Southern State Community College
Curriculum Committee – August 2012
BIOL 1125 – Environmental Science
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I.
COURSE TITLE:
Environmental Science
COURSE NUMBER: 1125
II.
PREREQUISITES:
III.
CREDIT HOURS: 4
LABORATORY HOURS: 1
IV.
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
COURSE PREFIX: BIOL
None
LECTURE HOURS: 3
LAB CONTACT HOURS: 2
This is an introductory course to Environmental Science. Topics include
Environmental Systems, Evolution, Biodiversity, Population Ecology, Species
Interactions and Community Ecology, Human Population, Soil and Agriculture,
Biodiversity and Conservation Biology, Cities, Forests, and parks, Geology,
Minerals, and Mining, Fresh Water, Oceans, and Coasts, Air Pollution, Global
Climate Change, and Nonrenewable and Renewable Energy Sources, Waste
Management. Laboratory Exercises will complement the concepts taught in the
lecture.
V.
ADOPTED TEXT(S):
Withgott and Laposata. Essential Environment: The Science Behind the Stories
with Mastering Environmental Science
Pearson Benjamin Cummings.
Fourth Edition (2012).
VI.
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
At the completion of this course the student will be able to:
1. An Introduction to Environmental Science
a. Define the term environment
b. Describe natural resources and explain their importance to human life
c. Characterize the interdisciplinary nature of environmental science
d. Understand the scientific method and describe how science operates
e. Diagnose and illustrate some of the pressures on the global environment
f. Evaluate the concepts of sustainability and sustainable development
2. Environmental Systems: Chemistry, Energy, and Ecosystems
BIOL 1125 – Environmental Science
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a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
Describe the nature of environmental systems
Explain and apply the fundamentals of environmental chemistry
Describe the molecular building blocks of organisms
Differentiate among the types of energy and recite the basics of energy
flow
Distinguish photosynthesis from respiration, and summarize their
importance to living things
Define ecosystems and evaluate how living and nonliving entities interact
in ecosystem-level ecology
Outline the fundamentals of landscape ecology
Compare and contrast how carbon, phosphorus, nitrogen, and water cycle
through the environment
3. Evolution, Biodiversity, and Population Ecology
a. Explain the process of natural selection, and cite evidence for this process
b. Describe the ways in which evolution influences biodiversity
c. Discuss reasons for species extinction and mass extinction events
d. List the levels of ecological organization
e. Outline the characteristics of populations that help predict population
growth
f. Assess logistic growth, carrying capacity, limiting factors, and other
fundamental concepts of population ecology
4. Species Interactions and Community Ecology
a. Compare and contrast the major types of species interactions
b. Characterize feeding relationships and energy flow, using them to
construct trophic levels and food webs
c. Distinguish characteristics of a keystone species
d. Characterize the process of succession
e. Perceive and predict the potential impacts of invasive species in
communities
f. Explain the goals and the methods of ecological restoration
g. Describe and illustrate the terrestrial biomes of the world
5. Human Population
a. Assess the scope of human population growth
b. Evaluate how human population, affluence, and technology affect the
environment
c. Explain and apply the fundamentals of demography
d. Outline and assess the concept of demographic transition
e. Describe how wealth and poverty, the status of women, and family
planning programs affect population growth
6. Soil, Agriculture, and the Future of Food
a. Explain the importance of soils to agriculture, and describe the impacts of
agriculture on soils
BIOL 1125 – Environmental Science
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b. Delineate the fundamentals of soil science, including soil formation and
properties
c. State the causes and predict the consequences of soil erosion and soil
degradation
d. Recite the history and explain the principles of soil conservation
e. Identify the goals, methods, and environmental impacts of the “green
revolution”
f. Categorize the strategies of pest management
g. Discuss the importance of pollination
h. Describe the science behind genetically modified food
i. Evaluate the debate over genetically modified food
j. Discover approaches for preserving crop diversity
k. Assess feedlot agriculture for livestock and poultry regarding food
production and environmental quality
l. Assess aquaculture regarding food production and environmental quality
m. Evaluate sustainable agriculture
7. Biodiversity and Conservation Biology
a. Characterize the scope of biodiversity on Earth
b. Describe ways to measure biodiversity
c. Contrast background extinction rates and periods of mass extinction
d. Evaluate the primary causes of biodiversity loss
e. Specify the benefits of biodiversity
f. Assess conservation biology and its practice
g. Explain island biogeography theory and its application to conservation
biology
h. Compare and contrast traditional and more innovative biodiversity
conservation efforts
8. Cities, Forsts, and Parks: Land Use and Resource Management
a. Describe the scale of urbanization and assess urban and suburban sprawl
b. Outline city and regional planning and land use strategies
c. Evaluate mass transit, urban parks, smart growth, and new urbanism
d. Analyze environmental impacts and advantages of urban centers and
assess the pursuit of sustainable cities
e. Identify the principles, goals, and approaches of resource management
f. Summarize the ecological roles and economic contributions of forests and
outline the history and scale of forest loss
g. Explain aspects of forest management and describe methods of harvesting
timber
h. Identify federal land management agencies and the lands they manage
i. Recognize types of parks and reserves and evaluate issues involved in
their design.
