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Course SyllabusSci275Environmental Science

Course Start Date: 11/09/2009Course End Date: 1/24/2010

Please print a copy of this syllabus for handy reference.

Whenever there is a question about what assignments are due, please remember this syllabus is considered the ruling document.

Copyright

Copyright ©2009 by University of Phoenix. All rights reserved.

University of Phoenix© is a registered trademark of Apollo Group, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries.

Microsoft©, Windows©, and Windows NT© are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. All other company and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies. Use of these marks is not intended to imply endorsement, sponsorship, or affiliation.

Edited in accordance with University of Phoenix© editorial standards and practices.

Facilitator Information

Sarah [email protected] (University of Phoenix)[email protected] (Personal)618.398.4161 (CST)

Facilitator Availability

I am available from 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Central Time on most days, but I attempt to reserve Sunday for my family. During the week, I am online most of the time during that 9 a.m.-9 p.m. time frame.

On Saturdays, I tend to be online in the morning only. If these times are not convenient for you, please let me know. I will be happy to accommodate your schedule, if possible. I provide you with these times to make it easier to communicate with me, and not to limit our contact.

I want you to know that, should you need to contact me outside these time frames, you should not hesitate to do so.

For emergencies, when you are not able to gain access to messages on the Online Learning System (OLS), please send a message to my personal email address. In the event a third party needs to contact me, please direct them to my contact information listed under "facilitator information." No third party should use your login credentials to gain access to the classroom.

Where to Go to Class

Main: This is the main forum for the class and is where discussion is conducted. It has read-and-write access for everyone.

Chat-Room: This is a read-and-write access forum. It is designed as a place to discuss issues not related to the course content. This is the forum to which we will send our bios.

Course-Materials: This is a read-only forum, which means you can read messages here but cannot send any. This is where I will post the course syllabus and materials.

Individual Forum: You will see one forum with your name on it. This is a private forum, shared only by you and me, the facilitator. Your classmates will not have access to this forum. This is where you will post your individual assignments, and where I will post your feedback. You can also ask questions here. However, if you have general questions about instructions of assignments, please post those in the Main forum, since other students may benefit by that exchange as well.

Policies

For class policies, please see the Policies link on the left side of the Materials page for the course on eCampus. Faculty and students/learners will be held responsible for understanding and adhering to all policies contained within that link. University policies are subject to change so please be sure to read them at the beginning of each class as it may have changed since your last class. Policies may be slightly different depending on the modality in which you attend class. If you have recently changed modalities it is important you read the policies governing your current class modality.

Technical Support

Technical Support is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Call 1-877-832-4867, or use the e-mail support form.

http://kb.phoenix.edu/display/2/_index1.asp?tab=atr&c=12&cpc=dt2wJiVUQ8s0WMPyKTgX6Jd18xTb14qA40Nfr5EdyY0JfnR2&cid=5&r=0.889126

http://kb.phoenix.edu/display/2/_index1.asp?tab=atr&c=12&cpc=dt2wJiVUQ8s0WMPyKTgX6Jd18xTb14qA40Nfr5EdyY0JfnR2&cid=5&r=0.889126

mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

Answers to the most common issues are found in the Knowledge Base by clicking Help, found at the top of every student Web site.

Feedback

Each week, I will provide grades or scores and comments on your assignments. I will send feedback to your Individual forum.

Grading Formula

Points Grade

95+ A

90-94 A-

87-89 B+

84-86 B

80-83 B-

77-79 C+

74-76 C

70-73 C-

67-69 D+

64-66 D

60-63 D-

<59 F

Course Description

This course focuses on the causes of, impacts of, and solutions to environmental issues. Students identify global environmental issues as well as develop and critique environmental action plans. Topics include ecosystems, energy, populations, resources, pollution, and sustainability.

Course Topics & Objectives

See eCampus.

Course Materials

See eCampus.

