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Introduction to Environmental Studies: Course outline

Course description

This course is a basic introduction to environmental studies. Students will learn to apply various concepts in the biological, physical, social sciences and humanities in order to understand the causes and consequences of environmental problems facing the world today, and what can be done to address them. Students will also be encouraged to explore how these concepts and issues relate to their own lives, from both global and local perspectives. One weekend field trip is required.

Course description

The student will be able to:

  1. Explain general concepts and principles in environmental science and their relationship to understanding and addressing local and global environmental problems;
  2. Grasp the complexity of environmental issues in their real-world context, including their various economic, political, cultural and philosophical dimensions;
  3. Explain the changing nature of our understanding of the environment and the effects of human actions on it;
  4. Explain and evaluate the changing nature of public awareness and perception about environmental issues, from both historical and cross-cultural perspectives;
  5. Explain and evaluate the changing nature of policies, laws and regulations that have developed to address the effects of human actions on the environment;
  6. Explain the concept of sustainability and the importance of considering environmental, social and economic issues in order to arrive at long-term solutions to environmental and other problems.
  7. Employ the concepts and methods learned in class to conduct independent literature research and analysis into the causes and consequences of particular consumer products and behaviors;
  8. Analyze and evaluate the behavior of individuals and institutions in terms of their intentions and consequences for the environment and society.
  9. Analyze and evaluate solutions offered to address environmental problems

Course content

Week 07

Agriculture and Food 

  •  Traditional Agriculture
  •  The “Green Revolution” and Industrial Agriculture
  •  Organic Agriculture and Other Alternatives

Week 09
  • Transportation
  •  Physics and History of Transportation
  •  Fuel Efficiency Standards and Regulations
  •  Public Transportation and Other Alternatives

Week 09
  • Mid-Term Exam
  • Quantification Theory

Week 10

Climate Change and Alternative Energies

  •  Global Warming: Science and Politics
  •  Alternative Energies and Energy Conservation

Week  11

Sustainability: Politics, Economics and the Environment

  •  Natural Limits to Economic “Growth”                                                    
  •  Individual and Corporate Power
  •  Environmental Rights and Responsibilities
  •  Consumerism and Industrial Economics
  •  “Free” and “Fair” Global Trade
  •  Sustainability and the “Triple Bottom Line”

Course content

Week 01

Introduction to Environmental Studies

  • Defining “Environment”
  • Relation to Physical and Biological Sciences
  • Relation to Social Sciences and Humanities
  • Science vs. Other Ways of Knowing

Week 02

Air Pollution

  •  Air Quality and Atmospheric Science
  •  History of Air Pollution and Regulation
  •  Major Categories of Air Pollutants

Week 03

Water Pollution

  •  The Water Cycle and Fresh Water Scarcity 
  •  Major Categories and Causes of Water Pollutants

Other Water Issues

  •  Droughts and Water Scarcity
  •  Floods 
  •  Dams and Water Diversion

Week 04

Waste and Recycling

  •  Human “Waste” and Natural Systems

 Solid Waste Management 

  •  Where Your Garbage Goes.

 Garbage Barges and Landfills

  •  Recycling
  •  Incineration

Week 05

Toxic Waste, Toxins and Toxicity

  •  Types of Toxins
  •  Determining Toxicity
  •  Hazardous Waste Management

Week 06

The Built Environment 

  •  Shelter, Architecture and the Environment
  •  Conventional vs. Sustainable Building Materials and Methods