This course focuses on environmental factors relevant to understanding and implementing sustainable development. Its aim is to teach students to understand and appreciate fundamental ecological principles within the context of social values and technological constraints. Moreover, the course seeks to equip students to assess environmental problems from an interdisciplinary perspective, and to develop strategies that might solve these problems. Topics or issues that may be addressed include ecosystem dynamics; feedback in environmental processes; the concepts of carrying capacities and population thresholds; optimum yield theory; loss of biodiversity; over-consumption and overpopulation; deforestation, desertification, and pollution; energy demand versus supply; urbanization trends; global warming; ozone layer depletion; resource management, conservation and recovery; and environmental monitoring and impact assessment. Cross-listed: ENV-2603(3). Restrictions: Students may not hold credit for this course and ENV-2603. Restrictions: Students may not hold credit for this course and ENV-2603.
Prerequisites
IDS-1100 or ENV-1600 or permission of the instructor (prerequisite).