ENVR 102 - Environmental Science (Lecture Only)

3 Credit: (3 lecture, 0 lab, 0 clinical) 3 Contact Hours: [Reading Level 3  and Writing Level 3 ]

1. Describe the basic process of doing science (e.g. the scientific method).
2. Summarize environmental science approaches to doing science, including end goals (i.e sustainability).
3. Summarize core chemical concepts related to matter and energy.
4. Describe how energy and nutrients move through the biotic and abiotic components of ecosystems.

Goal 2:  Describe ecological concepts related to species diversity and survival.

1. Describe the importance of biodiversity to a healthy ecosystem and planet.
2. Explain how evolutionary processes and species roles affect biodiversity.
3. Describe common community interactions, including their impact on species survival.
4. Describe the role of climate in shaping aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems.
5. Distinguish between common terrestrial and aquatic biomes.
6. Explain the importance of ecosystem services and its relationship with biodiversity.
7. Summarize core concepts of population growth, with an emphasis on human population growth trends.

Goal 3:  Describe how humans use the abiotic resources of our planet such as soil, water, minerals, and energy.

1. Distinguish between renewable and non-renewable resource use.
2. Summarize food production techniques, including their effect on the environment.
3. Analyze different methods for sustainable farming practices.
4. Describe how human actions affect the physical and chemical nature of common aquatic ecosystems.
5. Give examples of nonrenewable mineral resources and their uses by humans.
6. Compare methods for extracting minerals.
7. Describe the advantages and disadvantages of different fossil fuel use (petroleum, natural gas, coal, etc.).
8. Compare different renewable energy sources such as solar cells, hydropower, wind power, geothermal, etc.

Goal 4:  Summarize common environmental problems caused by use of natural resources and possible actions for reducing the human impact.

1. Identify current biological and chemical health hazards facing the human population.
2. Describe ways of detecting hazards and reducing risk to populations.
3. Describe different types of air pollution.
4. Summarize causes and effects of climate change to our planet.
5. Compare different methods for slowing climate change.
6. Describe common problems created by solid and hazardous wastes.
7. Explain different options for reducing and/or safely disposing of waste products.

Goal 5:  Evaluate different approaches and solutions to current environmental problems.

1. Describe possible solutions to today’s major environmental problems.
2. Summarize how human society (social, cultural, political, religious, demographics, etc.) influences approaches to environmental problems and solutions.
3. Compare the advantages and disadvantages of a given solution in terms of its impact on both the human population and the natural world.
4. Evaluate the impact of one’s own resource use on the local and/or global environment.

Goal 6:  Demonstrate an understanding of the scientific method.  

1. Define hypothesis, theory, law, independent variable, dependent variable, and control. 
2. Describe the steps of the scientific process (method). 
3. List characteristics of good scientific methodology and experimentation. 
4. Identify variables, controls, and constants in a given experiment. 
5. Interpret data presented in different formats (text, table, graph, etc.). 
6. Draw valid conclusions from data.