Course Description
This course builds on foundational ecological principles (organism, population, community, ecosystem) to engage students with real-world sustainability challenges, emphasizing how humans use and manage resources at local and global scales. It applies key ecological concepts to critical environmental issues, including population growth, climate change, water resources, and energy.
Athena Title
Ecological Basis Environ Issue
Equivalent Courses
Not open to students with credit in ECOL 1000, ECOL 1000H
Non-Traditional Format
This course will be taught 95% or more online. Three PowerPoint lectures, multiple videos, open-source resources, and several assigned readings (which address current and ongoing environmental and ecological issues and concerns) will be the basis of weekly thematic learning modules. These will be posted on eLC. These lectures will have clearly stated learning objectives and review questions to aid in student learning. Students will interact within assigned sub-groups to reflect on assigned readings and will be required to compose brief personalized write-ups on select lectures and readings. These writings will be posted on a discussion board within eLC to allow students to share their thoughts and opinions with other students (likely with differing backgrounds and biases) in the class. Grading will be based on a combination of 1) these interactive student driven discussions and write-ups; 2) online quizzes and written responses based on readings and short videos; 3) an outside environmental investigation based on a student-chosen research topic; and 4) a written response to a current environmentally-themed book.
Semester Course Offered
Offered summer semester every year.
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Student Learning Outcomes
Topical Outline
General Education Core
CORE II: Life SciencesInstitutional Competencies
Analytical ThinkingThe ability to reason, interpret, analyze, and solve problems from a wide array of authentic contexts.
The capacity to understand the interdependence of people, communities, and self in a global society.
Syllabus