Office of the Registrar
Spring 2027 New and Special Topics Courses

Microbes are the biological drivers of biogeochemical change. This course examines key prokaryotic consortia in their natural environments, with emphasis on the environmental factors that shape microbial communities and the ways microbes, in turn, alter their surroundings. Lectures and discussion of the primary literature address major topics in microbial ecology, including phototrophy, nitrogen fixation, methanogenesis and syntrophy, metal reduction and bioremediation, iron oxidation, decomposition, and host microbiomes. A weekly three-hour laboratory gives students hands-on experience with culturing, microscopy, and multi-week experiments growing ecologically important microbes using classic microbiological techniques. Students also discuss current methods for measuring and visualizing microbial diversity, including 16S rRNA community profiling, metagenomics, and FISH. Pre-reqs: General Biology I and II

EFB 497 | AdvTopics in Animal Physiology | 42246
Th | 03:30 PM - 04:25 PM | Downs,Cynthia Joy

This course explores current research and emerging questions in animal physiology, with emphasis on how organisms regulate function and respond to environmental change across levels of organization, from molecules and cells to whole animals. Topics may include thermoregulation, metabolic and energetic adaptation, stress physiology, immunology, and physiological responses to climate change, habitat disturbance, and disease. Students will engage with the primary literature through readings, discussion, and critical analysis, and will develop skills in communication. Prerequisite: a prior course in animal physiology or permission of the instructor.

EFB 497 | Aquatic Ecology of Fly Fishing | 42247
W | 09:30 AM - 10:25 AM | Arsenault,Emily R

Recreational fly fishing is rooted in principles of ecology, entomology, and field observation. In this seminar, we will study the morphology and behavior of insects of various groups and life stages in relation to their associated artificial fly and/or nymph patterns and their dependence on water quality. Students will learn about effective construction and presentation of artificial flies through an ecological lens. They will consider key aspects of fly fishing ecology, including fish behavior and the role of insects in aquatic food webs, and will consider anglers as both naturalists and agents of ecological change. Spring. 1 credit.

EFB 797 | AdvTopics in Animal Physiology | 42248
Th | 03:30 PM - 04:25 PM | Downs,Cynthia Joy

EFB 797 | Aquatic Ecology of Fly Fishing | 42249
W | 09:30 AM - 10:25 AM | Arsenault,Emily R

EFB 797 | Environmental Leadership Wkshp | 42336
ASYNC | Hirsch,Paul D

The Environmental Leadership Workshop supports students in developing a practice of facilitative environmental leadership. Students taking the class for three credits will complete a semester-length project that provides traction towards their professional and/or civic objectives. Students taking the class for one credit participate in workshops and complete related assignments, but do not do a project. For Spring 2027, workshop topics include: supporting pluralism in a polarizing environment, navigating complex trade-offs, and building system-level trust. To take the three-credit version, students should have taken at least two courses from the Environmental Leadership, Justice, and Communication curriculum or obtain permission from the instructor. Online Asynchronous. Workshop and peer/instructor feedback sessions to be scheduled based on student availability.

ESF 496 | Sci/Env Fields-Identity/Access | 42303
Tu | 03:30 PM - 04:40 PM | Engelman,Heather and Mikulewicz,Michal

50 years after Education Amendments of 1972 (of Title IX and Title VI fame) prohibited discrimination in educational programs, STEM workforce percentages still lag behind general population demographics, far behind in some fields and for some identities. This seminar centers the largest, and most longest researched representation gap (gender) as the primary lens to investigate career and identity in STEM, while also examining how other identity factors compound and complicate that picture. Through student- and instructor facilitated discussions and guest speakers, students will build both a critical understanding of these dynamics and practical career-development skills.

