Geog 225: CONSERVATION
Syllabus for Fall Semester 2004, course Id 002238
T-TH, 11am -12:15 pm, Lommen 98
Instructor: Paul R. Sando (218)477-2241, psando@mnstate.edu
Lommen 90; Office hours: MWF 11 to noon, T-Th 9 to 11am and 2 to 3 pm, or by
appointment.
Text: Environmental Geography: Science, Land Use, and Earth Systems. Second Ed.
By Marsh and Grossa.
In the last year or so, the number of texts and various approaches available, which could
be used for a Conservation course, has increased dramatically. In choosing this text I was
making an attempt to find one more objective in discussing the environment and humankind's
efforts toward both use and conservation/preservation. Each of the authors has an opinion of
how humans should manage the environment. But both do well to control their personal bias and
how it affects the text.
The intent of this class is to introduce students to the structure of our environment and the
efforts to use and conserve resources. It is my hope, to not only help you understand the subject
from both extremes, but also to help you find your own stand on environmental issues.
The class grade will be based upon three exams, a student written project, and five
exercises/quizzes. Test and quiz format is usually a mix of multiple choice and short essay with
some variations. The Final grade will be curved, if necessary. The instructor also reserves the
right to assign extra credit work as noted below.
The point totals are as follows:
Exam One
. . . . . . . 55pts
Exam Two
. . . . . . . 55pts
Project . . .. . . . . . . . . 65pts
Exercises/quizzes (5). . 50pts
Final exam . . . . . . . . 70pts
Total
. . . . . . . . . .295pts
Tentative Exam Dates
Exam one Sept. 22, Exam two Oct. 27, and the Final on Dec. 15 at 9 a.m.
Student Requirements
1. The student is expected to attend class. Class participation is not reflected directly
on the grade, but there is a strong statistical correlation between success and
attendance. If the student misses a class it is their responsibility to see the
instructor and get missed assignments or get the notes from a classmate.
2. The student is expected to take all exams and quizzes and make-ups must be
completed promptly (usually within one-week of the student's return). Make-up
requests must be accompanied by an explanation of the absence. If you know you
are going to be absent beforehand, please inform your instructor.
3. Exams will includes text material and any material the instructor deems necessary
from his lectures and the class discussions. I will review important points and
topics in the class time prior to the exam. NOTE:The Final exam is
comprehensive. Don't let this frighten you. I will of course place more emphasis
on material covered after Exam Two, but the information builds on what we have
learned previously.
4. Quizzes will be assigned over material that has been covered in class. We will
likely have a taken at least one additional quizzes more than I require for a grade,
so the student can expect to drop their lowest score. Quizzes may be either
announced or drop quizzes (I am more likely to announce them). NOTES It is
impossible to do well in this course without taking decent notes. I do not lecture
from the text alone, so it is the student's responsibility to read and make sure they
understand the text.
5. Writing Project: The students will be expected to complete one writing project.
The project shall consist of at least 8 full pages of double-spaced typed text (in
the body of the work), and where appropriate maps and any other relevant tables
or graphics. The topic must, of course, focus on Environmental Conservation, and
must be approved prior to writing by the instructor. Otherwise, the topic is up to
the student's discretion. Instructor's approval is necessary in order to avoid
doubling up on a subject, to address or avoid problems early on before the writing
begins, and lastly, to allow the student a good chance of finding reference
materials. You must have a minimum of five references, but more is definitely
better. The text does not count as a source, though you may cite it. HINT: the
Web is strongly suggested as a good place to look for sources. It is expected that
the student will communicate well and will present a decently edited paper.
References should be cited within the text according to any major accepted format
(Turabian, MLA, etc.) and should also be listed in a bibliography. Feel free to
make use of the Write Site for assistance in completing the paper. The projects
are due on or about Nov. 16.
6. Students with disabilities who believe they may need an accommodation in this
class are encouraged to contact Greg Toutges, Coordinator of Disability Services
at 477-2652 (phone) or 477-2047 (TTY), CMU 222 as soon as possible to ensure
that accommodations are implemented in a timely fashion.
7. Lastly, there is an (unfortunately) necessary little reminder. This is a university
course, and the students are expected to conduct themselves as proper scholars.
The University's policies concerning any academic dishonesty including
plagiarism are listed in your student handbook. If you use an author’s ideas,
paraphrase, or quote, always, ALWAYS, cite the source in some fashion.
The instructor will make every effort to keep the students informed of where they are in the class
outline to follow later (I reserve the right to deviate) and what is assigned.
The following is a tentative outline of the material to be covered in class:
I. Introduction and Ideology of Environmental Usage and Sustained Development (ch 1,2,3)
A. The Environment in the 21st Century
B. Preparing to understand the Environment
1. Economics and resource use
2. Markets; supply and demand
3. Individual firms or users
4. Big business
5. Issues of ownership
C. The Ideology behind the policy
1. historical looks at resource policy
2. Legislation, public opinion, and the political meat grinder
D. The big catchphrase: Sustainable Development
1. Human impacts
2. Changes in policies
3. Constraints on what is sustainable
II. Environmental systems (Ch. 5 & 6)
A. What is an Ecosystem?
1. Systems within systems
2. The environment's immune system
1. Energy systems
2. Matter systems
B. Basic Ecosystems
1. Type and Characteristics
2. Patterns and distributions
3. Spatial dynamics
4. Human impacts
III.
The Effect of Population (Ch 4 & 7)
A. The spread and development of Human Population
3. Dispersal and migration
4. Different population environments
B. Trends and Patterns
1. Structure of a population
2. Family planning?
3. Future trends
IV. Atmospheric systems and Pollution (Ch 10 and 11)
A. Composition of the Atmosphere
1. Thermal structure
2. Pressure and circulation
3. Solar radiation
B. Heat balance
1. Urban climate
2. Greenhouse effect and World issues
C. Pollution
1. Types and sources
a. usage of air
b. air pollution and quality issues
c. Urban pollution
d. Impacts of pollution
2. Atmospheric Change
a. acid rain
b. greenhouse Earth?
c. Ozone holes
3. How well are we doing?
IV. Hydrologic Environment and Pollution (CH 12 and 13)
A. Hydrology, Precipitation and Storms
B. Streamflow and flooding
C. Groundwater and wetlands
D. Human use of water
E. Types and methods of water pollutions
F. Pollution control and treatments
V. Hazardous Waste production and control (Ch 14)
A. Waste production
B. Waste disposal, problems, and regulation
C. Reduction and Recycling
VI. Soils and Agriculture (CH 15 and 8)
A. Soil properties and formation
B. Integration of soils and landuse
C. Soil erosion
D. Evolution and development of Agriculture
E. Food choices
F. The geography of hunger
G. Agricultural horizons and sustainability
VI. Biological Diversity and Land Resources (Ch. 16 and 17)
A. Species and genetic diversity
B. Endangered, Threatened, and Protected species.
C. Open land resources
D. Parks and other protected areas.
VII. Managing the Global Environment (Ch. 18)