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Master of Arts in Environmental Science

The College of Staten Island
The City University of New York

The Masters Program in Environmental Science was established in 1972. It is an interdisciplinary program with courses in ecology, chemistry, geology, engineering, and systems modeling taught by faculty from a number of departments. It is a 30 credit program, which includes a 3 to 6 credit research thesis. Most courses are given in the evening between 6:55 and 10:00 p.m., one night a week. Most of the students in the program work during the day, and have ranged in age from the mid-twenties to over 60. Some financial assistance is provided through part-time teaching and research positions, assistantships, work study, tuition waivers, etc. (see the Graduate Catalog for details).

The Masters Program is designed to provide broad interdisciplinary training in those areas of the biological, engineering, physical, chemical, and social sciences that are important in solving environmental problems. Graduates are prepared for careers in both governmental agencies and private companies working on such problems as pollution control, environmental impact, and urban planning, and for careers in environmental education. The College has extensive, modern laboratories and computer facilities.

The program is associated with the Center for Environmentá Science, which was established at the College in 1987 by the City University. Much of the thesis related research is carried out under the auspices of the Center. Currently the Center is carrying out four major studies supported by outside funding. One is on toxic and carcinogenic organics in ambient air; the initial phase was carried out in collaboration with the US Environmental Protection Agency, Region II, Urban Air Toxics Assessment Program, and the New York State Departments of Environmental Conservation and Health. The second study is an epidemiological case-control study of the various environmental risk factors that contribute to the incidence of primary lung cancer. It is being carried out in collaboration with the New York City Department of Health, the five Staten Island hospitals, and Staten Island physicians. The third study is looking at the incidence of cancer in relation to the Fresh Kills landfill, currently the largest landfill in New York City and on the Earth. A fourth study is looking at the impacts of tropospheric ozone and sulfur dioxide on respiratory diseases among the 62 counties of New York State. Other studies have been done on methane generation in landfills, solid waste disposal, and on the ecology of fresh and tidal wetlands. New research will look at various types of pollutants in air, water, soil, and organisms in our new facilities equipped with GC/MS and AAS, perchloric acid hood, and clear room. The new wet lab will be used to process field samples and to do research on surface erosion and mass wasting. The new campus,occupied in the Fall of 1993, has 204 acres, which includes natural forest, and is adjacent to Willowbrook Park, Corson Brook Woods and theGreenbelt System of the NYC Parks Department. A meteorological and air monitoring station will be starting to collect data in February 1997. The Interstate Sanitation Commission, under Federá charter to monitor water bodies shared by the States of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut, now has its environmental chemistry and bacteriology laboratories located in our facility. Students and faculty get involved in local environmentals problems and give testimony at governmental hearings.

Please consult the Graduate Catalog for further details. If you have questions, please write or call the Director as below.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

An acceptable bachelor's degree from an institution whose degree requirements are substantially equivalent to those of The College of Staten Island or other senior units of the City University of New York. Ordinarily, this would be a bachelor's degree in a natural science or in engineering.

An overall average of B minus, or the equivalent, in undergraduate work and an average of B, or the equivalent, in undergraduate science and engineering courses.

The undergraduate credits must include at least one year each of general chemistry and general physics, mathematics through differential and integral calculus, and at least one semester of ecology. Candidates who are deficient in one or more of these requirements may be accepted on the expectation that they will make up the deficiency without receiving graduate credit for it.

Two letters of recommendation testifying to the applicant's ability to complete successfully the program of graduate study are required. A personal interview may be required.

The applicant is ordinarily required to submit the results of both the General Aptitude Test and the Advanced Test in the undergraduate field of concentration of the Graduate Record Examination. Applicants should apply directly to the Educational Testing Service, Box 955, Princeton, New Jersey, 08540, to take the tests. Applicants from out side the U.S. must also take the TEST OF ENGLISH AS A FOREIGN LANGAGE (TOEFL) exam, including the Test of Written English. For this exam, apply to the TOEFL Program Office, P. O. Box 6155, Princeton, NJ 08541-6155. Applicants should take these examinations no later than February for fall admission and July for spring admission.

TO APPLY OR OBTAIN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Contact the Program Director, Dr. John R. Oppenheimer, at The College of Staten Island, 6S-310, The City University of New York, 2800 Victory Boulevard, Staten Island, NY 10314. Tel. # : 718 982-3921; Fax. # : 718 982-3923; E-mail: oppenheimer@postbox.csi.cuny.edu

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

Thirty credits in approved courses with an average of at least a grade of B. There are four required courses (The Biosphere and Our Species, Community Ecology, Earth Science, Applied Environmental Science). The remaining 12 credits are chosen as electives from the list below. One course may be from an approved list of graduate courses in the social sciences. Electives may be chosen from environmental science and social science courses at the College, or on approval of the director from appropriate courses offered in graduate programs in the City University campuses or the Graduate School . A thesis project for a minimum of three to a maximum of six credits is required.

