20806280Environmental Issues
Course Information
Description
Environmental Issues is an introductory (non-laboratory) survey course entirely appropriate for first-year students. Environmental Issues explores diverse problems of human impact on natural systems. Though fundamentally grounded on the basic principles of biology and ecology, this course is designed to encourage interdisciplinary thinking about critical environmental problems. Students explore chemical, biological, political and ethical interactions of environmental systems on scales that range from local to international. The course prepares students for Principles of Ecology and other more advanced courses in Environmental Studies. This course transfers to UW–Madison at the elementary level. Offered during the spring semester.
Total Credits
4
Course Competencies
  1. Identify the basic scientific principles that regulate environmental change.
    Assessment Strategies
    through participation in class discussion
    by completing weekly assignments and activities
    by completing major projects
    Criteria
    all work meets criteria as defined in rubrics and scoring guides provided by the instructor.

  2. Identify how and why human environmental impacts have changed throughout human history.
    Assessment Strategies
    through participation in class discussion
    by completing weekly assignments and activities
    by completing major projects
    Criteria
    all work meets criteria as defined in rubrics and scoring guides provided by the instructor.

  3. Analyze the technologies that affect environmental problems.
    Assessment Strategies
    through participation in class discussion
    by completing weekly assignments and activities
    by completing major projects
    Criteria
    all work meets criteria as defined in rubrics and scoring guides provided by the instructor.

  4. Appreciate the critical nature of the environmental challenges and choices that face modern society.
    Assessment Strategies
    through participation in class discussion
    by completing weekly assignments and activities
    by completing major projects
    Criteria
    all work meets criteria as defined in rubrics and scoring guides provided by the instructor.

  5. Appreciate how environmental issues relate to personal choices.
    Assessment Strategies
    through participation in class discussion
    by completing weekly assignments and activities
    by completing major projects
    Criteria
    all work meets criteria as defined in rubrics and scoring guides provided by the instructor.

  6. Develop a sense of professionalism and pride in workmanship on all course activities.
    Assessment Strategies
    through participation in class discussion
    by completing weekly assignments and activities
    by completing major projects
    Criteria
    all work meets criteria as defined in rubrics and scoring guides provided by the instructor.

  7. Work cooperatively with others to accomplish a group objective.
    Assessment Strategies
    through participation in class discussion
    by completing weekly assignments and activities
    by completing major projects
    Criteria
    all work meets criteria as defined in rubrics and scoring guides provided by the instructor.

  8. Develop self-reliance and assume responsibility for learning the ideas presented in the course.
    Assessment Strategies
    through participation in class discussion
    by completing weekly assignments and activities
    by completing major projects
    Criteria
    all work meets criteria as defined in rubrics and scoring guides provided by the instructor.