Environmental Sciences: Intro Environmental Sci

Explores the complex interactions between humans and environmental systems and the ecological foundations and scientific principles to better understand how the coupled human-natural system works, and how science can be used to help solve environmental problems.

Lecture is asynchronous online. While the lecture is asynchronous, there will be weekly quizzes & assignment deadlines. Students will need to be able to complete course work throughout the 4 weeks. Students will be able to move ahead, but not able to complete assignments late.

Introduction to Environmental Sciences (ENSC 1010) is designed for students interested in exploring the complex interactions between humans and environmental systems. We will explore ecological foundations and scientific principles to better understand how the coupled human-natural system works, and how science can be used to help solve environmental problems. We will also examine steps we can take as individuals to live more sustainably on our planet. This is an online course with online readings and videos and recorded lectures for you to read/watch asynchronously. The course will also involve discussion boards, online assignments, and online quizzes that will have due dates throughout the four-week course. Students will be able to work ahead, but will need to turn assignments in each week. The course will cover the fundamental concepts that underpin environmental science (scientific inquiry, systems thinking, sustainability science, critical thinking and problem solving frameworks) and concepts from ecology and Earth systems (ecosystems, climate, biodiversity, hydrosphere, atmosphere, geosphere, biosphere). At the end of the course we will apply those principles to specifically address human impacts on the environment.

This course that contains a mixture of online reading and video materials, online lectures, and online discussions and assignments. It is broken down into six modules and a final project. Each module includes a variety of online readings, videos and explorations, with an individual assignment and module quiz to assess competency.

Your final grade in ENSC 1010 will be based on the following: • Module Content Quizzes and Assignments • Environmental Issue Fact Sheet Project