Syllabus
printable syllabus

Section 1: Introduction, concepts and tools

Date Topic # Topic Instructor* Learning Materials available on Blackboard
Aug. 26 1 Problems facing Planet Earth and modern society; course logistics DA, JB now available
Aug. 28 2 Signature Course concept; Expectations for Discussion Section; The concept of Sustainability: Social equity, economy, and environment DA, JB now available 
Aug. 31 3 The Scientific Method JB now available 
Sept. 2 4 Tragedy of the Commons I: The history of civilizations and sustainability JB  
Sept. 4 4 Tragedy of the Commons II JB  
Sept. 7   Labor Day Holiday  


Section 2: Natural cycles: How the Earth works

Sept. 9 5 Plate tectonics and the rock cycle JB  
Sept. 11 6 Atmosphere I: Structure and composition DA  
Sept. 14 7 Atmosphere II: Circulation JB  
Sept. 16 7 Atmosphere III: Weather and climate JB  
Sept. 18 8 Climate change through time JB  
Sept. 21 9 Hydrosphere and the water cycle JB  
Sept. 23   Exam I JB  
Sept. 25 11 Grand Cycles and the Anthropocene DA  
Sept. 28 10 Hydrosphere and the oceans: Structure, composition and circulation JB  
Sept. 30 12 Ocean-atmopshere interactions& Abrupt Climate Change JB

 

Oct. 2 13 Cycles of life - Introduction DA  
Oct. 5 13 Cycles of life - Carbon DA  


Section 3: Human perturbation of natural cycles and sustainability

Oct. 7 13 Cycles of life - Nitrogen DA  
Oct. 9 14 Human Impact on the water cycle JB  
Oct. 12 15 Sustainability of Freshwater Resources - 1 JB  
Oct. 14 15 Sustainability of Freshwater Resources - 2 JB  
Oct. 16 16 Sustainability of the Oceans JB  
Oct. 19   Exam II  

 

Oct. 21 18 Energy I DA  
Oct. 23 18 Energy II DA  
Oct. 26 19 Energy III MW  
Oct. 28 20 Human impact on the atmosphere I DA  
Oct. 30 20 Human impact on the atmosphere II DA  


Section 4: Societies, economies, technologies, ecologies, and paths to sustainable solutions

Nov. 2 20 Human impact on the atmosphere II (cont'd) DA  
Nov. 4 21 Green Products DA  
Nov. 6 22 Industrial Ecology I DA  
Nov. 9 23 Industrial Ecology II DA  
Nov. 11 Exam 3 DA  
Nov. 13 24 Environmental change and biodiversity TBA

 

Nov. 16 25 Climate change impacts on ecosystems and landscapes KY  
Nov. 18 25 Environment, science and the media JB  
Nov. 20 26 Environmental Music Symposium JB, DA

 

Nov. 23   Sustainable development of cities SM  
Nov. 25 27 Environmental Change, Policy and Society I DA  
Nov. 27   Thanksgiving Holiday  

 

Nov. 30 27 Environmental Change, Policy and Society II JB  
Dec. 2 27 Environmental Change, Policy and Society III JB  
Dec. 4   Final thoughts and final exam review DA, JB

 



* Denotes Instructor or Guest Speaker

DA - David Allen, Chemical Engineering
JB - Jay Banner, Geological Sciences

KY - Ken Young
SM - Steven Moore, School of Architecture