EESC 240 - Environmental Biology

Units: 3 ; Breadth Area: GE-5B; Sustainability

Introduction to living organisms focusing on organismal interactions with their environment and with other organisms, relationships between organismal structure and function, effects of humans on biological diversity and ecosystems, conservation of species and sustainability of natural resources.

Breadth Area(s) Satisfied: GE-5B - Lower Division Physical and Biological Sciences (Biological), Overlay - Sustainability
Possible Instructional Methods: On-ground, or Hybrid, or Online-Asynchronous.
Grading: A-F or CR/NC (student choice).
Course Typically Offered: Fall & Spring

Student Learning Outcomes - Upon successful completion of this course students will be able to:

Describe and explain two major organizing themes of biology: (a) evolution, and (b) ecology, with a focus on biodiversity and organism/environment interactions.
Identify and describe the role of species (e.g., cyanobacteria, humans) in shaping global ecology, including biological and environmental impacts.
Identify the major “domains” and “kingdoms” of living organisms, give examples of species in each domain or kingdom, and describe how environments influenced the evolution of life.
Identify organisms and adaptations that evolved in response to specific environmental conditions, and explain how organisms (including humans) influenced their environments.
Place organisms in their environmental context in biomes/ecosystems.
Describe a range of factors affecting and human actions required in the conservation of species and for the sustainability of natural resources
Express themselves clearly and concisely in project form on an environmental biology-related topic of personal interest.

GE-5B. Biological Sciences Learning Outcomes

Demonstrate knowledge of scientific theories, concepts, and data about the life sciences.
Demonstrate an understanding of scientific practices, including the scientific method.
Describe the potential limits of scientific endeavors, including the accepted standards and ethics associated with scientific inquiry.

Sustainability Overlay Learning Outcomes

Discuss multiple dimensions of sustainability, including the scientific, social, cultural, and/or economic.
Analyze interactions between human activities and natural systems.
Describe strategies taken by individuals, communities, organizations, or governments for mitigating and/or adapting to key threats to environmental sustainability.