General Environmental Science I
ENV 121– Spring 2014 – 4 credits
Lecture (001A): Thursdays 12:30 – 3:10pm, Bisdorf 277
Lab (0A1A): Tuesdays 12:30 – 3:10pm, Bisdorf 485
Instructor: Dr. Christine Bozarth
Office: Bisdorf 352
E-mail: cbozarth@nvcc.edu
Website: http://blogs.nvcc.edu/cbozarth/
Office hours: M 3:30-7:30pm; T 11:30am-12:30pm, 3:15-4:15pm; W 12:30-3:30pm; R 3:154:15pm; or by appointment
What You Will Learn
Welcome to General Environmental Science I. This course explores the fundamental
components and interactions that make up the natural systems of the earth. It introduces the basic
science concepts in the disciplines of biological, chemical, and earth sciences that are necessary to
understand and address environmental issues. The material you learn will progress you in your
studies, allow you to converse with fellow scientists, and give you a greater appreciation of the
natural world.
What I Expect of You
Come to class ready to learn! This means that you must arrive on time, keep off electronic
devices, actively participate in class, and respectfully listen to me and to your fellow students. If
you are having difficulty with a concept or assignment, you are encouraged to contact me. This is a
challenging course with a lot of material, but you are all serious students who can take the initiative
to succeed.
What You Can Expect of Me
I will present the material to you in a clear and engaging manner. I will make myself
available to you electronically and in person to clarify concepts. I will do my best to teach so that
students with all learning styles who desire to succeed in this course can succeed. I will always treat
you with respect.
How to Succeed
 Come to class on time and stay for the duration.
 Take notes during lectures using an outline style so that you can fill in details later using the
textbook, consulting with fellow students, or communicating with me.
 Set aside at least 8 hours outside of class each week to study the material. It helps some
students to have a regularly scheduled time to study outside of class.
 Prepare for exams early. Work on understanding the material by the end of each week so
that you will only be left with reviewing it just prior to the exam.
Prerequisites
You should be able to express yourself both orally and in writing at a college freshman level
as measured by a college English competency exam (ENG 111 or by my permission).
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Required Text
Textbook: Principles of Environmental Science: Inquiry and Applications (Cunningham &
Cunningham, 7th ed.)
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Options at NOVA bookstore from $81 to $181
Rent the ebook from www.coursesmart.com for $65
Rent from chegg.com for $46
Borrow a copy on 2-hour reserve at the library.
Lab Manual: available on BB
Required Technology
The use of Blackboard (BB) is required for this class. You can log in at
https://nvcc.my.vccs.edu/jsp/home.jsp or from the myNOVA homepage. I use BB to post
announcements, study guides, and grades. You will use BB extensively to participate in the class
blog.
Since you are all in the same lab section, I will only use the BB site for the lecture, not the site
for the lab, to post course materials.
You must have a device that can connect to the internet with you in class (phone, tablet,
laptop).
Learning Catalytics
We will be using the online learning tool, Learning Catalytics (LC), throughout each lecture.
You can register for an account at http://learningcatalytics.com. LC costs $12 for 6 months of
access and is required for this course. Using LC, you will answer questions graded for participation
during the lecture. Each question is worth one point (five points per lecture). You cannot make up
LC (i.e. if you are late or absent for a lecture).
Class Blog
Part of the purpose of this course is to relate course materials to current events. To
accomplish this, you are required to participate in the class blog on BB. Each week (beginning after
a lecture and ending right before the next lecture), you are required to submit at least two posts and
two comments to the blog on the topics covered in class that week. Examples of appropriate posts
are links to current environmental news/events (text, images, videos) and informed opinions of
current environmental news/events. You will be graded on relevance, content, and grammar of
your post. Each week’s blog is worth 10 points. You may drop one week. The class blog is worth a
total of 120 points.
Just like any social media, the blog is more fun if you post often!
Case Studies
During the last 30 minutes of class, I will divide you in to small groups to answer critical
thinking questions about the week’s case study. Some case studies are in your textbook and others
can be found on BB. You should read the case study before coming to class. Each group will turn in
one set of answers. All members of the group will receive the same grade. However, if a member of
the group is not participating, I reserve the right to deduct points from his/her grade individually.
Each case study assignment is worth 10 points.
If you are absent on the day of a case study assignment, you may not make up the assignment.
If you notify me in advance* of your absence, then you may complete a make-up assignment within
a week of the missed assignment. You may only make up one assignment in this manner.
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points.
You may drop one Case Study assignment. Case Study assignments are worth a total of 120
It will be helpful to have the case study with you in class for this assignment.
Exams
I will administer a mid-term exam and a final exam, each worth 70 points. Exams will be
composed of multiple choice, true/false, labeling, short answer, fill-in-the-blank, and short essay
questions. You will need a scantron. I will provide you with a study guide before each exam. Makeup exams will not be given unless arranged in advance*.
Class Cancellations
If class is cancelled, we continue with lecture as if the cancellation did not occur. If you are
unsure what will happen if class is cancelled, check BB for announcements.
Honor Code
Northern Virginia Community College expects the highest standards of academic honesty.
Academic dishonesty is prohibited in accordance with subsection II of the Student Conduct Rights
and Responsibilities, the details of which can be found in your student handbook
(http://www.nvcc.edu/resources/stuhandbook). You are prohibited from cheating on exams and
assignments, unauthorized access to exams and course materials, and other activities detailed in
your student handbook. Students that violate the honor code will receive a failing grade and will be
expelled from this course at my discretion.
