UMUC-Europe Syllabus

BIOL 211 Environmental Science (3) A survey of ecological principles as they apply to the interrelated dilemmas of sustainability. Topics include overpopulation, pollution, over-consumption of natural resources, and the ethics of land use. Students may receive credit for only one of the following courses: BIOL 211, BOTN 211, or PBIO 235.

Course Goals/Objectives:

After completing this course, students should be able to do the following: * define pertinent terms in environmental science * present and interpret quantitative information * explain the scientific and social principles of sustainability * delineate the reasons behind population growth, quantify population growth, detail the impacts of human population growth on the planet, and recall the various means to stabilize population growth * outline the scientific method and use critical thinking to understand environmental problems and discoveries * explain the basic principles of ecology * describe the key points of U.S. government resource management practices and policies, the history of the U.S. environmental movement, and critical national environmental legislation * analyze American energy use, list problems associated with energy use, and state specific sustainable strategies for energy usage in the U.S. and around the world * explain biodiversity, the many benefits of biodiversity and provide the main reasons for species loss * explain the principles of evolution, including the mechanisms of speciation and extinction * delineate the principles of modern agriculture, including the Green Revolution, and describe the impact of agriculture on ecosystems * interpret how environmental contaminants affect ecosystems and human biological functions * clearly and effectively communicate scientific discoveries and controversial environmental issues, both verbally and in writing * explain specific western societal values and environmental ethics and their relationship to the current environmental situation

Course Introduction:

The purpose of this course is to provide a basic introduction to ecological systems and environmental issues. We will study the impact of humans on ecosystems, with a focus on environmental problems and sustainable solutions. After a brief review of basic scientific and ecological concepts, we will cover the three fundamental aspects of environmental studies - population, resource depletion, and pollution. The course is designed to facilitate knowledgeable opinions and meaningful decisions about today's environmental issues.

Grading Information and Criteria:

Grades in this course will be determined as follows: 10% Class Participation 40% Projects 25% Midterm Exam 25% Final Exam The grading scale in this course will be determined as follows: A = 90%-100% B = 80%-89% C = 70%-79% D = 60%-69% F = 0%-59%

Other Information:

None

Project Descriptions:

Projects Project 1: Population Pyramid Building Population pyramids show the age structure of the population of a country or region. Different growth patterns caused by varying cultural values or war events or both help shape the pyramid. In Homework Assignment 1, draw population pyramids for Indonesia, Ethiopia, and the United Kingdom. Then write a brief essay comparing and contrasting the three pyramids and interpret the causes of the varying shapes of these graphs. Consider historical events, the present population structure, and the influence (if any) of the past and the present on future population growth. Which country will have the greatest population increase, and why? What problems might these countries be facing, and why? Project 2: Carrying Capacity In 1906, the US Forest Service began protecting a herd of deer on a 300,000 hectare range on Arizona's Kaibab Plateau. In previous years the Kaibab forest area had been overgrazed by cattle, sheep and horses. Graph the Forest Service's data on the size of the herd over time, and indicate the carrying capacity on your graph. Based on an analysis of your graph describe a) the relationship of the deer herd to the carrying capacity, b) the effects on the herd of various actions taken by the Forest Service from 1907-1920, c) the lessons-learned by the U.S. Forest Service between 1905-1939. Project 3: Earth Science Factors Earth science researchers often use graphs to make it easier to visualize relationships between several factors. Construct a graph showing the relationship between two earth science factors in recent year that affect one another, as well as living organisms and ecosystems. Such factors might include air temperature and various other weather and climatic conditions and the molecular composition of the atmosphere, the size of the ozone layer, and pollution levels of the air, water, and ground. Based on your graph, estimate what the relationship between these two factors might have been in the past and predict what might be in store for us in the future. Explain the reasons for your estimates of the past and predictions of the future. Project 4: African Plan for Sustainable Living Imagine that you are in charge of the United Nations Developmental Program (UNDP), and that world cooperation has been achieved and you have been given a budget of 400 billion dollars to provide sustainable living systems to the continent of Africa. You need to be very economical to achieve the goals of the program, which are to provide each family with the following simple and renewable energy systems: 1) electricity supply, 2) a water purification system, 3) a cooking system that must be able to cook food year round, 4) a communication system, and 5) a refrigeration system using the photovoltaic system. Research renewable energy products on the Internet, and describe your plan to provide these five components for under $2000 per family. Describe each of the products that you have chosen to fulfill these 5 requirements. Exams A midterm and final exam are required in this course. These exams will include the topics and skills covered in the required readings, lectures, and class discussions.

Academic Policies:

Cases of plagiarism are handled consistent with current UMUC guidelines. See the UMUC policies at the following URL: http://www.umuc.edu/policy/

Course Schedule:

Session 1 Topics: The Scientific Method & Environmental Science Session 2 Topics: Environmental Problems, Economics, Politics, and Global Perspectives Session 3 Topics: Principles of Biology, Chemistry, and Physics Session 4 Topics: Ecosystems and the Flow of Energy & Resources Project 1 Due Session 5 Topics: Evolution and Biodiversity Session 6 Topics: Community Ecology Session 7 Topics: Population Dynamics Project 2 Due Midterm Exam Session 8 Topics: Principles of Geology Session 9 Topics: Human Health & the Environment Session 10 Topics: Population Growth & Distribution Session 11 Topics: Air Resources & Pollution Session 12 Topics: Water & Earthen Resources & Pollution Project 3 Due Session 13 Topics: Sustaining Biodiversity Session 14 Topics: Energy Resources and Uses Project 4 Due Session 15 Review for Final Session 16 Final Exam