Lecture Index
INTRODUCTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
3 Semester Hours
COMMUNITY COLLEGE OF BALTIMORE COUNTY
Division of Mathematics and Science
Course: ENVS 101 Introduction to Environmental Science
Monday and Wednesday 1:25 – 2:50 F111
Text and Materials: Environment: The science behind the stories
Brennan & Withgott ISBN: 0805344276
Semester: Spr 2006
Instructor: Christine De Stefano
Office: F522
Telephone: 410-780-6611
e-mail: cdestefano@ccbcmd.edu
Office Hours: Monday - Friday: 7:30-8:00
M: 12:00-1:15
W: 12:00-1:15
(Other times available by appointment)
Since the early 1960's, there has been a growing awareness and concern about the impact of human activities on the natural environment. Rapidly increasing global population and consumption of natural resources, as well as our technological choices, have resulted in unprecedented change and degradation of the natural environment. The scale of environmental problems ranges from local issues such as urban pollution and sprawl, to global issues including depletion of the ozone layer, climate change, and loss of global biodiversity.
A thorough understanding of the fundamental scientific principles of natural systems is critical to understanding how human activities use, change, and degrade the natural environment. Introduction to Environmental Science, ENVS 101, is an interdisciplinary and systemic approach to studying the 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.
Course Description:
Students in ENVS 101 will explore earth's natural systems, as well as how human activity affects the environment. Students will apply the scientific method to investigate natural flows of chemicals, water and energy in terrestrial, aquatic, and atmospheric systems, and how humans impact these natural flows and systems. Students will also assess how policy, individual behavior, and technology can prevent, control and reverse environmental harm.
Overall Course Objectives:
In Introduction to Environmental Science, you 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.
Upon successful completion of Introduction to Environmental Science you will
be able to:
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. Asses 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 issues.
Major Topics
Environmentalism
Natural Environmental Systems
Atmosphere – composition, structure, global warming, ozone, acid rain
Biosphere - ecology, biodiversity, endangered species
Hydrosphere – freshwater, saltwater, water treatment and pollution
Lithosphere – soils, minerals, land, erosion, solid & hazardous waste
Human Population
Natural Resource Consumption
Environmental Change and Impacts
Environmental Policy/Technology
Sustainable Development
Other Course Information
Introduction to Environmental Science, ENVS 101, satisfies the General Education requirement in the Biological and Physical Sciences.
Important Dates
Last day to withdraw: April 19th
Spring Break April 10th –17th
Final Exam: May 19th
Grading Policy:
The student’s final grade for ENV 101 will be based on a total accumulation
of points with a maximum score of 600 points. If curving is necessary, the score
of the student with the highest total accumulation of points will be used to
determine the final grading scale. For example, if the highest total accumulation
of points is 450 points then 90%/80%/70%/60% of that total will determine the
student’s final grade. Points will be distributed as follows:
Grading
100 points – 1st Exam 540-600 points = A
100 points – 2nd Exam 480-539 points = B
100 points – 3nd Exam 420-479 points = C
100 points – 4th Exam 360-419 points = D
50 points – pamphlet 000-359 points = F
50 points – Debates/stories/projects
100 points – Group Presentations
600 points Total
1 2 3 4 Total Points
Exam
Brochure/flyer ----- ----- -----
Debates/stories/projects ----- -----
Group presentation ----- ----- -----
Total Points
ATTENDANCE POLICY
Attendance at each class and lab is essential. Please be on time. Students with a legitimate problem about attendance should discuss the situation with their instructor.
NOTE: The deadline for withdrawing from a course or changing to an audit for the Spring 2006 semester is April 19, 2006. Failure to officially withdraw from a class you have stopped attending may result in an "F" grade.
COURSE REPEAT POLICY
Policy on Repeated Courses, page 194 of the 2004-2006 CCBC catalog states, “Students may repeat a course only once without permission. When a student repeats a course, only the higher grade is computed into the Quality Point Average (QPA). All grades will remain on the student’s transcript. Before a student is permitted to register for the course for a third time, the student must have the permission of the academic dean responsible for the course. Before a student may repeat a developmental course that he or she has failed twice, the student’s record must be reviewed by a support team which will make recommendations regarding enrollment.” Please note: The instructor does not have the authority to grant permission to register for a third attempt at the course.
DISABLED STUDENTS
In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, CCBC is committed to providing an environment that is conducive to learning for all students. Any student who is disabled and requires special accommodation should contact the appropriate campus as follows:
Campus: Office: Room: Phone:
Catonsville Office of Disabilities Support Services K-200 410-455-4382
Dundalk Office of Career and Life Planning A-100 410-285-9774
Essex Office of Special Services A-210 410-780-6878
CODE OF ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
For the College to make its maximum contribution as an institution of high learning, the entire college community must uphold high standards of integrity, honesty, and ethical behavior. In seeking the truth, in learning to think critically, and in preparing for a life of constructive service, honesty is imperative. Each student has a responsibility to submit work that is uniquely his or her own, or to provide clear and complete acknowledgement of the use of work attributable to others. To these ends, the following actions are expected of students:
· Complete all work on exams without assistance.
· Follow the professor’s instructions when completing all class
assignments.
· Ask for clarification when instructions are not clear.
· Report to the instructor any unauthorized information related to an
exam.
· Provide proper credit when quoting or paraphrasing.
· Submit only one’s own work.
Students who do not accept responsibility for the integrity of their own work will experience sanctions, including a written reprimand, failure of the assignment, failure of the course, and/or dismissal from the program. For repeat and extreme offenses, the College reserves the right to suspend or expel students.