9. Geology, Minerals, and Mining
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a. Explain how plate tectonics and the rock cycle shape the landscape around
us and the earth beneath our feed
b. List the types of geologic hazards and describe ways to mitigate their
impacts
c. Outline types of mineral resources and how they contribute to our
products and society
d. Characterize methods of mining, along with their environmental and social
impacts
e. Evaluate ways to encourage sustainable use of mineral resources
10. Fresh Water, Oceans, and Coasts: System, Resources, and Conservation
a. Explain the importance of water and the hydrologic cycle to ecosystems,
human health, and economic pursuits
b. Delineate distribution of fresh water on Earth
c. Describe major types of freshwater, marine, and coastal ecosystems
d. Discuss how we use water and alter aquatic ecosystems
e. Assess problems of water supply and propose solutions to address
depletion of freshwater
f. Assess problems of water quality and propose solutions to address water
pollution
g. Explain how we treat wastewater
h. Identify physical, geographical, chemical, and biological aspects of the
marine environment
i. Review the current state of the ocean fisheries and reasons for their
decline
j. Evaluate marine protected areas and reserves as innovative solutions to
overfishing
11. Atmospheric Science and Air Pollution
a. Describe the composition, structure, and function of Earth’s atmosphere
b. Outline the scope of outdoor air pollution and assess potential solutions
c. Explain stratospheric ozone depletion and identify steps taken to address it
d. Define acidic deposition and illustrate its consequences
e. Characterize the scope of indoor air pollution and assess potential
solutions
12. Global Climate Change
a. Describe Earth’s climate system and explain the variety of factors
influencing global climate
b. Characterize human influences on the atmosphere and global climate
c. Summarize modern methods of climate research
d. Outline current and future trends and impacts of global climate change
e. Suggest ways we may respond to climate change
13. Nonrenewable Energy Sources, Their Impacts, and Energy Conservation
a. Identify the energy sources that we use
BIOL 1125 – Environmental Science
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b. Describe the nature and origin of coal, natural gas, and petroleum, and
evaluate their extraction and use
c. Assess the concerns over the future depletion of global oil supplies
d. Describe the nature, origin, and potential of alternative fossil fuels
e. Review and assess environmental, political, social, and economic impacts
of fossil fuel use
f. Specify strategies for conserving energy and enhancing efficiency
g. Describe nuclear energy and how it is harnessed
h. Assess the benefits and drawbacks of nuclear power and outline the
societal debate over this energy source
14. Renewable Energy Alternatives
a. Discuss the reasons for seeking alternatives to fossil fuels
b. Outline the major sources of renewable energy and assess their potential
for growth
c. Describe the major sources of biomass energy, and discuss their benefits
and drawbacks
d. Describe the scale, methods, and impacts of hydroelectric power
e. Describe solar energy and evaluate its advantages and disadvantages
f. Describe wind energy and evaluate its advantages and disadvantages
g. Describe geothermal energy and evaluate its advantages and disadvantages
h. Describe ocean energy sources and the ways they can be harnessed
i. Explain hydrogen fuel cells and assess future options for energy storage
and transportation
15. Waste Management
a. Summarize and compare the types of waste we generate
b. List the major approaches to managing waste
c. Delineate the scale of the waste dilemma.
d. Describe conventional waste disposal methods: landfills and incineration
e. Evaluate approaches for reducing waste: source reduction, reuse,
composting, and recycling
f. Discuss industrial solid waste management and principles of industrial
ecology
g. Assess issues in managing hazardous waste
VII. COURSE METHODOLOGY:
This course may use lecture, discussion, video, and overhead presentations. The
course may include chapter and workbook assignments, hand-in assignments,
computer assignments, work projects, research papers, and laboratory activities.
