Course Essentials

This course introduces students to the fundamentals of Earth’s physical environment, focusing on the scientific principles that relate to human-environment interactions and the role of science in finding sustainable solutions. These interactions are explored with regard to the Earth’s atmosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, and lithosphere. Topics include human populations and sustainability, energy flow and biogeochemical cycles, natural resource extraction and use, renewable and nonrenewable energy, pollution, waste management, and global climate change.

Student Learning Outcomes

Student Learning Outcomes are the goals you are aiming to achieve by the end of this course. Upon successful completion of this course, the Student Learning Outcomes state that you will be able to:

1. Students will assimilate basic scientific principles needed to understand how our environmental life support system works and explain how all human activities have an environmental impact.

2. Students will understand that the cause of our environmental problems is unsustainable social expectations and that technology plays a secondary role in mitigating these problems.

3. Students will describe the physical effects we have on our environmental life support systems.

High-speed Internet Access

• This is a Zero Textbook Cost (ZTC) course. All course materials are provided and distributed through Canvas.

• This course is fully online, so appropriate Internet access is required. Computer devices used to access this course must have audio and video streaming capability. They must have an up-to-date browser and operating system. This includes desktops, laptops, tablets, and smartphones. Google Chrome is the recommended browser for Canvas.

• Canvas is the online virtual classroom for this course section. Through Canvas, registered students have access to all course resources. All coursework must be submitted directly through Canvas. Emails and messages with coursework attached will not be accepted.

As a fully online class, you'll use the following skills:

1. Computer skills (word processing, software installation, and file management – upload, download, save, name, copy, move, backup, delete, and organize folders).

2. Internet skills (connect, access, and browse the learning management system, search engines, and library databases).

3. Online communication skills (read, search, create, send, receive, reply, follow threads, email, chat, message, and post).

Don't feel quite ready? Don't worry, there are lots of resources to help support you!

• Course content and assignments are organized into Modules in Canvas.

• Each module will take approximately 7-9 hours to complete. This allows 2 hours for any discussion assignments, course surveys, and/or self-assessments, 5-7 hours for reviewing course content materials (including watching all videos and animations and completing the video quiz), and studying for and completing the written quiz.