ESF 796 | Sci/Env Fields-Identity/Access | 42304
Tu | 03:30 PM - 04:40 PM | Engelman,Heather and Mikulewicz,Michal

EST 409 | Comm Writing & Pub Humanities | 42469
M | 03:45 PM - 06:35 PM | Gedetsis,Jacob

In collaboration with Syracuse Parks and Recreation & Write Out Syracuse, students will host environmental writing workshops at four local city parks encouraging Syracuse youth to engage with their own creative process and the environment. We'll study examples of engaged and public humanities projects across cultures and contexts, and practice ethical, reciprocal ways of working with partners off campus. Throughout the class we will ask how our own creative practice and community-centered pedagogy can support our shared communities, and how our stories, research, and creative work can respond meaningfully in times of social, environmental, and political change.

EWP 194 | The Art of Storytelling | 42409
ASYNC | Gedetsis,Jacob

This asynchronous course gives you the space and time to work on your own creative projects. It will introduce the building blocks of storytelling across genres -- fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction and digital storytelling-- while asking students to generate their own creative works. Perfect for students with a busy schedule looking for a creative outlet.

EWP 380| Myths, Legends, & Fairytales | 42408
TuTh| 05:00 PM - 06:20 PM | Clark,Joanna Ashley

How do the stories we’ve told for thousands of years shape our relationships with our environments? In this course, we will investigate and interpret folklore, legends, and mythology from around the globe to better understand why humans project our desires and likeness onto nature. Together, we’ll discuss all these questions and more: What does a “cursed” Albanian mountain range have in common with the Alpine glaciers and First Nations stories of the Alaskan panhandle? Why are we fascinated by drowned kingdoms, dragons, cryptids, and more? Monsters and heroes, tragic and transgressive—how and why do these figures carry over into our media, fiction, and art today? Readings will include classic myths, folklore, fairy tales, and modern interpretations of these stories (film, art, fiction, poetry).

EST 409 | Comm Writing & Pub Humanities | 42407
M | 03:45 PM - 06:35 PM | Gedetsis,Jacob

FCH 496 | Aquatic Ecology of Fly Fishing | 34598
W | 09:30 AM - 10:25 AM | Ninokawa,Aaron T

FCH 496 | Virology | 42327
TuTh | 12:30 PM - 01:25 PM | Goff,Jennifer E

An introduction to viruses as molecular entities and as major ecological and evolutionary forces. Covers virion structure, replication strategies, and virus–host interactions, then explores bacteriophages, the marine viral shunt and nutrient cycling, giant viruses, and environmental and host-associated viromes. Medically important viruses connect mechanism to disease and transmission. Later topics include viral evolution, phage therapy, biocontrol, and viral emergence in a changing climate. Weekly discussions draw on primary literature, current news, and conversations with experts.

FCH 496 | Survey/Environmental Chemistry | 34599
MWF | 11:40 AM - 12:35 PM | Dibble,Theodore S

This lecture/discussion course will survey the chemistry of water, air, and soil and the impacts of anthropogenic and natural emissions on health and climate. Students will learn how (1) human activities degrade the health of water, air, and soil; (2) greenhouse gases affect temperatures and climate; (3) climate change impacts water, air, and soil; and (4) biogeochemical processes amplify effects of greenhouse gases. Prerequisite: One year of General Chemistry. 3 credits.

FCH 496 | Microbial Biochemistry | 34601
MW | 02:15 PM - 03:35 PM | Goff,Jennifer E

This course blends lectures, paper discussions, case studies, and hands-on activities to explore how microorganisms function at the molecular level. Students complete a semester-long bioinformatics project in which they analyze a metagenome-assembled genome from a novel microorganism originating from one of several local extreme environments: including a steam vent biofilm, concrete biocrust, salt spring, and more! Students will reconstruct their organism’s metabolism, predict its function in the environment, and contribute findings to a peer-reviewed publication as a co-author.