Written quizzes and exams may be used as appropriate to the course objectives
and online instruction.
BIOL 1125 – Environmental Science
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VIII. GRADING
Grading will follow policy in college catalog.
A
B
C
D
F
90 – 100
80 – 89
70 – 79
60 – 69
0 – 59
VIII. SPECIFIC MANAGEMENT REQUIREMENTS:
None.
IX.
COURSE OUTLINE:
Lecture
An Introduction to Environmental Science
Environmental Systems: Chemistry, Energy, and Ecosystems
Evolution, Biodiversity, and Population Ecology
Species Interactions and Community Ecology
Human Population
Soil, Agriculture, and the Future of Food
Biodiversity and Conservation Biology
Cities, Forests, and Parks
Geology, Minerals, and Mining
Fresh Water, Oceans, and Coasts
Atmospheric Science and Air Pollution
Global Climate Change
Nonrenewable Energy Sources, Their Impacts, and Energy Conservation
Renewable Energy Alternatives
Waste Management
Laboratory
Keystone Predator Lab
Intermediate Disturbance Hypothesis
Patchy Prairies
Nutrient Pollution
Nutrient Cycling
BIOL 1125 – Environmental Science
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SAMPLE Course Calendar
Week 1.
Orientation; Laboratory Safety, Chapter 1- An Introduction to
Environmental Science
Lab #1 – Scientific Method
Week 2
Chapter 3 – Environmental Systems: Chemistry, Energy, and Ecosystems
Lab #2 – Nutrient Cycling Part I (Simbio Virtual Lab)
Week 3
Chapter 4 – Evolution, Biodiversity, and Population Ecology
Lab #3 – Nutrient Cycling Part II (Simbio Virtual Lab)
Week 4
Chapter 5 – Species Interactions and Community Ecology
Lab #4 – Keystone Predator Lab Part I (Simbio Virtual Lab)
Week 5
Chapter 6 – Human Population
Lab #6 – Keystone Predator Lab Part II (Simbio Virtual Lab)
Week 6.
Chapter 7 – Soil, Agriculture and the Future of Food
Lab #7 – Patchy Prairies Part I (Simbio Virtual Lab)
Week 7.
Chapter 8 – Biodiversity and Conservation Biology
Lab #8 – Patchy Prairies Part II (Simbio Virtual Lab)
Week 8.
Chapter 9 – Cities forests and parks: land use and resource management
Lab #8 – Intermediate Disturbance Hypothesis Part I (Simbio Virtual Lab)
Week 9.
Chapter 11 – Geology, minerals, and mining
Lab #9 – Intermediate Disturbance Hypothesis Part I (Simbio Virtual Lab)
Week 10.
Chapter 12 – Fresh water, oceans, and coasts: systems, resources, and
conservation
Lab #9 – Nutrient Pollution Part I (Simbio Virtual Lab)
Week 11.
Chapter 13 – Atmospheric Science and Air Pollution
Lab #12 – Nutrient Pollution Part II (Simbio Virtual Lab)
Week 12.
Chapter 14 – Global Climate Change
Lab #13 – Climate Change Part I (Simbio Virtual Lab)
Week 13.
Chapter 15 – Nonrenewable Energy Sources, Their Impacts, and Energy
Conservation
Lab #14 - Climate Change Part II (Simbio Virtual Lab)
Week 14.
Chapter 16 – Renewable Energy Alternatives
Lab #15 – Virtual Field Trip (Mastering Environmental Science)
Week 15
Chapter 17 – Waste Management (Mastering Environmental Science)
Lab #16 – Virtual Field Trip (Mastering Environmental Science)
Week 16
X.
Final Exam
OTHER REQUIRED BOOKS, SOFTWARE, AND MATERIALS:
The materials that accompany the text. Individual instructors may have specific
requirements including accessing online materials or materials on other media
including other CDs.
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XI.
EVALUATION:
Final grade in this course will be determined by the following measures: mastery
of lecture material with written exams and mastery of laboratory skills and
content with laboratory exams. The lab will compromise 20% of the final class
grade.
XII.
OTHER INFORMATION:
FERPA: Students need to understand that your work may be seen by others.
Others may see your work when being distributed, during group project work, or
if it is chosen for demonstration purposes.
Students also need to know that there is a strong possibility that your work may
be submitted to other entities for the purpose of plagiarism checks.
DISABILITIES: Students with disabilities may contact the Disabilities Service
Office, Central Campus, at 800-628-7722 or 937-393-3431.