Environmental Science is a highly integrative subject that seeks to understand the principles underlying the natural processes that take place on the Earth and how they explain global environmental processes and issues. The primary goal of this course is to develop an understanding of the natural world that you experience daily, and gain greater insight into the environmental perturbations being inflicted on the natural system by humans. Knowledge of the physical setting for human activities is essential to understand topics such as soil resources, water resources, air pollution and biodiversity.

The course material provides an introduction to Environmental Sciences for potential science majors, but is also a course that is relevant to social science and humanities majors who wish to be better-informed global citizens or would simply like to better understand the environment and the scientific processes operating in their surroundings.

It is expected that everyone completing this course will master scientific principles, and better understand controversies, involving processes that take place in the world around them, making them more environmentally literate member of society. We will accomplish these goals with the use of: selected readings in preparation for class, lectures, class presentations, and directed discussions.

Students can register for the optional 1 Credit EARTH 218 Lab concurrently with EARTH 219, but it is not required.

Course Requirements:

Testing for this course will be during lecture times, and attendance is strongly encouraged.

Intended Audience:

First- and second-year undergraduates, both non-science majors and students who plan to major in a science.

Class Format:

3 hours Lecture weekly.