Download Course Description - University of Montana

Course Form
I. Summary of Proposed Changes
Dept / Program
Climate Change Studies
Course Title
Climate Change Field Studies
Short Title (max. 26 characters incl. spaces)
Summarize the change(s) proposed
Prefix and Course # CCS U 352
Climate Field Studies
Change from two to three credits, and add course
as an option for the Climate Change Studies Minor
and Climate and Environmental Change track in
Resource Conservation.
II. Endorsement/Approvals
Complete the form and obtain signatures before submitting to Faculty Senate Office
Please type / print name Signature
Requestor:
Nicolette Phear
Phone/ email :
243-6932/
[email protected]
Program Chair/Director:
Dr. Steve Running, Climate
Change Studies Program
Director
Other affected programs
Dr. Laurie Yung, Resource
Conservation Program
Dean:
Dr. Michael Patterson,
Associate Dean,
College of Forestry and
Conservation
Date
 Yes  No
 Yes  No
 Yes  No
Are other departments/programs affected by this modification Please obtain signature(s) from the
because of
Chair/Director of any such department/
(a) required courses incl. prerequisites or corequisites,
program (above) before submission
(b) perceived overlap in content areas
(c) cross-listing of coursework
IV. To Delete or Change an Existing Course – check X all that apply
Deletion
Title
Course Number Change
From:
Level U, UG, G
From:
Co-convened
To:
To:
Description Change
Change in Credits
X
From:
To:
2 cr
3 cr
Prerequisites
1. Current course information at it appears in catalog
(http://www.umt.edu/catalog) 
U CCS 352 Climate Change Field Studies, 2 cr. Offered
summer. This is an interdisciplinary field course focused on
climate change impacts and adaptation. Through site visits
and meetings with key decision-makers, students gain
knowledge of projected impacts due to climate change
(water availability, wildfire, beetle kill, biodiversity), the
impacts to various sectors of human society (land
management, food and water security, economic stability,
and livelihoods), and different mitigation and adaptation
Repeatability
Cross Listing
(primary
program
initiates form)
Is there a fee associated with the
course?
2. Full and exact entry (as proposed) 
U CCS 352 Climate Change Field Studies,
3 cr. Offered summer. This is an
interdisciplinary field course focused on
climate change impacts and adaptation.
Through site visits and meetings with key
decision-makers, students gain knowledge of
projected impacts due to climate change
(water availability, wildfire, beetle kill,
biodiversity), the impacts to various sectors
responses.
of human society (land management, food
and water security, economic stability, and
livelihoods), and different mitigation and
adaptation responses.
3. If cross-listed course: secondary program & course
number
4. If co-convened course: companion course number, title, and description
(include syllabus of companion course in section V) See procedure 301.20
http://umt.edu/facultysenate/committees/grad_council/procedures/default.aspx.
5. Is this a course with MUS Common Course Numbering?
http://www.mus.edu/Qtools/CCN/ccn_default.asp
If yes, please explain below whether this change will eliminate the course’s common course
status.
6. Graduate increment if level of course is changed to UG.
Reference procedure 301.30:
http://umt.edu/facultysenate/committees/
grad_council/procedures/default.aspx
(syllabus required in section V)
7. Other programs affected by the change
YES NO
X
Have you reviewed the graduate
increment guidelines? Please check (X)
space provided.
This course will serve as one of the course
available to students who minor in Climate
Change Studies, and also for students
pursuing the Climate and Environmental
Change track in Resource Conservation.
There is no current field studies course
focused specifically on climate change and
natural resource management.
8. Justification for proposed change
Course lengthened from 9.5 to 13 field days,
added a field research project, and an
additional post-field course meeting. Total
contact hours include 35 hours of classroom
contact (equiv. to 2.2 credits) and more than
31 hours of laboratory/field work (equivalent
to 1 credit), for a justifiable 3.0 credit course.
Due to the short and intensive nature of this
field course, students complete coursework
before and after the course as described in the
syllabus.
V. Syllabus/Assessment Information (must include learning outcomes)
Required for new courses and course change from U to UG. Paste syllabus in field below or attach and send
digital copy with form.
