Introduction to Environmental Sciences

Delivered from a systems perspective, an interdisciplinary approach explores contemporary environments that are composed of both human and non-human elements. Explores physical, chemical, and biological processes to understand pressing environmental challenges and cultural values, attitudes, and norms expressed by individuals and populations around the globe. Environmental Science is an interdisciplinary academic field that integrates physical, biological, and social sciences for the study of environmental systems, processes, constraints, and problems. Throughout history, nature has contributed to shaping human cultures. In turn, a growing human population and continued economic and technological development are subject to Earth’s environment and many stresses, in some cases threatening their persistence and often resulting in undesirable consequences for humanity. The interdependence of physical, biological, socioeconomic, and cultural aspects in shaping contemporary environments lies at the heart of environmental science. This general education course will introduce you to environmental science as an academic field to improve your environmental literacy while developing skills in scientific reasoning, interdisciplinary thinking, and analysis of complex social-ecological issues. Emphasis is placed on comparing international perspectives on environmental problems and solutions to highlight the important role of culture in environmental matters.