ESC 1120
Environmental Science II
4 Credit Hours

Course Information

Course Description:

Study of environmental problems at global, national, and local levels;  soil, water, and mineral resources, food resources and pesticides, hazardous wastes and air pollution, energy, land, and species resources; laboratory emphasis on local field experiences..

Course Objectives:

Upon completion of this course, the student should be able to:

 

A.        understand management of soil, food, water, forest, energy, mineral, land, and biological resources.

 

B.         discuss the ways in which humans have degraded resources and how resources can be restored.

 

C.        discuss the problems faced in resource management by more-developed and less-developed countries.

 

D.        understand the role of government in resource management and environmental policy.

 

E.         identify and discuss the contributions of prominent people who have influenced environmental policy.

 

F.         discuss important case histories concerning environmental policy.

 

G.        make educated environmental decisions in their personal and public life.

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Prerequisites and Corequisites:

The student must be at college level in Math, English, and Reading.

Course Topics:

1.  Introduction and Environmental Policy

2.  Agricultural Resources

3.  Water Resources

4.  Hazardous Waste and Air Resources

5.  Mineral Resources

6.  Energy Resources

7.  Land and Biodiversity Resources

Specific Course Requirements:

To succeed in this course the student should be curious, self-motivated, and well-organized.  The student must be computer-literate having the abilities to access and browse the web, to use word processing software, to send and receive attachments via email, and to use a digital camera to capture and process images.  Modules will use Microsoft Excel workbooks, PowerPoint presentations, and Windows Movie Maker.

Textbooks, Supplementary Materials, Hardware and Software Requirements

Required Textbooks:

Please visit the Virtual Bookstore to obtain textbook information for this course:
http://rodp.bkstr.com

Supplementary Materials:

No supplementary materials are required.

Hardware Requirements:

The minimum requirements can be found at http://www.rodp.org/students/hardware_software.htm. Specific hardware requirements for this course include a digital camera with at least 1MB resolution.

Software Requirements:

The minimum requirements can be found at http://www.rodp.org/students/hardware_software.htm. Specific software requirements for this course include Microsoft Excel, Microsoft PowerPoint, and Windows Movie Maker.

Instructor Information

Please see the separate page inside the course to find instructor contact information as well as a statement of virtual office hours and other communication information.

Assessment and Grading

Testing Procedures:

Module Quizzes:  At the conclusion of each module is a 20-25 question timed quiz. Students should study the module unit materials carefully and be ready to take the quiz without the use of notes or a textbook.

 

Final Exam:  The final exam will consist of a 100 question test. This exam will be proctored. Students must make arrangements for the time and place they will take the final; this should be done as early in the semester as possible.  Students must provide this information to the instructor.

Grading Procedure:

Course Grade: The final course grade will be determined by the following criteria:

Discussions 25%

Module Activities 25%

Reflection Papers 10%

Module Quizzes 20%

Proctored Final Exam 20%

 

A score of at least 70% is required on the proctored final exam is required for other course work to be included in the overall course grade.

 

Discussions:  Each module will have discussion topics. Students are expected to participate in each module discussion by posting thoughts and opinions and responding to the comments of other students and the instructor. Discussion evaluation will be based on the quantity and quality of postings. The minimum expectation is one posting and two comments per topic.

 

Module Activities:  Each module has a series of activities which give students first-hand experience with the topics presented. The modules are presented either as Microsoft Excel workbooks, PowerPoint presentations, or Windows Movie Maker.  Background for each of the modules can be found in the ESC 1120 Online Handbook.

 

Reflection Papers:  Five reflection papers will be assigned based on current issues relevant to the topics being studied in the modules.  The papers will require internet research as well as personal reflection.  Papers are expected to be 2 to 3 pages in length with at least 2 internet sources.

Grading Scale:

90 to 100 = A
80 to 89   = B
70 to 79   = C
65 to 69   = D

Assignments and Participation

Assignments and Projects:

1.  Introduction and Environmental Policy:  Evaluation of personal attitudes toward environmental resources and processes. 

 

2.  Agricultural Resources:  Web-based project using the NCSS Web Soil Survey.  Local soils will be evaluated based on internet resources.  Alternatives to pesticide use will be considered in the context of integrated pest management.  Reflection paper will be required.

 

3.  Water Resources:  PowerPoint presentation will be developed with the theme of water pollution.  Litter pickup along a river or stream will be documented using the International Coastal Cleanup data form.  Data will be submitted to the Ocean Conservancy for analysis.  Reflection paper will be required.