Climate Change Field Studies
A University of Montana Extended Studies Course
Field course: August 11-23, 2013
Post-field course meetings: September 4, 9 &18, 2013
Course Title and Listing
Climate Change Studies 352 (CCS 352): Climate Change Field Studies
Credits: 3.0
Instructor
Nicolette Phear, Climate Change Studies Program Coordinator and Instructor
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 243-6932
Office: CHCB 448
Course Description
Climate Change Field Studies is an interdisciplinary field course focused on climate change impacts
and adaptation in the Crown of the Continent. Through site visits and meetings with key decisionmakers, students gain knowledge of projected impacts to the region due to climate change (water
availability, wildfire, beetle kill, biodiversity), the impacts to various sectors of human society (land
management, economic stability, livelihoods), and different mitigation and adaptation responses.
Through independent research, course weblogs, a group presentation, and synthesizing paper,
student integrate their learning across disciplines and multiple perspectives as they evaluate the
ecological, social, political, and economic factors influencing climate change impacts and responses.
Learning Objectives
Students participating in the field course will:
 Gain knowledge of climate change impacts, and specific strategies for mitigation and
adaptation as they relate to management and conservation of natural resources.
 Learn the views, challenges, and priorities of public lands managers, private landowners,
scientists, conservationists, and business leaders who are affected by and developing
responses to climate change.
 Develop skills that integrate and synthesize ecological, social, political, and economic
factors influencing climate change impacts and responses.
 Refine analytical skills through evaluation of regional and national responses to climate
change.
 Practice written communication skills through weblog entries.
Assessment
Students will be evaluated on the following assignments and activities:
1. Academic Participation, 10%. Engagement with the course material, including active
participation in class discussions, reference to readings, and engagement with course
speakers and academic activities.
2. Weblog Entries, 25%. Write two, 500-600 word weblog entries on course events and
learning. Focus either on a) the views, challenges, and priorities of a course speaker who is
affected by and/or developing responses to climate change, or b) a field experience about a
particular climate-related impact or response. These will be edited and posted on the
Climate Change Studies website.
3. Research project, 25%: Students will design and carry out an independent research project
that will involve a data collection day to collect biophysical and/or social data related to their
question. Report due September 9.
4. Synthesis Essay, 25%. Write a five- to six-page synthesizing paper that evaluates the
ecological, social, political, and/or economic factors influencing climate change impacts and
responses. Due September 9.
5. Group Presentation, 15%. Students will prepare a 20-minute group presentation (September
18) regarding biophysical and social changes associated with climate change, what the
challenges are, and potential response strategies.
Pre and Post Coursework Assignments
Due to the short and intensive nature of this field course, students are expected to complete
coursework before and after the course as follows:
Pre field course: Each student will complete a course reading packet (detailed below), due August
11.
Post field course: Student will complete a write up of their research project and also their final
synthesis essay. Students will also do a group presentation to the introductory Climate Change:
Science and Society course on September 18, 2013. There will be three meetings after the field
portion of this course ends, which includes this final presentation. Meeting days are scheduled for
September 4, 9 & 18.
Course Itinerary
Missoula, Montana
Sunday, August 11:
9:00 - 12:00 pm: Course introduction, overview of the Crown of the Continent and course objectives
and assignments
2:00 – 5:00 pm: Student preparation for independent research project; students develop a research
question and design methods for collecting data related to that question in the field
Glacier National Park
Climate change: biophysical impacts to mountain ecosystems, uncertainty, Park management
responses, and citizen science.
Readings #1-7
Monday, August 12:
8:45 am: Meet at the motor pool, drive to Glacier National Park, set up camp and eat lunch
1:00 - 3:00 pm: Climate change in the Crown of the Continent.
3:30 - 6:00 pm: Lecture/discussion North Fork of the Flathead and agreement to protect from coal
development with Steve Thompson, Executive Director of Cinnabar Foundation
7:00 Dinner
Camp in Apgar Campground
Tuesday, August 13:
8:00 am – 6:00 pm: Tour of Glacier National Park high country: hike Siyeh Pass to Sunrift Gorge
Loop visiting the Sexton Glacier with Glacier Institute geologist, Paul Rappaport. Topics: climate
change over multiple time-scales (Pleistocene, Holocene, and Anthropocene); local expressions of
recent climate change on the landscape, including glacial recession, elevation shifts in forest
communities, and survival (or demise) of sub-alpine and alpine wildflowers.
