13M
Environment Science Minor Modification
2014-04-01
New York City College of Technology, CUNY
CURRICULUM MODIFICATION PROPOSAL FORM
This form is used for all curriculum modification proposals. See the Proposal Classification Chart for
information about what types of modifications are major or minor. Completed proposals should be
emailed to the Curriculum Committee chair.
Title of Proposal
Environmental Science I, change in corequisite and
Environmental Science II, change in prerequisite
Date
Major or Minor
Proposer’s Name
Department
Date of Departmental Meeting in
which proposal was approved
Department Chair Name
Department Chair Signature and
Date
Academic Dean Name
Academic Dean Signature and
Date
Brief Description of Proposal
April 01, 2014
Minor
Peter Spellane
Chemistry
March 18, 2014
(Describe the modifications
contained within this proposal in a
succinct summary. More detailed
content will be provided in the
proposal body.
Brief Rationale for Proposal
(Provide a concise summary of why
this proposed change is important to
the department. More detailed
content will be provided in the
proposal body).
Peter Spellane
See last page for signatures
Karl Botchway
See last page for signatures
Approval of this curriculum modification will change “MAT
1175 or higher” from being a “Corequisite” course for
Environmental Science I (ESCI I) to being a “Pre- or corequisite” and will remove Environmental Science I (ESCI
1110) as prerequisite for Environmental Science II (ESCI
1210). The change will make the prerequisites for the two
courses identical.
When the courses were originally designed, we imagined
them serving first year university students, emphasizing
the practical application of mathematics in descriptions
and measurement of environmental phenomena. We
recognize now that a student’s having had earlier
coursework in mathematics does not create any
disadvantage in his/her study of Environmental Science.
Math does not need be studied concurrently with
Environmental Science.
When the courses were in development, we imagined that
ESCI 2 would build on content of ESCI 1, but as we
constructed more specific plans, our design changed. The
environmental science content of each of the two courses,
ESCI 1 and ESCI 2, is completely distinct. Neither course
builds upon the other.
Page 1 of 10
13M
Environment Science Minor Modification
Proposal History
(Please provide history of this
proposal: is this a resubmission? An
updated version? This may most
easily be expressed as a list).
2014-04-01
2014-04-01 Modifications to Chancellor’s report
2014-03-24 version two with signatures
2014-03-18 Initial submission
The two ESCI courses were approved by Council during AY
2011-12 for offering in AY 2013-14. ESCI 1110 ran during
Fall 2013. Neither course ran during the present (SP 2014)
term. This curriculum modification (making prerequisites
for the two courses identical) is the first modification of
either course.
Please include all appropriate documentation as indicated in the Curriculum Modification Checklist.
For each new course, please also complete the New Course Proposal and submit in this document.
Please submit this document as a single .doc or .rtf format. If some documents are unable to be
converted to .doc, then please provide all documents archived into a single .zip file.
Page 2 of 10
13M
Environment Science Minor Modification
2014-04-01
ALL PROPOSAL CHECK LIST
Completed CURRICULUM MODIFICATION FORM including:

