COURSE OUTLINE
ENVIRONMENTAL LIFE SCIENCE ABIO 106
FALL 2012
Instructor:
Office:
Office hours:
Phone:
e-mail:
Dr. Michele Harmon
SBDG 221
By appointment
(803) 641-3607
micheleh@usca.edu
Lecture:
Credits:
Lab:
10:50 am - 12:05 pm, TTh in SBDG 327
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Sect 001: T 1:40PM- 4:20PM, SBDG 108 (Mr. Reinhart)
Sect 002: TH 1:40PM- 4:20PM, SBDG 107 (Mr. Reinhart)
Required textbooks:
1.
2.
Principles of Environmental Science: Inquiry and Applications, 6th Edition, by William P. Cunningham and Mary Ann
Cunningham.
Lab Packet: SimBioVirtual Labs available in the Bookstore.
COURSE OBJECTIVES: The course will provide students with an understanding and appreciation of the complex interactions
between man and the environment. The course will specifically address the importance of natural resources, human population
growth, depletion/degradation of the earth’s resources, types of pollution, pollution reduction and prevention, and strategies for
sustainability.
METHODS OF PRESENTATION AND EVALUATION: Information will be presented through lectures along with appropriate
visual aids. Traditional exams will be used to evaluate student progress in the class. These exams will include multiple choice,
terms/definitions, and short answer/essay questions. Students should bring a pencil and a long-form Scantron to each exam.
There will be quizzes and in-class assignments during the semester. Students are expected to have reviewed the material from the
previous lecture in preparation. These will be administered during the first 10 minutes of class, and there will be no make-up
opportunities for absence or late arrival. However, the lowest quiz grade will be dropped at the end of the semester. Students who
choose to take the quiz and then leave the lecture hall will be assigned a zero.
Students will also be required to participate in on-line discussion boards. Full details will be discussed in class.
The final course grade will be based on the following:
3 Lecture exams @ 100 pts. each
1 Final exam @ 200 pts.
In-class quizzes
On-line discussion board assignments
Laboratory quizzes, reports, and participation
300
200
100
50
250
900 total points available
GRADING SCALE: A (90-100%), B (80-89), C (70-79), D (60-69), F (0-59)
ATTENDANCE POLICY: The instructor may impose a penalty for absences in excess of 25% of regularly scheduled class meetings
(lectures and labs) by assigning an “F” in the course. Absences, neither excused nor unexcused, absolve the student from meeting
class assignments. Lecture exam dates are clearly stated in the syllabus, and all students are expected to take the exam at the regularly
scheduled time. Make-up lecture exams will be considered only for a documented, excusable reason. If there is an illness or
emergency, you are expected to contact the instructor immediately. Be prepared to show documentation (doctor’s excuse, etc.).
Failure to contact the instructor within 24 hours will forfeit any chance of making up the test, and the student will be assigned a zero.
Attending lecture and taking notes is the sole responsibility of the student. Under no circumstance will the instructor provide copies
of lecture notes or slides for students.
LECTURE SEATING: The lecture hall (SBDG 327) is a very large theater-style room that will accommodate a much larger class
than we have for this semester. Students are expected to fill in the front portion of the classroom (the first six rows) and leave the
back five rows vacant. Class will not begin until students have vacated the back rows.
