ENV 110 - Introduction to Environmental Studies
Fall 2008 – TTh 10:30-11:50
Instructor: Jim Casey
Contact Info: Holekamp
Hall 214, Ext. 8102, Email: Caseyj
Office Hours: MWF 9:00-10:00 and W 12:15-1:15
INTR 110 is the gateway course to the environmental studies program. It serves as a broad introduction to environmental studies. It takes an interdisciplinary approach to studying the environment and is structured by case studies of contemporary environmental issues. Throughout the semester we will look at six contemporary environmental concerns and we will look at each of them through the lenses of the social scientist, the humanist and the natural scientist. The six case studies this year are (1) Religion and Environment, (2) global climate change, (3) energy, (4) air quality and children’s health, (5) poverty and the environment, and (6) oceans. Certainly there are more than six major environmental issues in the world today, but with only 12 weeks to introduce you to the world of environmental studies – we limit our scope to these six issues. Although we change topics every two weeks, our approach to each topic will remain the same. One of the primary objectives of this course is to help you develop a method for thinking about environmental concerns – an interdisciplinary approach to problem solving. At the end of the semester you will have gained some understanding of the complexity of environmental policy-making and the importance of approaching environmental problems from multiple perspectives. Hopefully, you also will have developed a better sense of where your strengths and weaknesses are concerning your particular approach to thinking about the environment.
Required
Course Requirements:
Class Participation = 20 points - In order to facilitate class discussion, I reserve the right to give unannounced quizzes on the day's assigned reading.
6 one-hour exams = 60 points
1 paper = 20 points - EXAMPLES
|
Grade |
A |
A- |
B+ |
B |
B- |
C+ |
C |
C- |
D+ |
D |
D- |
F |
|
Points |
92.5 |
90.00 |
87.5 |
82.5 |
80.00 |
77.5 |
72.5 |
70.00 |
67.5 |
62.5 |
60.00 |
<60.00 |
This is directly from the course catalogue
GRADES
Grading Scheme
A+, A, A- Superior
B+, B, B- Good
C +, C, C- Fair
D +, D, D- (Marginal)
E (Conditional Failure)
F (Failure)
Daily Schedule and assigned readings:
Check this site out each morning before class - Environmental Economics Blog
Topic 1. Philosophy, Religion and the environment
Sept 4 - Introduction
9 - The Nature of the environmental crisis and While Angels Weep...
11 - HIGHER LAWS and WHERE I LIVED, AND WHAT I LIVED FOR
16 - Judaism , Daoism, Islam, Hinduism, Christianity, Indigenous Traditions, Buddhism, Confucianism
Topics 2
and 3. Energy & Global Climate Change (Weeks 3-6)
September 23 - EXAM
25 – Back to the Future: The Great Climate Experiment
30
A Framework for
Understanding Energy Resources
Topic 4. Air Pollution/Children's Health
October 16 – EXAM
21- Air -- The First Sacred Thing
October 23 Ozone and Children, Air Pollution: Effects of Particles
October 28 –
-- International Journal of Epidemiology and TBA
October 30 – READING DAY –
ambient air pollution and TBA
Topic 5. Water and the Oceans
November 4th- http://www.giwa.net/publications/finalreport/
6th - Human Induced Warming Global Marine Fisheries Resources
11th Threats to Water cleaner air, cleaner water
13th - Current state of
coastal ecosystems, current state of
freshwater ecosystems
Topic 6. Poverty and Environment
Nov 18 - Why aren't conservationists fighting poverty?
November 20th - Hunting, Wildlife and Fish Supplies in West Africa AND Energy, Air Pollution and Public Health
December 2 - THE FINAL PAPER IS DUE TODAY!!!
Reading TBA
4 - Exam 6: will be handed out in class and you may take it as a take home final exam.