Syllabus,
Fall 2011
Introduction
to Environmental Science
11:375:101,
section 01, index no. 20966 3 credits
Time: Monday
and Wednesday, 5th period, 3:55 pm to 5:15 pm
Place: Room
022, Loree Hall, Cook/Douglass
Course
Website: All lecture notes and homework assignments will be
posted on an eCompanion
website. Go to https://ecollege.rutgers.edu/index2.jsp and
follow the instructions to login.
Textbook: available for purchase
at the University Bookstore
Environment:
The Science behind the Stories 4rd edition,
by Jay Withgott and Scott Brennan, 2011,
Pearson/Benjamin Cummings, New York.
(ISBN: 978-0-321-71534-0). An
electronic version of the book is available for purchase at www.prenhall.com/withgott .
Instructors: Dr. Craig Phelps, 732-932-9800
x6224
Environmental
& Natural Resource Sciences Bldg., Room 236
e-mail: phelps@envsci.rutgers.edu
Office
Hours: Tuesday and Thursday, 4:00 – 5:00 p.m.; and by appointment
Dr.
Peter F. Strom, 732-932-9800 ext. 6216
Environmental
& Natural Resource Sciences Bldg., Room 228
e-mail: strom@aesop.rutgers.edu
Office
Hours: Tuesday and Wednesday, 2:00 – 3:00 p.m.; and by appointment
Note: For all e-mails, please include
“ES101” in the subject line, and give your full name.
Objectives
of the Course
It is
our goal to introduce the field of environmental science and show how an
understanding of the natural world around us and the application of the
scientific method can help us to address the problems facing our planet. Our specific objectives are to:
1.
Introduce a variety of
environmental problems, and solutions, in a scientific context.
2.
Enable students to
understand environmental issues using a scientific approach.
3.
Improve basic
scientific literacy.
SAS
Core Curriculum Learning Goals
I: 21st Century Challenges
c.
Analyze the relationship that science and technology have to contemporary
social issues.
II: Areas of Inquiry
A:
Natural Sciences
e.
Understand and apply basic principles and concepts in the physical and
biological sciences.
f.
Explain and be able to assess the relationship among assumptions, method,
evidence, arguments, and theory in scientific analysis.
Requirements:
1. Three exams: Exam 1, 80 pts.; Exam 2, 90 pts.; Exam
3, 90 pts.
2. Homework Assignments (5): 10 pts. each. Late assignments will receive only
½ credit.
#1
- GraphIt! Quiz: An Introduction to
Graphing Due
Sept.
21st
#2
- GraphIt! Quiz: Age Pyramids and
Population Growth Due Oct. 12th
#3
- GraphIt! Quiz: Dose – Response
Curves
Due Nov. 2nd
#4
- GraphIt! Quiz: Fossil Fuels and
Alternative Energy Due Nov. 21st
#5
- GraphIt! Quiz: Municipal Solid Waste
Trends in the U.S. Due
Dec. 12th
Attendance: Students are expected to attend all classes (although
attendance is not recorded); if you expect to miss a significant number of
classes, please use the University absence reporting website https://sims.rutgers.edu/ssra/ to
indicate the dates and reason for your absence. An email will be automatically sent to
me.
Please note: If you miss a class, you are responsible
for all materials, including announcements. Arrange (now!) with a classmate to pick
up any handouts and take notes for you.
There will be no make-up exams without an acceptable excuse.
Special
Needs:
Students with a disability: please see us immediately so that we may
make any necessary arrangements to support a successful learning experience.
Tentative Class
Schedule
(subject to change; check website)
|
Date |
Day |
Topic |
No. |
Instructor |
|
|
|
Sep |
7 |
W |
Introduction |
1 |
CP + PS |
-- |
|
|
8 |
Th |
Science and Sustainability |
2 |
CP |
1 |
|
|
12 |
M |
Earth’s Physical Systems |
3 |
CP |
2 |
|
|
14 |
W |
Systems and Ecosystems I |
4 |
CP |
5 |
|
|
19 |
M |
Systems and Ecosystems II |
5 |
CP |
5 |
|
|
21 |
W |
Ethics and Economics |
6 |
PS |
6 |
|
|
26 |
M |
Environmental Policy |
7 |
PS |
7 |
|
|
28 |
W |
NJ Policy / Brownfields |
8 |
Guest |
see website |
|
|
30 |
F |
Opt. Review (022 Lor,
3:55-5:15 p.m.) |
- |
-- |
-- |
|
Oct |
3 |
M |
Exam 1 – covering classes 1-8 |
9 |
-- |
-- |
|
|
5 |
W |
Human Population |
10 |
CP |
3(63-70), 8 |
|
|
10 |
M |
Biotechnology and the Future of Food |
11 |
CP |
10 |
|
|
12 |
W |
Forest and Wilderness |
12 |
CP |
12 |
|
|
17 |
M |
The Urban Environment |
13 |
CP |
13 |
|
|
19 |
W |
Toxicology I |
14 |
CP |
14 |
|
|
24 |
M |
Toxicology II |
15 |
CP |
14 |
|
|
26 |
W |
Potable Water |
16 |
PS |
-- |
|
|
31 |
M |
Wastewater Treatment |
17 |
PS |
-- |
|
Nov |
2 |
W |
Environmental Health |
18 |
Guest |
-- |
|
|
4 |
F |
Opt. Review (022 Lor,
3:55-5:15 p.m.) |
- |
-- |
-- |
|
|
7 |
M |
Exam 2 – covering classes 10-18 |
19 |
-- |
-- |
|
|
9 |
W |
Freshwater Resources I |
20 |
PS |
15 |
|
|
14 |
M |
Freshwater Resources II |
21 |
PS |
15 |
|
|
16 |
W |
Marine Resources |
22 |
CP |
16 |
|
|
21 |
M |
Atmospheric Science and Air Pollution I |
23 |
PS |
17 |
|
|
28 |
M |
Atmospheric Science and Air Pollution II |
24 |
PS |
17 |
|
|
30 |
W |
Global Climate Change |
25 |
Guest |
18 |
|
Dec |
5 |
M |
Fossil Fuels |
26 |
CP |
19 |
|
|
7 |
W |
Energy Alternatives |
27 |
CP |
20-21 |
|
|
12 |
M |
Solid Waste Management |
28 |
PS |
22 |
|
|
|
|
Opt.
Review (TBA) |
- |
-- |
-- |
|
|
23 |
F |
Exam 3 –
12:00 p.m.; classes 20-28 |
- |
Lor 022 |
|
* You are welcome to
read the entire book; the indicated chapters (pages) usually relate to the
topic that will be covered in class that day, and should be read beforehand, if
possible.