Camp in Apgar Campground
Wednesday, August 14:
9:00 – 11:00 am: Meet U.S.G.S. Research Ecologist Dan Fagre at the Glacier Institute for lecture on
climate change impacts to mountain ecosystem
11:00 am – 12:30 pm: Adaptive management for climate change with Tony Prato, Professor
Emeritus of Agricultural and Applied Economics, University of Missouri
Afternoon – data collection
Camp in Apgar Campground
Thursday, August 15:
9:00 am – 10:30 am: Climate change and wildlife impacts – discussion of citizen science with
Nickolas Liu-Sontag, High Country Citizen Science Project Coordinator, Crown of the Continent
Research Learning Center and training for afternoon monitoring project
11:00 am – 6:00 pm: Citizen Science monitoring: American pika and mountain goat
Camp in Apgar Campground
Swan Valley, Northwest Connections
Climate change and forest communities: forest change from wildfire, insects and disease;
community conservation and livelihood responses; and the views/concerns of some skeptics.
Readings #8-14.
Friday, August 16:
9:00 am: Drive to Northwest Connections in the Swan Valley (1¾ hour drive), stop in Big Fork for
food shopping, arrive around noon.
1:00 – 3:00 pm: Lecture by Melanie Parker, co-founding Director of Northwest Connections.
Discuss opportunities for large landscape conservation as a response to climate change.
3:00 – 6:00 pm: Walk through local forest; discuss fire ecology and management in the wildland
urban interface.
Stay at Northwest Connections
Saturday, August 17:
9:00 – 11:00 am: Lecture on whitebark pine ecology, disturbance from blister rust and mountain
pine beetles
12:00 – 6:00 pm: Field afternoon, Northwest Connection’s long-term monitoring project. Led by
Adam Lieberg and Dave Morris with Northwest Connections.
Stay at Northwest Connections
Sunday, August 18:
9:00 – 11:00 am: Lecture presentation on wetland restoration and carbon banking by Andrea
Stevens.
12:00 – 5:00 pm: Field afternoon, visit area wetlands to learn about locally endemic plants affected
by climate change.
7:00 – 8:30 pm: Evening discussion with local community members about perspectives on climate
change.
Stay at Northwest Connections
Blackfoot Valley
Mitigation and adaptation responses: local and national mitigation policy and politics; regional
adaptive capacity—finding opportunities for biomass utilization, reducing non-climate stressors,
forest restoration and monitoring, and successes in community-based conservation.
Readings #15-18.
Monday, August 19:
10:00 am: Drive to Pyramid Lumber in Seeley Lake
11:00 -12:00 pm: meeting with Resource Manager, Gordy Sanders; discuss pros and cons of
biomass as a potential fuel source and ways it can be used sustainably
1:00 pm: Lumber mill tour.
3:00 pm – 4:00 pm: Meeting with Time Love, Forest Service District Ranger for Seeley Lake;
discuss forest change and management response strategies.
Evening discussion of climate change adaptation vs mitigation.
Camp at Big Larch Campground.
Tuesday, August 20:
10:00 am – 12:00 pm: Meeting at Chamber of Commerce with Megan Birzell, Forest Restoration
Associate with The Wilderness Society, to talk about the Southwest Crown of the Continent
Collaborative.
1:00 pm – 4:00 pm: Participate in a citizen science monitoring project evaluating ecological change
(fuels and invasive plants) associated with a changing climate at Horseshoe Hills, between Salmon
and Seeley Lakes.
Camp at Big Larch Campground. Prepare for data collection day.
Wednesday, August 21:
Field day – data collection
Camp at Big Larch Campground. Debrief data collection day.
Thursday, August 22:
:9:00-11:00 am: Meeting with representatives from the Blackfoot Challenge at the fire hall to learn
about the community-based collaborative, associated successes in land conservation and
stewardship, and their drought management planning.
