This environmental studies course is intended to introduce you to some of the basic principles in environmental studies, and how those are manifested in urban, rural and natural areas throughout the world.
Through observation, discussion, and creation of digital content, you will explore and share environmental challenges facing your local environment and create a global learning and action community.
Rather than simply offering a long list of the problems we face, this course will take a solutions-focused approach.
Syllabus
Module 1: Why study the environment – and what is Environmental Studies?
Introduction and overview
What is environmental studies? It’s not environmental science, nor is it sustainability. It IS a combination of arts, social science, and science (social, political, economic, health and ecological), and how these contribute to environmental issues and solutions.
Why study it? Because it brings together many different disciplines, environmental studies helps us tackle some of the world’s most important and complex problems, such as resource use, energy consumption and food security. Our species depends on it!
Module 2: Systems and Cycles
Planet formation/rock cycle
Climate and weather cycles
Biological cycles – population, dynamics and nutrients
Urban systems and cycles
Module 3: Resources and Energy
Biotic and geologic resources and biodiversity
Soil and water resources
Forms of energy
Use of energy
Module 4: People and Populations
Population basics
Populations over time and space
Populations of the Global South
Environmental Justice
Module 5: Present challenges
Challenges we face as a species — staying alive
Consequences of resource use (pollution, depletion, waste, degradation)