COURSE SYLLABUS
SPRING SEMESTER 2008
Department of Soil, Water and Environmental Science
Course Number, Title & Units:
Number: SWES 210
Title: Fundamentals of Environmental Science and Sustainability
Units: 3
Location and Times:
Days: MWF
Time: 11 to 11:50 a.m.
Location: Biosciences West room 210
Description of Course:
This course is about how modern science and technology have increased
our understanding of the Earth’s environment and improved our ability to
solve the important environmental challenges facing humanity, including
climate change, pollution, loss of biodiversity, and water shortages.
Instructor Information:
Name: Dr. Allan Matthias
Office location: 529 Shantz
Office mailbox location: 429 Shantz (SWES Department Office)
Telephone numbers: 621-7226 (office phone), 979-1225 (cell phone)
E-mail address: matthias@ag.arizona.edu
Office hours: 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. Friday, or by
appointment
Course homepage: http://www.d2l.arizona.edu
Course Objectives and Expected Learning Outcomes:
This course will help you become more aware of the Earth’s environment
through study of the physical, biological, and human processes
underlying major environmental issues.
The following outcomes are what we expect you to learn by taking this
course. You should by the completion of the course be able to:
1. Define biologic functioning and role of non-living parts within
natural and human-modified environments.
2. Describe case studies of major environmental issues.
3. Give an overview of important milestones in the history of
environmental science and resource conservation.
4. Describe the roles of ethics, economics, politics, and law in shaping
environmental policy.
5. Describe viable steps you can take to help achieve an
environmentally and economically sustainable society.
6. Present clear analyses of the pros and cons of proposed solutions to
major environmental issues.
Topics:
Proposed topics build upon concepts presented in NATS 101 level course
and are as follows:
PART 1 Foundation of Environmental Science & Sustainability
Environmental Science, Natural Science & Scientific Method
Environmental Ethics and Economics
Environmental Policy, Laws, and Regulations
Food Webs and Energy Transfer in Living Systems
Evolution and Population Ecology
Species Interactions and Community Ecology
Environmental Systems and Ecosystems
Part 2 Environmental Issues and Solutions
Human Populations
Soil and Agriculture
Biotechnology and Sustainable Food Production
Biodiversity and Conservation Biology
Resource Management, Forestry and Protected Areas
Urbanization and Creating Livable Cities
Environmental Health and Toxicology
Freshwater Resources, Water Quality and Quantity
The Oceans and Human Impacts
The Atmosphere and Air Pollution
Global Climate Change, Ozone Depletion
Fossil Fuels, Energy and Impacts
Conventional Energy Alternatives
New Renewable Energy Alternatives
Waste Management
Sustainable Solutions
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Course Methodology:
The course will focus on learner-centered activities in which each student
will take primary responsibility for his/her learning. The instructor’s role
is to help facilitate learning through formulation of expected learning
outcomes, lectures, demonstrations, and assignments that emphasize
critical thinking and analysis of environmental processes. Assessment of
learning outcomes in the form of in-class and out-of-class writing
assignments, hands-on data analysis exercises, online quizzes, and in-class
exams will be used.
Teaching Format:
The typical 50 minute class period will be organized into two minilectures about 20 min duration each. Each minilecture will be followed by
an ungraded conceptest question (usually multiple choice) and a brief
discussion of that question. Responders (clickers or crickets) to survey
student responses to the conceptest questions will be employed.
Guest lectures by UA faculty will bring different viewpoints and
perspectives on environmental policy, environmental biology,
environmental microbiology, environmental chemistry, environmental
physics, soil science, and remote sensing & geographic information
systems.
Lectures will be supplemented by viewing excerpts of documentaries such
as “Journey to Planet Earth”. Video news clips and NPR features, such as
“Climate Connections” will be frequently used in class to illustrate
important varying viewpoints environmental topics.
Graphical analysis of environmental data from online sources including
the Arizona Meteorological (AZMET) Network will be included in
lectures and out-of-class homework assignments. In addition,
environmental data (solar radiation, air and ground surface temperatures)
will be measured using instruments and datalogger equipment set up
near the classroom. The data will then be analyzed by the class.
Required Texts:
Withgott, J. and S. Brennan. 2008. Environment, The Science Behind the
Stories. 3nd Ed. Pearson/Benjamin Cummings. The text will be available in
print and/or electronic versions. Online materials from the New York
Times and other sources will be made available to students via the
publisher’s website. Students will be able to do interactive simulations of
important environmental processes such as the Earth’s greenhouse effect
through the online resources provided by the publisher.
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Required or Special Materials:
Course syllabus, assignments, and articles will be available on the course
D2L site. Powerpoint lectures will be post to D2L following lectures.
Additional references materials will be available on electronic reserve. A
student responder (cricket) will be required.
Required/Recommended Knowledge:
Non-science majors should have completed two NATS Tier I courses.
A basic understanding of introductory biological and chemical principles
is recommended.
It is recommended but not required that students have completed UNVR
195A “Careers in Environmental Science”.
Grading Policy:
Criteria
Grade
A
B
C
D
E
Criteria
> 89.5%
79.5% to 89.5%
69.5% to 79.5%
59.5% to 69.5%
< 59.5%
Incomplete grades will be given only in special circumstances in
compliance with University policy
Evaluation criteria will be provided for all major assignments.
