CSP - Coastal Science and Policy

Provides a basic foundation in the natural sciences including the environment (atmosphere, land, water, sea), species populations, ecosystems and biodiversity, and their relevance to sustainability issues of the coastal zone.

Provides a basic foundation in the social sciences, through systematic study of communities, institutions, and entire societies. Examines the relevance of sociological theory, social interactions and relationships, social inequality, and social change to sustainability issues of the coastal zone.

Builds a foundation of economic concepts pertaining to the environment and explores tools for environmental valuation. Investigates the role for government action related to the environment, including estimation of costs and benefits for regulations and related policies.

Focusing on a series of case studies, this discussion section demonstrates means and values of integrating across the natural and social sciences and economics disciplines in developing solutions to coastal sustainability.

Students learn and apply methods for designing scalable solutions to complex problems, focusing on sustainability challenges and opportunities in coastal areas. Sessions primarily involve peer-review and feedback on student progress in planning their individual Coastal Science and Policy (CSP) capstone project. The capstone project must engage with a real-world partner(s) on a scalable opportunity for solving a critical problem in coastal areas (from land to sea). Faculty lead mini-lectures as needed. Course stresses learning-by-doing: weekly assignments have students work outside of class on steps or skills in the design process and then the student shares their work in the following class to gain peer insights. Students should expect to do the reading and a substantial assignment each week BEFORE the class session meets.

Picks up where the fall capstone planning seminar ended. Students continue designing capstone project for pursuing a scalable solution to a complex and pressing coastal sustainability problem. Winter focus is learning and applying strategies and methods to: (a) co-create a capstone project with a non-academic partner in the government, non-governmental or private sector; and (b) develop and submit successful funding proposals for the project. Methods learned apply broadly to collaborative, solutions-oriented work that may be pursued after graduation. Weekly assignments mean working outside of class on steps or skills for co-creating and fundraising with partners and then sharing work for peer-review in class in the next week. Expect to do the reading and weekly assignments before each week's seminar session. Instructor provides separate instructions for weekly assignments.

Introduces students to conceptual frameworks for developing solutions to coastal sustainability problems, and drawing on knowledge and skills gained in previous coastal science and policy courses to perform an integrated assessment of a coastal sustainability problem.

One-quarter graduate-level class in which multidisciplinary student teams of four address problem or challenges provided by real-world sponsors or identified by student groups. Teams learn how to apply the Lean Launchpad and Lean Startup methodologies to discover and validate customer needs and to continually build prototypes to test whether they understood the problem and solution. Weekly assignments involve working outside of class on steps or skills in the design process and then sharing it for peer-review in class. Involves reading and a substantial assignment each week before the next week's session on that topic. Course is held concurrently with an undergraduate course. Graduate students are required to submit an additional culminating report such as a funding proposal to support next steps in their team's solution, a critical analysis of the Lean Design Method, or a policy analysis regarding scalable adoption of the solution. Enrollment is by instructor consent. Application and interview in winter quarter for spring quarter course is required.

First of three independent research courses during which students work closely with partner institutions and faculty co-mentors to generate alternative, interdisciplinary-based solutions to coastal sustainability problems. Provides experience in a real-world, collaborative, problem-solving environment.

Second of three independent research courses during which students work closely with partner institutions and faculty co-mentors to generate alternative, interdisciplinary-based solutions to coastal sustainability problems. Provides experience in a real-world, collaborative, problem-solving environment.

Third of three independent research courses during which students work closely with partner institutions and faculty co-mentors to generate alternative, interdisciplinary-based solutions to coastal sustainability problems. Provides experience in a real-world, collaborative, problem-solving environment.

Concurrent with year-long capstone project. Students share the background, challenges and successes they experience in their capstone projects. Provides students with a broader exposure to real-world, collaborative, problem-solving of coastal sustainability issues.

Seminar in which students present, discuss, and gain feedback on a current special topic in the interdisciplinary arena of coastal science and policy. The special topic can involve identification of current problems, relevant research and practice, and/or design of solutions in coastal science and policy.

Independent study and research under faculty supervision. The student, guided by a faculty member, pursues in-depth learning about a specific coastal science and policy problem, opportunity or solution. Students submit petition to sponsoring agency. Enrollment is restricted to graduate students.