Introduction to Environmental Science

Env. Sc. 1100

Course Syllabus: Fall Term

Instructors: Dr. Keith W. Goyne Offices: 328 ABNR Building

Dr. Clark Gantzer 330 ABNR Building

Mailbox: 302 ABNR Building Phone: 882-0090 (KG)

882-0611 (CG)

e-mail: goynek@missouri.edu Office Hours: 3:00 pm 4:00 pm T (KG)

gantzerc@missouri.edu 4:00 am 5:00 pm Th, (KG)
by Appointment (KG &CG)
Class Meetings: 1:00 1: 50 pm MWF in Room 115 ABNR Bldg.
Required Text: Raven, P.H., and L.R. Berg. 2006. Environment. 6th edition. John Wiley & Sons,
Hoboken, N.J. Sold at the University Bookstore.
Prerequisites: None at the college level. However, it is expected that students have completed
courses in earth sciences, mathematics, and chemistry at the high school level.
Rationale: The environment impacts our way of life in many aspects (e.g., food and fiber production,
resources for building shelter and infrastructure, water supplies, etc.). Adverse impacts to this
environment affect the well-being of humans and other living organisms. Therefore, it is essential that
students (majors and non-majors alike) understand natural environmental systems, physical and social
causes of environmental problems, and strategies to mitigate or manage these issues. This course is
also intended to help Environmental Science majors determine where they would like to specialize
within the major (land management, water quality, or air quality).

Learning Objectives: Students mastering the material of this class will be able to do the following:
(1) understand and define terminology commonly used in environmental science; (2) briefly summarize
and describe global, regional, and landscape scale environmental processes and systems; (3) students
will be able to list common and adverse human impacts on biotic communities, soil, water, and air
quality and suggest sustainable strategies to mitigate these impacts; (4) students will be able to read,
critically evaluate presented information and data using scientific principles and concepts, synthesize
popular media reports/articles discussing environmental issues, and verbally discuss and defend their
positions on scientific issues; and (5) apply learned information to postulated environmental scenarios
to predict potential outcomes.
How to Succeed in this Course: The instructors for this course view themselves as guides and
students as explorers. As guides, we will navigate you through the realm of environmental science by
showing you paths leading to learning and mastery of course concepts. At each juncture in this course,
you will find paths alternative to those we suggest (i.e., easier paths), but they may not always result in
the same level of success as the path your guides suggest. The following is a basic roadmap for
mastering material in this course: (1) attend class, listen attentively, ask questions, and take
comprehensive notes; (2) read assigned portions of the text prior to attending classes covering the new
material; (3) be thorough and timely when completing assignments; and (4) attend the field trips, take
good notes, and be engaged in these out of class learning activities.
Reading Assignments and Class Assignments: Assigned readings and activities are an integral
component of the course. In addition to attending lecture, students are expected to read the required
portions of the text and any supplementary materials, complete class assignments, and participate in
class activities. Class assignments will be primarily composed of summaries and evaluations of
commentaries posted on the BBCs Green Room website
(http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/sci_tech/green_room/default.stm), submission of exam questions,
and field trip reports. In-class activities will include interactive exercises that require your
participation
The text has been written as an introductory level course on the subject. Each topic covered in the text
includes questions that you should be able to answer after reading the material. Use these questions to
help you study and learn the appropriate materials. Additionally, students are encouraged to make use
of office hours if they have questions regarding the material covered in class or on the assignments.
Exams: Exams will be based on the material covered in class, homework assignments, and the reading
assignments. The types of questions found on the exams will include problems to be solved, short
answer, true and false, essay, and multiple-choice.
Additionally, the instructors do not allow you to keep your exams. After an exam has been graded, we
will distribute the exam at the beginning of class, discuss the exam, and re-collect the exams before
you leave. The grade on any exam not returned to the instructor will be changed to a zero! We have
instituted this policy to prevent the building of exam libraries that are passed from student to student
with time. This policy ensures that future students will not have an unfair advantage when taking
exams in this class. However, you are permitted to look over your exam during our office hours or by
appointment but you are not allowed to photocopy the exams.
Field Trips: We will conduct three field trips during the semester. Field trips (~ 4 hr) will be held on
Saturdays during the semester. To compensate for these activities outside of normal class times,
several class lecture periods will be canceled. All students are encouraged to attend the field trips. A
lab write-up will be required after each trip regardless of where or not a student attends the trip.
Policy Regarding Late Assignments and Make-up Exams: Assignments are to be turned in to Dr.
Goyne or Dr. Gantzer at the beginning of class on the due date. Make-up exams will not be given
unless you notify the instructor of your absence prior to the exam and your excuse for missing the
exam is valid. The validity of an absence is at the discretion of the instructors.
Class Attendance and Participation: Attendance to this class is mandatory and you are required to
sign in before or after each class. During class the instructors will be keeping notes of your
participation and you will be provided with feedback on your participation and attendance every two
weeks.
Web Resources: We will be using BlackBoard interactive web software to enhance your learning of
class material. Online you will be able to access the course syllabus, class notes, your grades, a
calendar noting pertinent dates, and class assignments. You may access this site at
https://courses.missouri.edu from any of the computer labs on campus or your home computer if you
have online service. To log on, you will use your email id and password. If you have any questions,
click on Student Instructions in the upper right hand corner of this page. You may find it necessary
to reconfigure your internet browser. Instructions for doing so are located at
http://etatmo.missouri.edu/courses/help/bbuserfaq/bbuserfaq9.htm. Please inform Drs. Goyne and
Gantzer of any problems or suggestions that you may have for improving this site.

