INTRODUCTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES

GEOGRAPHY 140

FALL 2007

Instructor: Dr. Roth

Office and office hours:
     133 Cook Hall
     2:00‑3:00 T Th; 2:00-3:00 M; 9:00-10:00 W; or by appointment

Telephone: 831-5443/5558
E-mail: rroth@radford.edu 

Course Content: The course introduces basic concepts for understanding and addressing environmental issues. We will examine a number of current and anticipated environmental problems in terms of scientific evidence and public policy. However, this course is not only about problems, but also about how we perceive, understand, and respond to environmental change. Basic scientific concepts will be introduced, but this is not a course in environmental science. Geographic, economic, ethical, political, and public policy dimensions of our interactions with the environment will be explored.

Course Format: This is an introductory lecture course. A variety of in-class and online activities and exercises will supplement the basic lecture format.

Course Goals: On successfully completing the course, students will have a broad understanding of the range of environmental problems and of the different ways of understanding and analyzing them. Students will gain an appreciation of the complexity and interrelatedness of environmental problems and their causes, and be better able to act in an environmentally conscientious way both in their personal lives and their professional careers.

Outline:

Introduction. Perspectives on environmental problems and their causes. (Environmental Collapses of Past Societies; lecture by Jared Diamond, on WebCT under "Readings")

Ecology. How the biosphere works. Gaia Hypothesis. Reading: Miller, J.T. Living in the Environment. Chapter 4 (on WebCT).

Environmental politics and policy. A brief history of the public lands as a prototype for U.S. natural resources policy. Public policy and decisionmaking: who makes decisions that affect the environment? How they vote and why: Democrats and Republicans, Libertarians and Greens. Reading tba.

Economics of natural resources and environment. Economic systems and their functions and limitations; economic valuation of natural resources; economic analysis in environmental decisionmaking; business and the environment. Reading tba.

The human population. Understanding basic demographics. Future prospects. The developed world and the less developed regions. The ecological footprint concept. Reading: “Overpopulation and the Chesapeake Bay”; tba.

Biodiversity. Value of biodiversity, threats, and conservation. Reading tba.

Global atmospheric issues. Stratospheric ozone layer decline, climate change. Reading tba.

Energy. Energy use and modern economies. Energy resources, conventional and "alternative." Energy futures, the hard and the soft paths. Reading tba.

Water. Quantity concerns (supply, floods). Water quality and its protection. Reading tba.

Air quality. Air pollution at different geographic scales. Urban air pollution, acid rain, mercury. Reading tba.

Sustainable societies. Is our current path sustainable? If not, what are the alternatives and how do we get there? Reading tba.

Texts and required readings: Readings will either be available on the Web, or will be on WebCT. We will also be reading Ishmael (any edition) by Daniel Quinn. There will be occasional assignments involving materials on the Internet.

Tests and assignments: There will be a midterm and a final exam. In addition, there will be quizzes on the readings. Quizzes, like exams, will be announced in advance. Make-ups are not allowed unless arranged in advance or with a doctor's note. There will also be occasional in-class exercises and homework assignments. While not graded, they will be used to determine the participation portion of the grade. These cannot be made up.

Final grades will be calculated as follows:

Ishmael assignment: 10%

Quizzes: 25%

Midterm: 25%

Participation: 15%

Final: 25%

Honor Code: By accepting admission to Radford University, each student makes a commitment to understand, support and abide by the University Honor Code without compromise or exception. Violations of academic integrity will not be tolerated. This class will be conducted in strict observance of the Honor Code. Refer to your Student Handbook for details.