Active Outline
General Information
- Course ID (CB01A and CB01B)
- ESCID001L
- Course Title (CB02)
- Environmental Science Laboratory
- Course Credit Status
- Credit - Degree Applicable
- Effective Term
- Fall 2023
- Course Description
- An introduction to environmental science as a branch of the sciences including the scientific method and its relation to the scientific field in a laboratory and field setting. Applications of scientific, environmental, ecological and sustainability principles as they relate to human societies will be explored.
- Faculty Requirements
- Course Family
- Not Applicable
Course Justification
This course meets a general education requirement for °®¶¹´«Ã½, CSUGE and IGETC and provides students with an introductory general education lab science with a focus on environmental science and ecological literacy skills and applying these concepts in a field setting. It is UC and CSU transferable. This course belongs on the Environmental Resource Management and Pollution Prevention degree program.
Foothill Equivalency
- Does the course have a Foothill equivalent?
- No
- Foothill Course ID
Formerly Statement
Course Development Options
- Basic Skill Status (CB08)
- Course is not a basic skills course.
- Grade Options
- Letter Grade
- Pass/No Pass
- Repeat Limit
- 0
Transferability & Gen. Ed. Options
- Transferability
- Transferable to both UC and CSU
| °®¶¹´«Ã½ GE | Area(s) | Status | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2GBX | °®¶¹´«Ã½ GE Area B - Natural Sciences | Approved | This is a stand-alone lab course that must be completed with or after the corresponding lecture course for GE credit. |
| CSU GE | Area(s) | Status | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| CGB3 | CSU GE Area B3 - Science Laboratory Activity | Approved |
| IGETC | Area(s) | Status | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| IG5C | IGETC Area 5C - Science Laboratory | Approved |
Units and Hours
Summary
- Minimum Credit Units
- 1.0
- Maximum Credit Units
- 1.0
Weekly Student Hours
| Type | In Class | Out of Class |
|---|---|---|
| Lecture Hours | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Laboratory Hours | 3.0 | 0.0 |
Course Student Hours
- Course Duration (Weeks)
- 12.0
- Hours per unit divisor
- 36.0
Course In-Class (Contact) Hours
- Lecture
- 0.0
- Laboratory
- 36.0
- Total
- 36.0
Course Out-of-Class Hours
- Lecture
- 0.0
- Laboratory
- 0.0
- NA
- 0.0
- Total
- 0.0
Prerequisite(s)
ESCI D001. (may be taken concurrently)
Corequisite(s)
Advisory(ies)
EWRT D001A or EWRT D01AH or ESL D005.
Limitation(s) on Enrollment
Entrance Skill(s)
General Course Statement(s)
(See general education pages for the requirements this course meets.)
Methods of Instruction
Discussion of assigned reading
Discussion and problem solving performed in class
Field observation and field trips
Guest speakers
Collaborative learning and small group exercises
Collaborative projects
Laboratory experience which involve students in formal exercises of data collection and analysis
Laboratory discussion sessions and quizzes that evaluate the proceedings weekly laboratory exercises
Laboratory experience which involve students in formal exercises of environmental survey techniques, data collection and analysis.
Assignments
- Reading from assigned text, news article, or research paper.
- Field assignments including; animal and plant surveys, environmental observations, environmental analysis through the use of environmental indicator techniques and modern tools, and analysis of soil, water, and air quality.
- Lab and field procedures including field data collection techniques and monitoring protocols.
- Final team project and presentation on an assigned topic, and reflection incorporating how the information gained in the course can help them participate in building a more sustainable society.
Methods of Evaluation
- Completion of reading and writing assignments including an assessment (quiz) process to evaluate student comprehension of concepts and principles
- Evaluation of completed lab and field assignments based on student comprehension.
- Assessment (quiz) on lab and field procedures including field data collection techniques and monitoring protocols evaluated for correctness.
- Final team project/presentation evaluated on accuracy, student comprehension, and insight.
