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Course Syllabus
GEOG 5510/6510 Human-Environment Interaction
2013 Fall
Wednesdays 4–6 pm
Credit Hours: 3
Instructor:
Philip Chaney, Ph.D.
0303C Haley Center
Phone: 844-3420
Email: chanepl@auburn.edu
Office Hours: Wednesdays 2-4
Course Description
This course investigates relationships between humans and the natural environment. The course includes 1) scientific evaluations of
human impacts on the environment (e.g., vegetation, soil, water, animals, and climate), 2) case studies of past and present societies,
and 3) evolution of the conservation movement in the U.S. and options for humans to manage natural resources in a long-term,
sustainable manner.
Learning Objectives
The broader objectives of this course are to help students to understand the role of humans as modifiers of the natural environment and
the need to think and act in a sustainable manner.
By the end of the course students should be able to:
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Identify and interpret spatial patterns of human-induced environmental change.
Recognize issues associated with managing natural resources in a long-term, sustainable manner that are environmentally,
economically, and socially acceptable to all stakeholders.
Participate as an informed citizen in debates on environmental management and sustainable development at local, national,
and global scales.
Text Books
Goudie, A. 2006. The Human Impact on the Natural Environment. 6th ed. Blackwell Publishing.
Diamond, J. 2005. Collapse, How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed. Penguin Books.
Weekly reading assignments and reports
Students are expected to prepare a report for most, but not all, weekly readings from the Goudie and Diamond books.
Format:
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Student name
Course number and title
Title and author of reading assignment
Brief outline of the reading assignment
Detailed description of 2-3 specific human-environment issues covered in reading assignment
o Identify specific details such as who, what, where, how, and why…
The report should NOT exceed 3 typed pages.
Class discussions
Most class meetings will include 1) a group discussion of the reading assignment followed by 2) a group discussion of sustainability
issues related to the assignment. Participation points will be awarded for Substantial comments/contributions to the discussion.
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Research Paper and Presentation
Each student is required to do a research paper on a human-environment interaction topic and present their findings in class. Topics
may be on a general theme, public policy issue, or on a case study. Students must obtain approval from the instructor in advance.
Official format guidelines will be provided in class.
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Undergraduate Students: The body of the paper should not exceed 2500 words.
Graduate Students: The body of the paper should not exceed 3500 words.
*The paper should include sufficient evidence (e.g., journal article and book references, maps, data tables, photographs, and drawings)
to support the objectives of the paper.
Deadlines:
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Topic
Final Paper
Week 8 (10/09)
Week 14 (11/20)
Class Participation
Students are expected to attend all classes. Three (3) unexcused absences will result in a one-letter grade reduction. Each absence
thereafter will result in an additional one-letter grade reduction.
Failure to attend class during class presentations will result in a one-letter grade reduction regardless of the number of excused
absences.
Final Grades
The following table shows the total points possible in the major categories. Additional points will be available through field trips and
extra credit activities as opportunities arise during the semester.
Weekly Reading Assignment Reports
50 points
Class discussions
55 points
Research Paper
50 points
Class Presentation
10 points
Field Trip(s)
TBD
Extra Credit
TBD
---------------------------------------------------------------------------Total
TBD
(5 points per assignment for 10 weeks)
(5 points per weekly discussions for 11 weeks)
(10-20 points per trip)
(Estimate approx. 175 to 225 total points)
*Students are not required to prepare a report for every weekly reading assignment; therefore, final grades for each student
will be determined by relating the student’s score to the top score (highest total points accumulated) in the class.
**Failure to submit a Research Paper or make a Class Presentation will result in a Final Grade of “FA” (Failure to Attend).
Student Workload (AU Tiger Cub Student Handbook)
In general, a credit hour during an academic-year semester should correspond to a total student effort of approximately 3-3.5 hours of
total work per week (including in and out of class time) related to the associated course. Therefore, a 3 credit hour course would
correspond to a typical workload of 9-10.5 hours per week (3 hrs in class and 6-7.5 hrs out of class).
Academic Honesty
The Rules and Regulations on Student Academic Honesty Code detailed in the AU Tiger Cub Student Handbook , SGA Code of Laws,
will be adhered to in this course.
Students with Disabilities
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Students with disabilities who need specific accommodations for participating in this course are encouraged to contact The Program
for Students with Disabilities (1244 Haley Center) for guidance on university services and accommodations.
Course Schedule
(Dates and topics are subject to change)
Week 1 (8/21)
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Introduction to Class
Relationship between Humans and the Environment
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Poem: Ozymandias (In Collapse, Diamond)
Week 2 (8/28)
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*All students required to bring copy of results for Ecology Footprint Exercise.
A brief history of the conservation movement
Cost-Benefit Analysis and Ecosystems Services
Sustainability and the Triple-Bottom Line
Ecological Footprint Exercise (www.myfootprint.org) *
Readings from “The American Environment: Readings in the History of Conservation,” edited by Roderick Nash
 [On Canvas] Table: A chronology of important events (in environmental management: 1600s to present)
 [On Canvas] Short Essay: The public responds to conservation: opinion East and West
 [On Canvas] Short Essay: An ethic for man-land relations by Aldo Leopold
Reading on Sustainability
 [On Canvas] Abundance on trial: the cultural significance of “sustainability” by J.J. Yates
Film: Wrestling the Mississippi
Week 3 (9/4)
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Chapter 1: Introduction – Population growth and development (In Human Impact, Goudie)
Week 4 (9/11)
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Chapter 2: Vegetation (In Human Impact, Goudie)
Week 5 (9/18)
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Chapter 3: Animals (In Human Impact, Goudie)
Week 6 (9/25)
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Chapter 4: Soil (In Human Impact, Goudie)
Film: The Dust Bowl
Week 7 (10/02)
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Chapter 5: Water (In Human Impact, Goudie)
Film: Blue Gold
Week 8 (10/09)
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Chapter 7: Climate (In Human Impact, Goudie)
*Brief presentation of research paper topics
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Week 9 (10/16)
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Chapter 2: Twilight at Easter Island (In Collapse, Diamond)
Film: TED Video on Collapse
Week 10 (10/23)
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Chapter 5: The Maya Collapses (In Collapse, Diamond)
Week 11 (10/30)
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Chapter 11: One Island, Two Peoples, Two Histories: Dominican Republic and Haiti (In Collapse, Diamond)
Week 12 (11/06) *All students are required to prepare a written report for this week.
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Chapter 14: Why do some societies make disastrous decisions? (In Collapse, Diamond)
Week 13 (11/13)
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Class Presentations
Week 14 (11/20)
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Class Presentations
*Research papers due
Week xx (11/27)
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Thanksgiving Break
Week 15 (12/04)
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Field Trip: Providence Canyon State Park, GA (Little Grand Canyon)