College of Micronesia-FSM
P. 0. Box 159 Kolonia
Pohnpei FM 96941

Course Outline

Course Title Department and Number
Environmental Studies Division of Natural Sciences and Mathematics SC 111

Course Description:This course provides an understanding of the ecological principles that are basic to organism interactions and the flow of matter and energy in ecosystem. Principles of population structure and organization are developed with particular attention to the implications of these principles to growth and impact of human populations. The course emphasizes the impact of human activity on natural ecosystems by dealing with the major types of pollution and how it affects the health and welfare of humans and other organisms.

Course Prepared by:Allain Bourgoin
State/Campus: Pohnpei/National
Date prepared: 10/09/2003

Hours per Week No. of WeekTotal HoursSemester Credits
Lecture3x16x48/16=3
Laboratory
Workshop
Study
Total Semester Credits:=3

Purpose of Course

Degree Requirement: ______
Degree Elective: ___X___
Certificate: ______
Remedial: ______
Other: ______

Prerequisite Course:ESL 089 Reading V.

Date approved by Committee:[Spensin James 12/5/2003]
Date approved by President:[Ringlen Ringlen 11/3/2003]

  1. Science Program Learning Outcomes
    Students will be able to:
    • define fundamental concepts, principles, and theories of science.
    • gather scientific information through experiments, field work, and research.
    • perform experiments that support the development of scientific theory.
    • utilize appropriate laboratory and field work procedures.
    • interpret and express the results of experiments.
    • explain observations of new phenomenon, systems, and entities, using the theories of science.
  2. General Objectives (Course learning outcomes)
    Students will be able to:
    1. Define and give a short history of the environmental sciences.
    2. Identify the basic ecological principles and levels of biological organization within the biosphere.
    3. Investigate and analyze the various biomes throughout the globe and within or closely linked to the Pacific islands environment.
    4. Describe the various resources available such as energy, forest, agricultural products, wildlife and aquatic and how to manage them in a sustainable manner.
    5. Identify the solid and hazardous wastes and describe recycling alternatives
    6. Discuss global issues on “Island Earth” that affect the Pacific Islands such as air pollution, global warming and acid rain
    7. Describe the development of a sustainable global society.
    8. Apply critical and reflective thinking in science.
    9. Discuss the limitations of the scientific method.
  3. Specific objectives (Specific student learning outcomes)
    Students will be able to:
    1. Define and give a short history of the environmental sciences.
      1. Define the concepts environment and environmental impact
      2. Describe the history of the environmental movement
      3. Identify some environmental concerns we face today.
      4. Define the notion of the environment as a system and describe how the Pacific Islands can be viewed as a closed system
      5. Identify and list reasons why people deplete and pollute their global resources
    2. Identify the basic ecological principles levels of biological organization within the biosphere.
      1. Define matter, atoms, and molecules and energy and explain the difference between kinetic and potential energy.
      2. Describe the principles of conservation of matter and energy and explain how the laws of thermodynamics affect living systems.
      3. Discuss how photosynthesis captures energy for life and how cellular respiration releases that energy to do useful work.
      4. Define the terms species, populations, habitat, communities, and ecosystems and explain the ecological significance of these levels of organization.
    3. Investigate and analyze the various biomes throughout the globe and within or closely linked to the Pacific islands environment.
      1. Describe the characteristics of major world biomes with specific attention to the tropical zone biomes
      2. Describe energy flow and materials by discussing food chains, food webs, trophic levels, pyramids of energy, and biomass of an ecosystem.
      3. Describe population dynamics (J and S curves; environmental resistance, density dependent vs density independent population processes) and world human population growth and its effect on the natural resources.
    4. Describe the various natural resources available such as energy, forest, agricultural products, wildlife and aquatic and how to manage them in a sustainable manner.
      1. Enumerate the various energy resources (non-renewable and renewable), their supplies and their impact as pollutants.
      2. Describe various resources globally available on planet Earth such as mineral resources, land use for agriculture, forestry, water resources, wildlife, the air supply, their uses for human welfare, the pollution they create, and their sustainable development.
    5. Identify the solid and hazardous wastes and describe recycling alternatives
      1. Describe various sources of solid and hazardous wastes
      2. Describe various ways of disposing of these same wastes and the problems associated with each method.
      3. Describe recycling alternatives and other solutions available to humankind: their benefits and drawbacks.
    6. Discuss global issues on “Island Earth” that affect the Pacific Islands such as air pollution, global warming and acid rain
      1. Analyze and describe the problem of air pollution at a local, national and worldwide level
      2. Describe the problems linked to the global warming of the planet and its consequences to mankind and the specific consequences linked to the Pacific Island human populations
      3. Desribe the problems linked to acid rain, the consequences to mankind, and solutions.
    7. Describe the development of a sustainable global society.
      1. Describe ways in which humankind can learn to work together in overcoming the pollution burden and cam develop political and social outcomes that assure a livable environment for future generations.
  4. Course Content:

