I. General Information

1. Course Title:
Introduction to Environmental Studies

2. Course Prefix & Number:
ENVR 1400

3. Course Credits and Contact Hours:

Credits: 3

Lecture Hours: 3

Lab Hours: 0

4. Course Description:

Study of the relationship between humans and the natural environment, with special emphasis on philosophical, ideological, and conceptual concerns. Explores the difficult and controversial issues surrounding the underlying causes, long-term implications, and potential solutions of some of the most important environmental problems facing the world today. Topics include climate change, waste and pollution, natural resources and land use, species extinction, population growth, and sustainable development.

5. Placement Tests Required:

Accuplacer (specify test):

Next Gen Reading

Score:

237

6. Prerequisite Courses:

There are no prerequisites for this course.

9. Co-requisite Courses:

There are no corequisites for this course.

II. Transfer and Articulation

III. Course Purpose

2. MN Transfer Curriculum (General Education) Courses - This course fulfills the following goal area(s) of the MN Transfer Curriculum:

• Goal 5 – History and the Social and Behavioral Sciences
• Goal 10 – People and the Environment

IV. Learning Outcomes

1. College-Wide Outcomes

College-Wide Outcomes/Competencies	Students will be able to:
Demonstrate oral communication skills	Student will be able to demonstrate oral skill development through presentations about our environment.
Demonstrate written communication skills	Student will be able to demonstrate written communication skills as they develop essays and make comparisons between theories and ideas such as Evolution and Intelligent design.
Discuss/compare characteristics of diverse cultures and environments	Students will be able to discuss and compare different culture and environmental circumstances to their own as they watch the video Saving the Planet in the Name of Progress

2. Course Specific Outcomes - Students will be able to achieve the following measurable goals upon completion of the course:

Expected Outcome	MnTC Goal Area
Student will be able to think critically as they compare environmental processes with management of the world resources in their discussion of population, evolution, rain forest degradation, global warming, and use of nitrogen fertilizers in the Midwest to the degradation of the shrimp fisheries in the Gulf of Mexico.
Student will be able to understand the importance of Natural Science as they relate to the interconnectedness of all things through their understanding of the forces of the universe, evolution, and the importance of Natural Resource Management around the world.

V. Topical Outline

Listed below are major areas of content typically covered in this course.

1. Lecture Sessions

1.         Discussion and assignment for the Elegant Universe

• Einstein’s Theory of Everything
• Forces of the Universe
• String Theory and exciting new ideas

2.         Discussions and presentations From the Habitable Planet

• Atmosphere
• Oceans
• Ecosystems

3.         Part I - The Beginning of Conservation Ideas from  the Classics in Environmental Studies

• From the 1780’s – to the 1850’s – to 1950’s
• The Revolutions
• Thomas Malthus on Population
• Charles Darwin and the Theory of Evolution and Ideas of Intelligent Design
• L. Reid on the Sociology of Nature
• Rachel Carson on Silent Spring
• Aldo Leopold on Thinking Like a Mountain

4.         Part 2 – The Revival

• 1950’s to the 1965 – Historical Significance that lead to Environmental Problems in the 1970’s, and 80’s
• E. J. Mishan on the Cost of Economic Growth
• Hardin on the Tragedy of the Commons
• Ehrlich on the Population Bomb

5.         Part 3 – The Bestsellers

• Awareness of environmental Problems 1970’s
• Birth of Environmental Policy
• B. Commoner – the Closing Circle
• J.E. Lovelock – The Gaia Hypothesis

6.         Part 4 – The Eighties

• Environmental Catastrophes
• Strategy of Environmentalists
• Stability in the Environmental Sector
• Pollution Prevention Pays
• Our common Future – by the world commission on Environment and Development
• Shiva – Staying Alive; women, Ecology and Development

7.         Part 5 – the Current State of Affairs – the 1990’s

• Goodbye to the polluting society?
• Lack of desire, Lack of pain, Lack of force
• Phase and rate change differences
• Challenge for Governments
• Challenge for Businesses
• Brown State of the World
• King and Schneider – The First Global Revolution and others