GEO/ENV 128       ·       Introduction to Environmental Studies       ·       Winter 2001

Time and Place: 2:30 - 5:00pm EST Monday at Saint Elizabeth’s Hospital
Instructor: Roger G. Olson
Office: Science 018    Office phone: 866-6295    Home phone: 219-766-0026
Office E-mail: rogero@saintjoe.edu     Home E-mail: risnerolson1@msn.com
Office Hours (at Saint Joe’s): 10:00 - 11:30am M, 3:30 - 5:00pm W, 1:30 - 4:00pm R, or by appointment
        (at St. E’s): I’ll hang around for a half-hour or so after class to answer questions.

TEXT

Enger/Smith, Environmental Science, 7th/ed., McGraw-Hill, 2000

Website for text: http://www.mhhe.com/biosci/pae/environmentalscience/enger7e/

Olson’s Website at Saint Joe's: http://www.saintjoe.edu/~dept14/environment/olson.html

This course is intended to give you a thorough overview of environmental issues, both scientific and social. After you complete this course successfully, you should be "environmentally literate" and be able to give an informed statement about any environmental topic.

Even though it is cross-listed as a geology course, environmental science is truly interdisciplinary and includes aspects of biology, chemistry, geology, economics, politics, and ethics. You can’t give a cogent argument about an environmental issue without having an idea of the science involved - in my opinion this is one of the main problems with political rhetoric.

This section of the course is intended specifically for nursing students. We will emphasize the public health issues as they relate to risk assessment, solid and hazardous waste disposal and regulation, water and air (including indoor) pollution, and population control and child health. Your oral presentations to the class will be an integral part of the learning process.

Your course grade will be based on the following criteria: Two examinations, an oral presentation of either a research paper or a lesson plan for the education majors, and a comprehensive final exam. These criteria will be weighted in the following manner:

• Hour Examinations: 40%
• Oral Presentation: 35%
• Comprehensive Final: 25%
• Attendance: Affects borderline grades (up to +/- 2%)

NOTES ON GRADING CRITERIA

• Examinations will contain material from both reading assignments and lectures.
• Oral presentations will be given during the last fifty minutes of every class period starting the third week. You must collect at least two outside references and submit this list to me when you do your presentation. This reference list will count towards your presentation grade. You should let me know your topic at least one week before you give it!
You should also have a one-page outline for me to take notes on during your talk. It might be a good idea to make copies of your outline for your classmates as well.
• The comprehensive final exam also covers both reading assignments and lectures and will be given at the end of the last class period Monday April 30, 2001
• The exams will include questions from your colleagues’ oral presentations.

You are expected to attend class as per college catalog guidelines (p. 45). However, attendance in this course is especially important since participation is essential to benefit fully. I will take attendance at every class session. Poor attendance will negatively affect your grade in borderline cases (up to a 2% deduction in the final grade).