    Introduction

    1. Introduction to the Environmental Sciences
      1. Definition
      2. Environmental science as an interdisciplinary field
      3. History of the Environmental Movement
      4. Pacific Islands -- The Environment as a System
      5. Environmental Ethics
    2. Environment and Organisms --- Ecological Concepts
      1. Matter, Energy and Environment
      2. Limiting Factors
      3. Habitat and Niche
      4. Species and Populations (subspecies or race)
      5. Communities and Ecosystems
        1. Energy Flow and Materials
        2. Global Habitats ---- Biomes
    3. Population
      1. Population Characteristics
      2. Carrying Capacity
      3. Reproductive Strategies and Population Fluctuations
      4. Human Population Growth and The Human Population Issue (Demography)


      4. Problems of Resource Depletion

    4. Energy Resources and Recycling
      1. Energy and Civilization: Patterns of Consumption
      2. Energy Sources
        1. Conventional Energy Resources
        2. Alternative Sources of Energy
        3. Renewable energy Sources: Hydro, tidal, Wind, and Geothermal, Solar
      3. Energy Conservation
      4. Nuclear Energy: Benefits and Risks


      5. Human Influences on the Ecosystem

    5. Mineral Resources
    6. Forest Ecosystems and their Uses
    7. Wildlife: Endangering Biodiversity
    8. Land Resources and Land Use
      1. Soil and Land
        1. Erosion
        2. Desertification
        3. Soil Conservation Practices
      2. Agriculture -- Use of the Land
        1. Crop Resources
        2. Sustainable agriculture
        3. Pesticides and Risks
        4. Alternatives to Conventional Agriculture
    9. Water Resources and the Quality of Natural Water
      1. The Hydrologic Cycle
      2. Kinds of Water Use
      3. Kinds and Sources of Water Pollution
      4. Water-Use Planning Issues
    10. Air
      1. Air Pollution Ecology ---- The Earth's Atmosphere
      2. Primary Air Pollutants
        1. Carbon Monoxide and Photochemical Air Pollutants
        2. Particulates
        3. Sulfur Dioxide
        4. Oxides of Nitrogen
        5. Photochemical Smog
      3. World Issues in Air Pollution
        1. Acid Rain (Sources of Acid Rain; Biological Impacts of Acid Rain; Other Effects of Acid Rain; forest Decline
        2. Carbon Dioxide, global Climate Change, and Ozone Depletion
    11. Dealing with our Wastes ----------- Solid and Hazardous Wastes and the Recycling Alternative
      1. Disposing of solid Wastes
      2. Hazardous wastes (What hazardous Wastes Are; Managing Hazardous Wastes;)
      3. The recycling alternative for Solid Wastes
      4. Source reduction as a Solution
    12. Sustainable Global Societies
      1. Principles for a Sustainable Society
      2. Components of a sustainable Society
      3. Towards a Sustainable Society
  5. Required text
    • Enger E.D. & B.F. Smith. 2002. Environmental Science. A Study of Interrelationships. 8th ed. McGraw Hill Higher Education. Boston, MA (USA)
  6. Required Course Materials: None
  7. Reference Materials
    • Chiras Daniel D. 1998. Environmental Science. A System Approach to Sustainable Development. 5th ed. Wadsworth Publishing Company. Belmont CA (USA) [GE 140.C48 1998]
    • Chiras Daniel D. 1994. Environmental Science: Action for a Sustainable Future. 4th ed. Benjamin/Cummings Publ. Redwood Civy, Ca (USA) [GE 140.C48 1994]
    • Chiras D.D. 1992. Lessons form Nature: Learning to Live Sustainably on the Earth. Island Press. Covelo Ca (USA) [TD 170.C55 1992]
    • Cunningham W.P. & B.W. Saigo. 2001. Environmental Science. A Global Concern. 6th ed. McGraw Hill Higher Education. Boston, MA (USA) [GE 105.C68 2001]
    • Krohne David T. 1998. General Ecology. Brooks/Cole Publ. [QJ 541.K75 1997]
