Suggested Courses

This course covers pollution control, nonrenewable resource extraction, and natural resource management as it surveys environmental management and economics to maximize social benefit. Theory and policy are discussed to determine when markets work, when they fail, and what policy can do to help.

An inquiry-based introduction to the concepts and methods governing the sustainable management, restoration, and redevelopment of lands impacted by human activities such as mining, agriculture, urban development, industrial activities, and waste production.

The Sustainable Mineral Resources minor studies the interconnected environmental, social, technical, and economic issues surrounding the sustainable and responsible production and use of non-renewable mineral resources. Students learn to work with people across disciplines, cultures, and national borders and value differing beliefs as they implement data-driven decision making, effective communication, and critical thinking to bridge the gap between humans’ ever-increasing demand for minerals and societies’ changing priorities toward the environment and communities. Students can take courses to match interests: Environment, Mining & Recycling, Leadership & Communication, Business & Economics, Data Analytics & Automation, Health & Safety, and Society & Policy. Diverse perspectives are provided by faculty from disciplines across the Colleges of Engineering, Science, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Agriculture & Life Sciences, Architecture, Planning & Landscape Architecture, the Eller College of Management, and Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health. Students engage in experiential learning on technical, economic, social, and environmental issues.

For more information, visit: https://mining.arizona.edu/undergraduate_minor

The University of Arizona Law Global Mining Law program fosters productive dialogue, research, and training in global mining and natural resources law and development. The Global Mining Law program provides training to both lawyers and non-lawyers from around the globe, engages in cutting-edge research on issues related to all aspects of global mining law and policy, fosters productive dialogue among various stakeholders in the mining and natural resources sector, and develops innovative real-world solutions to law and policy issues of importance to mining, natural resource, and energy development.

Ideally located in southern Arizona, a region rich in mining industry and leaders in natural resources, the program offers a variety of degree and non-degree training opportunities, including:
1. Master’s degrees with a Mining Law and Policy focus for both lawyers (an LLM) and non-lawyers (an MLS) — both offered online and on campus.
2. Certificate courses, including online programs, for those involved in mining-related work, including executives, lawyers, managers, engineers, and government officials.
3. Executive education, annual conferences, and workshops for those involved in mining and energy developments.

For more information, visit: https://law.arizona.edu/programs/global-mining-law

The role of anthropology in interdisciplinary projects involving economic development and planned change on the national and international levels.

This course introduces a variety of environmental thought linking the political sphere and the biosphere. It examines ecological economics, environmental history and ethics, theoretical ecology, ecofeminism, political ecology in anthropology and intellectual property law.

Fundamentals of occupational safety, emphasizing regulatory requirements and best-practices targeted to eliminate major sources of occupational injuries. Hazard identification, behavioral safety, and incident investigation will be discussed.

Across America, one in four Americans lives within 3 miles of a hazardous waste site (U.S. General Accounting Office, 2013). This means that one's zip code can be more important than their genetic code. Today's complex environmental science problems have far-reaching impacts and require an understanding of natural sciences, health, and justice. This course addresses this challenge by exploring and focusing on how to generate environmental science solutions at the intrapersonal, interpersonal, institutional, and community levels. Students will not only gain a fundamental understanding of the natural sciences, health, and justice, they will learn how to apply the science to solve real world problems. Through the lens of environmental justice, this class will emphasize race, socioeconomics, and gender to explore the ways in which diverse individuals and societies are generating solutions to environmental quality and health challenges. The course will focus on the United States but will incorporate case studies from Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, and/or Middle East.

The goal of this course is to advance students' knowledge of various concepts and methods used in assessing human-impacted resources such as contaminated sites, waste places, and disturbed sites to ensure efficient and effective remediation and restoration programs. Focusing on contaminated sites, the course covers socioeconomic, biophysical, political, and cultural dimensions of the impacted sites as well as the assessment of the sustainability of remedial options. The course is delivered through interactive lectures, discussions, and classroom presentations, and is team taught by faculty with varied expertise.

Interdisciplinary trainees who participate in a colloquium, professional development activities and research translation/community engagement activities.

Note: Alternative grading used: S, P, F.

Principles and practices of mine environmental management and reclamation; pre-mining assessment. Design of water management systems (contaminant removal; settling ponds, groundwater protection); recontouring and revegetation; air quality management; noise and seismic mitigation. Maintaining permits; closure and bond release and ultimate land use. Best management practices.