Catalog Course Search Details

 Department:    ENVC

 Course #:    165

 Credits:    5

 Variable:     No

 IUs:    5.5

 CIP:    030101

 EPC:    165

 REV:    2018

 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  

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.

General Education Learning Values & Outcomes

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

0. Application and Integration

Definition: Applying information from one or more disciplines and/or field experiences in new contexts (Outcome 0.1); developing integrated approaches or responses to personal, academic, professional, and social issues (Outcomes 0.2-0.5).

Outcomes: Students will be able to . . .
0.4 Integrate concepts and analytical frameworks from multiple perspectives to develop one or more of the following: more comprehensive descriptions, multi-causal explanations, new interpretations, or deeper explorations of issues.

1. Information Literacy

Definition: Recognizing when information is needed and have the ability to locate, evaluate, and use effectively the needed information.

Outcomes: Students will be able to . . .
1.1 Determine the extent of information needed.

2. Critical Thinking

Definition: The ability to think critically about the nature of knowledge within a discipline and about the ways in which that knowledge is constructed and validated and to be sensitive to the ways these processes often vary among disciplines.

Outcomes: Students will be able to . . .
2.9 Apply and/or create problem-solving strategies to successfully adapt to unpredictable and/or changing environments.

5. Global & Local Awareness & Responsibility

Definition: Understanding the complexity and interdependence of, and stewardship responsibilities to, local and global communities and environments.

Outcomes: Students will be able to . . .
5.1 Understand the impact of their own and other’s actions on local/global communities and environments and how those communities/environments affect them in turn.
5.3 Understand the consequences of choices as they relate to local/global community and environmental issues.

6. Individual Awareness & Responsibility

Definition: Understanding, managing, and taking responsibility for one’s learning and behavior in varied and changing environments.

Outcomes: Students will be able to . . .
6.5 Develop self-monitoring and self-advocacy skills to effect positive life changes.

9. Scientific Literacy

Definition: Understanding scientific principles, and analyzing and applying scientific information in a variety of contexts.

Outcomes: Students will be able to . . .
9.5 Demonstrate an understanding of the political and ethical issues in science.

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.