GEO 111 - Local Environmental Issues and Impact

5 Credits

What is your impact on the environment? We will examine your role in important environmental issues such as energy use and consumption, water and land use and contamination, transportation, diet, waste-water treatment, solid and hazardous waste disposal, and other topics of local importance. Each student will undertake an examination of his/her own personal impact on the local environment.

Placement Eligibility Math 091 or higher
Course Note Students may not take this class if they have previously taken or are concurrently enrolled in Environmental Science 102. Some field trips will be required.
FeesGL SC

Quarters Typically Offered
Designed to Serve General students as an elective to satisfy distribution requirements.
Active Date 20201208T18:00:22

Grading Basis Decimal Grade
Class Limit 24
Contact Hours: Lecture 44 Lab 22
Total Contact Hours 66
Degree Distributions:
AA

Science
Science Lab

Course Outline
The following topics must be covered:

Local fresh water sources, quality, and supply
Local wastewater generation and treatment
Local solid waste disposal and recycling programs
Local and personal energy use and sources
Local land use including preservation and sensitive areas
Local environmental restoration and clean-up programs and sites, their cost and role in the community
Transportation choices and impact
Personal diet choices and impact
Local environmental policy and laws
The relationship between local environmental issues and regional and global processes and issues
Research Writing

The following topics MAY be covered

Local population trends
Local air quality and pollution issues
Local soil use, loss, and contamination
Local biodiversity issues including threatened and endangered species, and exotic species
Food resources and sources
Local impact of global climate change
Other local environmental issues

Student Learning Outcomes
Student will describe and evaluate local sources of fresh water and the issues surrounding its quality and quantity using appropriate detail and terminology in a clear and accurate manner.

Student will describe local wastewater treatment generation, facilities, and capacity using appropriate detail and terminology in a clear and accurate manner.

Student will evaluate their personal role in the local solid waste stream using quantitative and qualitative analysis.

Student will describe local case studies of water contamination as a result of improper disposal of waste and analyze the impact of those examples.

Student will describe local sources of energy and the consequences of that energy generation, transmission and use and complete an accurate and sophisticated personal energy budget.

Student will accurately describe local land use issues and analyze the impact of those issues on the community.

Student will construct a research project which accurately summarizes one or more impacts of their personal choices on the environment, using clear organization, correct citations, and other research writing and presentation skills.

Student will communicate a summary of the history, consequences, and remediation efforts of at least one local highly-impacted site using appropriate detail and terminology in a clear and accurate manner.