Point Values for Course Assignments

ASSIGNMENTS Points

Individual (100%) 1000

Checkpoint 1: Local Environmental Issue 30

Checkpoint 2: Conservation and PreservationAssignment: Risk Assessment

3090

Checkpoint 3: Succession and Natural Selection 30

Checkpoint 4: Population SizeAssignment: Urbanization

3090

Checkpoint 5: Atmospheric Issues 30

Checkpoint 6: Water Resource ChallengesAssignment: Water Resource Plan

3090

Checkpoint 7: Terrestrial Resource Plan 30

Checkpoint 8: Energy Resource ChallengesAssignment: Energy Resource Plan

3090

Final Project: Mitigation Strategies and Solutions 300

Participation (10 points per week) 50

Discussion Questions (10 points per week) 50

Total 1000

Week One

Environmental Issues and Sustainability

Discuss human behaviors that threaten environmental sustainability. Defend an environmental worldview. Relate a current environmental problem with possible causes.

Course Assignments

1. Course Preparation

Read the course description and objectives. Read the facilitator’s biography and post your own.

2. Readings

Read Appendix A. Read Ch. 1 & 2–4 in Visualizing Environmental Science.

3. CheckPoint: Local Environmental Issue

Many environmental problems, such as depletion of natural resources, air pollution, and overpopulation, exist throughout the world. The root of most of these global problems stems from the local environment and decisions made at local levels that are based on lifestyles choices such as those regarding food, transportation, and housing.

Post a 200- to 300-word response to the following:

o Discuss an environmental problem that you feel is significant in your town or city. o What are some causes? o Are any of these causes related to human values and environmental ethics?o Explain your answers.

4. Discussion Questions

Post a response in your own words defining environmental sustainability. Then, list three behaviors of your own that threaten environmental sustainability. How could you change those behaviors to reduce threats to environmental sustainability?

Review Ch. 2. Post a reflection on your own worldview and compare it with the worldviews presented in the text. Provide examples of the benefits of your view to defend your position.

Weekly Reminders

Discussion Questions

Discussion question responses will count towards the class participation requirement.

Only posts in the Main classroom forum will count towards your class participation score.

Summary of Week 1 Deliverables

Assignment Location Due

Personal Bio Chat Room Forum Day 1

Discussion Question 1 Main Forum Day 2


Checkpoint:Local Environmental Issue Individual Forum Day 5

Week Two

Politics and Environmental Risk

Differentiate environmental conservation and preservation efforts. Utilize the steps of risk assessment in determining adverse health impacts.

Course Assignments

1. CheckPoint: Conservation and Preservation

Both conservation and preservation activities are currently part of all national forest management programs. The Bridger Teton video discusses one controversy between those who want to harvest the resources of one section of the forest in an environmentally friendly way (conservation) and others who believe it should be left in its original state (preservation).

View the Ch. 2 Bridger Teton VLR located under the Week Two Materials section of your student Web page.


o Provide a brief summary differentiating conservation and preservation.

o Do you believe humans can harvest forest resources in an environmentally friendly way, or, should national forests be left in their natural state in which resources are not used to benefit humans?

o To which side are you inclined?

o Provide specific examples from the Bridger Teton video as you defend your position.

2. Assignment: Risk Assessment

You are a member of the Genericville City Council. A proposal has been brought forth to use the insecticide spray, Malathion. Currently, the council is split on its decision, and your vote will determine whether Malathion can be used in the city.

Read Risk Assessment of Malathion in Appendix B.

Create an outline of the risk of using Malathion according to the four steps of risk assessment presented in Ch. 4 Figure 4.1 of Visualizing Environmental Science.

Hazard identification Dose-response Exposure Risk characterization

Decide your vote for the city council based on your outline.

Write a 700- to 1,050-word paper that presents your evaluation of the risk of Malathion based on your outline. Explain the reasoning for your vote based on the four steps of risk assessment. Consider any relevant political, social, and economic aspects involved.

Format your paper according to APA guidelines.

Post your paper as an attachment.

Weekly Reminders



Checkpoint: Conservation and Preservation Individual Forum Day 5

Assignment: Risk Assessment Individual Forum Day 7

Week Three

Ecosystems

Discuss the flow of energy in ecosystems. Describe living and nonliving components of a biome. Apply the concepts of natural selection and succession to a changing ecosystem.

Course Assignments

1. Readings

Read Ch. 5–7 in Visualizing Environmental Science.

2. CheckPoint: Succession and Natural Selection

View the Ch. 6 Succession animation located under the Week Three Materials section of your student Web page.

