ENST 3781 - Environmental Sampling Methods
Fall 2026 Syllabus, Section 01, CRN 43985,
Credit hours: 3
Course Meeting Times
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Instructor
Dr. Felicia Armstrong
Email: fparmstrong@ysu.edu
Course Description
Course Readings
| Group | Title | Author | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|
| Required | Site Characterization, Sampling and Analysis | Hazardous Materials Training and Research Institute staff | 9780471292708 |
| Optional | Biological criteria for the protection of aquatic life: Volume III. Standardized biological field sampling and laboratory methods for assessing fish and macroinvertebrate communities | Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (Ohio EPA) | |
| Optional | Methods for assessing habitat in flowing waters: Using the Qualitative Habitat Evaluation Index (QHEI) | Ohio EPA |
Site Characterization, Sampling and Analysis
By Hazardous Materials Training and Research Institute staff
Edition : 02
Publisher : WILEY
ISBN 13 : 9780471292708
Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (Ohio EPA). 1989. Biological criteria for the protection of aquatic life: Volume III. Standardized biological field sampling and laboratory methods for assessing fish and macroinvertebrate communities. Division of Water Quality Planning and Assessment, Ecological Assessment Section, Columbus, Ohio
Ohio EPA (2006). Methods for assessing habitat in flowing waters: Using the Qualitative Habitat Evaluation Index (QHEI). Technical Bulletin EAS/2006-06-1. Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, Division of Surface Water, Columbus, Ohio.
The course readings are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances, research developments, current events, and/or to ensure better learning.
Assignments/Assessments
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Tentative Schedule of Topics and Assignments
| Day | Date | Reading(s) | Proposed Topic | Due/To Prepare for Class |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fri | 8/28 | Chapter 1 Chapter 2, Section 2.1 Chapter 2, 2.2 Lab: Need computer and internet access |
Syllabus, Introduction to sampling Sampling plan – Type, Where, When, How and How Many Lab: Where to find background information |
Complete online field and lab safety Lab Questions on site investigations |
| Fri | 9/4 | Chapter 2, Section 2.3 and 2.4 Chapter 3, Section 3.1 and 3.3 Lab: Chapter 3.2 |
Statistics, Analytical Methods Quality Assurance/Quality Control Field documentation, labeling, shipping Safety Plan, Basic sampling – invasive or noninvasive Lab: Sampling Equipment |
Lab exercise on field equipment. |
| Fri | 9/11 | Ohio EPA, Biological criteria for the protection of aquatic life: Volume III, Subsection 2 Lab: Fish Sampling |
Organisms Sampling – fish Sampling equipment preparation Lab: Fish sampling (seining nets) |
Lab exercise on calulating Pollution Tolerance Index Quiz 1 |
| Fri | 9/18 | Ohio EPA, Biological criteria for the protection of aquatic life: Volume III, Subsection 1 Lab: Macro sampling |
Organisms Sampling, Indecies Use – macros Lab: Macro sampling |
Lab questions on types of macro sampling. |
| Fri | 9/25 | Chapter 6, Sections 6.1 to 6.4 | Water Sampling – Pre-sampling analysis Water sampling considerations Lab: Using water sampling equipment and QHEI Scoring |
Lab exercise on water sampling Submit completed QHEI |
| Fri | 10/2 | Chapter 5, Section5.1 to 5.2 | Sediment sampling Lab: Using sediment samplers |
|
| Fri | 10/9 | Chapter 6, Section 6.5 to 6.7 | QA/QC Drinking water sampling Lab: GW Sampling |
Water Sampling questions |
| Fri | 10/16 | Chapter 5, Sections 5.3 | Soil Sampling – grid, zone, transects, composites Lab: Videos on soil sampling, Soil sampling planning exercise |
|
| Fri | 10/23 | Chapter 4 | Air Sampling Lab: Soil cores and handling of samples |
Quiz 2 |
| Fri | 10/30 | Other field sampling techniques (forest/trees) and considerations Lab: Backup for poor weather conditions - plant diversity sampling or Forest inventory video |
Lab questions on plant samploing | |
| Fri | 11/6 | Chapter 9 | Data Validation and Interpretation Planning water sampling - line sampling Lab: Group Exercise |
Planning worksheet |
| Fri | 11/13 | Chapter 7 | Sampling Drums and Containers Lab: Worksheet exercise |
|
| Fri | 11/20 | Sampling Project | Statistics and sampling Lab: Sampling Project |
Statistics Homework Quiz 3' |
| Fri | 11/27 | No Class, Holiday | ||
| Fri | 12/4 | Sampling Project | Presentation of Sampling Project | Sampling Project Presentation Due |
| Fri | 12/11 | Sampling Project | Presentation of Sampling Project Review for Final |
The course schedule, policies, procedures, and assignments in this course are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances, by mutual agreement, and/or to ensure better learning.