3
Plus, Environmental Department Electives		6

Management Courses (15 credits)
(see the Business Administration section of the graduate catalog):
GMBA 501	Financial Accounting	3
GMBA 531	Management Concepts	3
GMBA 561	Fundamentals of Financial Management	3
GMBA 641	Operations Management	3
Plus one 3 credit business elective		3

Master of Education Degree in Natural and Environmental Sciences
The master's degree in natural and environmental sciences is designed primarily for professional educators who are interested in building skills and gaining competencies in environmental science. Most students pursue their graduate degrees on a part-time basis.

OBJECTIVES

• to enhance the ability of secondary teachers to incorporate the scientific, economic, social and legal aspects of environmental problems into the school curriculum
• to present up-to-date concepts and technology in the areas of environmental compliance and pollution management, and public health and safety for workers and the general community
• to instill in teachers and other graduate students the concept that the best approach to teaching and learning environmental science involves hands-on activities in scientific research through laboratory and field experiences, and through the use of appropriate computer and instrumental technologies
• to provide a firm foundation concerning the nature of the scientific method to define problems, gather relevant information, analyze data and consider critically the status of the information relative to the original question

Environmental Science & Health (22 credits)
1.	GENV 500	Experimental Design	3
2.	GENV 520	Environmental Site Assessment	2
3.	GENV 522	Wetlands Science & Engineering	2
4.	GENV 536	Environmental Chemistry	3
5.	GENV 542	Environmental Toxicology	3
6.	GENV 544	Environmental Law & Regulations	3
7.	GENV 643	Principles of Environmental Science & Engineering	3
8.		Plus any additional Environmental Course	3

Certificate in Environmental Health and Safety
Due to the continually changing regulatory landscape, the demand for professionals competent to develop and implement environmental health and safety programs continues to increase. The purpose of this certificate program is to enhance an undergraduate degree in the science or engineering field with specific training in the environmental health and safety area. Upon program completion, students should have developed the competency needed to effectively understand and comply with environmental health and safety regulations. The program is intended for those currently working in environmental health and safety as well as those interested in breaking in to the field. The certificate program is geared for both full-time students and those in full-time employment since all coursework can be completed in the evening. Environmental health and safety professionals are employed by a variety of areas including private industry, consulting firms, governmental agencies and universities.

OBJECTIVES

• To provide students with the necessary knowledge and skills to identify, evaluate and control environmental and occupational hazards
• To assist students with understanding and implementing environmental health and safety regulations
• To enhance the expertise of professionals responsible for the development, implementation and evaluation of environmental health and safety programs
• To help prepare students for professional certification including those offered by the American Board of Industrial Hygiene (ABIH) and the National Registry of Environmental Professionals (NREP)

CERTIFICATE OPPORTUNITIES
Successful completion of the certificate will prepare the students to sit for various examinations. Each program has its own unique requirements, most requiring a bachelor's degree in science or engineering, and, in some cases, applicable experiences. The examinations are:

American Board of Industrial Hygiene
core examination for Certified Industrial Hygienist

 

National Registry of Environmental Professionals (NREP)
(in-training examinations)

(The student should evaluate individually their eligibility and specific requirements for each of these designations.)

CERTIFICATE CURRICULUM REQUIREMENTS
Certification in Environmental Health and Safety from Gannon University will require completion of 18 credits.

Required Courses
GENV 536	Environmental Chemistry	3
GENV 540	Industrial Health I	3
GENV 541	Industrial Health II	3
GENV 542	Environmental Toxicology	3
GENV 544	Environmental Law and Regulations	3
GENV 549	Industrial Safety	3

 

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
(Senior undergraduate students may be admitted to 500-level courses with the consent of the Program Director; unless formally enrolled in the Combined 5 Year BS/MS program, undergraduate students taking 500-level courses get credit only toward their BS degree.)

GENV 500 Experimental Design
3 credits
The student will become familiar with the scientific method and the scientific literature, and will be prepared to plan a scientific research study, including a statement of experimental goals, a discussion of the previously published knowledge on the topic, and a presentation of methods. Offered: Spring Semester

GENV 517 Limnology of the Great Lakes with lab
4 credits
Prerequisite: a course in Hydrology
A study of the physical, chemical and biological aspects of the Great Lakes. Advanced modern limnological concepts will be incorporated into understanding the past, present and future condition of the Lakes. Field and laboratory experiences will include the analysis of Lake Erie water samples for chemical, biological and physical interpretation using standard procedures. Field experiences will include trips on the R/V Environaut, Gannon's research vessel. Offered: Summer

GENV 520 Environmental Site Assessment
2 credits
The course covers the background and techniques required of an environmental professional in performing Phase I and Phase II environmental site assessments. These assessments are commonly required when there is a transfer of ownership of commercial or industrial property. Topics include site characterization, fate and transport, and application of the three attainment standards associated with Act II, Pennsylvania Land Recycling Program. Hands-on field experience included in the course activities. Offered: alternates annually with GENV 522

