ENVT 447 - Energy, Climate and Society

Units: 3 ; Breadth Area: GE-UD-5; Sustainability
The science and technology of societal energy choices as they affect global environmental sustainability, national security, equity, and social justice.

Breadth Area(s) Satisfied: GE-UD-5 - Upper Division Science or Mathematical Concepts/Quantitative Reasoning, Overlay - Sustainability
Prerequisites: Completion of GE Areas 1A, 1B, 1C and GE-2 with grade C- (CR) or better (GE Areas A1, A2, A3 and B4 for students on the 2024-25 or earlier catalogs).
Strongly Recommended Preparation: Upper division status (greater than 60 earned semester units) and completion of lower division GE Area 5 (Areas B1-B3 for students on the 2024-25 or earlier catalogs).
Possible Instructional Methods: On-ground, or Hybrid, or Online-Asynchronous, or Online-Synchronous.
Grading: A-F or CR/NC (student choice).
Cross-listed: GEOG 447
Course Typically Offered: Fall & Spring

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

Articulate an understanding of energy options and technologies, their social and environmental implications, using the vocabulary from the appropriate related disciplines;
Explain the scientific basis of our understanding of climates impacts of energy use including understanding of data and trends, models and theories, uncertainties and their significance;
Identify credible sources of scientific information on energy and its environmental impacts and understand what makes them credible;
Evaluate controversial energy claims using quantitative and qualitative arguments;
Substantiate the significance of sustainable and socially just energy resource management for the welfare of current and future generations.

GE-UD-5. Upper-division Science or Mathematical Concepts/Quantitative Reasoning Learning Outcomes

Demonstrate advanced and/or focused science or quantitative content knowledge in a specific scientific field, using appropriate vocabulary and referencing appropriate concepts (such as models, uncertainties, hypotheses, theories, and
Apply advanced quantitative skills (such as statistics, algebraic solutions, interpretation of graphical data) to scientific problems and evaluate scientific claims.
Demonstrate understanding of the nature of science and scientific inquiry and the experimental and empirical methodologies used in science to investigate a scientific question or issue.
Apply science content knowledge to contemporary scientific issues (e.g., global warming) and technologies (e.g., cloning), where appropriate.

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.