FCH 496 | Advances/Instrumental Anaylsis | 42467
TuTh | 02:00 PM - 03:20 PM | Chai,Jiajue

This course will focus on helping graduate students and senior undergraduate students develop an understanding of: 1) Physico-chemical principles underlying Chromatography (separation technique), and Mass spectrometry. 2) Fundamental understanding of techniques and instruments of major types of Chromatography and Mass spectrometry. 3) Application of these advanced instruments to environmental, chemical, and biological systems: fundamentals, applicability, extractable information, advantages, and limitations. 4) Fundamentals of chromatographic and mass spectrometric data interpretation. Prerequisite for undergraduate students (FCH496): Analytical Chemistry, Physical Chemistry (I and II), Organic Chemistry (I and II). A waiver may be granted only with the instructor’s approval and must be requested directly by the student.

FCH 496 | Mathematics in Nature | 34602
MW | 03:45 PM - 05:05 PM | Chatterjee,Avik P

This lecture/discussion course will survey diverse scenarios where mathematical techniques are used to elucidate natural phenomena. Topics covered will include: the equilibrium thermal (Boltzmann) distribution over energies; random walks, Brownian motion, and diffusion; examples of rate processes such as simple models for epidemic spreading and oscillations in co-existing prey and predator populations; and gravitational phenomena and tides. Students will gain experience in expressing quantitative aspects of an unfamiliar problem in mathematical language, and in identifying appropriate mathematical and scientific principles to address such a problem. Prerequisites: 1 year of calculus (differential and integral), and at least one semester of General Chemistry and General Physics or equivalent. 3 credits.

FCH 496 | Phytoremediation | 34604
TuTh | 02:00 PM - 03:20 PM | Newman,Lee A

Course will use lectures, literature reviews, guest speakers and group projects to learn about the field of phytoremediation. Phytoremediation is the science of how plants have been used over the years to mitigate environmental problems as well as new areas of research and application. Plants interact with the soil they grow in, the bacteria and fungi that live in and on them, and the contaminants that turn up too often in our soils, water and air. Learn about the different ways plants can interact with these contaminants, sequestering, removing and degrading contaminants to clean our environment naturally. Prerequisites: one semester of biology, and EWP 190 and 290. 3 credits

FCH 796 | Virology | 42328
TuTh | 12:30 PM - 01:25 PM | Goff,Jennifer E

FCH 796 | Phytoremediation | 35967
TuTh | 02:00 PM - 03:20 PM | Newman,Lee A

FCH 796 | Microbial Biochemistry | 35968
MW | 02:15 PM - 03:35 PM | Goff,Jennifer E

FCH 797 | Aquatic Ecology of Fly Fishing | 42457
W | 09:30 AM - 10:25 AM | Ninokawa,Aaron T

FOR 296 | Intro to Physical Geography | 42218
TuTh | 03:30 PM - 04:50 PM | Shaker,Richard R

Physical geography examines why climates, landforms, waterways, soils, and ecosystems vary across Earth's surface. This course introduces the natural processes connecting the atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere, and biosphere, from local watersheds to global climate patterns. Topics include Earth's energy balance, weather and climate, the hydrologic cycle, geomorphology, glaciation, soils, and the geographic distribution of plants and animals. Students will use maps, satellite imagery, and geographic examples to explore environmental patterns, landscape evolution, and interactions between human activities and natural systems. This course will draw on examples from New York, the Great Lakes region, and around the world to illustrate how physical processes shape landscapes and ecosystems across spatial and temporal scales. No prerequisites or prior background in geography are required. Instructional Format: Offered entirely online in two separate sections: synchronous (scheduled live instruction) and asynchronous (flexible, independent learning within established deadlines).