Post a total of 200- to 300-words in response to the following items:

o View the succession of the ecosystem in the Succession animation. Is it primary or secondary succession? Explain your answer.

o Respond to question 9 under the Critical and Creative Thinking Questions in Chapter 6 of the text. Review Ch. 6 on natural selection to help you with your response. If you need additional help with your hypothesis, refer to the following article to see an explanation of how evolution could have occurred in a population of mussels: http://evolution.berkeley.edu/evolibrary/news/060901_mussels


Review Ch. 5, The Flow of Energy Through Ecosystems. Then, complete Appendix C. Post your response to the following:

Identify the fruit or vegetable you selected and relate the second law of thermodynamics to the changes in energy observed in Appendix C. How did the amount of energy gained compare to the amount of energy lost as heat at the second through fourth trophic levels?

http://evolution.berkeley.edu/evolibrary/news/060901_mussels

Considering the amount of energy required to produce animal-based foods and goods, should humans change their habits so they consume products closer to the bottom of the food chain because it is more efficient?

Use the Ch. 6 Biome animation located under the Week Three Materials section of your student Web page to identify which biome you live in by clicking on the colored area of your general location. Post a brief description of your biome by responding to the following:

Provide a one-sentence description of typical precipitation and temperature for summer and winter. Use terms such as cool, cold, warm, hot, dry, and wet.

Identify the characteristics of a plant and animal that is seen regularly in your region. How do the characteristics relate to the amount of rain or sunlight in your region?

When responding to your classmates, explain how the traits of your plant or animal may or may not be adaptable to their biome.

Weekly Reminders








Checkpoint: Succession and Natural Selection Individual Forum Day 5

Week Four

Human Population and the Environment

Explain the factors that produce changes in population size. Discuss the environmental benefits and challenges of urbanization.

Course Assignments

1. CheckPoint: Population Size

View the Ch. 7 Alien Invasion VLR located under the Week Four Materials section of your student Web page.


o Explain the four factors that produce changes in population size. o Which factors affect population size in the video? o What do you predict will happen to the nutria population after the land is depleted of the

nutrias’ food resource?

2. Assignment: Urbanization

Review Ch. 7, which discusses the benefits and challenges of urbanization and how the U.N. Conference gave awards for urban development projects that improved human settlements.

Read summaries of the 1996 Winners of the Dubai awards on their Web sites at:

Institutionalizing Community-Based Development: http://www.unesco.org/most/africa17.htm

Self-Employed Women's Association (SEWA) Bank: http://www.unesco.org/most/asia1.htm

Shelter Upgrading in Agadir, Morocco: http://www.unesco.org/most/africa3.htm City Management in Tilburg: Past, Present and Future:

http://www.unesco.org/most/westeu14.htm Banana Kelly Community Improvement Association:

http://www.unesco.org/most/usa1.htm Project of Lots and Services for low income population on the North Zone:

http://www.unesco.org/most/southam1.htm

Create a 7- to 10-slide PowerPoint® presentation that describes environmental benefits and challenges of urbanization. In your own words, include descriptions of two 1996 award winners, discussing how they overcame one of the challenges mentioned in your presentation.

Include detailed speaker notes.

Review the Axia College PowerPoint® Tutorial if you need assistance building your presentation.

Enter your student Web site at https://ecampus.phoenix.edu/ Log in with your username and password. Click the Library tab. Select Center for Writing Excellence. Choose Tutorials & Guides. Click Axia College PowerPoint® Tutorial under Software Tutorials and Guides

http://www.unesco.org/most/southam1.htm

http://www.unesco.org/most/usa1.htm

http://www.unesco.org/most/westeu14.htm

http://www.unesco.org/most/africa3.htm

http://www.unesco.org/most/asia1.htm

http://www.unesco.org/most/africa17.htm

Format your citations according to APA guidelines.

Post the PowerPoint® as an attachment.

Weekly Reminders



Checkpoint: Population Size Individual Forum Day 5

Assignment: Urbanization Individual Forum Day 7

Week Five

Atmospheric Issues

Summarize the causes and effects of an atmospheric issue. Discuss a key challenge to controlling air emissions. Discuss impacts of and solutions for indoor air pollution.

