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Environmental Science Courses

These listings are sourced from Curricunet, and some courses may not be offered every semester. For additional information, contact the academic department, speak with counseling or refer to the current Class Schedule and College Catalog.

ENSC 15L - Agroecology Laboratory    ( 1.00 - Units )
Laboratory exercises developed as an adjunct to ENSC 15 (Agroecology). Practical applications of ecological concepts and principles to the design and management of sustainable food systems. Investigation of abiotic factors and organisms that make up agroecosystems. Examination of gardens, farms and the local food system.

Student Learning Outcomes (SLO)
  1. Students will apply the principles and philosophies of science to developing and maintaining food crops.
  2. Students will demonstrate competency with sustainable techniques used in raising food crops.
  3. Students will describe the systematics and life cycles of plants, their interactions with other species and integrated pest management
  4. Students will express their understanding of agroecological concepts by verbal, written and graphic/illustrative means.

ENSC 15 - Agroecology    ( 3.00 - Units )
Principles of the ecology of sustainable food systems. The environmental impact of agriculture, types of agriculture, soil science, plant structure, reproduction, development and growth and plants' interactions with other organisms. The interactions of culture, human population growth, and major environmental challenges in the transition to sustainable agriculture and food systems Designed for non-majors in environmental science.

Student Learning Outcomes (SLO)
  1. Students will describe the structures, functions and interactions of abiotic factors and organisms at all levels of organization in agroecosystems.
  2. Students will express their understanding of agroecological concepts by verbal, written and graphic/illustrative means.
  3. Students will describe the interactions of culture, human population growth and major environmental challenges in the transition to sustainable agriculture and food systems.

GEOS 11 - Physical Geology    ( 3.00 - Units )
The Earth, its materials, its internal and external processes, and its development through time. Emphasis is placed on a thorough global understanding of Plate Tectonics as a framework and foundation for subsequent geologic topics and concepts. Topics include volcanoes, earthquakes and seismology, the Geologic Time Scale and the formation of the earth, rocks and minerals, hydrology, erosion, beach systems, environmental geology, glaciation, groundwater, etc. Course content includes the historical development of key geologic concepts. The course is a foundation course for both the non-science major and majors in the Earth sciences and environmental sciences.

Student Learning Outcomes (SLO)
  1. define and identify the geology of divergent, convergent and transform plate tectonic environments.
  2. identify and define the basic properties of minerals.
  3. identify and differentiate the basic ages of the Geologic Time Scale.