Students will begin developing proposals for research questions and approaches that should lead to a general or specific thesis that will be the basis of their project in ERS 411A/B (or 412A/B or 413A/B). The course will normally use a mixed format of lectures and discussion emphasizing trans and multi-disciplinary systematic treatment of environmental research. [Note: Formerly ERS 390] Prereq: ERS 210/250; Environment and Resource Studies students only