Environmental Studies (ENVS) 200

Overview

ENVS 200 introduces students to the field of environmental studies and provides them with basic information about a variety of environmental issues, concepts, debates, events, and actors or thinkers. This survey course presents an overview of key concepts related to environmental analysis, such as resilience, carrying capacity, and environmental justice, as well as a range of topics related to contemporary environmental issues such as water, biodiversity, and ecological design. In particular, the course explores the principles of sustainable development and sustainability. Students are introduced to some of the complexity and debate regarding these concepts and are required to critically engage in applying the concepts. The course also introduces students to critical interdisciplinary analysis and provides opportunities to develop and refine such skills.

Outline

• Unit 1: Critical Interdisciplinary Thinking
• Unit 2: Sustainable Development and Sustainability
• Unit 3: Biodiversity
• Unit 4: Energy and Climate Change
• Unit 5: Water
• Unit 6: Forests
• Unit 7: Food and Agriculture
• Unit 8: Pollution and Waste
• Unit 9: Ecological Design and Urban Sustainability
• Unit 10: Environmental Management
• Unit 11: Environmental Education
• Unit 12: The Consumer Society and Environmental Citizenship

Evaluation

To receive credit for ENVS 200, you must write the final examination and achieve a course composite grade of at least a D (50 percent). The weighting of the composite grade is as follows:

The final examination for this course must be taken online with an AU-approved exam invigilator at an approved invigilation centre. It is your responsibility to ensure your chosen invigilation centre can accommodate online exams. For a list of invigilators who can accommodate online exams, visit the Exam Invigilation Network.

To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University's online Calendar.

Course Materials

Textbook

Registration in this course includes an electronic textbook. For more information on electronic textbooks, please refer to our eText Initiative site.

A print version of the eText may be available for purchase from the publisher through a direct-to-student link provided on the course website; you can also acquire the textbook on your own if you wish.

Other Resources

All other learning resources will be available online.

Challenge for Credit Overview

The Challenge for Credit process allows you to demonstrate that you have acquired a command of the general subject matter, knowledge, intellectual and/or other skills that would normally be found in a university-level course.

Full information about Challenge for Credit can be found in the Undergraduate Calendar.

Challenge Evaluation

To receive credit for the ENVS 200 challenge registration, you must achieve an overall grade of at least D (50 percent).

Undergraduate Challenge for Credit Course Registration Form

• Challenge for Credit Form