11:00 – 1:00 pm: Stream restoration tour
2:30 – 4:00 pm: Visit with David Mannix, long-term rancher in Helmville; discuss ranch life, ways
in which ranching is climate-sensitive, and challenges and opportunities this presents to ranchers.
Camp at Lubrecht Experimental Forest
Friday, August 23:
10:00 am – 2:00 pm: Course synthesizing discussion, students discuss research results and outline
papers, return to Missoula by 4:00 pm.
Post field follow up:
September 4, 6:00 – 8:00 pm: Final synthesizing paper and research report due; group presentation
planning
September 9, 6:00 – 8:00 pm: Planning for final presentation
September 18, 3:40-5:00 pm: Final group presentation to CCS 203 class
Totals for Change Studies 352 (CCS 352): Climate Change Field Studies
Total classroom contact:
Total laboratory work:
Travel time not included.
35 hours
31+ hours
TOTAL
(equiv. to 2.2 credits)
(equiv. to 1 credits)
3.0 credits
Course Readings
1. Crown of the Continent Conservation Initiative (2010). A climate-impacts assessment of the
Crown of the Continent. pp. 1-25.
2. Stephanson, Nathan, Constance Millar, & David Cole (2010). “Shifting environmental
foundations: The unprecedented and unpredictable future.” In Cole, David & Laurie Yung (Eds)
(2010). Beyond Naturalness: Rethinking Park and Wilderness Stewardship in an Era of Rapid
Change (pp.56-64). Washington D.C.: Island Press.
3. Repanshek, Kurt (2010). Climate change continues to melt Glacier National Park’s Icons.
National Parks Travelers. Retrieved from: http://www.nationalparkstraveler.com/2010/04/
climate-change-continues-melt-glacier-national-parks-icons5669
4. Saunders, Stephen. & Tom Easley (2010). Glacier National Park in peril: The threats of climate
disruption. A profile by the Rocky Mountain Climate Organization and the Natural Resources
Defense Council. Executive summary, pp 4-5.
5. Lenz, Garth (2011). Agreement to protect North Fork of Flathead from goal, coal mining
finalized. Missoulian, February 15.
6. National Wildlife Federation. Global warming and the American pika. Retrieved from:
http://www.nwf.org/Global-Warming/Effects-on-Wildlife-and-Habitat/Pika.aspx
7. Woody, Todd (2010). U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says pika not imperiled by climate change.
The New York Times, February 8.
8. Running, Steve (2006). Is global warming causing more, larger wildfires? Science, Vol. 313:
927-928.
9. Rasker, Ray (2010). Curbing wildfire costs. Headwaters News, January 6.
10. Robbins, Jim (2010). What’s killing the great forests of the American west? Yale
environment360, March 10.
11. Northwest Connections. Whitebark Pine. Retrieved from:
http://www.northwestconnections.org/whitebarkpine.html
12. Bookwalter, Mo (2010). Emerging markets in biomass: Local opportunities. Seeley Swan
Pathfinder, May 27.
13. Millar, C.I, N.L. Stephenson, and S. L. Stephens (2007). Climate change and forests of the
future: Managing in the face of uncertainty. Ecological Applications 17(8):2145–2151.
14. Johnson, Brad (2011). Exclusive: Wonk room interviews Montana Legislator who introduced
bill to declare global warming ‘Natural.’ Think Progress, February 17, retrieved from:
http://thinkprogress.org/green/2011/02/17/174917/montana-climate-zombie/
15. Carter, Rebecca & Culp, Susan (2010). “Barriers to Implementing Local Climate Change
Policies.” In Planning for Climate Change in the West. Policy Focus Report by the Lincoln
Institute of Land Policy (pp. 34-39). Cambridge, MA.
16. Wall, Ellen & Marzall, K. (2006). Adaptive capacity for climate change in Canadian rural
communities. Local Environment: 11(4), pp. 373-397.
17. Volz, Matt (2010). Western Montana, Idaho forest restoration projects get federal funds.
Missoulian, August 14.
18. SW Crown Collaborative (2011). Forest funding advances Montana forest restoration work.
Press release.
VI Department Summary (Required if several forms are submitted) In a separate document list course
number, title, and proposed change for all proposals.