ENVIRONMENTAL
GEOGRAPHY – 103ENVIRONMENTAL
GEOGRAPHY – 103
SPRING 2009
WEDS 7:00-10:00
Professor: Crystal LoVetere
Email: cl@clovetere.com
Web: www.clovetere.com
Ph#: (562) 860-2451 X2639
Office: PS 4
Office Hours: T 2-3 & 6-7,W 3:30-4,TH 10:30-11
Professor: Meg McQuarrie
Email: mcquarrie@cerritos.edu
Web: ww.cerritos.edu/mmcquarrie
Ph#: (562) 860-2451 X5037
Office: PS A
Office Hours: T 11-12, W 6-7, TH 10:00-11:00
Course Description
: This course is a survey of global environmental issues and the effects on society. Emphasis is placed on Earth’s systems, sustainability, population concerns, global warming, energy use, pollution and natural resources.Furthermore, this course will be different than your usual college course, because you will have two instructors over the course of the semester. The instructors will work closely together to insure a cohesive semester.
Required Text:
Environmental Geography: Science, Land Use, and Earth Systems. 3rd Edition.
William M. Marsh & John Grossa Jr.
Course Requirements
Appropriate and respectable behavior towards fellow students and instructor. While the following is not all-inclusive, we hope you will better understand our expectations. Do not talk during lecture unless it is part of class discussion. It is disruptive and rude. Do not leave during class time. Turn off your cell phone before the beginning of class. Failure to comply with class rules will result in you being asked to leave.
Active participation including appropriate discussion, observation and note taking.
Regular attendance and punctuality. This course is designed in a way that regular attendance is a benefit to your comprehension of the material and your grade. You risk being dropped from class due to poor attendance. If you miss class, it is your responsibility to get notes and/or assignments from another student. Please be on time to class and do not leave class early without telling us before class begins. If you decide to drop the course, it is your responsibility to officially drop with the admissions and records office. Failure to do so will end in an F at the end of the semester.
Completion of all exams, quizzes and assignments by designated due date. You cannot make up quizzes and in class assignments. One exam, excluding the final, can be made up if you communicate with both instructors via email, phone or in person by 11:00pm on the day of the exam. Your make-up privilege will be forfeited if you fail to do so. This make-up exam must be made up PRIOR TO RETURNING GRADED EXAMS (next class meeting) back to students. The exam must be made up during office hours. The make-up exam could be essay and short answers.
You must be on time on exam days. DO NOT KNOCK ON THE DOOR. You will not be able to take the exam if you are late. You will have to schedule a make up. Also, you are not allowed to leave class during an exam unless you have completed it.
No cheating. Cheating is a serious offense and will not be tolerated. It is also a violation of the Cerritos College Academic Honesty/Dishonesty Policy. This policy is available in the General Catalog on page 30. It is your responsibility to be aware of this policy and familiarize yourself with it. Cheating includes: bringing cheat sheets to a test, copying classmates, plagiarizing from books, newspapers, articles, internet sites and all other tricky things we could come up with. Students will receive a zero for any assignment, quiz or exam where cheating occurred.
Occasionally, grading mistakes can happen. So, it is your responsibility to save all graded papers, exams, and assignments etc. until the end of the semester when grades are completed.
Please speak to us about any question, concern, language difficulties, writing difficulties or disabilities. We have excellent facilities at Cerritos College that we can refer you to. Take advantage of these valuable resources. Furthermore, by communicating with us, we might be able to help within the classroom.
P.S. We are not mind readers, you have to communicate with us if you need help in class or if you have any issues or concerns. We are more than happy to help.
Format for Turning In Class Assignments
All assignments, exams, quizzes, etc. must include:
First and Last Name, Date, Class Title (ex. Environmental Geography), Class Day/Time, Test or Quiz number if applicable.
Unless otherwise stated, STAPLED & TYPED.
Do not turn in assignments in a folder unless otherwise stated.
Format for Sending an Email or Voice Message
In subject of email include:
Class Title and Day/Time
At the beginning of the email include:
First and Last Name, Student #, Class Title and Day/Time
Write in a professional manner using appropriate grammar. We are not your buddies.
When you leave a voice message clearly state:
Name, Class Title, Day/Time and Phone Number
Learning Objective
Explain sustainable living and an individual’s environmental "footprint"
Distinguish between environmental impacts of developed versus developing countries
Demonstrate an understanding of physical processes in relationship to global issues: global warming, ozone layer, acid rain, El Niño, hurricanes, floods, and urban heat islands
Recognize the social and resource implications of a population crisis
Use of the geographers’ technological tools (GPS, GIS, remote sensing) to access environmental change
Understanding of the potable water crisis throughout the world
Explain historical differences between conservation and preservation
Understand the creation of national parks and wilderness areas
Explain the differences between renewable and nonrenewable energy sources
Recognize the issues regarding biological diversity
Understand environmental policy
Collaborate with others on environmental geographic problem solving
Student Learning Outcomes
Students will recognize an individual’s role in the global environmental community
Students will understand a spatial perspective on environmental issues
Tentative Assessment
Assessment of the degree to which each student has achieved the learning objectives of this course will be based upon accumulation of points from the following:
EXAMS: There will be three non-cumulative examinations. Each will be worth 100 points. Read point 4 and 5 under Course Requirements heading for information on make-up exam.
IN CLASS ASSIGNMENTS: There will be up to 5 in class assignments that will vary from 5-10 points. In class assignments cannot be made up.
MAP ASSIGNMENT: 20 pts. Will be discussed at a later date. Any assignment turned in more than 10 minutes last will lose half credit.
SEMESTER PROJECT: 50 pts. Will be discussed at a later date. Any assignment turned in more than 10 minutes last will lose half credit.
POSSIBLE ADDITIONAL ASSIGNMENTS: Will be discussed at a later date.
EXTRA CREDIT OPPORTUNITY: 10 extra credit points will be given to students who only miss one class throughout the entire semester. Being late to class and leaving early will count as an absence when considering extra credit.
Normally an accumulation of points resulting in 90-100% of the total points earns an A, 80-89% earns a B, 70-79% earns a C and so on.
Tentative Schedule
The following schedule of topics in not necessarily a calendar but a tentative sequence of what will be discussed in class.
Date/Wk of Topic Chap. to Read
Jan 14th Introduction
Jan 21st Introduction to Environmental Geography 1&2
Jan 28th Ecosystem/Ecology 4&5
Feb 4th Population 6&7
Feb 11th Atmosphere & Air Pollution 10&11
Feb 18th Energy 4&9 (Topics for term papers are due)
Feb 25th EXAM 1
Mar 4th Open Land 17
Mar 11th Biodiversity & Tourism 16
Mar 18th Hydrologic Environment & Land Use 12
Mar 25th The Urban Environment
April 1st EXAM 2
April 8th NO CLASS, SPRING BREAK
April 15th Water Pollution 13
April 22nd Consumption and the Environment (Final Papers due)
April 29th Hazardous Waste – 14 Group Projects
May 6th Agriculture – 8 Group Projects
May 13th Wrap Up 3&18
May 20th FINAL EXAM 8:00 PM