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The Department of Physical, Environmental and Computer Sciences
The Department of Physical, Environmental and Computer Sciences (PECS) is dedicated teaching and research in the physical sciences and technology. The Department offers a Baccalaureate of Science degree (BS) in Environmental Science, Baccalaureate of Science degree (BS) in Computer Science, Associate of Science (AS) degrees in Computer Science, and Associate of Science (AS) degree in Science (Chemistry, Physics and Engineering concentrations). The AS degree programs are essentially transfer programs.
Departmental Goals
- to develop in our students high-level skills, such as problem solving, reasoning, and the ability to engage in research;
- to prepare students for advanced study in graduate programs in Environmental Science and Computer Science as well as B.S. degree programs in Chemistry, Physics and Engineering;
- to prepare students to compete for well-paying positions in the applied and environmental sciences; and
- to prepare our students such that they may create their own position in society (e.g. consulting, entrepreneurship) regardless of the economic climate.
Academic Standards
Students in the Department are expected to pass all departmental required courses with a grade of C or better. Students will be required to repeat any course on which a grade of C- or below is received before being permitted to go on to the next course in the sequence.
The Environmental Science Program
The B.S. in Environmental Science stresses not only the science, but its interdisciplinary nature with respect to the sciences, as well as ethics, responsibility and values, politics, law and business. The Environmental Science degree is a very rigorous program with a strong foundation (Calculus sequence, University Physics Sequence, General Chemistry Sequence, and Computer Science), and environmental areas (e.g. air, water, soil pollution, organic chemistry, analytic chemistry, instrumentation, ground water). The program also incorporates internships or research in upper-level courses and produces highly qualified students who are sought after by industry, government (local, state, federal) and graduate schools. Most of the students completing the program go on to graduate school for either MS or PhD studies in Atmospheric Science, Chemistry, Physics and Environmental Science at John Hopkins University, State University of New York at Stonybrook, Howard University, Penn State University as well as Hunter College and the City College of New York. Others have entered the scientific workforce (NYC Department of Environmental Protection, NYC Transit Authority, Goddard Space Flight Center, Con Edison). The program hosts the Annual Environmental Issues Conference every March. Studenst may minor in Computer Science, Earth System Science, Computation Science/Remote Sensing, and Space Science.
Atmospheric Science (Environmental Science Option)
Global warming, water pollution, draughts, and ozone depletion are some of the serious problems facing the world community. The Atmospheric Environmental Science options provides students with the opportunity for study in the following areas: cloud/storm lifecycles, storm tracking,
volcanic aerosols, regional water conservation and turbulence. Students may be involved with NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) scientist and/or MEC and CUNY faculty on scientific research topics. Students will help in the analysis of comprehensive global data sets in order to predict atmospheric and climate changes in the early 21st century.
Computer Science Program
The BS degree in Computer Science is a unique academic opportunity for students to integrate computer science discipline areas and scientific investigation in relevant fields. Without compromising the theoretical aspects of computer science, the program allows students to marry their programming and hardware skills with practical applications in wireless communications and tracking, utilization of scientific sensors, data gathering, and ground-based data-sharing. Curriculum linkages occur in traditional areas including data communications, wireless networks, embedded controllers, scientific computing, database systems, and digital logic design. Like all other CUNY four year colleges, MEC admits AS degree holders to its BS degree program; however since PECS offers an AS degree itself, the department is able to work extremely successfully with students to ease the transition between the completion of an AS degree and the beginning of a BS. Students may minor in Environmental Science, Earth System Science, Computational Science/Remote Sensing and Space Science to further their own professional interests. Aside from coursework, our students have participated in research internships at JPL, APL/John Hopkins and other NASA sites including Goddard Space Flight Center and the Goddard Institute for Space Studies. The Computer Science program includes a required senior-level two- semester course for research or industry internships.
A.S. in Science (Chemistry, Engineering and Physics Concentrations) is essentially a transfer program which is designed to meet the requirements for entry into the lower junior level of most baccalaureate degree (B.S.) programs in Chemistry, Engineering or Physics. Students may transfer to the Chemistry and Physics programs at Brooklyn College, City College, College of Staten Island, Hunter College and the Engineering programs at City College and Polytechnic University.
Facilities: Students in all disciplines use an advanced computer lab [ACL] which has 22 workstations and uses LINUX. Students also use the MEC Hewlett Packard (HP) Portable Laboratory, with wireless work stations and peripherals, for courses in Computer Science, Remote Sensing, GIS, and Space Science.
Special Program Features & Research Opportunities
Research opportunities exist during academic year and summer for student who maintain a high academic level and desire the experience. We have been facilitating undergraduate student internships with applications in Science and Engineering. Program faculty are principal investigators of NASA and NSF supported programs. Qualified students may be accepted in research programs at NASA centers or NASA funded research programs, national research laboratories included Brookhaven National Lab, and NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) at various universities across the nation.
The PECS Department receives funding support from the NASA New York State Space Grant Consortium, NASA MUSPIN CUNY Network Resource and Training Site, NASA MUCERPI New York City Space Science Research Alliance, NASA New York City Research Initiative, the NSF Opportunities for Expanding Diversity in Geoscience (OEDG) and the Vocational and Technical Education Act (VTEA)/New York State Department of Education.
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