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

 

  1. Class participation:  up to 10 pts. (extra credit)
  2. Extra Credit: approved 10 hour environmental volunteer experience, 10 points
  3. Total class points = 300

 

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