Essential Student Materials/Essential College Facilities
Essential Student Materials:Â
- None.
- Kirsch Center for Environmental Studies and surrounding Environmental Study Area gardens
Examples of Primary Texts and References
| Author | Title | Publisher | Date/Edition | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wright, R.T. and D.F. Boorse. Environmental Science: Toward A Sustainable Future. Pearson Education, Inc. 13th Edition. 2017 | ||||
| McConnell, R.L., D.C. Abel. Environmental Issues and Case Studies: An Introduction to Sustainability. 4th Edition. Pearson Prentice Hall. 2013. |
Examples of Supporting Texts and References
| Author | Title | Publisher |
|---|---|---|
| Withgott & Laposata, "Environmental: The Science Behind the Stories," 6th Edition. Pearson, 2018. | ||
| Miller & Spoolman, "Living in the Environment", 19th Edition. Cengage, 2017 | ||
| Cunningham & Cunningham, "Principles of Environmental Science", 8th Edition. McGraw & Hill, 2017. |
Learning Outcomes and Objectives
Course Objectives
- Analyze in a laboratory and field setting how environmental, ecological, and sustainable principles can be utilized for preservation and protection of nature in the built and natural environment.
- Utilize common laboratory and field techniques to develop hypotheses and experimentation of natural phenomena.
- Examine current environmental assessment techniques, methods, and synthesis used by professionals to forecast possible environmental impacts or benefits.
- Assess the methodology utilized by environmental professionals to apply environmental indicators to assess current trends.
- Examine the interplay of stakeholders including government, non-government, and industry groups on environmental policy as a foundation for understanding solutions.
CSLOs
- Assess local open space areas such as major aquatic life zones (coastal wetlands, inland wetlands, and riparian) and terrestrial biomes (grasslands, forests, savannah and transitional areas (ecotones)) and the impacts on these systems by humans, such as human systems including sanitary landfills, sewage treatment facilities and others.
Outline
- Analyze in a laboratory and field setting how environmental, ecological, and sustainable principles can be utilized for preservation and protection of nature in the built and natural environment.
- Hypothesize environmental impacts utilizing the scientific method, Environmental science laboratory and field protocols and guidelines.
- Adaptation of health and safety in a laboratory/field class.
- Utilize common laboratory and field techniques to develop hypotheses and experimentation of natural phenomena.
- Analyze environmental principles
- Analyze ecological principles
- Analyze principles and applications of sustainability.
- Examine current environmental assessment techniques, methods, and synthesis used by professionals to forecast possible environmental impacts or benefits.
- Compile watershed management techniques through the use of water testing, community assessment, and other data collecting strategies.
- Compile air quality management techniques through the use of water testing, community assessment, and other data collecting strategies.
- Compile land management techniques through the use of soil testing, understanding and application of landscape planning, superfund (CERCLA) remediation, community assessment, and other data collecting strategies.
- Compile ecosystem conservation and management techniques through the use of ecological assessment, community assessment, and other data collecting strategies.
- Assess the methodology utilized by environmental professionals to apply environmental indicators to assess current trends.
- Generate a fundamental understanding of Environmental Indicators assessment tools.
- Generate a fundamental understanding of risk assessment, including environmental health and safety.
- Generate a fundamental understanding of Environmental regulations.
- Examine the interplay of stakeholders including government, non-government, and industry groups on environmental policy as a foundation for understanding solutions.
- Develop a fundamental understanding of water collection, purification, distribution, and sewage treatment systems.
- Develop a fundamental understanding of air pollution.
- Develop a fundamental understanding of integrated waste management.
- Develop a fundamental understanding of land management and conservation strategies, including ecological restoration, focused protection of threatened and protected species, and importance of landscape connectivity.
- Develop a fundamental understanding of food systems including sustainable agriculture, organic, and conventional farming methods.
- Develop a fundamental understanding of renewable versus non-renewable energy systems, and centralized and decentralized systems.
