Environmental Studies 07

INTRODUCTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES ENVRN 7/GEOG 7
Spring 2010  Tuesdays 6:30 p.m. - 9:35 p.m. Bundy 217 
wselby@smc.edu

General Information

This introductory course will use an interdisciplinary approach to provide students with a broad perspective on environmental problems and solutions. Students will be introduced to the strategies used by scientists, economists, political analysts, and other writers and researchers to investigate and analyze environmental and urban issues, human/nature relationships, natural and built environments, and environmental citizenship.

Environmental Studies 7 is the same course as Geography 7. Students may earn credit for one, but not both.

  • Two Required Texts: "Visualizing Environmental Science", Berg, Linda R. and Mary Hagar, Wiley/National Geographic, 2009 AND
    Worksbook, A Sustainability Primer, Sustainable Works, 2009 Update Edition (at 1744 Pearl St) (These Worksbook readings are shown in parenthesis on the schedule.)
  • Approach: In this course, we study a wide variety of environmental issues, alternating from general to specific and from global to local scales. As we identify environmental problems, we will focus on solutions to those problems.
  • Lecture and Class Activities: Class lectures, presentations and activities provide you with important knowledge and skills far beyond the scope of our reading assignments. Attend every class session to enhance your learning experience. We are lucky to have a series of expert guest presenters in many class sessions (see below).
  • Contact Info/Office Hours: Feel free to ask for help before or after class, or by appointment. My office is Drescher Hall 314K, my phone number is (310) 434-4743 and my e-mail is wselby@smc.edu. Web Page: http://homepage.smc.edu/selby_william/
  • Outside Field Trips: You are invited to attend our optional field trips. Dates: They are on two weekends: April 2-4 (Santa Monica Mountains) and May 7-9 (Joshua Tree National Park). 
  • Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs)
     What can students do, think, or know as a result of their studies in this class?
     Students will gain a scientific understanding of Earth’s natural systems and cycles. Students will analyze human activity and its impact on Earth’s natural environments. Students will build conceptual foundations of our environmental attitudes, values, and challenges from a variety of perspectives.
    What can students do, think, or know as a result of their studies within the more general geography program?
    Students will be able to identify spatial patterns and interrelationships between systems and cycles that affect life and shape landscapes. Students will demonstrate cartographic literacy, including map interpretation and, using spatial analysis skills, will be able to analyze, recognize and evaluate spatial distributions on all scales from local to global  to become better global citizens. 

Grading Policy

You will take four short exams and a final. Each exam will be worth about 80+ points or 20% of your grade of at least 400 total points. These exams are designed as opportunities for you to demonstrate your knowledge of the facts and concepts from assignments and class. Each exam is scored objectively by points and will include a variety of question styles. You may also have a short paper due on each exam evening that will be a part of your exam.

YOU MUST NEVER MISS AN EXAM! Dates are on the following class schedule.

Extra Credit/Independent Research

You may benefit from extending your learning experience beyond the scope of this class. Choose a current article out of a book or professional/scientific publication or a web site (no older than 2009) that deals with environmental issues. Read the article and type a one page summary or abstract of that article, attach it to a copy of the article, and hand it in to me. You will find plenty of good journals in our library or at others, such as the Santa Monica Public Library and at UCLA. You may earn a maximum of  7 points for each extra credit, but you may complete a maximum of only 4 total extra credit reports for this class. You may submit only one extra credit report in each calendar month of our semester. Last day to hand in extra credit is May 25. This is not a requirement, but an option to consider. You may also earn extra credit by completing an extra service learning option, which we will discuss in class. See me if you have questions. 

Important Responsibilities

  • YOU are responsible for any changes (adds/drops) made in your schedule.
  • Academic Honesty: Honest students are protected in this class. A student who cheats in any way will earn a zero and is subject to serious disciplinary action. See me and consult the SMC Academic Code of Conduct if you need definitions, explanations, or other details about this policy.
  • Classroom Conduct: All SMC rules of conduct apply in this class. No food or drink is allowed and no cell phones or any other electronic devices are to be used without instructor's consent. 
  • Our Schedule below is subject to change, so keep up with our progress!

GENERAL COURSE SCHEDULE TUESDAY NIGHTS, 6:30-9:35

SPRING 2010  BUNDY 217

Classes Start at 6:30 p.m., with some guest presentations continuing past 8 p.m. . After break, class continues till 9:35 p.m.

February

  • 16th : Chapter 1: The Environmental Challenges We Face
  • 23rd: 6:30, Bundy 217: Spreading Sustainable Works: Find out how Sustainable Works is growing through our region, making our lives more rewarding and our schools and businesses more efficient.
    Then, Chapter 2: Sustainability and Human Values

March

  • 2nd: QUIZ NO. 1 on all previous readings and presentations.
    Then, Chapter 3: Environmental Politics and Economics (pg. 59-71) and Chapter 4: Risk Analysis and Environmental Hazards
  • 9th:  Chapter 5: How Ecosystems Work and Chapter 6: Ecosystems and Evolution
  • 16th: Chapter 7: Human Population Change and the Environment
    Then, (Sustainable Worksbook Orientation and Lifestyle Survey)
  • 23rd: QUIZ NO. 2 on all material since March 2.
    Then, Chapter 10: Freshwater Resources and Water Pollution
    Then, (Sustainable Worksbook Water Chapter)
  • 30th: 6:30 pm, Bundy 123: Defining Global Citizenship: Energy and Environmental Consciousness. Fethiye Ozis examines common issues of sustainability as we build bridges between Turkey and the U.S.
    Then, Chapter 8: Air Pollution
    Then, (Sustainable Worksbook Energy Chapter)

April

  • 6th: Chapter 16: Solid and Hazardous Waste
    Then, (Sustainable Worksbook Waste Chapter)
  • 13th: NO CLASS -SPRING BREAK
  • 20th: QUIZ NO 3 on all material since March 23
    Then, Chapter 11: The Ocean and Fisheries
    Then, (Sustainable Worksbook Chemicals Week)
  • 27th: Chapter 13: Land Resources
    Then, (Sustainable Worksbook Transportation/Travel Chapter)

May

  • 4th: Bundy 123: It's All Local. Frank Gruber, columnist and author of Urban Worrier: Making Politics Personal, talks about local land use decisions and how they affect the sustainability of cities.
    Then, Chapter 15: Biological Resources
    (Reviewing Sustainable Worksbook Chapters and Progress)
  • 11th: Quiz NO 4 on all material since October 28th.
    Then, Chapter 14: Agriculture and Food Resources
    Then, (Sustainable Worksbook Shopping/Food Chapter)  
  • 18th:  Chapter 9: Global Climate Changes
    Then, (Sustainable Worksbook Wrap Up Chapter)
  • 25th:  Bundy 123: SMC Moves Toward Sustainability for You
    Meet today’s leaders of campus sustainability at Santa Monica College and learn how SMC is being a good local and global citizen.
    Then, Chapter 17: Nonrenewable Energy Resources

    June

  • 1st: Chapter 18: Renewable Energy Resources
    Current Events, Selected Readings, Special Presentations, Course Summary. 
  • 8th: FINAL EXAM, same time and place.