Unexcused late work will incur a 10% reduction of grade per day.
Attendance Policy:
Attendance will be taken each class period using student responder
technology. Five (5) points will be deducted from 50 points for each
unexcused absence.
All holidays or special events observed by organized religions will be
honored for those students who show affiliation with that particular
religion.
Absences pre-approved by the UA Dean of Students (or Dean designee)
will be honored.
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Assignment/Testing Schedule/Due Dates:
Mid-term exams (2 @ 100 pts each; 200 pts) on 20 February and 16 April
2008
Final exam (100 points) 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Monday, 12 May 2008
Out-of- class writing assignment (50 pts) submitted to turnitin.com by 11
a.m. 5 March 2008.
Weekly online quizzes (11 @ 10 pts each; total of 110 pts) on assigned
reading materials will be due at the beginning of week.
Weekly (unannounced) in-class individual or group writing assignments
(11 @ 10 points each; total of 110 pts)
Problem Assignments (4 @ 20 pts each; total 80 pts)
Attendance (50 pts)
Summary schedule of tests/assignments/points (ICW = In-class writing; OCW = Outof-class writing)
Week Item
Points
Cumulative % of 700 Total
Points
Points to Date
1
ICW 1
10
10
1
2
ICW 2, Quiz 1
10, 10
30
4
3
ICW 3, Quiz 2
10. 10
50
7
4
ICW 4, Quiz 3, Problem 1
10. 10, 20 90
12
5
ICW 5, Quiz 4
10
110
16
6
Exam 1
100
210
30
7
ICW 6, Quiz 5, Problem 2
10, 10, 20 250
36
8
OCW, Quiz 6
50, 10
310
44
9
ICW 7, Quiz 7
10, 10
330
47
10
ICW 8, Quiz 8
10, 10
350
50
11
ICW 9, Quiz 9, Problem 3
10, 10, 20 390
56
12
ICW 10
10
400
57
13
Exam 2
100
500
71
14
ICW 11, Quiz 10
10, 10
520
74
15
Quiz 11, Problem 4
10, 20
550
79
16
Attendance
50
600
86
Final Exam
100
700
100
TOTAL
700
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Assignment Format:
Test format will include multiple choice, completion, matching and essay
questions. Final exam will be comprehensive but about one-third of
questions will cover topics discussed after exam 2.
Weekly quizzes (multiple choice questions) on reading materials will be
taken online.
Out-of-class writing will be an analysis of an environmental case study
assigned by instructor and will be about 4 pages in length. Students will
be given opportunity to submit draft version of paper to turnitin.com,
receive feedback from instructor and revise the paper.
Problem exercise will involve graphing and analyzing data.
Bibliography:
Various peer reviewed research articles on D2L and E-reserve
Web sites
Classroom Behavior:
Policy regarding use of cell phones/pagers: All personal electronic
communication devices must be turned off during class.
The Arizona Board of Regents’ Student Code of Conduct, ABOR Policy 5308, prohibits threats of physical harm to any member of the University
community, including to one’s self.
See: http://policy.web.arizona.edu/~policy/threaten.shtml.
Notification of Objectionable Materials:
I am not aware of any materials used in this course that may be deemed
objectionable.
Special Needs and Accommodations Statement:
Students who need special accommodation or services should contact the
Disability Resources Center, 1224 East Lowell Street, Tucson, AZ 85721,
(520) 621-3268, FAX (520) 621-9423, email: uadrc@email.arizona.edu,
http://drc.arizona.edu/. You must register and request that the Center or
DRC send me official notification of your accommodations needs as soon
as possible. Please plan to meet with me by appointment or during office
hours to discuss accommodations and how my course requirements and
activities may impact your ability to fully participate. The need for
accommodations must be documented by the appropriate office.
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Student Code of Academic Integrity:
Students are encouraged to share intellectual views and discuss freely the
principles and applications of course materials. However, graded
work/exercises must be the product of independent effort unless
otherwise instructed. Students may be required to submit written work
to http://www.turnitin.com to verify originality of their work. Students
are expected to adhere to the UA Code of Academic Integrity as
described in the UA General Catalog. See:
http://w3.arizona.edu/%7Estudpubs/policies/cacaint.htm
Confidentiality of Student Records:
All student records are treated with confidentiality as described in
http://www.registrar.arizona.edu/ferpa/default.htm
Subject to Change Statement:
Information contained in the course syllabus, other than grade and
absence policy, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed
appropriate by the instructor
Course Withdrawal:
Students withdrawing from this course must notify the instructor prior to
nonattendance in classes and execute drop or withdrawal procedures in
accordance with the UA General Catalog. See:
http://catalog.arizona.edu/2007-08/
Any student failing to attend class in two or more successive classes is
subject to automatic withdrawal if arrangements have not been made
between student and instructor.
Honors Credit:
Students receiving honors credit will be required to write a brief paper (~
5 pages, double spaced) or prepare a poster on an environment related
topic. Class time will be devoted for discussion of paper led by the
student or presentation of poster to the class.
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