NTRES 2010 - Environmental Conservation

(HA-AG, OPHLS-AG) (CU-CEL, CU-SBY)

Spring. 4 credits. Student option grading.

J. Yavitt.

Our lives are touched increasingly by questions about environmental degradation at local, regional, and global scales. Business-as-usual is being challenged. This course stimulates students to go beyond the often-simplistic portraits of environmental dilemmas offered by the mass media to gain a firmer basis for responsible stewardship and informed action on environmental issues. Students will practice and apply critical-thinking skills.

Outcome 1: Demonstrate an understanding of the history of environmental thought and how ideas in the past shape present-day environmental management.

Outcome 2: Apply the basic principles of physical, chemical, biological and social sciences to explain environmental problems and solutions to those problems, including climate change, human population growth, agriculture, energy and the environment, ecosystem and species management, biodiversity, and pollution.

Outcome 3: Demonstrate an ability to think critically by arguing for a solution to an environmental problem while recognizing the counter arguments.

Outcome 4: Debate the fundamental concepts of environmental management, both in written and oral format.

Outcome 5: Analyze the major national and international policies enacted to manage environmental problems.