COURSES

ESC 601 The Biosphere and our species
3 hours; 3 credits
A required course that covers the structure and function of the biospheric ecosystem on the planet Earth, and the impacts of our species upon it in terms of ecology, resource use and exploitation, sociopolitical aspects, economics, environmental ethics, and related topics. (Also creditable toward biology requirements.)

ESC 702 Community Ecology
3 hours; 3 credits
Function and integration of natural communities and ecosystems: trophic structure, energy flow, species diversity and dominance, stability and resilience, interspecific interactions. Selected topics from the current literature. (Also creditable toward biology requirements.)
Prerequisite: Ecology

ESC 703 Earth Science
3 hours; 3 credits
Ecological significance of physical geology and geochemistry; tectonics, pedogenesis, erosion and deposition. The hydrologic cycle; ground-water geology and pollution. Weather and climate; the general circulation; climatic geography; dynamics of fronts and traveling weather systems.
Prerequisites: Calculus, Physics

ESC 704 Applied Environmental Science
3 hours; 3 credits
Definition of environmental parameters and quality criteria. Physical and transport phenomena. Monitoring, detection, and mathematical modeling of environmental systems. Control policies and implementation schemes. Present and future techniques of pollution control and abatement.
Prerequisite: Calculus

ESC 710 Instrumentation for Chemical Analysis
6 laboratory hours; 3 credits
Lecture and laboratory work covering theories and applications of modern approaches to chemical analysis. Equal emphasis will be placed on physical theory and design and chemical theory and procedure. Topics include opticometric and electrometric methods, magnetic resonances, radioactivity, and separation techniques applicable to analysis of environmental pollutants.

ESC 721 Methods in Environmental Analysis
6 laboratory hours; 3 credits
Collection and analysis of water, air, and soil samples in local terrestrial and aquatic habitats. Various sampling methodologies will be used in the field to collect data which will be analyzed and tested statistically.
Prerequisites: Ecology, ESC 702 and 732, or permission of the instructor

ESC 724 Computer Simulation of Environmental Systems
3 hours; 3 credits
The development and construction of mathematical models, defining pollution parameters and quality criteria, analog, digital and hybrid techniques in environmental systems simulation studies. Case studies for model verification; control policies based on simulations. (Also creditable toward biology requirements.)
Prerequisite: A knowledge of digital computer programming.

ESC 725 Energy Sources and the Environment
3 hours; 3 credits
The environmental impact of present and future sources of power. Methods of power production and distribution; analysis of energy resources; pollution associated with energy conversion; effect of man-made energy systems on the energetics of ecological systems.

ESC 726 Transportation Systems
3 hours; 3 credits
Urban travel characteristics and needs determined by origin-destination surveys, population and economic factors, and land use. Traffic-study techniques for obtaining data on speeds, travel times, delays, and volumes. Capacity analysis for freeways, city streets, air corridors, bus lanes, and railroads. Criteria considered in selection of the "optimum" transportation plan. Presentation of current advances in the state of the art.

ESC 731 Behavioral Ecology
3 hours; 3 credits
The role of behavior in the dynamics of populations; social behavior, the reproductive function of pheromones and hormones, mate selection, species isolating mechanisms, habitat selection, orientation and navigation. Laboratory and field evidence will be discussed. (Also creditable toward biology requirements.)
Prerequisite: BIO 338 or equivalent

ESC 732 Population Ecology
3 hours; 3 credits
Ecological basis of fitness in natural populations; theory of evolution in stable and changing environments; genetic aspects of interactions between species; population dynamics and regulation; life tables. Case histories. (Also creditable toward biology requirements.)
Prerequisite: Genetics and Ecology

ESC 734 Chemical Ecology
3 hours; 3 credits
The role of secondary metabolites in ecological interactions within and among species. Allelopathy; defense mechanism; chemical co-evolution and the organization of natural communities. (Also creditable toward biology requirements.)
Prerequisites: Any two of the following: Ecology, Behavioral Biology, Organic Chemistry

ESC 735 Biogeography
3 hours; 3 credits
Distribution of biomes of the world. Impact of geologic and climate change on the ranges of plants and animals. Experimental biogeography; models of colonization and insular evolution; effects of man on regional biota. (Also creditable toward biology requirements.)
Prerequisites: Any two of the following: Ecology, Evolution, historical geology, or college geography