E-mail strategy: You are welcome to email your questions to us. There are, however, some caveats
associated with email that you must remember. (1) Do not expect an immediate response to your
questions. A reasonable response time to emailed questions is 24 - 48 h. (2) Questions emailed on
weekends may not receive a response until the work week begins. (3) The instructors reserve the right
to answer emailed questions during the class period for the benefit of all students. (4) Some questions
are far to challenging to answer by email and you may be asked by the instructors to visit us in person.
Grading: 97-100 A+ 77-79 C+
94-96 A 74-76 C
Participation/Attendance: 10% 90-93 A- 70-73 C-
Assignments: 35% 87-89 B+ 67-69 D+
Midterm 1: 17.5% 84-86 B 64-66 D
Midterm 2: 17.5% 80-83 B- 60-63 D-
Final Exam: 20% 59 F

Academic Dishonesty (Office of the Provost, April 11, 1994): Academic honesty is fundamental to
the activities and principles of a university. All members of the academic community must be
confident that each persons work has been responsibly and honorably acquired, developed, and
presented. Any effort to gain an advantage not given to all students is dishonest whether or not the
effort is successful. The academic community regards academic dishonesty as an extremely serious
matter, with serious consequences that range from probation to expulsion. When in doubt about
plagiarism, paraphrasing, quoting, or collaboration, consult the course instructor.
Academic Dishonesty includes but is not necessarily limited to the following:
Cheating or knowingly assisting another student in committing an act of cheating or other academic dishonesty.
Plagiarism which includes but is not necessarily limited to submitting examinations, themes, reports, drawings,
laboratory notes, or other material as ones own work when such work has been prepared by another person or copied
from another person.
Unauthorized possession of examinations or reserve library materials, or laboratory materials or experiments, or any
other similar actions.
Unauthorized changing of grades or markings on an examination or in an instructors grade book or such change of any
grade report.

The University has specific academic dishonesty administrative procedures. Although policy states that
cases of academic dishonesty must be reported to the Office of the Provost for possible action, the
instructor may assign a failing grade for the assignment or a failing grade for the course, or may adjust
the grade as deemed appropriate. The instructor also may require the student to repeat the assignment
or to perform additional assignments.
University of Missouri-Columbia Notice of Nondiscrimination: The University of Missouri-
Columbia does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex,
sexual orientation, age, disability, or veteran status. For more information, please visit
http://www.missouri.edu/eeo-aa.htm.
ADA Statement: If you have special needs as addressed by the Americans with Disabilities Act
(ADA) and need assistance, please notify, immediately, the Office of Disability Services at 573-882-
4696. More information is available at http://etatmo.missouri.edu/resources/teachtool/
adastatement.htm. Reasonable efforts will be made to accommodate your special needs.
Grievance Policy: Information concerning student grade appeal procedures and non-academic
grievances and appeals may be found in the Student Handbook.

Course Outline: Environmental Science 1100

Week and Date
Week 1 (8/20- 8/24)
Week 2 (8/27- 8/31)
Week 3 (9/3 -9/7)
Field Trip (9/8)
Week 4 (9/10-9/14)
Week 5 (9/17 9/21)
Week 6 (9/24 9/28)
Week 7 (10/1 10/5)
Week 8 (10/8 10/12)
Field Trip (10/13)
Week 9 (10/15 10/19)
Week 10 (10/22 10/26)
Week 11 (10/29 11/2)
Week 12 (11/5 11/9)
Field Trip (11/10)
Week 13 (11/12 11/16)
Week 14 (11/19 11/23)
Week 15 (11/26 11/30)
Week 16 (12/3 12/7)
Week 17 (12/14)
(Schedule subject to change)
Lecture Topic and Reading Assignment
Intro to Environ. Sci; Chapter 1
Environ. Law, Economics, & Ethics; Chapter 2
Ecosystems, Energy, and Living Organisms; Chapters 3 and 4
Ecosystems, Energy, and Living Organisms; Chapters 3 and 4
Trip to Prairie Forks Conservation Area
Ecosystems, Energy, and Living Organisms; Chapters 3 and 4
Chemistry Review (Appendix I)
Ecosystems and the Physical Environment; Chapter 5
Exam #1
Ecosystems and the Physical Environment; Chapter 5
Ecosystems and the Physical Environment; Chapter 5
Human Health and Environ. Toxicology; Chapter 7
Trip to Bradford Farm
Water Resources and Pollution; Chapters 14 and 22
Water Resources and Pollution; Chapters 14 and 22
Exam #2
Soil Resources; Chapter 15
No Classes
Trip to Wastewater Treatment Plant; Eagle Bluffs Wetlands
Soil Resources; Chapter 15
Food Resources; Chapter 19
No Classes Thanksgiving Break
Air Pollution and Atmospheric Change; Chapters 20 and 21
Air Pollution and Atmospheric Change; Chapters 20 and 21
Final Exam