Course Description
Interdisciplinary survey of environmental issues through documentary and feature films. Emphasis on writing. Focus on natural sciences (biology, chemistry, ecology, geography) with perspectives on development and justice (anthropology, economics, politics, sociology) and ethics and aesthetics (arts, history, literature, philosophy, religion).
Syllabus
Student Learning Outcomes, Goals, Objectives:
Students successfully completing this course will be able to:
Describe the causes of environmental problems from the perspectives of natural and social science disciplines.
Describe the potential solutions to environmental problems from the perspectives of natural and social science disciplines.
Discuss the ethical dimensions of the causes and potential solutions of environmental problems.
Analyze written texts to understand how they relate to particular audiences, purposes, and contexts as a way to inform one's own writing.
Create and revise written texts for particular audiences, purposes, and contexts.
Through written reflection demonstrate awareness of one's writing choices as well as how one's own writing contributes to ongoing conversations in environmental studies.
Course Grading Information:
Activity/Performance Measure | Percentage/Points |
|---|---|
Revel Assignments (SLOs 1 & 2) | 30% |
Film Assignments (SLOs 1-5, especially 3, 4 & 5) | 30% |
Writing Project (SLOs 1-6, especially 3, 4, 5 & 6) | 40% |
Grading Scale:
Percentage | Letter Grade |
|---|---|
100 | A |
92 | A- |
88 | B+ |
85 | B |
82 | B- |
78 | C+ |
75 | C |
72 | C- |
68 | D+ |
65 | D |
62 | D- |
0 | F |
Attendance/Participation:
As an online class, there is no attendance taken and no grade assigned.
Course Materials Purchased by the Students:
A Changing Planet by Jason Neff is available only in electronic form on Pearson’s Revel platform.
Scholarly Perspectives
This course engages diverse scholarly perspectives to develop critical thinking, analysis, and debate and inclusion of a reading does not imply endorsement.