ENST 3784 - Research Experience in Environmental Science
Fall 2026 Syllabus, Section 02, CRN 42808,
Credit hours: 4
Course Meeting Times
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Instructor
Felicia Armstrong
Email: fparmstrong@ysu.edu
Course Description
3784. Research Experience in Environmental Science. This capstone course will give student the experience in the planning and execution of a research project. Graduate schools and research establishments consider an undergraduate student research experience as extremely valuable. Research provides students with an opportunity to work with faculty and graduate students on more advance research topics. Research furthers our knowledge of basic environmental science and helps us find solutions to environmental problems. The process improves student skills in gathering data, brainstorming ideas, evaluating data, and discussing the results to others through written and oral presentations. Environmental research can be focused on fieldwork, computer simulation, or laboratory analysis. Course open to Junior or Seniors majoring in Environmental Science. Prereq.: C or better in ENST 3751 and ENST 3751L or ENST 3752 or ENST 4851 and ENST 4851L. 4 s.h.
Course Readings
| Group | Title | Author | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|
| No textbook required |
Course readings will be based on the research project and may include journal articles, government documents (state and/or federal), textbooks, other research sources.
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 opf Topics and Assignments
| Week of | Reading(s) | Proposed Topic | Due/To Prepare for Class |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8/24 | Review Syllabus and deadlines/expectations, Lab Safety Reference searching, Annotated References, Proper citation Finalize Reserch Topic |
Need Laptop | |
| 8/31 | Developing a Hypothesis Methodology & Planning Identify special equipment, supplies, etc. Research timeline/plan |
Need Laptop Lab Safety Due Sept 4 |
|
| 9/7 | Writing Introduction and Literature Review Microsoft Word workshop |
Annotated References due Sept. 10 | |
| 9/14 | Prepare for Research: Material & supply inventory, Sampling location verification | Draft Proposal Due Sept. 15 |
|
| 9/21 | Start Sampling/experimental set up | ||
| 9/28 | Sampling and logging data Using Excel workshop |
||
| 10/5 | Statistics review Sampling and logging data for your research |
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| 10/12 | Using SPSS for basic statistics Sampling and logging data for your research |
WMAO Abstracts due Oct. 16, 2026 | |
| 10/19 | Sampling and logging data for your research | ||
| 10/26 | Sampling and logging data for your research | ||
| 11/2 | Final data acquisition | Draft poster due if attending WMAO | |
| 11/9 | Report review | Final poster printing (if applicable) | |
| 11/16 | Water Management Association of Ohio Annual Meeting Nov. 17-18 | Displaying data Presentation layout and design |
Westminster Environmental Symposium Abstracts Usually Due Nov. 14-20 |
| 11/23 | Review / Finalize data | Draft poster for Westminster Environmental Symposium Due Nov. 23 | |
| 11/30 | Practice presentations – peer review | Westminster Environmental Symposium Thursday, Dec. 3, 5 to 9:30 pm Final poster printing (if applicable) Final report Due Dec. 4 (Dec. grads)* Final presentation due Dec. 4 (Dec. grads) |
|
| 12/7 | Finals Week | Graduating Seniors Presentations: Tuesday Dec. 8, 3:15 pm |
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.