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BISC 003: Environmental Science
PSU-York (Fall 2003)
Environmental Science (BISC 003)
Fall 2003
Lecture Room 3 MCBMW 4:00 – 5:15 p.m.
Instructor:Dr.Matthew P. HochE-mail:
Campus Phone: 4016Website:
Office/Lab: MCB Rm 131 /MCB Rm 124 “Biology Lab”
Office Hours: F 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.; F 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m., or by appointment.
Required Textbook: Wright, R.T. and B.J. Nebel. 2002. Environmental science: toward a sustainable future, 8th ed. Prentice Hall.
Course Perspective:
Environmental science is an extremely broad and multidisciplinary field that extends well beyond addressing questions related to the structure and function of the natural environment by chemists, biologists, physicists, and geologists. The human population, including its cultures and societies, is a dominant force on Earth; hence, disciplines of the social sciences and humanities are integral to understanding the human influences on the environment and essential for providing solutions to negative impacts that effect human health and sustainability of natural resources. This course will define the ecosystem concept, explore the role of the human population as a driving force for environmental change, detail specific problems concerning the environment and human health consequences, and overview various means of solving environmental problems and maintaining sustainability. Overall, students should gain appreciation for the roles of sound science and personalstewardshipin sustainability of Earth’s finite resources.
Student Evaluation:
The evaluation of your ability to master course content will be based on exam performance (75%), an assignment journal (20%), and your individual class participation (5%). The assignment journal involves both in-class and out-of-class activities assigned either individually or to a group. Course participation includes weekly lecture attendance (body and brain), attentiveness and other criteria (see details below). Twice during the semester I will report your current grade based on the proportion of the course completed at that time. For further details on exams, assignment journal and participation, see the complete course syllabus.
Participation / 5 %Exam I –IV† / 55 %
Exam IV / 20 %
Assignment Journal / 20 %
Total / 100 %
† The lowest mark of these three exams will be worth 15% of the course grade and the other two will each be worth 20 % of the course grade for a total of 55%.
Participation: (5%) Participation will be based on your inside and outside of class involvement and observation of all class requirements (see below), which includes the following areas: lecture attendance, field trip attendance, email communication, in-class attitude and attentiveness, in-class questions or answers, and being conscientious about your performance (i.e. seeking help if grades slip).
Assignment Journal: (20%) You will familiarize yourself with course vocabulary, concepts and local, national and global issues through in-class group assignments and out-of –class individual assignments, both documented in a journal format. Assignments will include following environmental science news, guest lecture note entries, class discussion note entries, field trip note entries, problem solving activities and vocabulary activities.You should bring your journal every class period. They will be collected periodically throughout the semester. Journal grades will be based on completeness of assignments and accuracy of factual content (e.g. proper use of course vocabulary).
Your journal assignments must be organized. Save the first few pages of your journal for making a table of contents.Place page numbers on all pages and begin activities or entries with an appropriate title. As an assignment is completed, add it to your table of contents. Each line of your table of contents should have a title, date of entry, and page number where the work is found.
Exams:(75%) Course content for each exam is given in the lecture schedule (below). Questions are largely derived from lecture material, but may include content covered in assigned chapter readings. Use the weekly Power Point lecture presentations and the unit study guide during exam preparation.Questions will focus on a working knowledge of course vocabulary and concepts. Question format will be multiple choice, matching (figure labels or terms), and true-false. Expect 60 questions per examand complete them within 60 minutes. Exams I, II, and III will be administered during the normal scheduled lecture period and location. The lowest grade of these first three exams will be reduced to 15% of the course grade, rather than 20%.Exam IV will be scheduled for sometime during finals week and worth 20% of the course grade.
Grades:
Letter grades are based on the total percentage of course marks accumulated as indicated below. Plus (+) or minus (-) designations will be assigned only at final grade submission, and will be based on the distribution of marks, i.e. "the curve", within each posted letter grade range. [E.g.: total course marks equal to or above 89, the A-range, will always be either an A-, A, or A+; which +/- designation received within the A-range will depend on the distribution and number of students within the A-range.
