Fall 2006 Semester
Env 210-01 & Env 210-02
Syllabus
Class Locations:
Section 210-01 meets Oxendine 2250
Section 210-02 meets Oxendine 2246
This page last updated on August 2006
Environmental Biology Syllabus
Instructor:
Wm.
Bruce Ezell, Jr.
Office:
2215
Oxendine Hall
Telephone:
910-521-6421
email:
william.ezell@uncp.edu
Office hours:
Students
are always welcome!
You do not need an appointment
to see me, however, office hours
are posted on my office door,
which is always open!
Course Description: Using the principles and insights
from a variety of scientific disciplines, Biology 210 is a study of environmental science emphasizing the effects
of increasing human populations, the decline in natural resources, increased pollution, decreasing biodiversity,
and habitat destruction have upon the biosphere. The interphase between various special interest populations within
the body politic shall also be considered. Successful completion of this course satisfies three credit hours of
the natural science requirement of the General Education curriculum. This course does not fulfill a biology major
elective.
Course Objectives: Upon completing this course, the
student should:
a) have a better understanding of the intricate interconnections within the natural world;
b) have a clear understanding of the importance of the major environmental problems;
affecting the biosphere and some possible solutions to same;
c) have improved critical thinking skills regarding current environmental issues;
d) be able to demonstrate a knowledge of the purpose, methods, and principles
of scientific inquiry; and
e) possess knowledge regarding the effects of human expansion and/or technology
upon the physical and human environment.
Textbook: "Environment, The Science Behind the
headlines" (2nd Ed.) by Jay Withgott and Scott Brennan as published by Pearson (Benjamin Cummings), San Francisco,
CA. This book and its accompanying CD are required for this course.
Attendance: Class attendance is expected and shall be
monitored. Regardless of reasons (including personal, medical, vocational, etc.), an absence does not relieve the
student of an assignment or responsibility. Inasmuch as you are allowed five absences there are no excused absences.
Should you miss classes in excess of the number allowed three points shall be deducted from the student's final
average for each class missed in excess of the five allowable absences. Should you miss an assigned quiz, this
shall count as one of the dropped grades (see below)
Grading: I normally give five multiple choice tests
and drop the lowest grade. There is a comprehensive final exam, which can never be used as a dropped grade. Should
you miss an assigned quiz that shall automatically count as your one dropped quiz. There are no make-up exams.
Grading is based upon a 10 Pt. grading scale. Up to four points on the final grade may be affected by student performance
during an individual PowerPoint presentation (see below)
PowerPoint Presentation: Each student is required to
produce and develop a PowerPoint presentation concerning a current environmental issue of interest. Your topic
must be approved by the instructor prior to the start of your research. Your presentation must not exceed four
minutes. The presentation must advocate a current environmental problem. In other words, I am not asking for a
documentary, but rather a presentation that convinces the viewer of the "rightness" or "wrongness"
of a given environmental issue. Please note that four points in a final average can easily change your grade one
a letter.
Exam Format: All tests shall be multiple choice
Special Needs: Students with documented disabilities
and needing academic adjustments are urged to contact the course instructor and the disability support services
office early I the semester, (preferably within the first week of classes). All discussions are confidential. For
additional information contact Mary Helen Walker, Director of Disability Support Services, in the D.F. Lowery Building.
The telephone number for this office is 910-521-6695. Alternative academic formats may be available upon request.
Non-Contractual Statement: This syllabus is not a contract.
Inasmuch as every class is different, the instructor reserves the right to change any and all information contained
in this syllabus and any other handout materials used in this course.
Emergency: The UNCP hotline number for weather and/or
emergency announcements is 910-521-6888.
University Website: The URL for UNCP on the Internet
is: www.uncp.edu
Week of:
21 August Chapter 1-3 2 Oct 15-16
28 August Chapter 4-5 Test 9 Oct 17-18 Test
04 Sept Chapter 6-7 16 Oct 19-20
11 Sept Chapter 8-9 Test 23 Oct 21-22 Test
18 Sept Chapter 10-11
25 Sept Chapter 12-13 Test This listing is highly tentativw