GENV 522 Wetlands Science & Engineering
2 credits
Wetlands Science and Engineering is a comprehensive course in wetland identification, function & value assessments, and management. The course will cover the fundamentals of identifying and delineating jurisdictional wetlands utilizing the current methods described in the 1987 US Army Corps of Engineers Manual. Comparative reference will be made to the 1989 EPA Joint Manual. Wetland design and construction methods will be presented as applicable to water quality enhancement, wildlife habitat improvement, stormwater management, and riparian environments. Offered: alternates annually with GENV 520

GENV 535 Water Quality Modeling
4 credits
Pre/Corequisites: GENV 536 and GENV 643,or permission of the Instructor.
An overview of fundamental processes and models developed to simulate and predict changes in water quality in natural settings. This course will be restricted to freshwater surface waters, particularly streams and rivers, but there will be some discussion of lakes and reservoirs. Students will become familiar with USEPA's BASINS (a GIS software for the presentation and analysis of water quality data) and the models associated with it. Offered: Alternate Spring semesters

GENV 536 Environmental Chemistry
3 credits
Prerequisite: two semesters of undergraduate chemistry
A study of the principles and methods of quantitative chemical analysis. Emphasis is placed upon both classical wet methods and modern instrumental methods of analysis. Course will discuss gas and liquid chromatography, mass spectrometry, and atomic absorption spectroscopy, focusing on analysis of complex environmental samples. Practical techniques and applications are emphasized, but sufficient theory is introduced to provide students with an understanding of the principles involved. Offered: Fall semester

GENV 537 Environmental Chemistry Lab
1 credit
Pre/Corequisite: GENV 536
Laboratory to accompany Environmental Chemistry. Lab exercises in applied, environmental aspects of physical, organic, and inorganic chemistry, including instrumental analysis. Offered: Fall semester

GENV 540 Industrial Health I
3 credits
Prerequisites: Organic Chemistry.
This course will review the basic principles and knowledge required to recognize, evaluate and control hazardous agents within the workplace environment. The topics to be covered include: an overview of occupational health and safety regulations, workplace exposure limits and standards, air sampling principles and techniques, chemical hazard identification and control, ventilation and biohazards. Offered: Fall semester

GENV 541 Industrial Health II
3 credits
Principles and control of the industrial environment as related to protection and health of occupationally employed persons, specifically related to industrial noise, personal protective equipment, and physical design factors (ergonomics). Offered: Spring Semester

GENV 542 Environmental Toxicology
3 credits
Prerequisites: Organic Chemistry
Principles of toxicology, with emphasis on the fate, distribution and mechanisms of action of chemicals encountered in the work place and environment. Offered: Spring Semester

GENV 544 Environmental Law & Regulations
3 credits
The course introduces students to the major concepts of environmental law. Because environmental law is grounded in both federal and state statutes, the course will expose students to major components of statutory law at both levels, and will also explore the federal/state relationship using Pennsylvania as a model. Although a basic understanding of the American legal system and administrative law would be of great benefit, it is not a prerequisite to the course. Offered: Spring semester

GENV 546 Industrial Hygiene Sampling Techniques
2 credits
Pre/Co-requisite: GENV 540
Develop an understanding of practices and procedures of environmental/occupational sampling and interpretation of collected data. Emphasis is applied to air sampling techniques and methods, and industrial hygiene sampling. Offered: varies

GENV 547 Epidemiology
3 credits
This course will review the basic principles related to the design and implementation of epidemiologic studies. The topics to be covered include: application of epidemiologic studies, study designs, statistical issues, exposure and health outcome measurements, measurement error and data interpretation. Examples from and application to occupational and environmental epidemiology will be emphasized, where appropriate. Offered: varies

GENV 548 Aquatic EcoToxicology
3 credits
Prerequisites: Molecular & Cellular Biology, Organic Chemistry
Topics covered include basic principles that govern the behavior and effects of toxic chemicals in the aquatic environment; determination of aquatic toxicity using bioassays; ecological effects of pollutants; and aquatic ecosystem modeling. Offered: varies

GENV 549 Industrial Safety
3 credits
This course will provide students with practical knowledge and tools necessary to identify, evaluate and control safety hazards within the industrial workplace. Topics to be covered will include: OSHA regulations, injury surveillance, system safety analysis, electrical hazards, fire protection, machine hazards and chemical safety. Offered: varies

GENV 551 Water & Wastewater Treatment Design Engineering
3 credits
Prerequisites: ENV 493 or GENV 643
The course covers the fundamental processes and operations commonly used at typical drinking water treatment plants and municipal wastewater treatment plants. The student will learn how to specify the sequence of operations and size the important elements in treatment plant operations. Offered: Alternate Spring semesters