ESC 736 Systems Ecology
3 hours; 3 credits
Systems approach to energy flow, biogeochemical cycles, and resource management: systems measurement, description. analysis, and simulation modeling. Examination of systems studies in current literature. (Also creditable toward biology requirements.) Prerequisites: Ecology, Calculus, Statistics, and CSC 270 or equivalent or permission of the instructor

ESC 740 Experimental Design and Analysis
3 hours; 3 credits
Statistical analysis of research and survey data with emphasis on the design of experiments, regression analysis, and analysis of variance.
Prerequisites: Introductory Statistics, Biometrics, or equivalent

ESC 748 Environmental Chemistry
3 hours; 3 credits
The science of chemical phenomena involving the nature, reactions and transport of natural and anthropogenic chemicals in the natural environment, including the lithosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere. The interaction between chemical species, and the effects of the physical environment, and the role of microorganisms. Specific emphasis on pollutants and hazardous wastes.
Prerequisite: General Chemistry

ESC 751 Microclimate and Air Pollution
3 hours; 3 credits
Topographic, vegetational, and human impact on local climates. Properties and biological implications of the active surface. Pollution as part of a meteorological system; the urban heat island, environmental photochemistry. (Also creditable toward biology requirements.)

ESC 752 Soils and Geohydrology
3 hours; 3 credits
Origin, evolution, and engineering properties of soils. Biological properties: nutrient availability, microbiota, yield. Properties of aquifers: ground- water physics; regional water balance; systems analysis in hydrology.

ESC 799 Thesis Research
hours and credits vary; maximum 6 credits towards degree
This course may be repeated. No student may apply more than a total of six credits of Thesis Research toward the degree.

ESC 803 Topics in Environmental Science for Teachers
3 hours; 3 credits
A course that covers the structure and function of the biospheric ecosystem and the basic scientific concepts that underlie this. It will deal with the impacts of human activities, in terms of ecology, sociopolitical aspects, economics, environmental ethics, and other topics as they relate to elementary and secondary school teachers. (Not creditable toward Environmental Science Masters degree).

ESC 891, 892, 893, 894 (respectively for 1 to 4 credits) Graduate Independent Study in Environmental Science

Faculty and Staff involved with the Center and Masters Program, their research, highest degree, and departmental or program affiliation at the College of Staten Island, CUNY

James Batteas is a surface analytical chemist, whose research involves the tribology of polymeric thin films in anti-wear and anti-fouling applications [Ph. D., University of California, Berkeley; Chemistry Department].

Alan Benimoff is a geologist, who works on geohydrology of Staten Island, and on the mineralogy and geochemistry of the serpentinite rock which makes up the back-bone of the island. He also works on Earth mantle experimental petrology and igneous rocks of the Newark Basin [Ph. D., Lehigh Unversity; Applied Sciences Department].

Donna Gerstle does research in environmental epidemiology investigating the link between air pollution from industrial complexes and the Freshkills landfill and various cancers, such as lung and breast, in the Staten Island population, and non-malignant respiratory disease [M.S., M. A., College of Staten Island, CUNY; Center for Environmental Science].

Michael Kress does computer modeling and visualization of environmental and physical systems, and is involved with the development of material presentation, such as meteorological data, for distance learning [Ph. D., New York University; Computer Science Department].

Alfred M. Levine is a professional engineer interested in risk analysis, modeling of environmental systems, and statistical analysis of epidemiological data [Ph. D., Princeton University ; Applied Sciences Department].

Elena McCoy is an environmental microbiologist, who works on the toxicity and mutagenicity of chemicals in the air, water and soil, and in the indoor environment [Ph. D., University of Connecticut; Biology Department - Medical Technology].

Anderson Ohan is a geologist who has extensive knowledge of the surface geology and geological history for Staten Island and the surrounding areas of New York and New Jersey [M. S., New York University; Applied Sciences Department].

John R. Oppenheimer works on the ecology of wetlands and of various animal species, and is currently involved in studies of air pollution on Staten Island, and the impacts of air, soil and groundwater pollution on ecosystem and human health [Ph. D., University of Illinois; Biology Department and Director of the Environmental Science Masters Program].

Ercument Ozizmir is a theoretical mathematician, who is working in part on the structural assumptions underlying logistic regression in its application to epidemiologic research data [Ph. D., University of Michigan; Mathematic Department].

Pradyot Patnaik is an environmental chemistist, who is the Director of the Environmental Laboratories of the Interstate Sanitation Commission located on our campus. He supervises our environmental laboratory as well, and works on a variety of environmental contaminant studies [Ph. D., Indian Institute of Technology ; Interstate Sanitation Commision & the Center for Environmental Science].