Academic dishonesty shows a lack of respect for your professor, your fellow students, your
school, and yourself.
Drop/Withdraw/Audit/Incomplete
It is your responsibility to drop or withdraw from this course if you choose. I will not drop
or withdraw you merely because you stop coming to class. If you wish to audit the course, you must
be given my permission and you must begin the course as an audit. You may not take the course for
a grade and then switch to audit. I will only grant incompletes if you are in dire circumstances. The
division dean and the provost must approve incompletes. You must have documentation for any
health claims from a medical professional.
For details, please see: http://www.nvcc.edu/academics/academic-calendar/#f14.html.
Last day to drop with tuition refund: 9/8
Last day to withdraw without grade penalty: 10/30
Students with Special Needs
If you are a student with special needs, please contact disability services at
http://www.nvcc.edu/depts/disability. Please then contact me to provide me with documentation
from disability services and to discuss special accommodations you need. This should all be done at
the beginning of the semester.
Grading
The lecture portion of this course is worth 440 points based on exams, case studies, the class
blog, and LC. Your lab grade is worth 230 points based on exams, quizzes, and worksheets. You
must pass (>60%) both lecture and lab to pass the course.
I may curve exams to account for questions that all of the class missed or that were
unintentionally poorly worded. I do not curve exams so that the top grade in the class becomes a
100%. I do not curve case studies, LC, lab quizzes/worksheets, or the class blog at all.
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Lecture Schedule
DATE
8/21
8/28
9/4
9/11
9/18
9/25
10/2
10/9
10/16
10/23
10/30
11/6
11/13
11/20
11/27
12/4
12/11
CHAPTER
1.1-1.3
Pp. 12-13
1.4-1.6
2.6
12.1-12.3
12.4-12.6
9.1-9.2
3.1
3.2-3.5
5.1-5.3
5.4-5.7
6.1-6.3
4.1-4.7
TOPIC
Understanding Our Environment
Sustainable Development
What is Science?
Tour of National Zoo’s Amazonia
Biogeochemical Cycles
Environmental Geology
Geologic Resources and Hazards
“The Last Mountain” movie
Climate
Mid-Term Exam
Evolution
Population and Community Ecology
Biomes and Zones
“Planet Earth: Jungles” movie
Biodiversity
Environmental Conservation
No Class – Thanksgiving Break
Human Populations
Final Exam – at 2pm
TODAY IN CLASS
CS 1 (on Ch. 1 Case Study)
Worksheet due next lab meeting
CS 3 (on Ch. 2 Case Study)
CS 4(on Ch. 12 Case Study)
CS 5 (on movie)
CS 6 (on Ch. 9 Case Study)
CS 7 (on Ch. 3 Case Study)
CS 8 (on BB)
CS 9 (on Ch. 5 Case Study)
CS 10 (on movie)
CS 11 (on BB)
CS 12 (on Ch. 6 Case Study)
CS 13 (on Ch. 4 Case Study)
Lab
Attendance
You must be on time for labs. If you are more than 10 minutes late for lab, I reserve the right
to deny you entry to the lab. There will be no opportunity to make up missed labs.
Grading
In order to pass ENV 121, you may miss no more than three labs during the semester,
regardless of your grade.
At the end of each lab, I will administer a 10-point quiz based on the lab you just completed.
For some labs, I may ask you to turn in your work instead of take a quiz. I will administer a lab midterm and final exam, each worth 70 points.
I cannot let you make up labs, but I will offer an extra credit assignment (10 points) that you
can complete so your grade will not be affected if you miss one lab due to unforeseen
circumstances.
Lab Safety
Before our first lab, you must sign the safety rules on BB (“Alexandria Science Lab Safety”).
Throughout the semester, please be especially aware that you must wear appropriate footwear and
clean up after each exercise.
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Lab Schedule – Updated 8/25/14.
DATE
9/2
LAB TITLE
The Scientific Method – I and Lecture on Energy and Chemistry
9/9
9/16
9/23
9/30
10/7
10/14
10/21
10/28
11/4
11/11
11/18
11/25
12/2
The Scientific Method - II
Tour of GMU Apiary (at GMU)
Forest Composition – I (at Ford Nature Center)
Forest Composition – II
Plate Tectonics
No Classes – Fall Break
Mid-Term Exam
Human Resource Consumption
Species Interactions
Evolution
History of the Earth
Human Population Growth
Final Exam
WORK COLLECTED
Case Study 2 (on BB), no lab quiz
or worksheet
Quiz
Worksheet
Worksheet
Quiz
Quiz
Exam
Quiz
Quiz
Quiz
Quiz
Quiz
Exam
Grading Rubric
Graded Material
Points
Lecture Exams (2 @ 70 pts each)
Case Studies (12 @ 10 pts each)
Class Blog (12 @ 10 pts each)
Learning Catalytics (12 @ 5 pts each)
Total Lecture
140
120
120
60
440
Quizzes/Worksheets
(11 @ 10 pts each)
Lab Exams (2 @ 70 pts each)
Total Lab
110
140
250
Classmate contact info:________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
*IN ADVANCE MEANS MORE THAN AN HOUR BEFORE CLASS BEGINS
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