Course Assignments

1. Readings

Read Ch. 8–11 in Visualizing Environmental Science.

2. CheckPoint: Atmospheric Issues

Review Ch. 8 & 9 of the text. Complete the Air Pollution Chart in Appendix D and respond to the questions provided at the

bottom of Appendix D.

Post as an attachment.


Go to the Emissions Calculator Web site at http://airhead.cnt.org/Calculator/?sid=a743a150a5f5ff4c72817e723b7c8c14. Fill out the survey to the best of your knowledge to calculate the total pounds of air pollution your household emits.

Address the following: What was your highest contributor? What can you do to lower your total? What is your greatest challenge in lowering your total? When you review other students’ posts, suggest how they might control air emissions for their situations.

Review the variety of indoor pollutant hazards posted on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Web site at http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/insidest.html#Refguide.

Address the following: Describe at least three potential indoor air quality (IAQ) hazards in your home. What are the possible health impacts of each hazard? Do you believe your health is at risk based on your exposure to the three IAQ hazards? Why or why not? What can you do to reduce exposure to the hazard?

http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/insidest.html#Refguide

http://airhead.cnt.org/Calculator/?sid=a743a150a5f5ff4c72817e723b7c8c14

http://airhead.cnt.org/Calculator/?sid=a743a150a5f5ff4c72817e723b7c8c14

Weekly Reminders








Checkpoint: Atmospheric Issues Individual Forum Day 5

Week Six

Water Resource Issues

Identify the impact of human activities on a water resource. Formulate a sustainable plan to manage a water resource.

Course Assignments

1. CheckPoint: Water Resource Challenges

Complete the Water Resource Challenges table in Appendix E by briefly identifying three fresh and three ocean water resource issues. Then, respond to the questions provided at the bottom of Appendix E.

Post as an attachment.

2. Assignment: Water Resource Plan

Choose to conduct either Part A or Part B for this assignment.

Part A

Resource: Ch. 10 of Visualizing Environmental Science View the Declining Fish Stock VLR located under the Week Six Materials section of your

student Web page. Write a 700- to 1,050-word paper that includes the following:

o A brief description of the water resource problem in the video and how it originatedo A management and sustainment plan you think will benefit both sides of the issueo How your plan will be viewed, both negatively and positively, by the environmentalists

and the fishermeno Other problems, besides declining fish stock, that result from fishermen’s techniques for

catching fisho How your plan affects the community o Consider issues relating to jobs, resources, and lifestyles. Explain your answers.

Use Appendix F as a guide when developing your sustainment plan. Include a minimum of two outside references. Format your paper according to APA guidelines. Post your paper as an attachment.

Part B

Review Ch. 11, Figure 11.12 and choose one of the ocean water resource issues pictured, or choose a freshwater resource issue from the following list:

o Flooding o Aquifer Depletion o Overdrawing surface water o Saltwater intrusion and salinization o Water Pollution

o Eutrophication

Write a 700- to 1,050-word paper that includes the following:

o A brief description of your selected water resource issue and how it originated

o A management and sustainment plan you think will alleviate the problem

o Any opposing views of the issue

o Other water or land resource problems that might result from your issue, such as nonpoint source pollution contributes to eutrophication in freshwater resources, or the destruction of coastal estuaries impacts marine life and ocean resources

o Explain your answers.

o Any challenges, limitations, or implications of your plan

o How your plan affects the community

o Consider issues relating to jobs, resources, and lifestyles. Explain your answers.

Use Appendix F as a guide when developing your sustainment plan. Include a minimum of two outside references. Format your paper according to APA guidelines. Post your paper as an attachment.

Weekly Reminders



Checkpoint: Water Resource Challenges Individual Forum Day 5

Assignment: Water Resource Plan Individual Forum Day 7

Week Seven

Terrestrial Resource Issues

Describe challenges associated with managing a terrestrial resource. Formulate a sustainable plan to manage a terrestrial resource.

Course Assignments

1. Readings

Read Ch. 12–16 and Ch. 17 & 18 in Visualizing Environmental Science.

