Course Description:

This course will examine the environmental consequences that have resulted from natural events and from human ingenuity.  From a scientific vantage, we will learn about climate change and the role that humans have had in habitat degradation.  We will study how human action impacts natural ecosystems and the potential damaging effects that may occur as we double our global population over the next 50 years. Included in this course is a comprehensive understanding of food production and factors that drive the food markets.  Along these themes, we will also learn how to apply concepts of sustainability when making individual decisions so that decisions balance people, planet and profits.  We will also learn how individual consumer choices can alter business practices.  We will calculate our footprints and discuss how we would like to change our individual footprint sizes and learn how to achieve these goals.  Lastly, but most importantly, we will need to become visionaries and propose alternatives to current practices that lead to environmental degradation and discuss the hurdles that seem to make implementation of these ideas difficult

Expected Learning Outcomes:

• learn how the scientific process works
• learn basic critical biological concepts that will allow you to understand natural ecosystems
• gain an understanding of human impact on natural ecosystems
• learn how the chemical composition of the biosphere impacts the health of people, crops, and natural ecosystems, as well as 
  potentially impacting global climate
• learn how to apply concepts of sustainability

• attendance and in class participation will be noted by the instructor
• random quizzes will be given to test your comprehension of course material
• in class presentation will be graded to assess the depth at which you understand a topic
• a paper will be graded to assess the depth at which you have learned about a course topic
• two take home exams will be given to test your comprehension of course material

participation	10%
quizzes	10%
presentation	20%
topic paper	20%
exam 1	20%
exam 2	20%

 Your participation in class and attendance will be noted and used to evaluate 10% of your  course grade.

Short quizzes will be given at random in class to assess your preparedness and depth of what  you leaned from both the reading and lecture material covered in class.

Each student presentation must focus on one of the course topics.  Points for presentations will be assigned as follows:
 

(30)	Preparedness: your knowledge of the subject matter
(30)	Organization of presentation: (could the audience follow the presentation)
(30)	Content:  did you cover the major issues within your topic, did you cover enough background information so that audience could follow your     logic and did you express your views and thoughts on the subject matter did you state your conclusions? Did you Propose Alternatives    or potential Solutions to the issues presented
(5)	Cite your sources.
(5)	Your ability to address questions appropriately.

To prepare for your topic presentations you are required to conduct literature searches, use the library, and look up reliable information online.  You will have to assess the credibility of these sources.  You are required to cite all of your sources including your online sources in your presentations. You should not hesitate to email experts and get their opinions on specific topics.  You must compile your data and information into an organized 10 min presentation this will be followed be a question and answer discussion session.

Each student must write a 8-10 page double spaced paper on their topics. Topic selection must be different then the topic that you presented on. Paper topic selection must focus on one of the course topics unless pre-approval is given by me.

Points for topic PAPERS will be assigned following the following rubric:

• Organization of paper (15 points). Can the reader follow the logic of the paper?

• Background information (20 points).  Did you provide enough background information, so that a reader can understand how previous
  work and previous ideas (conducted by others) relate to how you reached your conclusion(s).

• Paper content (30). Did you cover the major issues of your topic in sufficient detail (within the page limits of the assignment).

• Did you express your views and thoughts on the subject matter (30).  I want to know what you think about this subject 
   matter – what are your conclusions?


• Source your references. (5)  Do not plagiarize, you must use your own words and present your own ideas. If you use the ideas and 
  writings of others then you must provide a complete citation so that I can look up your references. If you do not cite sources properly 
  in your paper and I find that you have plagiarized the work of others you will receive an F grade. I will also follow the guidelines 
  detailed  in your student handbook on plagiarism and refer this to the school judiciary system.  Please refer to your Student
  Handbook for a detailed description of the policies regarding student academic conduct.

• Proof read your work. I will deduct points for gross grammatical errors(incomplete sentences etc.) and spelling errors (2 points 
  off per spelling error and 2 points off for major grammatical error).

• You are required to conduct literature and online searches. You will have to assess the credibility of your sources. You are required to 
   cite all of your sources in your paper. You should not hesitate to email experts and get their opinions on specific topics (cite as 
  personal communication in your paper).  You must compile your data and information into an organized 8-10 double spaced paper.

In a nutshell grading of written work can be summed up as follows:

A = exceptional work, extremely impressive, near flawless in terms of content and presentation
B = above the expectations of the assignment, but has room for improvement in terms of  content and/or presentation
C =  meeting the obligations of the assignment, lacking sufficient attention to content and  presentation
D= does not meet obligations of assignment, and lacking sufficient attention to content and  presentation
F =  unacceptable level of effort for the assignment

All the work in this class must be your own, unless stated otherwise.  Confirmed instances of academic misconduct will result in a zero for that test or assignment and referral to the school judiciary system.  Please refer to the Student Handbook for a detailed description of the policies regarding student academic conduct.

You are expected to come to lecture. There is a significant correlation between exam performance and lecture attendance.  Therefore, it is strongly encourage you to make every effort to attend lectures.

You must take exams on scheduled exam dates.  If you are participating in a college-sponsored event (athletics, performance, etc.) that conflicts with a scheduled exam, you must provide a written excuse from a faculty member (coach, director, etc.) at least one week prior to the exam.  If you cannot make it to an exam (i.e. illness), you need to contact me before the exam begins.  Email alone is insufficient; you need to call and leave a message with a number to contact you if I am not available.  Failure to do so will result in a zero for that exam.

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.