St. Cloud State University
General Education Goal Area 10
Environmental Issues
Academic Affairs Use Only:
Response Date:
Effective Date:
1.
Prepared by: Kevin L. Haglin
Phone: 8-2012
Proposal Number:
Email: klhaglin@stcloudstate.edu
2.
Requesting Unit: Physics, Astronomy & Engineering Science
3.
Department, Course Number, Title: PHYS 208, Energy and Environment
4.
New Course
5.
Will this course be flagged as a diversity course?
Already Designated as Diversity
6.
Will this course also satisfy another General Education Goal Area?
If “Yes” specify which goal area.
Existing Course
No
Diversity Proposal Accompanying This Form
No
Yes
7.
Course bulletin description, including credits and semesters to be offered:
Energy forms, resources and conversions. Past and present patterns of energy use. Projections of future
demand and supplies of energy. Resources and technologies of future energy alternatives. Environmental
problems and conservations strategies associated with energy use. 3 Cr., S.
8.
Indicate the clientele for whom this course is designed. Is the course for general education only, or
does it fulfill general education and other program needs for this or another department? Obtain
signatures from any affected departments.
PHYS 208 is a general-education course for all interested individuals. PHYS 208 is also included on a
list of elective courses for students in the Environment Studies major and minor (ETS Department) and
engineering students.
9.
Indicate any changes that must be made in offerings or resources in your department or other
departments by offering this course.
none
10.
For new courses or courses not yet approved for General Education, indicate any other SCSU departments
or units offering instruction that relates to the content of the proposed course.
none
12/11/2009
11.
Courses designated as General Education are included in the assessment plan for the Goal Area(s)
for which they are approved. Courses for which assessment has not included in the annual GE
assessment report for two years will be removed from the General Education Program.
The Requesting Unit understands and recognizes the above conditions.
12/11/2009
12.
Provide a concise explanation of how the following goal is a “significant focus” of the proposed course.
Goal Area 10: Environmental Issues
Examine the interrelationship of humans and the natural worlds from scientific and socio-cultural
perspectives and the complex environmental challenges that result.
PHYS 208 examines the patterns of energy usage and estimated available resources, explores what is known
about global effects of energy usage, and further explores alternative and renewable energy sources and
discusses strategies to work toward energy conservation.
13. In order for a course to be designated as fulfilling Goal Area 10, it must address at least 4 of the 5 student learning
outcomes (SLOs) below. Check the SLOs below that are focused on in the proposed general education course.
1. Explain the basic structure and function of various ecosystems and human adaptive strategies within those
systems.
2. Discern patterns of interrelationships of bio-physical and socio-cultural systems.
3. Describe the human institutional arrangements (social, legal, political, economic, and religious) that deal with
environmental and natural resource challenges.
4. Analyze environmental and natural resource issues in light of understandings about interrelationships,
ecosystems, and institutions.
5. Propose and assess alternative solutions to environmental problems including issues involving sustainability.
14.
Explain how each of the learning outcomes checked above is achieved by this course.
1) n/a
2) Students will work on assigned problems to calculate and quantify effects of burning fossil fuels, air pollution,
and global efffects. Quizzes and exams will also be included as assessment.
3) Topics for exploration include, among others, energy conservation, problems and promise of nuclear energy,
transportation and safety, and finally political and social consequences of burning fossil fuels
4) Hubbert model of depletion as an assessment of resources, examine the consquences of relying on nuclear
energy (storage, waste, etc.); solar energy possibilities, wind and geothermal resources
5) This course explores fossil fuel resources and consquences of buringing those resources, examines policies and
practicies of using nuclear energy, discusses the technology of solar panel and other technologies needed to
harness the power o the sun, estimates the wind and geothermal resourses available, and finally, seeks to quantify
the effects of energy usage in terms of air pollution and other global effects.
15.
List or attach the Course Outline (adequately described and including percentage of time to be allocated
to each topic). Curriculum Committees may request additional information. Topics larger than 20% need
to be broken down further.
See the following table.
Topics
Percentage
SLO
Energy fundamental, units, definitions
10%
4
Fossil Fuels, vocabulary and resourses
10%
3, 4
12/11/2009
Heat Engines, refrigerators, air conditioners
Renewable Energy Sources 1: Solar Energy
Renewable Energy Sources 2: Alternatives (wind, etc.)
Nuclear Energy, promise with problems
Energy Conservation
Transportation
Air Pollution
Globa Effects of using Energy
12/11/2009
10%
10%
10%
10%
10%
10%
10%
10%
2, 3
4, 5
3, 4, 5
3, 5
2, 5
2, 3
2, 3, 4, 5
2, 3, 4
St. Cloud State University
General Education Transmittal Form
Academic Affairs Use Only:
Response Date:
Effective Date:
Proposal Number
Department:
Course or Course(s): PHYS 208
Kevin L. Haglin
Department or Unit Chair Signature
2/24/2010
Date
Department forward to Academic Affairs for publication and electronically to Chair of General Education Committee, Chair
of College Curriculum Committee, College Dean
Recommendation of General Education Committee:
Approve
Remarks:
Disapprove
Chairperson
Committee
Signature
Date
Recommendation of University Curriculum Committee:
Approve
Remarks:
Disapprove
Chairperson
Committee
Signature
Date
Recommendation of Faculty Association:
Approve
Remarks:
Disapprove
FA Senate
Signature
Date
Action of Academic Vice President:
Approve
Disapprove
Signature
Entered in Curriculum Data File
12/11/2009
Remarks:
Date