For Course Notes, go to http://student.ccbcmd.edu/envproj/cfox/index.htm
Introduction to
Environmental Science
|
BASIC
COURSE INFORMATION: Community
College of ENVS 101 Section FW CRN 26801 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Course Prerequisites/Co-requisites: Prerequisite: Exemption from or successful completion
of RDG 101. Introduction to Environmental Science, ENVS 101, satisfies the
General Education requirement in the Biological and Physical Sciences. Course Texts: "Ishmael",
by Daniel Quinn, ISBN# 0-553-37540-7
Welcome to ENVS 101, “Introduction
to Environmental Science” Section FW. So, what kind of world DO
you want? The choices that we make everyday determine what kind of world
we have. In this course, we'll explore the many ways we are connected to the
world and how our decisions determine how clean the water we drink is, how
healthy the air is to breathe, and what kind of world we are leaving for the
generations to follow.
This course is a “hybrid
course. A hybrid course is one that combines the features of both traditional
on-site courses as well as on-line courses via the Internet. The course works
in the following way:
A. Class will be held
on-site in room T107 every Thursday at 12:30 to 1:55 from 2/3 to 5/12.
B. Students have the option
of getting the material for the second meeting of the course each week in three
ways: 1. onsite on Thursday from 2:00 to 3:30; 2. online, or; 3. via videotape
in the basement of the library.
C. To insure the material
from each week’s 2nd class “meeting has been reviewed,
there will be a 10-minute quiz every Thursday beginning at 12:30. Students
arriving late to class will not be able to make up the quiz, so it is important
to get to class on time.
Also, this will not be an
"easy" course. Because we will look at the world in a way that you
may never have before, and because much of what you now understand about the
world will be challenged, this course might be very difficult for you. Because
environmental science integrates knowledge and information from many other
disciplines such as biology, chemistry, law and demography, among others,
you'll be asked to think somewhat differently in this course than in other
courses you might have taken so far. You'll be asked to critically assess
information and apply the scientific method, a systematic, precise, objective
way to study the world. Thinking differently can sometimes be difficult and so
you'll be asked to be open-minded and flexible in how you approach the material
in the course.
|
|
COURSE GOALSA. Overall Course Objectives
1.
Comprehend how the earth’s
natural system operate and interrelate with one another.
2.
Describe how human activities impact
natural systems.
3. Delineate natural flows of chemicals,
minerals, water and energy.
4. Explain how human activities alter
or degrade natural flows.
5.
Evaluate a wide range of cultural
and social approaches and how they apply to environmental issues.
6.
Delineate geographic distributions
of environmental impacts.
7.
Explain concepts of environmental
justice.
8.
Summarize major environmental policies
and regulations.
9. Assess the effect and importance of individual
behavior in environmental issues.
10.
Classify technologies that prevent,
control and reverse environmental harm.
11.
Develop informed views based on
critical evaluation of information sources.
12.
Engage
in problem solving of environmental issue.
B. Major Topics
Environmentalism Environmental Policy Human
Population
Natural Environmental Systems Natural
Resource Consumption Environmental
Impacts
Environmental Technology Sustainable
Development Atmosphere
Hydrosphere Lithosphere
C. Rationale Since
the 1960's, there has been a growing concern about the impact of humans on
the environment. Increasing global population, consumption of resources, and
our technological choices, have resulted in unprecedented impact of the natural
environment. Environmental issue range from local issues such as pollution
and sprawl to global issues such as depletion of the ozone layer and climate
change. An understanding of the scientific principles of natural systems is
critical to understanding how human activities use, change, and degrade the
natural environment. Students enrolled in this course will investigate the
underlying scientific principles of the natural environment as well as learn
to critically evaluate environmental concerns and relate them to their own
experience.
In ENVS 101, Introduction
to Environmental Science, students will explore environmental issues and address
how environmental concerns are linked to human population growth and activities.
Discussions will explore linkages between economic and social activities and
the underlying science and impacts of the natural environment.
Issues such as environmental justice, different cultural views of the
environment, and the distribution of wealth are explored in an environmental
and cross-cultural context. Students will learn to evaluate the interplay
between social and cultural practices and the impact of such practices on
environmental quality. Students will be encouraged to develop informed opinions
based upon critical evaluation of classroom discussions, of assigned readings,
of their personal experiences, and of their vision of the world they would
like to live in.
|
|
A. Requirements
2. Take
Home Assignments - Take home assignments are listed on the class schedule below
and must be completed by the due dates listed. Additional information about
each assignment will be presented during the class period preceding the
assignment due date. The assignments make up 35% of the student's final grade.
3. In
Class Discussion – In class discussion constitutes 10% of the
student’s final grade. Students answering questions correctly or making
significant points during discussion will be awarded a point for each. Points
will accumulate throughout the semester and will be tallied by the instructor
at the end of the semester.
