1.1 Introduction to Environmental Science

• Environmental science vs. ecology vs. environmental activism

• Renewable and nonrenewable resources

• Tragedy of the Commons

• Ecological footprints
  
  

1.2 Scientific Processes

• Scientific methods

• Quantitative vs. qualitative data

• Science vs. pseudoscience

• Peer review process

• Scientific theory vs. law
  
  

1.3 Economics and Policy

• What is economics?

• Ecosystem services

• Cost-benefit analyses

• Types of environmental policies (regulatory vs. incentive)

2.1 Spheres of the Earth

• Hydrosphere, geosphere, atmosphere, biosphere, cryosphere

• Interactions between spheres
  
  

2.2 Basics of Ecology

• Biotic vs. abiotic factors

• Organization of living things

• Habitat vs. niche
  
  

2.3 Organism Relationships

• Food chains vs. food webs

• Energy pyramid and trophic levels

• Conservation of energy and First Law of Thermodynamics

• Symbiotic relationships

• Prey adaptations
  
  

2.4 Species

• Definition of species

• Endangered vs. threatened species

• Endangered Species Act

• Speciation

• Interspecific competition
  
  

2.5 Populations and Population Growth

• Linear vs. exponential growth

• Logistic growth

• S-curve vs. J-curve

• Limiting factors

• Carrying capacity

• Natality, fecundity, fertility, mortality, life expectancy

• Survivorship curves (Types I, II, III)

• r-strategists vs. K-strategists

• Age structure diagrams

3.1 Biomes

• 9 major world biomes

• Climate vs. weather

• Climatograms
  
  

3.2 Communities and Ecological Succession

• Keystone species

• Indicator species

• Primary vs. secondary succession

• Climax community

• Pioneer species
  
  

3.3 Biodiversity

• Types of biodiversity

• Biodiversity index

• Sampling methods

• Invasive species

4.1 Composition and Layers of the Atmosphere

• Atmospheric composition

• Composition of the early atmosphere

• Layers of the atmosphere

• Temperature trends in each layer

• Function and importance of the ozone layer
  
  

4.2 Weather and Global Patterns

• Tilt of the Earth, seasons, and solar radiation

• Global circulation and the Coriolis Effect

• ENSO (El Niño, La Niña)

• Weather maps

• Effects of deforestation on local and global weather
  
  

4.3 Biogeochemical Cycles

• Nutrient sources, sinks, and reservoirs

• Nitrogen cycle

• Phosphorus cycle

• Carbon cycle

• Human impacts on nutrient cycles
  
  

4.4 Global Warming and Climate Change

• Greenhouse gases and global warming

• Climate change impacts

5.1 Plate Tectonics and Landforms

• Layers of the Earth

• Evidence for plate tectonics and continental drift

• Types of plate boundaries

• Landforms at plate boundaries

• Environmental disturbances

• Ecosystem resistance and resilience

• Rain shadow effect
  
  

5.2 Minerals, Rocks, and Mining

• Characteristics and properties of minerals

• Use of minerals in everyday life

• Mining methods and impacts (surface vs. subsurface)

• Restoration vs. reclamation

• Types of rocks (igneous, sedimentary, metamorphic)

• Rock cycle
  
  

5.3 Soil Composition and Conservation

• Formation of soil

• Soil horizons and profile

• Soil particles (sand, silt, clay)

• Porosity and permeability

• Soil erosion by wind and water

• Soil conservation methods
  
  

5.4 Introduction to Energy

• What is energy?

• Renewable vs. nonrenewable energy

• Mechanics of energy generation
  
  

5.5 Fossil Fuels and Renewable Energy

• Pros and cons of energy types

• Distribution of energy resources

• Environmental impacts of energy sources

• Energy conservation

6.1 Urbanization and Land Use

• Development of villages and cities from hunting and gathering

• Environmental impacts of cities

• Human health impacts of cities

• Heat islands

• Urban sprawl

• City planning and smart growth
  
  

6.2 Sustainable Forestry

• The 3 E’s of sustainability (economics, environment, equity)

• Economic and environmental benefits of trees

• Deforestation and reforestation
  
  

6.3 Sustainable Agriculture

• The Green Revolution

• Agricultural impacts on the environment

• Sustainable practices in agriculture

• Organic vs. traditional farming

• Vertical farming and future agricultural techniques

• Genetically modified organisms (GMOs)

7.1 Introduction to Water and the Hydrologic Cycle

• Unique properties of water

• Processes in the water cycle

• Human impacts on the water cycle
  
  

7.2 Surface Water and Watersheds

• Watersheds

• Eutrophication and acidification of aquatic ecosystems

• Structure and impact of dams

• Benefits of riparian buffers
  
  

7.3 Groundwater and Irrigation

• Water table

• Aquifers (confined vs. unconfined)

• Types of irrigation

• Human impacts from groundwater usage
  
  

7.4 Marine Biomes

• Types of aquatic biomes

• Adaptations for the intertidal zone

• Ocean productivity and food webs

• Ocean zones

• Oil spills and clean-up methods

• Aquaculture vs. fishing

• Coral bleaching

8.1 Wetlands and Water Pollution

• Water quality

• Point-source vs. nonpoint-source pollution

• Microplastic pollution

• Oxygen sag curve and nutrient pollution

• Effects of pollution on aquatic ecosystems

• Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)

• Bioaccumulation vs. biomagnification

• Bioassays and LD50

• Characteristics and environmental benefits of wetlands
  
  

8.2 Water Treatment and Drinking Water Infrastructure

• Drinking water treatment (filtration, chlorination, etc.)

• Wastewater treatment (primary, secondary, tertiary)

• Aging infrastructure and environmental justice (e.g., Flint Water Crisis)
  
  

8.3 Emerging Water Contaminants

• Pharmaceuticals in waterways

• PFAS (“forever chemicals”)

• Deepening understanding of microplastics