A / 89 - 100 %B / 77 - 88 %
C / 65 - 76 %
D / 53 - 64 %
F / < 52 %
Testing Policy and "Make-Up" Exams:
Exams will be given at the beginning of class on their scheduled dates. Please show up on time! Coming in late to an exam is disruptive to others, and you run the risk of not being allowed to take the exam. Know that if any student completes and submits the exam prior to your arrival in class on exam day, you will not be permitted to take the exam, and you will forfeit your grade (receive a 0%).
Missed exams can only be made-up, or waived, by prior arrangement for an absence due to a sanctioned University function or serious illness. Regarding the later, if you or your legal dependent are ill and require home care, you must obtain the appropriate medical excuse documentation from a licensed medical professional, i.e. doctor or nurse. A different set of questions may be used for any make-up exam.
Lecture Topic Syllabus and Reading Assignments:
Lecture # / Dates / Topic* / AssignedReading1 / Wed, Sept 3rd / Introduction; / Ch 1
2 / Mon, Sept 8th / What’s an Ecosystem: / Ch 2
3 / Wed, Sept 10th / Ecosystem Functions / Ch 3
4 / Mon, Sept 15th / Biodiversity / Ch 11
5 / Wed, Sept 17th / Population Growth and Control / Ch 4
EXAM 1 / Mon, Sept 22nd / Covers content of Sept 3rd through Sept 17th.
6 / Wed, Sept 24th / Disturbance and Succession / Ch 4
7 / Mon, Sept 29th / Ecosystem Conservation / Ch 12
8 / Wed, Oct 1st / Forestry and Fisheries Management / Ch 12
9 / Mon, Oct 6th / Development Issues / Parts Ch 6 & 7
10 / Wed, Oct 8th / Energy: Fossil Fuels / Ch 13
11 / Mon, Oct 13th / Atmosphere and Climate Change Concerns / Part Ch 21
12 / Wed, Oct 15th / Energy: Nuclear & Renewable Forms / Parts Ch 14 & 15
EXAM 2 / Mon, Oct 20th / Covers content of Sept 24th through Oct 15th.
13 / Wed, Oct 22nd / Soil Resources / Ch 8
14 / Mon, Oct 27th / Agriculture and Food Supply / Ch 10
15 / Wed, Oct 29th / Pests and Pesticides / Ch 17
16 / Mon, Nov 3rd / Solid Wastes / Ch 19
17 / Wed, Nov 5th / Water: Hydrologic Cycle and Human Use / Ch 9
18 / Mon, Nov 10th / Water Pollution & Treatment / Ch 18
19 / Wed, Nov 12th / Water and Watersheds of YorkCounty / Guest
EXAM 3 / Mon, Nov 17th / Covers content of Oct 27ththrough Nov 12th.
20 / Wed, Nov 19th / Environmental Risk Assessment / Ch 16
21 / Mon, Nov, 24th / Infectious Disease Transmission / Ch 16
22 / Wed, Nov 26th / Hazardous Chemicals / Ch 20
23 / Mon, Dec 1st / Atmospheric Pollution / Ch 22
24 / Wed, Dec 3rd / Ozone Depletion / Part Ch 21
25 / Mon, Dec 8th / Environmental Economics and Policy / Ch 23
26 / Wed, Dec 10th / Sustainable Communities and Lifestyles / Ch 24
EXAM 4 / Finals Week / Covers content of Nov 19th through Dec 10th plus other.
* Presentation dates for specific topics may change during the semester. Please be advised that all updates of the syllabus will be posted on the course website (
Snow Closure Policy:
We may have a snow late in the semester that can result in campus closure. Please be advised that the scheduled “course” content no such days will not be cancelled. Yes, this is to say you will be responsible for topics or assignments covered on cancelled days. How to approach this situation will be at the instructor’s discretion, and you will be notified via email to your PSU account. Such approaches may include rescheduling the lost class meeting(s) at another time (possibly during weekends or evenings) or giving you an “at-home” assignment.
Course Requirements:
- Observe all class guidelines (see below) and bring your most positive attitude.
