Environmental science is an interdisciplinary approach to the study of the physical, chemical, and biological components of the environment. A central theme of environmental science is the effect of human societies on the environment, and how individual human and societal behavior can be modified to minimize the deleterious effects on the environment. In this course, we will focus on the biological principles fundamental to understanding human impact on the environment. We will discuss how human activities modify the environment and how these effects can be reduced through changes in individual and societal behavior. We will also tie together the political, social, economic, and ethical aspects of environmental studies with the biological and chemical principles. 

 
The lectures will be centered on specific issues in environmental science, such as demography, pollution, and sustainability. The labs will be field-based hands-on experiences designed to expose students to environmental principles and methods to study them. The course format is a combination of lecture, laboratory, discussion, projects and written assignments and oral presentations.  The lectures are intended to enhance the material covered in the text, not duplicate it.  You are expected to read the text prior to the class period, and come to class with any topics for which they would like clarification or discussion.

Texts:

• Miller, G.T.  2007.  Living in the Environment.  15^th edition.  Wadsworth Publishers, Albany, NY
  
  
• Hertsgaard, M. 1998. Earth Odyssey.  Broadway  Books, NY.      
  
  
• Pechenik, J. 2006.  A Short Guide to Writing About  Biology. 6^th edition.  Addison-Wesley Educational     Publishers, New York, N.Y.
  
  
• Additional course materials posted on Blackboard.

Goals for this course include you learning how to:

1. think critically, integratively, and from a systems perspective about issues in environmental science,  
2. communicate more effectively as writers and speakers,
3. work productively with others,
4. produce your highest quality work possible, and 
5. explore different environmental career options.

 The learning outcomes of the course are to develop an environmental science literacy that includes the ability to:

1. Recognize and explain the scientific concepts behind the issues to be able to  assess and analyze environmental issues
2. Develop a testable hypothesis
3. Collect, analyze, and interpret data relevant to testing a hypothesis.

This course is intended for environmental studies majors and minors, and other students with a serious interest in this subject.  You are expected to spend a minimum of 10 hours per week on this course.

To evaluate your performance on the goals and learning outcomes of this course we will use discussions, written assignments, oral presentations, online quizzes and essay exams- both written and oral. See “List of Assignments” and the course syllabus on Blackboard for more detailed information on these assignments.

Evaluation:

5% Assess and analyze environmental issues -  Blackboard discussion entries                  

10% Recognize and explain the scientific concepts - Blackboard quizzes                        

20% Assess and analyze environmental issues - Essay exams                                               

25% Assess and analyze environmental issues - Written assignments                                  

25%Develop a testable hypothesis, collect, analyze, and interpret data -  Laboratory assignments                           

7% Analyze environmental issues - Participation, engagement & initiative      

8% Recognize and explain the scientific concepts and  Assess and analyze environmental - Final oral assessment

Attendance

Regular class attendance is expected.  If you miss class, you are still responsible for any assignments announced and for all material presented during class.  It will be very difficult to get a grade better than a C in the course without attending class consistently.

Missing a test during an unexcused absence will result in a zero grade for that test.  For an unexpected absence, you must notify me before the test if at all possible.  If you are not physically capable to do so, then you must notify me within 24 hr. of the start of a test. You can phone my number (274-3575) or the Biology Department (274-3161) to leave a message.  Notification does not guarantee my acceptance of your reason for absence, but failing to notify me does guarantee that you will not be excused.

 
Late assignments will be penalized 10% (1 point of 10) for each weekday past 5 pm on the due date.

Blackboard:

This course covers a large amount of information and we will be using blackboard to post the course syllabus, all assignments, regular online quizzes, and online discussions.  For this reason, you should visit the course’s Blackboard site early and regularly.

 
Accommodations:

In compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act, reasonable accommodation will be provided to students with documented disabilities on a case by case basis. Students must register with the Office of Academic Support Services and provide appropriate documentation to the college before any academic adjustment will be provided.
 

Plagiarism

Please review the College’s definition of plagiarism is it appears in the Student Handbook.  I routinely search the web and other sources for material I believe to be plagiarized, and report offenders to Judicial Affairs.

Collaborative Projects

In a collaborative project, all students in a group may be held responsible for academic misconduct if they engage in plagiarism or are aware of plagiarism by others in their group and fail to report it. Students who participate in a collaborative project in which plagiarism has occurred will not be held accountable if they were not knowledgeable of the plagiarism.