GENV 552 Hydraulic Design & Treatment Operations
4 credits
Pre/Corequisites: GENV 551
This course covers the design of water and waste water conveyance systems and storage facilities, and uses lab experiences to study the fundamental processes and operations commonly employed at typical drinking water treatment plants and municipal wastewater treatment plants, complements GENV 551 Water/Wastewater Treatment Engineering. Offered: Alternate years

GENV 555 Air Pollution Control Engineering
3 credits
Prerequisites: ENV 493 or GENV 643
This course focuses on the technology and methodologies used to reduce concentration levels of pollutants being released to the atmosphere. Fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, chemistry and mathematics will be applied. The statues, regulations and permitting protocol will be introduced since they constitute an important requirement for obtaining legal authority to build a facility that will emit pollutants to the atmosphere. Integrated knowledge of fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, chemistry and mathematics will be applied. Topics covered will include nature and dynamic behavior of particulate matters, collection methods and analytical techniques, air pollution control/reduction methods, treatment technologies and air pollution control devices, and control of NOx, SOx, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Offered: Alternate years

GENV 565 Soil & Groundwater Pollution
3 credits
Prerequisites: ENV 493 or GENV 643
Soil serves as a multifunctional and crucial natural system for the reception, storage, and transport of water and pollutants to aquifer media. In this course, fundamental understanding of physics, geology and hydrogeology, and chemistry, along with engineering principles, will be used to understand the dynamic nature of fluid flow and contaminant fate and transport in porous media. Topics covered include the hydrologic cycle, sources and types of contaminants, remediation technologies, and well hydraulics theory and field examples.
Offered: Alternate years

GENV 574 Environmental Microbiology
2 credits
Prerequisite: a college course in microbiology
The course will cover the applied effects of microorganisms on both the environment and human health/activities. The topics to be covered during this course include: biogeochemical cycling; municipal water and solid waste treatment; bioremediation; detection and quantification techniques; and the control of human pathogens. Offered: varies

GENV 577 Industrial & Hazardous Waste Treatment
3 credits
Prerequisites: permission of the Instructor.
The objective of this course is to apply multidisciplinary approaches to managing industrial and hazardous wastes. Topics include familiarization with sources, classification, storage, transportation, various physicochemical and biological remediation technologies, and pertinent federal and state regulations. Knowledge of physicochemical and/or biological characteristics of a waste will be used to design appropriate disposal options. Lectures are supplemented with a field trip to a local industry and written and oral presentation of term-papers that survey integrated remediation technologies. Offered: Alternate years

GENV578 Environmental Microbiology Laboratory
2 credits
Pre/Corequisite: GENV 574
This lab accompanies GENV 574 and includes field and lab work which aid in understanding environmental microbiological principles. Offered: varies

600 level courses (for graduate students only)

GENV 630 Ecological Change
3 credits
This course relates to changes in the global ecosystem as a result of natural and human-induced change. Topics covered include extinction as a result of habitat destruction and excessive harvesting, ecological impacts of changing land use, and the effects of global climate change. The implications of energy policy and economics on the environment will be studied.
Offered: varies

GENV 643 Principles of Environmental Science & Engineering
3 credits
Prerequisites: graduate standing.
This course applies the basic principles of physics, chemistry, and biology as tools to understand and describe environmental systems and to solve environmental problems using quantitative methods. The course focuses on intra- and intersystem transport processes and transformation phenomena within and/or among hydrosphere (lakes and streams), lithosphere (soil), atmosphere, and biosphere. Topics covered will include basic concepts and mechanisms of the behavior of natural particles, transport in porous media, mass balance models, reactor models, interfacial mass transfer (gas/liquid), biological principles governing ecosystems, chemical thermodynamics, kinetics of chemical reactions, and redox reactions. Offered: Fall semester

GENV 645 Human Health Risk Assessment
3 credits
This course will cover the principles and application of risk assessment to determine the risk of human health effects from environmental hazards. Methods for evaluating potential environmental exposures will be examined coupled with the principles and concepts of toxicology as covered in GENV 542. Specific topics to be covered include the application of various risk assessment paradigms; the EPA risk assessment guidelines; and the use of risk assessment in environmental/occupational standard setting. Offered: varies

GENV 656 Air Quality Modeling & Measurement
3 credits
Prerequisites: GENV 643
Air quality modeling and measurement of point, line and area sources. Considerations of micro-meteorological and transport mechanisms in order to assess impact of proposed air pollution sources. Use of the computer simulation models for pollution impact prediction. Use of model calibration and validation procedures with measured ambient air quality levels and stack emissions. Offered: varies

GENV 680 Graduate Environmental Internship
1-4 credits

GENV 692-693 Special Topics
1-3 credits

GENV 694 Graduate Thesis
6 – 9 credits

GENV 695 Research Paper or Project
3 credits

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