The University of Illinois Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences is offering the following online graduate-level courses for the Spring 2018 semester.
 

• NRES 403: Watersheds and Water Quality 
  • Credit Hours: 3
  • Tuesdays and Thursdays 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM* (January 16 - May 10)
  •  Explore the biological, geochemical, and physical responses of watershed systems to pollution and anthropogenic changes. An emphasis will be placed on technical analyses necessary to establish policy aimed at preserving and restoring streams, rivers, lakes and wetlands.  This course is particularly useful to water resource managers, landscape planners and land managers, water monitors, environmental consultants, restoration ecologists and conservationists.  
• NRES 416: Forest Biology 
  • Credit Hours: 3
  • Tuesdays 6:30 PM - 9:00 PM* (January 16 - May 8)
  • Increase your understanding of the interaction between biotic and abiotic components of forests as they relate to the structure, composition, health and function of forest ecosystems. Topics will include biogeochemical processes, genecology of trees, regeneration of forests, plant and animal disease interactions, and forest and landscape ecology. Great course for arboriculturists, landscape managers, park rangers, urban foresters, environmental educators, and timber resource managers.
• NRES 455: Advanced GIS for Natural Resource Planning 
  • Credit Hours: 2
  • Thursdays 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM* (January 18 - March 8)
  • Apply Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to natural resource planning and decision making. GIS software with computer-based optimization will be used for data acquisition, image processing, and map modeling. Exercises will promote decision making in various contexts. Suitable for land cover mapping, monitoring, productivity assessments, land use change, and spatial modeling. This course supports professionals in urban planning, land management, resource conservation, environmental restoration, resource management and anyone involved in spatial analysis.
• NRES 474: Soil and Water Conservation
  • Credit Hours: 3
  • Wednesdays 6:30 PM - 9:30 PM* (January 16 - May 2)
  • The principles of resource conservation and management are critical to resolving land use problems. This course examines the influence of water and soil characteristics on erosion control, cropping intensity, water and land use management. An outstanding course for agronomists, state landowners and agency representatives, water resource managers, urban and regional planners and program managers, outreach specialists, farmland managers, agricultural engineers, environmental consultants, and restoration ecologists. 
• NRES 502: Research Methods in Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences
  • Credit Hours: 4
  • Thursdays 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM* (March 12 - July 1)
  • Exploration of a variety of research designs and methods to improve skills in evaluation and planning of scientific research. Topics will include the use of primary and secondary data, qualitative and quantitative analysis, experimental and non-experimental methods, sampling, data display, managing data, scientific writing, and scientific ethics. A great course for graduate students and those interested in understanding scientific research for purposes of environmental research, advocacy and conservation.  
• NRES 511: Principles of Applied Ecology
  • Credit Hours: 4
  • Wednesdays 6:30 PM - 9:30 PM* (January 16 - May 2)
  • Fundamental ecological principles that govern the abundance, distribution, and management of organisms are applied to current-day environmental problems. Special attention is given to integrating ecology with society and biotechnology in natural resource conservation to ameliorate biodiversity loss and enhance ecosystems services. Wildlife and ecosystem managers, environmental educators, urban planners, restoration ecologists and those interested in wildlife conservation will benefit from the broad spectrum of topics discussed in this course.
• NRSE 598: Atmospheric Pollution and Society
  • Credit Hours: 3
  • Mondays 6:30 PM - 9:30 PM* (January 16 - May 2)
  • As a product of modern society, air pollution has a major impact on the health of natural ecosystems and human beings. This class will identify the modern sources of air pollution including the role of industry and transformation of landscapes as contributors to degrading atmospheric conditions, and explore ways to solve or mitigate air pollution problems. This course is appropriate for industrial specialists,  environmental managers, environmental health and safety specialists, green program managers, air  quality compliance personnel, science educators, and landscape managers, as well anyone interested in the growing concern of global warming. 

* Please note, all course times listed reflect Central Time. 

For more information or to register for the course, go to: https://online.illinois.edu/getting-started/how-to-enroll-in-an-online-course/non-degree-seeking-stu...(link is external) .

To learn more about the NRES online Master of Science degree program, go to: https://nres.illinois.edu/online(link is external).

For additional questions, email us at nres-ssc@illinois.edu.