FOR 296 | Intro to Physical Geography | 42305
ASYNC | Shaker,Richard R

FOR 496 | AI Data Analysis | 36053
MWF | 11:40 AM - 12:35 PM | Shaker,Richard R

This course examines how artificial intelligence (AI) can support data discovery, database development, and analysis in environmental science and natural resource management. Students will identify and evaluate data sources, acquire and organize information, and construct databases for scientific investigation. They will explore machine learning and AI-assisted tools for data processing, statistical analysis, visualization, and the identification of patterns in environmental and spatial datasets. Emphasis is placed on the exploratory use of AI to identify relationships, generate hypotheses, and investigate complex datasets, while independently validating findings through established statistical methods, empirical evidence, and scientific reasoning. Attention is given to data quality, reproducibility, uncertainty, and the limitations of AI-generated results. Undergraduate students will develop foundational analytical skills, while graduate students will pursue more advanced applications and independent investigations. No prerequisites or prior experience with artificial intelligence, programming, statistics, or database development are required. Instructional Format: Offered entirely online in two separate sections: synchronous (scheduled live instruction) and asynchronous (flexible, independent learning within established deadlines).

FOR 496 | AI Data Analysis | 35640
ASYNC | Shaker,Richard R

FOR 496 | AI Innovation, Ethics, & Env | 35935
W | 02:15 PM - 05:05 PM | Moran,Sharon D and Christie,Mario

What happens when AI can write, analyze, create, and even influence the questions we ask? How do we know when technology is helping us think—and when it might be doing the thinking for us? Join us for an engaging exploration of AI, ethics, and the future of learning, designed for students ready to question the role of technology in research and beyond. As generative AI, large language models (LLMs), and other digital tools reshape how we learn and conduct research, we’ll explore what these technologies can do, what they should do, and what responsibilities come with using them. How can we harness AI without compromising critical thinking, creativity, or academic integrity? Can we trust AI-generated insights, and how do we recognize when these tools fall short? We’ll also tackle big questions about power, privilege, and the environmental and social impacts of AI, asking whose values shape these technologies and who gets left out. Through interdisciplinary dialogue, critical inquiry, and collaborative knowledge-building, you’ll have opportunities to challenge assumptions, exchange perspectives, and rethink our relationship with technology. Join us to ask bold questions, challenge the status quo, and help shape a more thoughtful, ethical, and human-centered digital future.

FOR 696 | AI Innovation, Ethics, & Env | 42459
W | 02:15 PM - 05:05 PM | Moran,Sharon D and Christie,Mario

FOR 796 | AI Data Analysis | 36055
MWF | 11:40 AM - 12:35 PM | Shaker,Richard R

FOR 796 | AI Data Analysis | 42306
ASYNC | Shaker,Richard R

LSA 496 | Queer Landscapes | 42238
TU | 02:00 PM - 04:30 PM | Yang,Jean A

Queer Landscapes? — Theory, Space, and the Question of Normativity. What makes a landscape queer? And what do we even mean when we call something queer? In this small seminar, we will approach queerness through multiple lenses — film, music, popular culture, anthropology, rhetoric, geography, queer theory, art, and landscape. We will encounter different ways of thinking about queerness: as identity and community, but also as a way of questioning norms, unsettling categories, reading power, noticing difference, and imagining other ways of being together. We will bring those ideas back to space. What might a song, a film, an ethnography, or a theoretical text teach us about how landscapes organize bodies, behaviors, relationships, nature, belonging, visibility, and power? Can a landscape itself be queer? Or is it more useful to think about queering as a way of reading landscape? The course is capped at 15 students and will operate as a collaborative seminar and research group. We will read, watch, listen, discuss, observe, map, and write together. Rather than beginning with a fixed definition of “queer landscape,” we will develop one through the semester. Our work will culminate in a collectively researched and written paper, with students participating as co-authors, asking what queer thought can offer landscape architecture as a way of seeing, knowing, and practicing.

LSA 696 | Queer Landscapes | 42520
TU | 02:00 PM - 04:30 PM | Yang,Jean A

Office of the Registrar Spring 2027 New and Special Topics Courses

Office of the Registrar
Spring 2027 New and Special Topics Courses