WRITING POLICY
The College recognizes that clear, correct, and concise use of language is
characteristic of an educated person. Therefore, whenever possible, faculty
members in all disciplines should require written assignments in their courses
in order to encourage effective writing by their students. Also, instructors
should consider the quality of writing in determining a grade for a written
assignment. Poor writing can be a sufficient cause for a failing grade on a
paper and, in extreme cases, a failing grade in a course.
INCLEMENT WEATHER/EMERGENCY CLOSING POLICY
In the event that the college (or a specific campus) opens late due to weather-related or other emergency conditions, classes will commence at the announced opening time and resume the normal schedule thereafter for the remainder of the day. Faculty, students, and classified staff should report to wherever they would normally have been at the announced opening time. **
Students and faculty engaged in field placement programs (such as internships, clinical placements, etc.) should discuss the handling of emergency situations at the beginning of the placement period. Both the requirements of the program and the safety of persons involved should be considered in planning a course of action in those cases where students are expected to report to off-campus locations.
** For example, if you had a class that began at 9:35 and the college opened at 10:00 because of snow, you would report to your 9:35 class at 10:00.
When the college closes because of severe weather or emergency conditions, announcements of class cancellations are made on local radio and television stations and the college website (www.ccbcmd.edu). Closings and delays will also be recorded on the campus weather lines:
Catonsville 410-455-4567
Dundalk 410-282-6700
Essex 410-780-6711
TUTORING SERVICES
Students are encouraged to seek help from their instructors whenever they encounter academic difficulty (either during scheduled office hours or by appointment). In addition, each campus offers free academic support services. For more information, contact:
Campus: Office: Room: Phone:
Catonsville Tutoring Services F-200 410-455-4420
Dundalk Tutoring Services CAR-530 410-285-9877
Essex Student Success Center A-307 410-780-6820
CIVILITY AND COMMUNITY BUILDING EXPECTATIONS
Creating a Culture of CARE©
(Compassion, Appreciation, Respect, Empowerment)
As members of the CCBC community of learners, we are expected to act with respect, honesty, responsibility and accountability. Each of us is expected to be aware of the impact our behavior has on the community. CCBC wishes to each learner to commit to the following actions:
• Become an active and engaged learner
• Celebrate the richness of our diversity
• Respect the campus and its code of conduct
• Practice empathy and compassion
• Promote the empowerment of others
MAJOR RELIGIOUS HOLIDAY POLICY
Students not attending class because they are observing major religious holidays shall be given the opportunity, to the maximum extent possible, to make up, within a reasonable amount of time, any academic work or tests they miss. Arrangements between the student and the faculty member(s) for the student to make up missed assignments or tests must be made in advance of the religious holiday, at the initiation of the student.
STUDENT E-MAIL ACCOUNTS
CCBC has joined the ranks of the very few community colleges in Maryland who provide email accounts to all credit students. Each student who is registered in credit classes now has an email account and up to 5 Mb of storage in their mail box. This account will not be deleted even if the student graduates or leaves CCBC for any reason.
For information about the system and how students can determine their email
address, go the CCBC Home Page and click on “Student Email”. From
here students can find their email address, get to an on-line user manual and
access instructions on how to forward the CCBC email to the system of choice
(AOL, Comcast, Hot Mail, etc.)
ATTENDANCE POLICY:
It is expected that each student will be present at the specified starting time and prepared with any assignment(s) given. Likewise, it is expected that each student will arrange his/her schedule to permit remaining in class the full allotted time.
In the case of an absence, it will be YOUR responsibility to get the missed
information. I will only supply students with handouts missed! Simply leaving
a message, asking the instructor to reach you will not be acceptable. It is
your responsibility to reach the instructor, not the instructor’s responsibility
to reach you.
ELECTRONIC DEVICES:
Students may use tape recorders to assist them in taking notes. However, beepers and cell phones must be turned off and not used in class.
Special Needs: Students with special needs should contact me.
SCHEDULE OF EXERCISES AND ASSIGNMENTS
The following is a tentative schedule for class. Additional details, instructions,
or assignments may be given in class
SCHEDULE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
ENVS 101
Week 1/2: Introduction- Understanding our Environment (Chapter 1 –3)
Video: History of the Environment
Week 2: From Chemistry and Energy to Life (Chapter 4)
Week 3: Atmosphere Basics (Chapter 11)
Week 3: EXAM 1 (Through Atmosphere Basics)
Week 4: Atmosphere Impacts (Chapter 11 - 12)
Week 5: Hydrosphere Basics (Chapter 13 & 14)
Week 6: Hydrosphere Impacts (Chapter 13-14)
Week 7: EXAM 2
Week 7: Lithosphere (Chapter 6 & 8)
Week 8: Lithosphere Impacts (Chapter 6 – 8)
Week 9: Biosphere Basics (Chapter 5)
Week 9/10: Biosphere Impacts: (Chapter 5, 7 15 & 16)
Week 10: EXAM 3
Week 11: Sociosphere- Population Dynamics and Human Population (Chapters 7)
Week 12: Sociosphere - Resource Consumption
Nutrition and Food Supplies (Chapter 17)
Energy (Chapter 18)
Week 13: Sociosphere - Solid, Toxic & Hazardous Waste: (Chapter 19)
Video: History of Trash
Week 13: Sustainability
Week 14: Presentations
Final Exam
Please note that this syllabus is subject to change