2. CheckPoint: Terrestrial Resource Plan

Choose a terrestrial resource issue discussed in Ch. 12–16 of the text. Post a 5- to 7-slide PowerPoint® presentation according to the following:

o A brief description of the terrestrial resource issue o A management and sustainment plan for the terrestrial resource o Challenges or implications of your management and sustainment plan

Use Appendix F as a guide when developing your sustainment plan. Use speaker notes to provide the details of your plan. Format your citations and references according to APA guidelines. Post as an attachment.


View the Don’t Say Goodbye VLR located under the Week Seven Materials section of your student Web page.

Address the following: Identify a viewpoint given in the video that highlights the importance of biodiversity. Do you believe that every species is connected to one another as expressed in the video? Why or why not?

Choose one of the following terrestrial resource challenges: loss of agricultural land or reducing solid waste.

Address the following: What are the challenges of managing your chosen terrestrial resource issue? What human activities contribute to the problem?

Weekly Reminders








Checkpoint: Terrestrial Resource Plan Individual Forum Day 5

Week Eight

Energy Issues

Describe challenges associated with energy resource management. Formulate a plan for energy conservation education.

Course Assignments

1. CheckPoint: Energy Resource Challenges

View the Alternative Energy VLR located under the Week Eight Materials section of your student Web page.


o Describe all of the renewable energy alternatives presented in the video. o What are some challenges with using and managing these alternative, renewable energy

resources? o Name at least one other renewable energy resource not presented in the video.o Include a response to the following statement: Nonrenewable energy resources include

coal, oil, and natural gas. o Describe three common challenges with managing nonrenewable energy resources.

2. Assignment: Energy Resource Plan

You are a board member of your Home Owner’s Association. At your next meeting, your goal is to educate other homeowners about energy conservation.

Review the following Energy Resource Plan outline:

Introduction:

Provide information about why conserving energy is important.

Renewable versus Nonrenewable

Briefly distinguish between these two types of energy.

Methods to conserve and help the environment

What can each member do, personally, to conserve energy and help the environment at the same time?

Provide at least three methods.

Government efforts

How can the government be involved in conservation efforts?

Conclusion

Wrap up the meeting with a brief summary of your main points. Provide some motivation for conserving energy with a memorable slogan,

statement, or song, for example.

Conduct either Option 1 or Option 2.

1. Create a 7- to 10-slide PowerPoint® that includes all of the elements in the Energy Resource Plan outline. Include speaker notes as appropriate.

2. Write a 350- to 700-word paper that includes all elements of the Energy Resource Plan outline.

Format your paper according to APA guidelines. Post your paper as an attachment.

Weekly Reminders



Checkpoint: Energy Resource Challenges Individual Forum Day 5

Assignment: Energy Resource Plan Individual Forum Day 7

Week Nine

Core Concepts Application

Rationalize a sustainable plan for addressing an environmental issue. Evaluate mitigation strategies and solutions to an environmental problem.

Course Assignments

1. Capstone Discussion Question

Post your response to the following: If you were an environmental researcher and were given funding to assist with one environmental issue, which of the following topics would you choose to spend your funds on?

o Human population o Atmospheric pollution o Water resources o Terrestrial resources o Energy conservation

What influenced your choice? What would the ultimate goal of your research be?

2. Final Project: Mitigation Strategies and Solutions

Resource: Appendix A

Use the topic you chose as an environmental researcher for the Week Nine Capstone Discussion Question or choose another topic you have learned about over the past 8 weeks.

Focus on a specific environmental problem within your selected topic. Your topic, for example, could be Atmospheric Issues, and your environmental problem could be global warming.

Write a 1,750- to 2,100-word paper that formulates a mitigation plan for your specific environmental problem. Include the following:

o Detailed description of the problem o Nonliving and living factors that contribute to or are affected by the problem o Positive or negative human impacts o Evaluation of current sustainability strategies and solutions o Your plan to reach sustainability (See Appendix F) o Benefits and challenges of your plan o Required government, societal, and global support

Include at least four outside sources. Two of the four sources should be peer-reviewed. If you need assistance with identifying a peer-reviewed article, review Appendix G.

Format your paper according to APA guidelines.

Post your paper as an attachment.

Weekly Reminders






Capstone Discussion Question Main Forum Day 3

Final Project: Mitigation Strategies and Solutions Individual Forum Day 7

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