UMUC-Europe Syllabus

BIOL 212 Environmental Science Laboratory (1) (For students not majoring in science. Fulfills the laboratory science requirement only with previous or concurrent credit for BIOL 211.) Prerequisite or corequisite: BIOL 211. A laboratory study investigating human interactions with our environment. Scientific objectivity and methodology are employed to gather and analyze data pertaining to the varied and inter-related forms of human environmental impact. Topics explored include principles of ecology, population dynamics, food supply alternatives and impact, sustainable water supplies, energy alternatives, pollution control, greenhouse gases, recycling, and conservation technologies.

Course Goals/Objectives:

After completing this course, students should be able to do the following: * use the scientific method as a framework to understand and critically evaluate anthropogenic environmental impacts. * interpret and present quantitative data in graphic and tabular forms. * delineate the reasons behind population growth, quantify population growth, detail the impacts of human population growth on the planet * explain the interrelationships between ecosystem alterations and human health * identify pathways of pollutant distribution in air, water, and soil * compare and contrast American, European, and a developing country’s energy use and/or solid waste generation and disposal methods, describe the relevance of the issue, and state specific sustainable strategies for energy usage or solid waste management in the U.S. and around the world * assess the effectiveness of various resource management strategies, considering long-term ecological, human-health, and economic impacts, and identify benefits and constraints associated with these.

Course Introduction:

Grading Information and Criteria:

Grading Information Grades in this course will be determined as follows: 30% Class Participation 30% Report (2 parts) 20% Midterm Exam 20% Final Exam The grading scale in this course will be determined as follows: A = 90%-100% B = 80%-89% C = 70%-79% D = 60%-69% F = 0%-59%

Other Information:

Exams A midterm and final exam are required in this course. These exams will include the topics and skills covered in the laboratory exercises, readings, and class discussions.

Project Descriptions:

Students will turn in Laboratory Reports on the Population Growth and Distribution Lab, and either the Solid Waste Lab or the Energy Production and Consumption Labs. These reports will conform to standard scientific reporting formats, and include the following: Introduction/Background, Methods and Materials, Results, Discussion and Conclusions, and Reference

Academic Policies:

Cases of plagiarism are handled consistent with current UMUC guidelines. See the UMUC policies at the following URL: http://www.umuc.edu/policy/

Course Schedule:

Lab 1 Topics: The Tragedy of the Commons Lab 2 Topics: The Scientific Method, and Scientific Research and Reports Lab 3 Topics: Charts, Graphs and Tables Lab 4 Topics: The Hydrological Cycle and Water Budgets Lab 5 Topics: Population Growth and Distribution: Movement to the Coasts* (report due in Lab #8) Lab 6 Topics: Tracking Water Pollution Lab 7 Topics: Review for Midterm Lab 8 Midterm Exam Lab Report #1 Due Lab 9 Topics: Solid Waste Generation and Disposal Patterns* (lab report due in Lab #15) Lab 10 Topics: Energy Generation and Use Patterns* (lab report due in Lab #15) Lab 11 Topics: Resource Management: Managing Non-point Source Pollution and NEMO Lab 12 Topics: Resource Management: Land-Use Planning and Smart Growth Lab 13 Topics: Resource Management: Fisheries Resources and Marine Protected Areas Lab 14 Topics: Resource Management: Coastal Resources Management and the CZMA Lab 15 Review for Final Report 2 Due Lab 16 Final Exam