Tentative Syllabus, Spring 2008
Introduction to Environmental Science
11:375:101, section 01, index no. 65292, 3 credits
Time: Tuesday and Friday, 2nd period, 10:55 am to 12:15 pm
Place: Room 101, Hickman Hall, Cook/Douglass
Instructors: Dr. Craig Phelps, 732-932-8165 ext. 314
Foran Hall, Room 312A
e-mail: phelps@envsci.rutgers.edu
Office Hours: Tuesday, 12:45 – 1:45 pm; Friday, 9:30 – 10:30 am;
and by appointment (or drop by any time - at own risk)
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, 12:45 - 1:45 pm; Thursday, 12:45 – 1:45 pm;
and by appointment (or drop by any time - at own risk)
Note: For all e-mails, please include “ES101” in the subject line.
Course Website: All lecture notes and homework assignments will be posted on an eCompanion website. To access the site, go to www.rutgersonline.net and follow the instructions to login.
Textbook: available for purchase, Cook-Douglass Cooperative Bookstore (Corner of Lipman Drive and Nichol Avenue)
Environment: The Science behind the Stories 2nd edition, by Jay Withgott and Scott Brennan, 2006, Pearson/Benjamin Cummings, New York. (ISBN: 0-8053-8203-8)
Special Needs: Students with a disability: please see us immediately so that we may make any necessary arrangements to support a successful learning experience.
Requirements:
1. Three exams: Exam 1, 80 pts.; Exam 2, 90 pts.; Exam 3, 100 pts.
2. Homework Assignments (3): 10 pts. each (Note: this is 10% of your grade; if you have an 85 average on tests, but 0 on the homework, you end up with a 75 average!)
#1 - GraphIt! Quiz: An Introduction to Graphing Due Feb. 12th
#2 - GraphIt! Quiz: Age Pyramids and Population Growth Due Mar. 11th
#3 - GraphIt! Quiz: Municipal Solid Waste Trends in the U.S. Due May 2nd
Attendance:
Expected (though not recorded). 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 except
for special circumstances.
Tentative Class Schedule
(subject to change; check website)
|
No. |
Date |
Day |
Topic |
Instructor |
Reading* |
||
|
1 |
Jan |
22 |
T |
Introduction |
PS |
-- |
|
|
2 |
|
25 |
F |
Nature of Environ. Sci./State of World |
CP |
1 |
|
|
3 |
|
29 |
T |
Environmental Ethics |
PS |
2 (26-39) |
|
|
4 |
Feb |
1 |
F |
Environmental Economics |
PS |
2 (39-56) |
|
|
5 |
|
5 |
T |
Environmental Policy: Brownfields |
Guest |
3 |
|
|
6 |
|
8 |
F |
Chemistry and the Environment |
CP |
4 (88-101) |
|
|
7 |
|
12 |
T |
Energy and Life |
CP |
4 (101-115) |
|
|
8 |
|
15 |
F |
Environmental System and Cycles |
CP |
7 |
|
|
- |
|
18 |
M |
Optional Review, 5:30-7:00pm |
-- |
-- |
|
|
9 |
|
19 |
T |
Exam 1 – covering classes 1-8 |
-- |
-- |
|
|
10 |
|
22 |
F |
Population Growth |
CP |
8 |
|
|
11 |
|
26 |
T |
Agriculture |
CP |
9+10 |
|
|
12 |
|
29 |
F |
Land Use and Development |
CP |
12 |
|
|
13 |
Mar |
4 |
T |
Land Use and Development |
CP |
13 |
|
|
14 |
|
7 |
F |
Toxicology – Mechanisms and Types |
CP |
14 |
|
|
15 |
|
11 |
T |
Toxicology – Risk Assessment |
CP |
14 |
|
|
16 |
|
14 |
F |
Environmental Health |
Guest |
-- |
|
|
- |
|
18 |
T |
Spring Break |
|
|
|
|
- |
|
22 |
F |
Spring Break |
|
|
|
|
17 |
|
25 |
T |
Energy Systems I |
CP |
19-21 |
|
|
18 |
|
28 |
F |
Energy Systems II |
CP |
19-21 |
|
|
- |
|
31 |
M |
Optional Review, 5:30-7:00pm |
-- |
-- |
|
|
19 |
Apr |
1 |
T |
Exam 2 – covering classes 10-18 |
-- |
-- |
|
|
20 |
|
4 |
F |
Atmospheric Science and Air Pollution |
PS |
17 |
|
|
21 |
|
8 |
T |
Air Pollution |
PS |
17 |
|
|
22 |
|
11 |
F |
Climate Change |
Guest |
18 |
|
|
23 |
|
15 |
T |
The Oceans |
PS |
16 |
|
|
24 |
|
18 |
F |
The Oceans / Freshwater Resources |
PS |
|
|
|
25 |
|
22 |
T |
Freshwater Resources |
PS |
15 |
|
|
26 |
|
25 |
F |
Potable Water |
PS |
-- |
|
|
27 |
|
29 |
T |
Wastewater Treatment |
PS |
-- |
|
|
28 |
May |
2 |
F |
Solid Waste Management |
PS |
22 |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
Optional Review, TBA |
-- |
-- |
|
|
- |
|
14 |
W |
Exam 3 – 4:00 pm; classes 20-28 plus** |
Hickman 101 |
|
|
* 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.
** Exam 3 will also include 10 points of questions based on one additional chapter, of your choice, from among the following: 5 (Evolution, Biodiversity, and Population Ecology), 6 (Species Interactions and Community Ecology), 11 (Biodiversity and Conservation Biology), or 23 (Sustainable Solutions).
Guest Speakers:
Class 5 - Dr. Jorge Berkowitz, Langan Engineering & Environmental Services, Trenton, NJ
Class 16 - Dr. George van Orden, Health Officer, Hanover Township
Class 22 - Dr. Anthony Broccoli, Dept. of Environmental Sciences, SEBS