Environmental Science 1
OVERVIEW
Environmental Science discusses the environmental challenges that impact our future, such as land use, pollution, climate change, and biodiversity loss. This course is centered around achieving global sustainability to meet the needs of a growing human population while maintaining natural resources and protecting Earth’s various systems. The short- and long-term consequences of our actions on human health and the environment are also a course focus. With the collaboration of the Guy Harvey Foundation and additional professional partners, this course highlights the research and field experiences of professors, scientists, conservationists, lawyers, and more while sharing practical and sensible strategies for preserving the delicate balance between land, ocean, air, and life. In addition, this course creates a call to action for students by teaching them how to protect the world’s biodiversity and resources by adjusting the way they live, work, play, and govern in the future.
MAJOR TOPICS AND CONCEPTS
Semester One:
- Describe what characterizes environmental science
- Explore the biogeochemical cycles of the ecosystems
- Describe the components of an ecosystem and food webs
- Compare and contrast community relationships among organism
- Analyze food webs and energy transfers through trophic levels
- Discuss the characteristics of populations
- Explore the factors that determine population size
- Describe events that cause changes to ecosystems and biodiversity
- Discuss how biodiversity and human activity are monitored to make environmental decisions
- Characterize the biotic and abiotic components that define the world’s biomes
- Explain how humans contribute to the tragedy of the commons
- Discuss the consequences of sustainable and unsustainable use of land
- Cite evidence about how oceans influence climate change
- Discuss how land, water, and air quality is monitored to make environmental decisions
- Evaluate how technology and biotechnology impact environmental quality.
Semester Two:
- Analyze the conditions that contribute to global climate change
- Differentiate between greenhouse gases and air pollutants
- Explore demography and changes to the human population
- Explain how human health is impacted by land, water, and air quality
- Identify how genetic and pathogenic factors impact human health
- Explain the causes of food, water, and energy insecurities
- Discuss the large-scale impacts resulting from human activity
- Analyze personal and human activities that affect ecological footprints
- Evaluate the pros and cons of different energy production technologies throughout time
- Differentiate between renewable and nonrenewable sources of energy
- Examine how human lifestyles, population needs, and greener living affect sustainability
- Evaluate how technology and biotechnology are used to achieve sustainability
- Reflect on how human decisions impact global biodiversity and sustainability
- Reflect on the interdependence of Earth systems
- Explore careers that use knowledge from environmental science
Fee Details
| Program | Regular | Honors |
| Fee | $ 558 | $ 583 |
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