 

4.  Hazardous Waste and Air Resources:  Web-based project including materials from the Chattanooga and Hamilton County Air Pollution Control Bureau and the EPA.  Reflection paper will be required.

 

5.  Mineral Resources:  Web based project evaluating the use and availability of mineral resources.  Specific attention will be devoted to the environmental impact of mineral extraction and use. Reflection paper will be required.

 

6.  Energy Resources:  Web based project considering the current use of fossil fuels and the potential for alternative energy sources in meeting the needs of future populations.  Reflection paper will be required.

 

7.  Land and Biodiversity Resources:  A short movie will be produced to display land and biodiversity resources local to each student.  This may include still and/or video images.  The movie will be narrated by the student.

Class Participation:

An online course will require at least as much commitment of time and energy as a regular course, with the added importance of self-motivation. The standard time recommendation for a college course is two hours of ‘outside’ work and study for every hour spent in class. Students taking this course at Chattanooga State are in class for six hours per week (lecture and lab), which means another 12 hours per week in study and completing work. This seems like a lot of time, and it is. However, using available time effectively can be more important than the actual number of hours spent.  While there is no requirement for scheduled blocks of time spent on this class, the successful student will devote some time to the class nearly every day.

Punctuality:

Students should monitor the course calendar and stay abreast of due dates.  Students should pay close attention to the discussion boards and class announcements.

Course Ground Rules

1. Become familiar with WebCT and the layout of the course. Click on everything to see what is available and how it works. Know your way around!

 

2. Log in often, at least once per day; more often if possible. If there aren’t notification icons for the course in My WebCT, go to the homepage and check for announcements there.

 

3. Check the Calendar, Discussion Board, and e-mail frequently.  Respond to discussion board postings.

 

4. Address technical problems immediately so that they do not interfere with the successful completion of the course.

 

5. Address course content issues immediately by contacting your instructor. Ask questions when they arise – that is what WebCT e-mail is for!

Guidelines for Communications

Email:
  • Always include a subject line.
  • Remember without facial expressions some comments may be taken the wrong way. Be careful in wording your emails. Use of emoticons might be helpful in some cases.
  • Use standard fonts.
  • Do not send large attachments without permission.
  • Special formatting such as centering, audio messages, tables, html, etc. should be avoided unless necessary to complete an assignment or other communication.
  • Respect the privacy of other class members

Discussion Groups:
  • Review the discussion threads thoroughly before entering the discussion. Be a lurker then a discussant.
  • Try to maintain threads by using the "Reply" button rather starting a new topic.
  • Do not make insulting or inflammatory statements to other members of the discussion group. Be respectful of others' ideas.
  • Be patient and read the comments of other group members thoroughly before entering your remarks.
  • Be cooperative with group leaders in completing assigned tasks.
  • Be positive and constructive in group discussions.
  • Respond in a thoughtful and timely manner.

Chat:
  • Introduce yourself to the other learners in the chat session.
  • Be polite. Choose your words carefully. Do not use derogatory statements.
  • Be concise in responding to others in the chat session.
  • Be prepared to open the chat session at the scheduled time.
  • Be constructive in your comments and suggestion

Web Resources:

Library

The Tennessee Virtual Library is available to all students enrolled in the Regents Degree Program. Links to library materials (such as electronic journals, databases, interlibrary loans, digital reserves, dictionaries, encyclopedias, maps, and librarian support) and Internet resources needed by learners to complete online assignments and as background reading must be included in all courses. 

Students With Disabilities

Qualified students with disabilities will be provided reasonable and necessary academic accommodations if determined eligible by the appropriate disability services staff at their home institution. Prior to granting disability accommodations in this course, the instructor must receive written verification of a student's eligibility for specific accommodations from the disability services staff at the home institution. It is the student's responsibility to initiate contact with their home institution's disability services staff and to follow the established procedures for having the accommodation notice sent to the instructor.

Syllabus Changes

The instructor reserves the right to make changes as necessary to this syllabus. If changes are necessitated during the term of the course, the instructor will immediately notify students of such changes both by individual email communication and posting both notification and nature of change(s) on the course bulletin board.

Technical Support

Telephone Support:

If you are having problems logging into your course,
timing out of your course, using your course web site tools, or other technical problems, please contact the AskRODP Help Desk by calling

1-866-550-7637 (toll free)

or go to the AskRODP website at:

http://help.rodp.org