Senior Capstone Experience
All Environmental Science and Studies students complete a capstone course. One option for this capstone course is ENVS 491: Senior Seminar. One of the major components of ENVS 491is a class project. The goal of the project is for students to apply the skills and knowledge obtained through their academic studies to a "real" situation.
Senior Seminar Projects
Requests for class projects have come from individuals both on-campus and off-campus. Campus based projects often come from members of the Facility Management staff. Topics include issues on the TU campus as well as issues facing local communities. The class is given the "charge" for the project from a member of the group looking for help and the class provides a mid-term update during the semester. Topics are listed below:
2025
Evaluation of the physical, chemical, and biological causes of the midge fly outbreak in Back River, and the development of cost-effective management options, in partnership with the Maryland Department of the Environment and Maryland Department of Agriculture. Faculty mentor: Dr. Michael Haire.
2024
A critique of the current Chesapeake Striped Bass population management strategy. Faculty mentor: Dr. Michael Haire.
2023
The public health risk of swimming in the Baltimore Harbor, in partnership with the Baltimore Department of Public Works and the Waterfront Partnership fo Baltimore. Faculty mentor: Dr. Michael Haire.
2022
Evaluation of the environmental success and cost benefit of the Minebank Run restoration, in partnership with the USGS, USEPA, and Baltimore County. Faculty mentor: Dr. Michael Haire.
2021
Mitigation strategies for sources of PFAS in wastewater and drinking water, in partnership with the Baltimore City Department of Public Works. Faculty mentor: Dr. Michael Haire.
2020
Environmental effects of human behavioral changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic, in partnership with Maryland Governor Larry Hogan. Faculty mentor: Dr. Michael Haire.
2018
Developing a plan to meet USEPA goals for the Chesapeak Bay restoration with the Baltimore County Department of Environmental Protection and Sustainability. Faculty mentor: Dr. Michael Haire.
2017
Marketing strategies for the US Department of Agriculture's agricultural riparian buffer program. Faculty mentor: Dr. Michael Haire.
2016
Evaluating the impact of the TU campus on water quality in Towson Run and Lake Roland Reservoir in Baltimore County. Faculty mentor: Dr. Michael Haire.
2014
Towson Public Life Study (PDF) by Aashish Aacharya, Samantha Adrian, Amanda Akins, Eric Caswell, Shelby Conrad, Bianca Cooper, Ryan Crouse, Brittney DeBaugh, Timothy Dunn, Kallie Fullem, Kayla Haile, Nicholas Healy, Thomas Scalley, III, Melanie Smith, Lauren Wells. Faculty Mentor: Dr. Brian Fath.
2013
Baltimore County Government Greenhouse Gas Inventory for 2012 (PDF)(by Tyler Bailey, Tim Dziwulski, Rachel McCloskey, Kiley Gilbert, Max Chlada, Sarah Johnson, Kellen Lamp, Eric Simmons. Faculty Mentor: Dr. Brian Fath.
Baltimore County Community Greenhouse Gas Inventory (PDF) by Bianca Aryal, Jessica Cherewich, Andrew Field, Andrew Glinsky, Baruke Griffin, Malshauna Hamm, Justin Lemly, Jack Valenti, Kendal Williams. Faculty Mentor: Dr. Brian Fath.
2012
B'More Green Schools: Increasing Efficiently and Enhancing Education (PDF) by Holly Burkhardt, Lea Corddry, Eric DiMeo, Tynekia Garrett, Cara Hostetler, Heather Kampe, Brett Kilczewski, Margaret Kozloski, Mary Powell, Matthew Sheils, Lee Single, William J. Smith, Skyla Steele, Ryan Streett. Faculty Mentor: Dr. Jane L. Wolfson.
2011
Reducing our Food Print (PDF) by Kevin Antoszewski, Emily Beckhardt, James Bunty, Margaret Chan, Lauren Davidson, Colin deLeyer, Bridey Gallagher, Scott Healy, Lauren Lehman, Steven S. Miller, Carrie Moore, Edward A. Plato, Kevin Ryan, Owen Sherrod, Meredith Springsteen, Rachael Titone, Tinsae B. Tolossa, Nicole Voelker, Karen Zeiter, Faculty Mentor: Dr. Jane L. Wolfson.
