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Course Description

This course is a multidisciplinary introduction to the scientific study of the earth's physical and biological systems, with a focus on understanding the effects of human actions on the natural world.   We will emphasize science-based approaches to understanding environmental problems and evaluating possible solutions to them. We will begin by examining basic concepts regarding human and natural systems.   These concepts will be applied as we evaluate and understand issues of environmental quality and stresses on natural resources. Throughout the course we'll also pay close attention to how human social, political, economic, and ethical institutions influence our interactions with natural systems. This course is intended to introduce Environmental Science majors and prospective majors to the field of environmental science as well as educate students from other disciplines.   This is a required course for Environmental Science majors.

Class Format

Class meetings will be a mix of lecture and discussion. Students are expected to attend lecture and participate in discussion.   Powerpoint lecture outlines will be available on Sakai prior to the start of each class period.   Students sometimes find it helpful to bring a printed version of the Powerpoint lectures to class.   Others will use their laptops to take notes directly in Powerpoint.

Electronic Materials

All course announcements and materials (with the exception of the textbook) will be posted on WISE   You are expected to access your Willamette e-mail and WISE accounts daily.   Failure to do so does not constitute an excuse for missing a class announcement.  Access WISE from http://wise.willamette.edu/portal.   Login using your Willamette username and password.

Texts Required

Miller, G.T. (2009) Living in the Environment: Principle, Connections and Solutions, 16th edition. Cengage Learning. ISBN 9780495556718 (available at the Willamette Bookstore)

Other readings are available on WISE

Course Requirements

Exams

There are four exams.  Three are worth xxx points each cover the most recent section of class materials.   The fourth (and final) exam will cover the last section of class material, but will also have one or two essay questions that will require a comprehensive knowledge of course  materials.

Web-Based Data Analysis and Interpretation Exercises

There are 4 exercises assigned to introduce you to working with a variety of data types from the internet (xx points each).   Each exercise allows you to investigate a class topic in more detail, while developing your data manipulation, analysis, and interpretation skills.   You will be expected to use electronic spreadsheet software, such as Microsoft Excel, to complete these exercises. The exercises must be typed and stapled and are due at the beginning of class as noted on the course schedule and will be used to generate discussion.  Assignments are available on the Resources section of Sakai.

Service Learning Project

Many of the broad-based concepts and issues that we will be addressing in this course are on a global or regional scale.   Yet, your actions at the community level can have a tremendous impact on the local environment.   To encourage your participation within your local community and to show that you can make a difference, each student will participate in a 6 hour service learning project related to the course themes.   Examples of projects students have done in the past include: stream clean-up and restoration, invasive species removal, plant sales, and plant and animal monitoring.  I will maintain a list of volunteer opportunities on Sakai under “Resources”.   If you hear of an opportunity, please let me know so that I can add it to the list.  You will need to complete a 750-word write up and get a service learning contract assigned.  Details are on the Resources section of Sakai.

Note: My experience is that students who complete this project early in the semester have a great time and often volunteer again.   Please don't leave this until the last minute, because there may not be a community-based service learning experience available!

Participation and Attendance

Students are expected to come to class prepared and to participate in discussion. Students who are absent more than three times during the semester without a valid excuse (legitimate medical condition or mandatory university activity) will automatically forfeit xx of the attendance and participation points. Further absences will result in additional point loss. I have final discretion on what is considered a legitimate absence.

Field Notebook

Students will learn to develop a field notebook, which is a valuable research tool for environmental scientists.

Commentary

Grading Policy

Make-up of exams is NOT permitted without a valid excuse. Any conflicts with exams must be resolved within the first week of the semester. Late assignments are assessed a 25% penalty.  Grades are posted for electronic viewing on WISE.

Students may earn a total of xxx points. Letter grades corresponding to points earned are as follows:

Extra Credit (up to xx points)

Students may earn an additional 15 points extra credit by preparing a second commentary (see instructions above).

Course Policies

Computers and cell phones in the classroom.

Laptop computers are a marvelous learning tool, and the expansion of WiFi on our campus has enhanced many learning opportunities. But such technological advances can have negative consequences in the classroom. Please feel free to use your laptop for note taking in class. Occasionally, we may want to look things up on line as well. However, please refrain from checking email, iChatting, websurfing, etc. during class. If you are observed doing so during class time, you will be asked to stop bringing your laptop to class.

The use of cell phones during class for any reason is prohibited.

Plagiarism and Cheating

The Willamette College of Liberal Arts Catalog defines cheating as "any form of intellectual dis- honesty or misrepresentation of one's knowledge" and plagiarism as a form of cheating when one represents someone else's work as one's own.   Plagiarism and cheating are offenses against the integrity of the course in which they occur and against the College community as a whole”, and may be considered “grounds for dismissal from the college.”  (Willamette University, Plagiarism and Cheating Policy)  Anyone caught cheating or plagiarizing will, at the minimum, receive a zero for that assignment.   Please refer to the CLA catalog for further information concerning Willamette's policy towards academic dishonesty: http://www.willamette.edu/wu/policy/cheat.html

Students with Disabilities

The University will make reasonable accommodations for person with appropriately documented disabilities.   Students should notify the Office of Disability and Learning Services located in the Bishop Wellness Center and provide documentation of their disability to their professors at the start of the semester in order to be considered eligible for accommodation.  Please contact the Wellness Center (http://www.willamette.edu/dept/wellness/) if you have any concerns, particularly if you have special learning needs that require extra assistance in the classroom, extra time for exams, or an alternative room for writing exams.  The Wellness Center also provides academic support to all students.