4. Mid
Term Exam - The mid term exam will be given in class on Thursday, March 17 at
2:00 in room T107. The exam will include the material covered in class from
weeks 1 through 7. Exams will consist of multiple choice, true-false, fill in
the blank, matching, and short answer questions. Students will have the option
of providing up to 10 questions for the exam. Questions should be taken from
both the assigned readings and material presented in class. All student
mid-term exam questions must be submitted either by e-mail or disk to the
instructor by 12:00 midnight on Monday, March 14. One point will be awarded for
each exam question selected for use in the mid-term exam. The mid-term exam is
worth 20% of the student's final grade.
5. Final
Exam - The final exam will be given in class on Thursday, May 19 from 1:00 to
3:00 p.m. in room T107. The exam will include the material covered in class
from weeks 8 through 15. Exams will consist of multiple choice, true-false,
fill in the blank, matching, and short answer questions. Students will have the
option of providing up to 10 questions for the exam. Questions should be taken
from both the assigned readings and material presented in class. All student
final exam questions must be submitted either by e-mail or disk to the
instructor by 12:00 midnight on Monday, May 16, 2005. One point will be awarded
for each exam question selected for use in the final exam. The final exam is
worth 20% of the student's final grade.
Make Up
Exam Policy - The class policy for make-up exams is as follows. If a student
knows ahead of time that she or he will be absent for an upcoming exam, the
student must notify the instructor no later than the end of the class period
prior to the exam. If an emergency arises on the day of an exam, such as a
death or sickness in the family, or car accident, students must contact the
instructor by 4:30 on the day of the exam either by phone at 410-455-4538 or
e-mail (cfox@ccbcmd.edu). No exceptions will be granted to the make up rules
presented here. In the case of an appeal to the instructor's decision, the
final decision for granting a make-up exam rests with the class.
6. Optional
Research Paper - Students have the option of completing a research paper on
a topic that the student chooses. The paper should be between 5-7 pages in
length, word processed or typed, double spaced, in a standard 12 point font
with 1" top, bottom, and side margins. A printed copy of the paper is
due by the end of class on Thursday, May 12. No papers will be accepted after
this deadline. The optional research paper should not be simply a rewording
of a topic covered in class but rather focused on an idea or concept related
to the class in which the student is specifically interested. Topics must
be cleared with the instructor before students begin their research and an
outline of the paper approved by the instructor before the student begins
work on the paper. The paper will be graded with points assigned for organization,
content, clarity, and referencing. All materials researched for the paper
must be identified in a bibliography at the end of the paper. The optional
research paper is worth up to 10 additional points to a student's final grade,
with the potential to raise a student's final grade for the course one letter
grade.
B. Instructor’s Grading Policy
C. Instructor’s Attendance
Policy
|
|
A. Materials
B. Special Procedures
C. Course Schedule
|
WEEKS |
DATES |
ENVS 101 |
EVENT |
TOPIC |
|
1 |
1/31 - 2/6 |
2/3/2005 |
1 & 2 Class Sessions |
What Kind of World? |
|
|
|
1/31/2005 |
First Day of Classes |
|
|
|
|
2/5/2005 |
Drop Add Period Ends |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2 |
2/7 - 2/13 |
2/10/2005 |
3 & 4 Class Sessions |
History of the World |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3 |
2/14 - 2/20 |
2/17/2005 |
5 & 6 Class Sessions |
What's Your Story? |
|
|
|
2/18/2005 |
50% Refund Period Ends |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4 |
2/21 - 2/27 |
2/24/2005 |
7 & 8 Class Sessions |
Connecting to Nature |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5 |
2/28 - 3/6 |
3/3/2005 |
9 & 10 Class Sessions |
The Sociosphere |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6 |
3/7 - 3/13 |
3/10/2005 |
11 & 12 Class Sessions |
Technology |
|
|
|
3/11/2005 |
Mid Term Outline Available |
|
|
|
|
3/14/2005 |
Mid Term Questions Due |
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
7 |
3/14 - 3/20 |
3/17/2005 |
13 & 14 Class Sessions |
Air |
|
|
|
3/17/2005 |
Mid Term Exam |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8 |
3/21 - 3/24 |
3/23/2005 |
Mid Term Grades Distributed |
Biomass |
|
|
|
3/24/2005 |
15 & 16 Class Sessions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3/25 - 4/3 |
|
Spring Break Yay! |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9 |
4/4 - 4/10 |
4/7/2005 |
17 & 18 Class Sessions |
Chemicals |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10 |
4/11 - 4/17 |
4/13/2005 |
Last Day to Withdraw |
Energy |
|
|
|
4/14/2005 |
19 & 20 Class Sessions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
11 |
4/18 - 4/24 |
4/21/2005 |
21 & 22 Class Sessions |
Land |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
12 |
4/25 - 5/1 |
4/28/2005 |
23 & 24 Class Sessions |
Materials & Waste |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
13 |
5/2 - 5/8 |
5/5/2005 |
25 & 26 Class Sessions |
Water |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
14 |
5/9 - 5/14 |
5/12/2005 |
27 & 28 Class Sessions |
The Next 20 Years |
|
|
|
5/12/2005 |
Final Exam Questions Due |
|
|
|
|
5/13/2005 |
Final Exam Outline Posted by Instructor
|
|
|
|
|
5/19/2005 |
Final Exam - 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. |
|