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Lecture Schedule for ABIO 106, Fall 2012
Date
Aug. 23
Aug. 28
Aug. 30
Sep. 4
Sep. 6
Sep. 11
Sep. 13
Sep. 18
Sep. 20
Sep. 25
Sep. 27
Oct. 2
Oct. 4
Oct. 9
Oct. 11
Oct. 16
Topic
Chapter
Introduction
1
Environmental Science and Sustainability
1
Energy and Ecosystems
2
Energy and Ecosystems
2
Evolution and Terrestrial Ecosystems
3, 5
Aquatic Ecosystems
5
Exam 1
Species Interaction
3, 5
Species Interaction
3, 5
Population Dynamics and succession
3
Human Populations: Size and Distribution
4
Urbanization
14
Energy
12
Energy
12
Energy
12
Exam 2
Discussion Board Comments on Topics 1-3 are due at 5 pm
Oct. 18
Fall Break - no class
Oct. 23
Water resources
10
Oct. 25
Water Resources
10
Oct. 30
Water Pollution
10
Nov. 1
Water Pollution
10
Nov. 6
Election Day - no class
Nov. 8
Food Production and Soil
7
Nov. 13
Food Production and Soil
7
Nov. 15
Pesticides and GM Food
7
Nov. 20
Exam 3
Discussion Board Comments on Topics 4-5 are due at 5 pm
Nov. 22
Thanksgiving Holiday - no class
Nov. 27
Air Pollution
9
Nov. 29
Climate Change and Ozone Depletion
9
Dec. 4
Climate Change and Ozone Depletion
9
Dec. 6
Environmental Health and Disease
8
Scientific Method, Baloney Detection, and Greenwashing
Comprehensive Final Exam: Dec. 11 at 11:00 am
Final Discussion Board Comments are due at 5 pm.
CHANGES: The instructor reserves the right to make changes in the lecture or laboratory schedule, the number of quizzes and exams
given, and the content of each exam as deemed necessary.
POLICY FOR PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICES: The use of any portable electronic devices, including cell phones, pagers,
MP3 players, iPods, eReaders, etc., during class is not allowed for any reason unless prior approval has been given to a student from
the instructor or unless required for the course. If you are planning to have any of these devices in class, they must be turned off and
stowed away for the duration of the class period. If you use a portable electronic device during a test, quiz, or other assessment, you
are eligible to receive a failing grade on that assignment.
POLICY ON LAPTOP COMPUTERS: The use of laptop computers is not allowed during lecture; however, personal laptop
computers are welcome and encouraged in the laboratory. Open laptops during the lecture period will be considered a violation of the
above policy on Portable Electronic Devices.
COMPUTER USE AND EMAIL: Most homework and laboratory exercises will require the use of a computer. You must be able to
log on to the USCA computer system in order to accomplish these laboratory exercises. If you do not know how to sign on to the
USCA computer system, you should contact the CSD HELP desk as soon as possible.
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All official email communications, including class announcements, are made to USCA email accounts. Students should check their
USCA email account on a regular basis and use this account for communication with the instructor. In order to protect the privacy of
the student, the instructor will not reply to emails sent from non-USCA accounts (e.g., Hotmail, Yahoo, etc.).
LABORATORY ATTENDANCE: Because of their nature, laboratory investigations cannot be made up. You are expected to
attend every laboratory session and participate for the entire period to get full credit. If you miss a laboratory investigation, you will
not be allowed to take any associated quizzes or lab reports. This also applies if you come in late, leave early, or do not participate
fully. You cannot write a report on a laboratory investigation that you did not do.
Laboratory Schedule for BIO 106, Fall 2012
Sect 001
Tuesdays 1:40PM- 4:20PM
Science Building, Room 108
Aug. 28
Sept. 4
Sept. 11
Sept. 18
Sept. 25
Oct. 2
Oct. 9
Oct. 16 - Fall Break
Oct. 23
Oct. 30
Nov. 6 - Election Day
Nov. 13
Nov. 20 - Thanksgiving
Nov. 27
Dec. 4
Sect 002
Thursdays 1:40PM- 4:20PM
Science Building, Room 107
Aug. 30
Sept. 6
Sept. 13
Sept. 20
Sept. 27
Oct. 4
Oct. 11
Oct. 18 - Fall Break
Oct. 25
Nov. 1
Nov. 8 - No lab
Nov. 15
Nov. 22 - Thanksgiving
Nov. 29
Dec. 6
DISABILITY STATEMENT: If you have a physical, psychological, and/or learning disability that might affect your performance in
this class, please contact the Office of Disability Services, B&E 134, (803) 643-6816, as soon as possible. The Office of Disability
Services will determine appropriate accommodations based on documentation.
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