Brief description of proposal

Rationale for proposal

Date of department meeting approving the modification

Chair’s Signature

Dean’s Signature
Evidence of consultation with affected departments
List of the programs that use this course as required or elective, and courses that use
this as a prerequisite.
Documentation of Advisory Commission views (if applicable).
Completed Chancellor’s Report Form.
EXISTING PROGRAM MODIFICATION PROPOSALS
Documentation indicating core curriculum requirements have been met for new
programs/options or program changes.
Detailed rationale for each modification (this includes minor modifications)
Statement of Rationale for Proposed Minor Curriculum Changes
With support from the NSF’s TUES program (Transforming Undergraduate Education in
Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics), a group of professors led by
Huseyin Yuce of Mathematics developed City Tech’s two introductory environmental
science courses. College Council approved the proposed courses in May 5, 2012.
In the original application to Council, we indicated that the two courses shared a goal
(“to provide students the scientific principles, concepts, and methodologies required to
understand the interrelationships of the natural world…”) and an interdisciplinary
strategy (“introduce foundational concepts in physics, chemistry, and biology; reinforce
mathematical skills and understanding through application of concepts to real-world
problems …”). Our goals for the course were consistent with those of the NSF, to let
environmental science, observed along and near Brooklyn’s waterfront, be an
introduction not only to environmental issues but to scientific work as well.
We believe the modifications specified in the present application will help achieve the
goals of the courses, of the NSF, and of the students. Neither course builds upon
content of the other, and, while both require knowledge of mathematics, neither
requires that a math course be taken simultaneously. Allowing students to take either or
both courses is likely to result in more students having opportunity to study
environmental science and learn about the sciences that support it. Modifying the
Page 3 of 10
13M
Environment Science Minor Modification
2014-04-01
prerequisites as proposed here will enable more solutions to the scheduling limitations
that students often encounter, conflicts in time and distribution requirements. Changes
proposed here will not lessen the education value of the courses and are likely to make
the courses more accessible to City Tech students.
Page 4 of 10
13M
Environment Science Minor Modification
2014-04-01
2,3. Chancellor’s Report Template for Modification of Existing Courses (also used for minor changes)
Please fill out one chart for each course. Remove any row that is not being changed with the exception of the Prerequisite, Corequisite,
Pre/Corequisite rows: if any ONE of these is modified, then leave all three.
Section AV: Changes in Existing Courses
AV.1. Department Name: Chemistry
Existing Course Number and Course Title: ESCI 1110, Environmental Science I
From:
Description:
To:
Prerequisites
An introductory environmental
science course. Topics include
fundamentals of environmental
science; visualization; GIS and
mapping; water quality and
hydrology; air quality; wetlands.
CUNY proficiency in reading and writing
Prerequisites
Corequisites:
MAT 1175 or higher
Corequisites:
Pre- or
corequisites:
Pre- or
corequisites:
An introductory environmental science course.
Topics include fundamentals of environmental
science; land and soil pollution; water quality and
hydrology; air quality; wetlands. Maps, GIS, and
the visualization of scientific information are
emphasized.
CUNY proficiency in reading and writing
MAT 1175 or higher.
Rationale:
At present ESCI 1110, “MAT 1175 or higher” is identified as co-requisite for ESCI 1110. When the course was designed and
approved in 2012-13, the sponsors envisioned cohorts of new students taking the course at the beginning of their college
careers, during the same term during which they would satisfy the College’s MAT requirement. We now recognize that the
original model does not best serve the needs of the students. While the two Environmental Science classes (ESCI 1 and ESCI
Page 5 of 10
13M
Environment Science Minor Modification
2014-04-01
2) were designed to meet the needs of first year university students, we now recognize that either or both course may be
appropriate for a student who has already completed his or her mathematics coursework. A student’s having had mathematics
coursework in an earlier term does not present any disadvantage to his or her study of environmental science.
AV.1. Department Name: Chemistry
Existing Course Number and Course Title: ESCI 1210, Environmental Science II
From:
To:
Description:
A continuation of ESCI 1110. Topics
include energy; ecosystems; solid
and hazardous waste; pressure and
temperature; volume, mass and flow;
population growth; global warming;
environmental management and
economics
Description:
An introductory environmental science course.
Topics include energy; ecosystems; solid
and hazardous waste; pressure and
temperature; volume, mass and flow;