Joseph Soroka is an analytical chemist with expertise in analytical and field instrumentation, including separations, mass spectrometry, XRF, trace analysis and data validation. He teaches courses in environmental chemistry and air pollution and works as a full-time consultant to the USEPA managing cleanup teams at Superfund toxic sites around the United States [Ph. D., City University of New York; Adjunct in Biology and Chemistry Departments].

Joseph Vagvolgyi works on the evolution of birds and snails, and does field work in New Mexico and on the Galapogos Islands [Ph. D., Harvard University; Biology Department].

Richard Veit studies the ecology and behavior of oceanic birds and the population dynamics of vertebrates. He is interested in applying ecological insight to problems in conservation, and carries out studies off the Pacific coast and in the Antarctic [Ph. D., University of California; Biology Department].

Nan-Loh Yang is an analytical chemist, who as one of his areas is looking at ways to decontaminate dredge spoils removed from shipping channels and other locations so that the sediments can be safely reused, rather than placed in hazardous landfills or dumped at sea [Ph. D., Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn; Chemistry Department].

A partial list of thesis titles

Seasonality of selected hydrocarbons and the relationship with atmospheric parameters - 1995 -Susmita Biswas

The hydrology of the urbanized Lemon Creek drainage basin - 1995 - Nancy Jane Krause

Risk assessment: Current methology limitations and considerations as related to an analysis of increased lifetime cancer incidence on Staten Island due to air toxics in ambient air - 1994 - Joanne DeMizio

Cancer mortality rates on Staten Island, New York, 1980-1990 in relation to the Fresh Kills Landfill - 1993 - Joseph Perz

Bacteriological quality of New York City bathing waters and the estimation of coliform levels through predictive modelling - 1993 - Edward Carubis

Temporal distribution of compounds in chromatographic runs by GC/MS and identification of homologous VOC's in ambient air - 1992 - Hsia Yung Hur

Assessment of avifauna for the natural areas on Staten Island - 1992 - Maryann Nizzico

Resource recovery as a solution te solid waste disposal in New York City 1985 Margaret Smith

Effects of ventilation rates on environmental tobacco smoke 1985 Paul Gargiulo

Critical review of the relationship between environmental factors and respiratory disease, and an analysis of population dynamics, air pollution and cancer mortality in and around Staten Island, New York, 1957 to 1980 1984 Donna Gerstle

Hydrology of the swamp white oak forest in Miller's Field, Staten Island 1983 Robin Fornino

Limnological studies of Goethals Bridge Pond, Goethals Bridge Creek and Old Place Creek on Staten Island - 1983 - Taher Khan

Effects of environmental lead on children's psychoneurological functioning 1982 Kristin Egelhof

Analysis of an herbaceous plant community on a sand filled site - 1982 - Nancy Slowik

Effects of sublethal oil pollution on the feeding behavior of the goldfish 1982 Clarence R. K. Dzubey

Biological effects of microwave radiation - 1980 - Ray Sainthill

Quantitative estimate of methane production in a sanitary landfill - 1979 - Leo Cagliostro and Santo Gargano

Obtaining precise estimates in coliform enumeration 1977 Jay Fleisher

The effects of free-choice between two simultaneously available lighting conditions upon the circadian rhythmicity of wheel running activity of Mus musculus 1977 F. Levy

The niche variation hypothesis: A study with homopteran populations 1977 - Roger J. Styczinski

Modelling of highway traffic via kinetic theory 1975 Michael Kress

A revision of water pollution control criteria and additions to the 1973 list of toxic water pollutants - 1974 - M. E. Cannavo

Partial list of hearings at which testimony was given by faculty and students

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
Con Edison conversion of Travis power plant from oil to coal - against SPDES and Wetland permits for FLD Construction Co. (Goethals Bridge Pond) - against Amendment of Tidal Wetland Map for AKR Enterprises (Mill Creek) - against Freshwater Wetland permit for Milton Rosen, Inc. (Oakwood Beach Wetlands) - against Amendmend of Tidal Wetland Map for Jack Coletta, Inc. (Mott Basin, Jamaica, Queens) - for Tidal Wetland Permit for Jack Coletta, Inc. (Mott Basin, Jamaica, Queens) - against Freshwater Wetland Permit for Donald Biggica (Shore Acres Pond) - against

U. S. Army Corps of Engineers

Dredging and Dredge Spoils Disposal in New York Harbor

New York State Senate Select Committee on Crime, Its Causes, Control and Effect on Society (Toxic Wastes) - Respiratory Cancer and Air Pollution on Staten Island

New York State Assembly Joint Hearing of the Standing Committees of Health and Environmental Conservation (The Need for Community Health Information on Toxic Substances and Hazardous Waste) - Respiratory Cancer on S. I., and Assembly Bill # 10937

New York City Department of City Planning - Greenbelt

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