2010
Releaf Baltimore by Heidi Blumenschein, Christopher A. Correnti, Patrick DeArmey, Samantha Easter, Karyn Hawley, Cole Hiller, Christopher Howard, Erin Hysan, Nicholas Kurtz, Jason Levenson, Gaelan O. Lewis, Jason Mathias, Karli Murray, Margaret Paulson, William Saffell, Sara Smith, Fred Teasley, and Caitlin White. Faculty mentor: Dr. Jane L. Wolfson.
2009
Towson University: Green Fleet Forward (PDF) by Rachel Brauer, David Bullis, Devin Byrne, Amanda Deering, Lisa Duckett, Don Griswold, Timothy Herndon, David Hinson, Mary Howard, Joshua Johnson, Kevin Kelly, Ryan McDonald, John Pond III, Malinda Ross, Bryce Selby, Alice Sterns, Elizabeth Sylvia, Michelle Townsel and Gary Wilkins. Faculty mentor: Dr. Jane L. Wolfson.
2008
Connecting Deer, Forests and Water Quality by students in the Senior Seminar Class of 2008. Faculty mentor: Dr. Jane L. Wolfson.
2007
The 'Forests' of Owings Mills: Past Present and Future (PDF) by Teresa Barltley, Gaurav Bisht, Patrick Breitenbach, Timothy Broderick, Adam Busey, Lauren Ciemny, Daniel Davis, Robert Flora, Shannon H. Kropkowski, Matthew Krukowski, Andrea Lamartin, Ronald Melchior, Bradley Mowbray, Dushyanthi Niyangoda, Mike Shannon and Hee Song. Faculty mentor: Dr. Jane L. Wolfson.
2006
Home Energy Audit (PDF) by Tim Carney, Jackie Carroll, Casey Fitzpatrick, Tom Hansford, Marguerite Harden, Aimee Harris, Brent Hood, Danielle Hurst, Amanda Joseph, Lu Anne Kimmitt, Emily Larson, Matt McCloskey, Megan McCormick, Tim McJilton, Emma Noonan, Angela Pacelli, Scott Pervola, Schuyler Pulleyn, Chris Renzo, Meghan Robinson, Josiland Sledge, Kane Stoner, Michael Valenti and Jahmilla Wilson. Faculty mentor: Dr. Brian Fath.
2005
Small Farms in Maryland: Big Challenges for a Shrinking Community (PDF) by Hope Benser, Matthew Comstock, Rachel Durling, Michael Edillon, Krystal Freeman, Matthew Gallant, Michelle Harshman, Karl Hellmann, Timothy Hess, Megan Killian, Laura Mannone, Kelly McManus, Stephan Owe, John Roberts, Eleanor Sokol, Andrea Trageser and Ashley Trump. Faculty mentor: Dr. Jane L. Wolfson.
2004
Electrical Energy Assessment at Towson University: How much do we use, how much can we save? by Matthew Bechtel, Dan Bianca, Justin Callahan, Dennis Coyle, Jared Dubrowsky, Mike Hauser, Jenni Hayter, Janice Hilliard, Debra Joseph, Kate Kritcher, Chiharu Koda, John Maciolek, Ephraim Maduabuchi, Jessica Maszaros, Jon Moore, Jesse Quinn, Keith Shepherd and Amanda Stansburge. Faculty mentor: Dr. Jane L. Wolfson.
2003
Managing the Landscape of Towson University: Becoming a Model (PDF) by Dena Bober, Brandi Hale, Michael Hansen, Jennelle Kershaw, Curt Kleinsorg, Ephraim Maduabuchi, Michael Malone, Timothy Marshall, Julie Okronley, Matt Rescott, Erin Shutt, Joseph Vogelpohl and Elizabeth Yarbrough. Faculty mentor: Dr. Jane L. Wolfson.
2002
Recyling at Towson University: Where We Are and Where We Can Go by Gladys Apolonio, Douglas Bange, Cathy Bay, Jessica Bilecki, Christi Boone, Megan Brosh, Paul Clark, Jim Clay, Christopher Connelly, Curtis Hall, James Karl, Jason Krankowski. Adrienne McDonough, Carla Quinn, Michael Schlenoff, Angelia Seyfferth, Lance Smith, Tausi Suedi and Mary Valentino. Faculty mentor: Dr. Jane L. Wolfson.
2001
Composting at Towson University: A Feasibility Study (PDF) by Julia Bicht, Matt Cherigo, Brad Dutterer, Shelley Jesatko, Jody Lewis, Chrissy Murphy, Chris Quinn and Tara Ryan. Faculty mentor: Dr. Jane L. Wolfson.