ENV 2100-001 Environmental Science Fall 2010 Syllabus Instructor: Lisa Kelly, Ph.D. E-mail: [email protected] Phone: 910-521-6377 Web: http://www.uncp.edu/home/kellyl Office: Oxendine Room 2221 Class hours: MWF 2:30-3:20 PM (Rm 2237) Office hours: M 10:00-11:00 AM, M 1:30-2:30 PM, T 1:30-2:30 PM, W 3:30-4:30 PM, F 10:00-11:00 AM Textbook: Withgott, Jay and Scott Brennan. 2008. Environment: The Science behind the Stories. 3rd Edition. Pearson Benjamin Cummings. San Francisco, CA. Required. Course description As a study of environmental science, this course emphasizes the impacts that an increasing human population has on the biosphere. The course deals specifically with the demands placed by humans on natural resources and the resulting acceleration of environmental deterioration, human attitudes toward the environment, and techniques and policies by which resources could be intelligently managed. Successful completion of this course satisfies the three credit hours of the natural science requirement of the General Education curriculum. This course is required for the Environmental Science degree, but it does not fulfill a biology major elective. Objectives As a part of the General Education curriculum, this course assists with development of critical thinking and problem solving skills as well as providing a general knowledge of principles and concepts that assist with understanding and appreciation of the world around us. (3 semester hours credit) Students completing this course should: have a better understanding of the intricate interconnections within the natural world have a clear understanding of the importance of the major environmental problems affecting the biosphere, together with possible solutions have improved critical thinking skills regarding current environmental issues be able to demonstrate a knowledge of the purpose, methods, and principles of scientific inquiry possess knowledge regarding the effects of human expansion and/or technology upon the physical and human environment Grading policies Your grade in this course will be based on four hour-long exams and one comprehensive final exam. The lowest score of the four hour-long exams will be dropped before calculating your final grade. Make-up of a single missed exam will be allowed only for a reasonable excuse and will be given during the week of finals. If you miss two exams, you will receive an "Incomplete" for the course, and the exams must be made up the following semester.2 Grading scale Grading scale -- A = 93-100% C = 73-76% A- = 90-92% C- = 70-72% B+ = 87-89% D+ = 67-69% B = 83-86% D = 63-66% B- = 80-82% D- = 60-62% C+ = 77-79% F = <60% Disability support services Any student with a documented disability needing academic adjustments is required to speak directly to Disability Support Services and the instructor, as early in the semester (preferably within the first class week) as possible. All discussions will remain confidential. Please contact Mary Helen Walker, Disability Support Services, DF Lowry Building, 910-521-6695. Attendance policies Class attendance is critical for your educational experience and is essential for the academic integrity of the science curriculum. You are expected to attend every class. Absences, regardless of the cause, do not relieve you of any course requirement. Attendance will be taken during each class session. You may miss 6 lectures without penalty. However, if you exceed 6 absences from lecture, 3 points will be deducted from your final average for each excessive absence. Absences resulting from doctor's appointments, family emergencies, jury duty, sporting events in which you must participate, illnesses, etc., do not exempt you from this policy! Emergency University Closings Hotline: Phone 910-521-6888 & http://www.uncp.edu/relations/eih.htm Disruptive behaviors http://www.uncp.edu/sa/pol_pub/code_of_conduct.htm It is essential that you arrive to class on time, take notes, remain attentive, and give input as appropriate. Disruptive behaviors will not be tolerated. As stated in the University Code of Conduct, “disruptive behavior is defined as repeated, continuous, and/or multiple student behaviors that hamper the ability of instructors to teach and students to learn.” I will speak with you if you are being disruptive. If the behaviors continue, I will ask you to leave the classroom (incurring an absence for the day). Further, I will report the incident to the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, and you may be administratively withdrawn from the course. Note that disruptive behaviors include, but are not limited to, arriving to class late and leaving early, use of cell phones, text messaging, and talking when I am speaking. Information about appropriate conduct can be found on the website indicated above and in the Student Handbook under Code of Conduct (items 15 and 17). Honor code http://www.uncp.edu/sa/pol_pub/honor_code.htm You are expected to be familiar with the provisions of the University Academic Honor Code, as given on pages 51-53 of the 2006-2007 undergraduate catalog and on the website indicated above. Violations of the honor code will not be tolerated. Violations include, but are not limited to, cheating on exams, altering scored answers on exams, and knowingly helping another person cheat. You may not use any notes or assistance whatsoever on exams, other than your mental notes. If you are caught cheating, you will receive a score of “zero” on the exam, and you will not be able to drop any other exam score. I will also report the incident to the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, and a record of the offense will remain on file for five years or until you graduate. For second offenses, I will take the case to the Campus Judicial Board.3 ENV 2100 – ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE LECTURE SCHEDULE – FALL 2010 Dr. Lisa Kelly, Oxendine 2221, Phone 521-6377 Week Beginning Text Chapter Lecture Topic August 18 (Wed.) 1 Introduction; Scientific Method August 23 1 2 Introduction: Foundations of Environ. Science; Environmental Ethics and Economics August 30 3 Environmental Policies September 6 September 9 September 10 4 Holiday (Monday); Energy to Life No class Friday (I'll be away at a meeting) September 13 4 Energy to Life; Exam #1 (Friday) September 20 5 Evolution, Biodiversity, and