Pollution Prevention and Remediation
Specialization Advisor(s)
- Patricia Holden (Class of 2023)
- Roland Geyer (Class of 2024)
Pollution prevention is any practice that stops pollution at its source before it is created. Pollution prevention strengthens economic growth through greater efficiency in industry production and by reducing the need for households, businesses, and communities to handle waste. These practices also conserve and protect natural resources, while simultaneously preventing health problems and environmental damage caused by pollution.
Once pollution is created, remediation efforts are needed. Remediation technology includes thermal desorption, excavation or dredging, bioremediation, and soil vapor extraction, among other technologies.
The Pollution Prevention and Remediation (PPR) specialization in the Bren Master of Environmental Science and Management program prepares you to recognize pollutants, characterize the extent and consequences of pollution in the environment, identify and evaluate alternatives for remediation and prevention, and evaluate the economic and political viability of alternatives. The main goal of the PPR specialization is to prepare students for careers in pollution management through consulting, industry, government, or nonprofit organizations.
Requirements
Master of Environmental Science and Management students are required to take a minimum of 36 units of electives in their primary specialization. With an advisor’s approval, Bren students may also take courses in other UCSB departments as electives to satisfy specialization requirements.
ESM courses are offered through the Bren School and most ESM courses are offered every year. Courses marked with an asterisk (*) will be offered every other year.
Courses
PPR Specialization Courses (12 units required)
ESM 214 Biological Waste Management (4 units)*
ESM 219 Microbial Processes in the Environment (4 units)*
ESM 222 Pollution Risk Management (4 units)
ESM 282 Pollution Prevention (4 units)
Technical Skills (4 units required)
ESM 212 Biological Community Survey & Analysis (4 units)
ESM 228 Monitoring and Evaluation (4 units)
ESM 232 Environmental Modeling (4 units)
ESM 244 Advanced Data Analysis (4 units)
ESM 262 Computing for Environmental Science and Management (2 units)
ESM 263 Geographic Information Systems (4 units)
ESM 269 Survey Design and Environmental Public Opinion (2 units)
ESM 271 Carbon Footprints and Carbon Accounting (4 units)
ESM 273 Life Cycle Assessment (4 units)
ESM 284 Sustainable Product Development (4 units)
ESM 287 Energy Demand Analysis (4 units)
Environmental Economics, Policy, and Law (recommended)
ESM 225 Water Policy (4 units)
ESM 229 Economics and Policy of Climate Change (4 units)
ESM 242 Natural Resource Economics (4 units)
ESM 243 Environmental Policy Analysis (4 units)
ESM 245 Cost Benefit Analysis (4 units)
ESM 248 Environmental Institutions (4 units)
ESM 277 International Environmental Law (2 units)*
ESM 278 Natural Resources Law and Policy (2 units)*
Environmental Management (4 units required)
ESM 230 Strategic Planning for Non-Profit Ventures (4 units)*
ESM 279 Financial Management and Environmental Accounting (4 units)
ESM 281 Corporate Environmental Management (4 units)
ESM 284 Sustainable Product Development (4 units)
Additional Science (4 units required)
ESM 211 Applied Population Ecology (4 units)
ESM 214 Biological Waste Treatment (4 units)*
ESM 215 Landscape Ecology (4 units)
ESM 219 Microbial Processes in the Environment (4 units)*
ESM 222 Pollution Risk Management (4 units)
ESM 224 Sustainable Water Resources Management (4 units)
ESM 226 Groundwater Management (4 units)
ESM 235 Watershed Analysis (4 units)
ESM 237 Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation (4 units)
ESM 239 Advanced Climate Science for Policymakers (4 units)*
ESM 240 Climate Change Biology (2 units)*
ESM 254 Coastal Marine Ecosystem Processes (4 units)
ESM 260 Applied Marine Ecology (4 units)
ESM 270 Conservation Planning & Priority Setting (4 units)
ESM 270P Conservation Planning Practicum (4 units)
ESM 282 Pollution Prevention (4 units)
ESM 288 Energy, Technology and the Environment (4 units)
Or fill in relevant science course from other UCSB department
Advanced Special Topics (recommended)
Advanced Special Topics courses (variable units) are typically taught by Visiting Professors and Lecturers and may be offered during any quarter of the academic year.
ESM 293 Advanced Special Topics in Climate and Energy
ESM 294 Advanced Special Topics in Environmental Law
ESM 296 Advanced Special Topics in Environmental Management
ESM 297 Advanced Special Topics in Environmental Policy
ESM 299 Advanced Special Topics in Environmental Science
ESM 430 Workshops in Environmental Science and Management
Relevant Courses in other UCSB departments
CHEM 123 Fundamentals of Environmental Chemistry
EEMB 153 Ecology of Lakes and Wetlands
EEMB 279 Modeling Environmental and Ecological Change
GEOG 276 Geographical Time Series Analysis
Internship Opportunities
Students gain experience in an industry or sector relevant to career goals through a summer internship. PPR students have taken internships with a wide variety of organizations, including Clean Air Council, Earthwatch Institute, Coalition for Clean Air, Center for Alternative Technology, Goleta Water District, Rainforest Action Network, Outreach International, and many other agencies, organizations, and companies.
Research & Special Projects
Students may participate in research directed by Bren faculty through one of the many interdisciplinary research groups at UCSB.
