Environmental Studies- Winter 1998

Introduction. This course is designed to give the student who is not a natural science major a solid background in the ecological principles that form the basis for our understanding of the causes and possible solutions to today's environmental issues and problems. The course has a goal of providing students with literacy in ecology so that they can be active and effective contributors to developing and maintaining the sustainability of the global biosphere in which we all live. Through a combination of lectures, multi-media presentations, discussion section activities, and media research, students will learn ecological principles through a case study approach. Emphasis will be placed on understanding the interdisciplinary context of environmental management. It should be noted that this course satisfies the general education requirement for an IN course, but does not satisfy the ES24 prerequisite for the Environmental Studies major.

Jan 6 Course Introduction - the Scope of Ecology.

The Life-Support Environment

Reading: Odum-Prologue and Chapter 1

Jan 13 Levels of Organization in Ecology & the Ecosystem

Reading: Odum-Chapters 2 & 3

Jan 20 Energetics and Ecology.

Reading: Odum-Chapter 4

Jan 27 Midterm exam #1, Jan 31st

Material Cycles in Ecosystems

Reading: Odum-Chapter 5

Feb 3 Physical Conditions of Existence

Reading: Odum-Chapter 5

Feb 10 Population Ecology

Reading: Odum-Chapter 6

Feb 17 Midterm exam #2 Feb 20th. (No class on Tues. Feb. 18th, Monday exchange day)

Feb 24 Development and Evolution

Reading: Odum-Chapter 7

Mar 3 Major Ecosystem Types of the World

Reading: Odum-Chapter 8

Mar 10 Human Ecology and Sustainability

Reading: Odum-Epilogue

Mar 19 Final Exam Thursday, March 20th, 12:00-3:00 pm.

Odum, Eugene P. 1993. Ecology and our Endangered Life-Support Systems. Sinauer Associates Inc., Sunderland, Mass. 2nd Edition.

Evaluations will be based on performance on two midterms and a final (75%) and participation and attendance in discussion section (25%).

Office Phone Office Hours

Steve Gliessman Col 8 - Rm 320 x2178 Weds. 11-1:00
Message Phone - x4051

T. A.'s :

Matt Kauffman
Gabriel Labbate
Winifred Frick
Josh Cohen

Revised 7/12/04.