ENV S 194 - Special Topics-Environmental Science

Credits: 1-5
Investigates the interaction of physical and biological systems in the environment. Examines the scientific principles which are involved in modern environmental problems and issues. Scientific topics could include energy, climate, soils, water, animal studies, local plants, and the dynamics of plants and animal populations and the communities they form. For students wishing to obtain a broad picture of human activities and their relationship to basic processes of ecosystems. Classes are conducted through lectures, class and group discussion and/or readings. May be repeated when a different topic is presented. This class does not meet the lab requirement.

Enrollment Requirement: Eligible for ENGL& 101 or instructor consent.

Course Outcomes:
Students who successfully complete this class will be able to:

Identify and evaluate important environmental issues that face us today.
Recognize how we directly and indirectly affect the environment.
Develops concepts describing a sustainable society.
Interpret statements made about the environment in the media.
Work effectively with peers in finding solutions to environmental problems.

Program Outcomes

Recognize how scientists use the Scientific Method to guide their inquiry, generate hypotheses, experimental design, reasoning, and draw conclusions based on empirical data.
Students will learn the steps of the scientific Method and be able to use the steps to design an experiment, collect data, and analyze the data.

College-wide Outcomes

Critical Thinking - Critical thinking finds expression in all disciplines and everyday life. It is characterized by an ability to reflect upon thinking patterns, including the role of emotions on thoughts, and to rigorously assess the quality of thought through its work products. Critical thinkers routinely evaluate thinking processes and alter them, as necessary, to facilitate an improvement in their thinking and potentially foster certain dispositions or intellectual traits over time.