    • Lobban C.S. & M. Schefter. 1997. Tropical Pacific Island Environments. University of Guam Press, Mangilao, Guam, USA. 399pp. [Ref. QH541.5.18 L63]
    • McKinney M.L. & R.M. Schoch. 1998. Environmental Science. Systems and Solutions. Web Enhanced Edition. Jones and Bartlett. Boston, MA (USA)
    • Molles Manuel C. Jr. 2000. Ecology: Concepts and Applications. McGraw-Hill, Boston, MA (USA) [QH 541.M553 2002]Tyler Miller G. Jr. 2000. Living in the Environment: Principles, Connections, and Solutions (with InfoTrac). 11th ed. Brooks/Cole Publishing Comp. New York, NY. (USA) [GE105.M547 2000]
    • Tyler Miller G. Jr. 2001. Environment Science (International Version): Working with the Earth. 8th ed. Brooks/Cole Publishing Comp. New York, NY. (USA) [GE105.M5474 2001]
  8. Instructional Cost
    • Method of instruction: The course will be taught by lectures, class discussions, oral presentations, and audio-visual material.
  9. Evaluation
    • Oral reports, written reports and/or quizzes, tests, mid-term and final exams.
  10. Sample suggested grading options and weights. Actual choices of options and weights up to individual instructors.
    OptionSample weight
    Homework, quizzes20%
    Exam 120%
    Midterm20%
    Exam 220%
    Final exam20%
  11. Grading scale: as per College catalog
  12. Attendance: The COM-FSM attendance policy will be followed which reads:
    "Students who are absent for more than six MWF classes or more than four TTh or summer classes, will automatically be dropped from the course. The total missed classes include unexcused and excused absences, such as sickness, funerals, and any other circumstances. Instructors will notify the Office of Admissions and Records to complete the withdrawal slip for the student." (p.28, COM-FSM General Catalog 2001-2003)
  13. Exam policy: All students are obligated to write each of the exams. If a student misses an exam, he or she will receive automatically zero (0) for that specific exam unless the student was sick and furnishes a written note signed by a medical expert as proof of sickness. In this case, the final grade will be compiled without taking into account the missed exam i.e. the student in question will be "exempt" from that specific evaluation.
  14. Assignments (Quizzes, homework): Details of homework assignments, quizzes will be given in class.

    It is the responsibility of each student to assure that he or she completes and returns all assignments given by the professor. Due dates will be indicated for each assigned work. After this due date, the work will not be accepted any longer and the student will automatically receive a zero (0) for that specific assignment not turned in.
  15. Academic honesty policy:
    Cheating is taking or lending at inappropriate times a person's work information, ideas, research and/or documentation without properly identifying the originator. Cheating also includes copying another student's homework, looking at or copying another student's quiz, test, or exam.

    Consequences for the First Offense: A zero on the assignment, quiz, test, exam, or project. If the event is egregious - involves a major test, exam, or project - the incident will be reported to the Vice President for Student Services.

    Consequences for the Second Offense: A zero on the assignment, quiz, test, exam, or project. If the event is egregious - involves a major test, exam, or project - the incident will be reported to the Vice President for Student Services with the recommendation that the student be given an "F" in the course.

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P. O. Box 159, Kolonia, Pohnpei, FSM 96941 - (691) 320-2480

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