Catalog Course Search Details

 Department:    ENVC

 Course #:    165

 Credits:    5

 Variable:     No

 IUs:    5.5

 CIP:    030101

 EPC:    165

 REV:    2024

 Course Description  

Introduction to understanding sustainability principles in human societies. Evaluate how sustainability principles can be applied to urbanization, agriculture and the business world in light of climate change. Solutions will be explored in renewable energy, water resources, transportation, and globalization in the light of environmental economics.

 Prerequisite  

Prerequisite: None.

Contact Hours (based on 11 week quarter)

Lecture: 44

Lab: 22

Other: 0

Systems: 0

Clinical: 0

Intent: Distribution Requirement(s) Status:  

Vocational Supplementary Natural Sciences, Elective  

Equivalencies At Other Institutions

Learning Outcomes

After completing this course, the student will be able to:

1. Critically evaluate information sources for sustainability and climate change.
2. Understand how humans interact with the natural world.
3. Understand ecosystems and their services.
4. Understand ecological sustainability and limits to our water resources.
5. Understand the implications of human impacts from urbanization, transportation, and agriculture.
6. Understand climate change and its consequences.
7. Understand the choices and consequences of renewable and nonrenewable energy sources.
8. Understand environmental economics.
9. Calculate the carbon footprint of human activities and resource consumptions.
10. PROFESSIONAL TECHNICAL: Communicate environmental information to the public. Perform a wetland delineation procedure.

General Education Learning Values & Outcomes

Revised August 2008 and affects outlines for 2008 year 1 and later.

Course Contents

1. Humans and ecological sustainability.
2. Sustaining biodiversity.
3. Ecosystems and ecosystem services.
4. Water resources.
5. Human population and urbanization.
6. Agriculture � from green revolution to globalization.
7. Globalization of goods and services.
8. Climate change and air pollution � causes and projections.
9. Transportation � from fossil fuels to biofuels and more.
10. Energy � renewable and nonrenewable sources.
11. Environmental economics.
12. Carbon and human footprint calculations.