This course is intended for seniors who plan to apply to grad school within the next 1-3 years. Whether you see yourself on a research-focused track or a professional M.S. track, by the end of our structured 12 week process, you will have completed a strong set of draft components for your graduate school application, including a clear timeline for yourself and 2-4 requests for great letters of recommendation.

In the course you will seek practical solutions to complex environmental problems by crossing traditional disciplinary boundaries and using an inquiry, cooperative learning-based approach. You'll learn how to integrate and apply knowledge from the four core areas of the ENVIRSCI curriculum. The main learning goals for this course are to gain in-depth experience in identifying tools and planning solutions for environmental challenges, and to explore how integrating your diverse educational experiences leads to new levels of understanding.

This course will introduce students to major themes of renewable energy systems. Students will analyze alternative energy solutions for a sustainable future. Emphasis will be on the different forms of renewable energy, within the context of the existing energy mix, energy policy, resource potential, and institutional opportunities and barriers. We will explore renewable energy potential and solutions through textbook and supplemental readings, current event briefings, group work and activities.

This course will cover the various aspects of phytoremediation - the use of plants (both natural hyper-accumulators and transgenic) and their associated microbes with the purpose of environmental clean-up of contaminated soil, sediments and water. Various strategies for phytoremediation of a wide range of toxic pollutants, both organic and elemental, with a special emphasis on toxic metals will be discussed.

Fellows work on sustainability initiatives around campus and are sponsored by a faculty member.