Faculty

ENVR-1301 Introduction to Environmental Science

Bear Luera

Credit Spring 2026

Section(s)

ENVR-1301-012 (46174)
LEC MW 9:00am - 10:20am SGC SGC1 1328

Course Requirements

Essential Environment: The Science Behind the Stories, 7th edition, Jay Withgott and Matthew Laposata, 2025, Pearson (ISBN: 9780138276959). The textbook is required for the course and is available through First Day access on Blackboard.

Readings

Required Text: Essential Environment: The Science Behind the Stories, 7th edition, Jay Withgott and Matthew Laposata, 2025, Pearson (ISBN: 9780138276959). The textbook is required for the course and is available through First Day access on Blackboard.

Course Subjects

ENVR 1301 is an overview of environmental science and current global concerns, exploring scientific, economic, social, and political solutions to environmental problems. Students will discuss the history of environmental movements, environmental regulatory agencies, fundamental principles of resources and their use, population, conservation, and environmental health. (3-3-0, this course is a 3-credit course that meets 3 hours a week with no lab)

Student Learning Outcomes/Learning Objectives

Course Objectives: To give students an understanding of how science and the scientific method can be used to address environmental problems. The student will become familiar with the Earth’s major systems (ecosystems and biogeochemical cycles), how they function and how they are affected by human activity (population growth, air, water and soil pollution, global warming, solid waste disposal). Students will learn about the interaction of human society (urban sprawl, energy use/generation, resource consumption and economics) with the Earth’s systems.