- A PSU Access Account. Go to IST Rm 106 and make the request for your user-ID and password. It will take about 24 hours for activation, at which time I recommend you change your password.
- A single Email address. I will send all course announcements and notes to your PSU user-ID address. This is also the easiest address for other PSU students to use in reaching you, as it is on the PSU Directory. I suggest you use the PSU Webmail, which can be accessed from your home
- Keep in touch with me and other students in the class by Email. Check your Email frequently (i.e. daily) so you don’t miss important announcements or schedule changes.
- The ability to save computer work to permanent space on the network, a diskette, CD-ROM, or zip-disk. Your own disc or CD-ROM.
- A notepad or journal book separate from lecture notes for entering course activities. Bring your journal to every class.
- Attendance at all lectures, presentations, and field trip assignment.
Class Guidelines:
I would like everyone to participate in making our class times a nice comfortable place to learn throughout the next fifteen weeks. To this end, please, let us all adopt the following guidelines on appropriate and considerate behavior.
- Unless you are waiting for an organ transplant, or a birth is imminent, please turn off all electronic devices (e.g. cell phones, pagers, etc) that could generate distracting noises prior to entering class.
- I encourage you to fill the room with questions and discussion on the topic at hand. Please ask questions freely, and if not in class then out of class, either verbally or via Email. When others ask, or answer, questions in class, please give them your full attention and respect.
- If you have a comment or complaint regarding any aspect of the course other than the course content or activity being discussed, please wait to speak with me until after class, outside of class, or by Email. This saves valuable class time and is much more discrete, particular on issues of grade disputes or any other potential misunderstanding.
- Please don’t study or read other course material in class. If you find yourself in a time management crises come see me before class instead. I will ask you to leave class if you exhibit this discourtesy, as it is extremely distracting to me and others.
- Also, refer to “Promoting a Vibrant Learning Culture” at
Academic Integrity:
Academic dishonesty, aka cheating, is not something you want on your record, nor do you want to lower your grade or fail the course. This first year of university is a time to focus on developing study skills and learning your strengths and weaknesses. Students that cheat are not challenging themselves, and such cowardly behavior now, will leave them even more ill prepared for their future. If you ever feel the urge to cheat in any form, that is your signal to seek help from your peers, instructor, and/or the learning center. Faculty will have great respect for the hard working honest student that has learned something regardless of grade outcome. Preservation of a high standard of academic integrity is in itself a source of self-worth and confidence.
To possess academic integrity means you don’t cheat. So what is cheating?
- Copying someone else’s assignment or/and submitting it as yours.
- Referring to another student or sources during an exam.
- Falsifying peer evaluation sheets.
It is NOT cheating to work with other students while studying for exams and creating your group presentation. It is NOT cheating to seek assistance from another student, a tutor, or your instructor, in order to understand an in-class activity or out-of-class assignment.
If the instructor suspects you of cheating, they will immediately notify you to meet informally after class or at some other time outside of class. At that time, the instructor will inform the student of the accusation and its circumstances, and the student will have the opportunity to explain their view point or situation. The instructor will then decide whetherto proceed with a formal academic sanction. Notification of an academic sanction will involve a formal meeting between accused student and instructor. At this formal meeting, the student will be presented with an academic sanction form that explains the accusation and the sanctions, such as a failing grade on an assignment, quiz, or exam. The formal meeting will be arranged by e-mail or phone call. The student may agree and sign the form or contest the allegations through the university authorities. If a student is absent from the formal meeting time, they will be given three additional days to contact and meet with the instructor. Failure to formally meet with the instructorwill be deemed as the student's acceptance of academic sanction, and waives the student's right to contest the allegations of academic dishonesty. Note, that any student(s) assisting or facilitating others in cheating will be subject to equal penalty and treated according to these same guidelines The official guideline on this policy can be found in the Academic Administrative Policies Manual, which is available on the PSU website under item “G9” at
Disability Statement:
Please see me immediatelyafter the first class if you have a documented disability that may require special accommodations for this course. I will do all I can to accommodate your needs and/or arrange to get you any additional required assistance.