This course introduces students to the approach used by environmental scientists to assess the health of Earth’s systems, evaluate impacts of various land and ecosystem management practices and identify solutions to environmental problems. Earth systems (lithosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere and atmosphere) and cycles (rock, water, carbon, nitrogen, etc.) are examined briefly as context. Then underlying, fundamental physical and biological processes of environmental problems are examined. The course will cover environmental ethics, conservation movements, environmental policy and the concept of sustainability. As well, ecological principles will be examined in the context of conservation, restoration, resource management, and energy sources.
Prerequisites
Biology 11 or Biology 12 with a minimum grade of 'C+' or equivalent. Recommended: Biology 11 and 12, Chemistry 11, Precalculus 11.
Missing prerequisites?
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What you will learn
- Land use effect on watersheds
- Hydroelectric development effects on river systems
- Global warming impact on Earth’s hydrosphere.
- Threats to drinking water supplies at local and global scales
- Prediction and modeling in environmental problem solving
- Anthropogenic effects on the global carbon cycle
- The effect of expanding human populations and climate change on biodiversity
- Influence of climate change on the size and age composition of biological populations
- Restoring degraded environmental systems
How to register
This course is offered as part of a VCC program only.
Course schedules
Select your program to see the available course schedules.
Contact us
If you have any question, please email at advising@vcc.ca.
† This information is intended as a guideline only. Program and course details are subject to change with the approval of VCC's Board of Governors.