Successful completion of this course will provide the following learning outcomes:

A basic understanding of biophysical processes that operate in the environment
in response to social and ecological factors due to resource management

An appreciation of the diversity of life and the interactions among the elements of
the ecosphere to achieve sustainability

An awareness of the dynamic nature of the earth's environments, evident across a
range of spatial and temporal scales operating on biomes and ecoregions

An ability to recognize the reciprocal interactions between human action,
modification of their support systems, and past/future global environmental change

A greater comprehension of the role of science in the everyday functioning of our
environment, and its crucial role in informing social policy decision-making,
environmental conflict resolution, and sustainability. 

This course meets the following General Education Abilities by accomplishing the
specific learning objectives listed below:

Communicate effectively through writing.  This is met by a series of writing 
assignments that engage critical issues related to the course.
 
Communicate effectively through speech.  This is met by oral presentations, 
discussion leading, role playing activities, and classroom participation.

Computer Literacy is addressed through course administration, student-faculty 
electronic interaction, and data analysis activities and assignments.
 
Critical Thinking is central to the learning objectives of this class, and includes 
the following elements, which are accomplished through lecture, assignments, break-
out discussion activities, and inquiry-based learning efforts:
       Consider and engage opposing points of view  
       Support a consistent purpose and point of view  
       Assimilate, analyze, and present a body of information  
       Analyze arguments  

Moral Reasoning (Ethics) is an important element of this course, as it seeks to 
link an understanding of physical environments with human health and social 
welfare, as developed through lectures and classroom discussion/inquiry-based 
learning activities.
       Recognize the community and the greater common good in addition to 
          individual needs and goals  
       Judge and understand ethical behavior in social applications  
       Apply societal ethics to scientific inquiry

What are resources?
Sustainability and other themes
Culture and society
Evolution of human/environment relations
Environmental systems and energy flows
Material cycles
Biotic diversity and biomes
World population: past, present, and future
Demographic transition model
LDCs vs. MDCs / Population control           
Types of natural resources
Economic characteristics of natural resources
Communal resources
Externalities and full-cost pricing
The world food problem
Types of agricultural systems
Soils and soil conservation
Agriculture and the environment
The energy predicament
Non-renewable energy
Renewable energy
Energy conservation
Basic atmospheric properties
Climate change and global warming    
Air pollution / Ozone depletion
Water resources and use patterns
Watershed management
Water pollution and treatment
Mineral resources
Solid waste management 
Preserving biodiversity
Biodiversity patterns
Conservation biology
Forest resources
Tropical deforestation
Parks and wilderness