population growth; global warming;
environmental management and
economics. Maps, GIS, and the visualization of
scientific information are emphasized.
Prerequisite:
ESCI 1110
Prerequisite:
CUNY proficiency in reading and writing.
Corequisites
Corequisites
Pre- or
corequisites:
Pre- or
corequisites:
MAT 1175 or higher.
Rationale:
Page 6 of 10
13M
Environment Science Minor Modification
2014-04-01
At present ESCI 1110 is prerequisite for ESCI 1210. When the two courses were designed and approved in 2012-13, the
sponsors envisioned cohorts of students taking the courses in succession, enabling instruction in the second course that
could make reference to content presented in the first course. We now recognize that the content of each course, while clearly
relevant to that of the other course, is fully independent of the other. We also recognize that the original model, two courses
taken in sequence, does not serve the needs of the students. Furthermore, as it is likely that in many semesters either one or
the other but not both courses will be offered, and since each courses satisfies one part of the Pathways general education
requirements, students may have good reason to take whichever course is available in a particular term.
Under the proposed modification, prerequisites for the two courses (ESCI 1 and ESCI 2) will be identical.
Page 7 of 10
13M
Environment Science Minor Modification
2014-04-01
Evidence of approval of proposed minor curriculum change from directors of
affected departments/programs:
1. On Mar 12, 2014, at 3:36 PM, Peter Spellane <PSpellane@CityTech.Cuny.Edu> wrote:
I would like to submit these two curriculum changes, both of which concern pre- or co-requisites
for the courses. For some reason, accident I suspect, MAT 1175 or higher is listed as corequisite
for ESCI 1110 (I propose to change that to pre- or corequisite), and presently, as we discussed
earlier, ESCI 1 is prerequisite for ESCI 2. We'd agreed months ago to remove that prereq; in the
paperwork I propose that pre- or corequisite for both courses be the same.
Comments are welcome.
Peter
<ESCI I Curriculum_Modification_Proposal 12mar14.docx><ESCI 2
Curriculum_Modification_Proposal 12mar14.docx>
From ESCI course development team member Huseyin Yuce
Dear Peter,
Sorry to get back to you late.
As we have talked about this earlier, I support the decision.
In the mean time, I am preparing couple of posters to advertise the courses.
We should probably talk to advisors in the ground floor also.
Best regards,
Huseyin
From ESCI course development team member Justin Vasquez-Poritz
Thanks Peter. Looks good to me.
Best wishes,
Justin
2. >>> Peter Spellane 03/13/14 3:10 PM >>>
Dear Chairs, Program Heads, and Deans,
The Chemistry department, host department for the College's environmental science classes,
ESCI 1110 and ESCI 1210, wishes to advance to College Council two minor curriculum changes
that address the prerequisite for the courses and, to a small degree, improves the course
descriptions.
The effect of the minor changes will be to make pre-requisites for the two courses identical. At
present ESCI 1110 is prerequisite for ESCI 1210. In fact, the topics presented in the two courses
are independent of one another, and allowing students to take either course first may create
greater opportunity for students to enroll and benefit from the courses.
I trust that removing the condition of one course being a prerequisite of the other will not change
the two courses being treated as "sequential science" courses for programs, like LAA and LAS,
hold such requirement for graduation.
Page 8 of 10
13M
Environment Science Minor Modification
2014-04-01
Please advise us of your endorsement or concern for the proposed changes.
thanks
Peter
From Elizabeth Schiable, Hospitality Management, 3/14/14
Dear Peter,
I see this as a advantage to our students giving them more opportunities to full fill their science
requirement.
Thank you.
Liz
From Aaron Barlow, Program Director, Liberal Arts and Arts
As you know, I am all for this.
--Aaron
Aaron Barlow
Associate Professor of English
Faculty Editor, Academe
The Cult of Individualism: A History of an Enduring American Myth
From David Smith, Entertainment Technology, 3/13/14
Very good: I see no issues with this proposed change: we do not require in ENT two
consecutive science courses anymore, as our students have a fairly flexible ability to fulfill
common core requirements: please consider this my formal approval of this curriculum request
Dr. David B Smith
Chair, Entertainment Technology
NYC College of Technology, CUNY
On Mar 13, 2014, at 4:00 PM, Peter Spellane wrote:
David
Thanks. I'd written to you as Entertainment Tech chair for your view of the appropriateness of
the changes for your ET students' purposes.
Of course, I appreciate and will take to heart your suggestions on streamlining, conciseifying (do
I spell that correctly), combining the two into one minor curriculum change application and
removing lines that contain no information.
I'll attach evidence that I contacted departments who might be affected by the change and get
signatures before I submit final version.
Peter
Page 9 of 10
13M
Environment Science Minor Modification
2014-04-01
Page 10 of 10