Course Outline

Interdependence of Earth's Systems: Fundamental Principles and Concepts (25%)
Human Population Dynamics (10%)
Renewable and Nonrenewable Resources: Distribution, Ownership, Use, Degradation (15%)
Environmental Quality (20-25%)
Global Changes and Their Consequences (15-20%)
Environment and Society: Trade-Offs and Decision Making (10%)

I. Interdependence of Earth's Systems: Fundamental Principles and Concepts (25%)

A. The Flow of Energy

1. forms and quality of energy

2. energy units and measurements

3. sources and sinks, conversions

B. The Cycling of Matter

1. water                                        2. major nutrients
                                                                  a. nitrogen
                                                                  b. phosphorus

3. carbon 4. differences between cycling major and trace elements

C. The Solid Earth

1. Earth history and the geologic time scale

2. Earth dynamics: plate tectonics, volcanism, the rock cycle, soil formation

D. The Atmosphere

1. atmospheric history: origin, evolution, composition, and structure

2. atmospheric dynamics: weather, climate

E. The Biosphere

1. organisms: adaptations to their environments

2. populations and communities: exponential growth, carrying capacity

3. ecosystems and change: biomass, energy transfer, succession

4. evolution of life: natural selection, extinction

II. Human Population Dynamics (10%)

A. History and Global Distribution

1. numbers

2. demographics, such as birth and death rates

3. patterns of resource utilization

B. Carrying Capacity -- Local, Regional, Global

C. Cultural and Economic Influences

III. Renewable and Nonrenewable Resources: Distribution, Ownership, Use, Degradation (15%)

A. Water E. Energy

1- fresh: agricultural, industrial, domestic 1- conventional source

2- oceans: fisheries, industrial 2- alternative sources

B. Minerals F. Land

C. Soils 1- residential and commercial

1- soil types 2- agricultural and forestry

2- erosion and conservation 3- recreational and wilderness

D. Biological

1. natural areas

2. genetic diversity

3. food and other agricultural products

IV. Environmental Quality (20-25%)

A. Air/Water/Soil

1. major pollutants
a. types, such as SO₂, NO_x, and pesticides
b. thermal pollution
c. measurement and units of measure such as ppm, pH, µg/L
d. point and nonpoint sources (domestic, industrial, agricultural)

2. effects of pollutants on:
a. aquatic systems
b. vegetation
c. natural features, buildings and structures
d. wildlife

3. pollution reduction, remediation, and control

B. Solid Waste

1. types, sources, and amounts

2. current disposal methods and their limitations

3. alternative practices in solid waste management

C. Impact on Human Health

1. agents: chemical and biological

2. effects: acute and chronic, dose-response relationships

3. relative risks: evaluation and response

IV. Global Changes and Their Consequences (15-20%)

A. First-order Effects (changes)

1. atmosphere: CO₂, CH₄, stratospheric O₃and CFC's

2. oceans: surface temperatures, currents

3. biota: habitat destruction, introduced exotics, overharvesting

B. Higher-order Interactions (consequences)

1. atmosphere: global warming, increasing ultraviolet radiation

2. oceans: increasing sea level, long-term climate change, impact on El Niño

3. biota: loss of biodiversity

VI. Environment and Society: Trade-Offs and Decision Making (10%)

A. Economic Forces

1. cost-benefit analysis

2. marginal costs

3. ownership and externalized costs

B. Cultural and Aesthetic Considerations

C. Environmental Ethics

D. Environmental Laws and Regulations (International, National, and Regional)

E. Issues and options (conservation, preservation, restoration, remediation, sustainability, mitigation

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