Syllabus

Course Description

This course offers a broad overview of physical, chemical, biological, geological, principles of environmental sciences, and serves as a core course for EEOS majors. Examples will focus on linked watershed and coastal marine systems. The student will be introduced to natural processes and interactions in the atmosphere, in the ocean, and on land. There is a focus on biogeochemical cycling of elements as well as changes of these natural cycles with time, especially with recent anthropogenic effects. Topics include plate tectonics, global climate change, ozone depletion, water pollution, oceanography, ecosystem health, and natural resources.

Course Objectives

This course serves as a pre-requisite for many of the advanced EEOS 200, 300, and 400 level courses as well as a core requirement for the EEOS major. It also fulfills the General Education requirement in the Natural Sciences. The goal of this course is to offer students the opportunity to learn about their environment through direct and indirect observations, formation of hypotheses, and experimental methods. Lectures will be supplemented with a 1 credit lab where students will experience hands-on exercises both independently and in groups. Students will also gain an understanding of the evolution of scientific knowledge, the role science plays in society, and how technology can help answer scientific questions.

CO-Rerequisite

Required Textbook

Miller-Living in the Environment, 16th edition

Other Reading

 Spiral Notebook, I-Clickers

Grading

 See full syllabus here