EARTH 120 - Environmental Science

Credits: 3
Lecture Contact Hours: 3
Description: This course examines the environmental issues and challenges that we face in our world today. Students will analyze the human impact on the physical environment and investigate the causes and solutions to environmental problems using real world examples on the local, regional and global scale. Topics include human population distribution, habitats, biodiversity, pollution, waste management, energy resources, natural resources, climate change and sustainability.

Prerequisites: None
Corequisites: None
Recommended: None

Course Category: Liberal Arts | Science
This course counts toward Schoolcraft’s General Education Requirements.
This course counts toward a Michigan Transfer Agreement General Education Requirement.

This Course is Typically Offered: Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall
Check Course Availability

Course Competencies

Examine how information literacy plays a role in understanding environmental problems in today’s world.
Analyze the trend of human population growth and its impact on the environment.
Examine the importance of biodiversity on the local, regional and global scale.
Explore past and current issues with ecosystems, habitats, the extinction of species and preservation.
Analyze the effects of urbanization and human activities on the environment.
Investigate the ways in which pollutants are introduced to the atmosphere, hydrosphere and geosphere.
Explore the type of pollutants released into the environment.
Analyze the impact pollutants have on humans and the biosphere.
Evaluate the pros and cons of renewable and non-renewable energy resources.
Summarize the distribution of natural resources.
Evaluate the impact of human exploitation of natural resources has on the environment.
Explore solutions needed to minimize the human contribution to climate change.
Distinguish between the natural and the anthropogenic factors that influence the climate.
Investigate sustainable solutions to the various environmental challenges faced by humans today.
Explore past environmental problems that have been resolved and those that may arise in the future