ESC 150: Principles of Environmental Science

Goal: To appreciate that the Earth and its living systems sustain humankind, and to understand how the agricultural and industrial activities of human societies modify biogeochemical cycles and transform natural ecosystems, often to the detriment of ourselves and other species.
Content: An introduction to environmental sciences, an interdisciplinary field integrating concepts from ecology, chemistry, politics, and economics. The focus is on interactions between people and the environment, with specific topics including: human population growth; fuels and energy; pollution of air, water and soil; human alterations to global biogeochemistry, including global warming and acid rain; and responses of human societies to environmental issues. Laboratory exercises will take place in the lab and in the field.
Gen. Ed. Category: Exploring; Natural World; (SM).
Fee Required: Lab Fee
Credit: 4
Degree Level: Undergraduate