Environmental Science
Course Syllabus – Summer Study Abroad 2008

Individuals with disabilities who need to request accommodations should contact me at the beginning of the semester.

Course Description

Title: Environmental Science

Credit Hours: 3.0 semester credit hours

Catalog Description:

Environmental Science is a tour de force through the environment, our resource use, and how we cope with environmental problems.  Learn the science behind the headlines.  In this course you will be introduced to scientific principles, the dominant resources and our interactions with those resources, historical interactions with the environment, and our current environmental problems.  Join us as we learn about these issues up close in Pisa , Orvieto, and Rome. Discover the meaning behind, “Think Globally, Act Locally” and gain global perspective on issues that affect us all.

This class does not require any prerequisite courses. 

Course Objectives: To understand and explore:

Student Learning Outcomes:

General education outcomes:

Instructor Information:


Dr. Jere A. Boudell
Phone: 
email: JereBoudell@mail.clayton.edu 
Internet address: http://a-s.clayton.edu/jboudell/ 
Office Hours: 

Class Meetings: 

Days

Times

Room

Instructor

 MW

1:00 - 3:30

 

Boudell
TH Field Trip NA Boudell

Textbook Information:

Text:

Brennan,S. and J. Withgott. Essential Environment: The Science behind the Stories, Pearson Benjamin Cummings, 2005

Text Coverage:

Selections will come from the following chapters: 1-3, 5-6, and 8-10

Evaluation:

Item

Points

2 exams @ 50 points each

100

 Field Note Book Assignments

100

1 Cumulative Final Exam

100

Total

300

 

Grading:

Your final grade will be determined as follows:

Grade

Percentage range

A

90 - 100%

B

80 - 89%

C

70 - 79%

D

60 - 69%

F

below 60%

Course Schedule:

Textbook: Essential Environment: The Science behind the Stories, Brennan, S. and J. Withgott, 2005

 

Week

Day

Topic

Chapters

1

1

The nature of science, environmental economics and policy

1 (10-17)

2

 

2

Field Trip to Roma: Vatican Museum and St. Peter's 

 

 

3

Chemistry, environmental systems, population growth

Assignment #1 DUE

3 (57-71)

5 (115-126)

2

1

Atmospheric science and air pollution

Assignment #2 DUE

8 (190-205)

 

2

Field Trip to Roma : the Coliseum and Roman Forum  

 

 

3

Exam 1

Global climate change

 

8 (205-215)  

 

 

Optional weekend field trip: Venezia

 

3

1

Soil and agriculture

Assignment #3 DUE

6 (138-154)  

 

2

Field Trip to Pisa: leaning tower

 

 

3

Agriculture and biotechnology  

 

6 (154-163)  

4

1

Freshwater resources  

 

Assignment #4 DUE

9 (218-236)  

 

2

Field Trip to Orvieto: Underground Orvieto (Pozzo di San Patrizio, Pozzo della Cava)

 

 

3

EXAM 2

The Oceans  

9 (236-247)  

5

1

Biodiversity and conservation biology

 

Assignment #5 DUE

10

 

2

Field Trip to Lago Trasimeno

 

 

3

FINAL EXAM

 

Course Policies:

Students must abide by policies in the Kennesaw State University Study Abroad Code of Conduct.

Absences are NOT excused (you must be sick enough to see a doctor).  The final grade will be dropped by one letter grade for each day missed.   

Assignments must be turned in on the due date at the beginning of the class period.  

No smoking is permitted at any time in the classroom.

Any type of activity that is considered dishonest by reasonable standards may constitute academic misconduct. The most common forms of academic misconduct are cheating and plagiarism.  All instances of academic dishonesty will result in a grade of zero for the work involved.  

Changes or additions to this syllabus, including reading, exam schedule, grading, and course policies can be made at the discretion of the instructor at any time.