Skip to main content

Undergraduate spring application deadline is December 1 for spring term.

NSCI 204 Environmental Science

An introduction to environmental science and the range of environmental issues that affect people on a global, local and personal level. Topics include sustainability, ecology, biodiversity, solid waste, water pollution, energy sources, air pollution, and climate change. Includes lab. The online version of this course requires students to purchase lab materials. Intended for general education students. Because college-level science courses contain extensive new terminology, many students find it helpful to take LING 111-Vocabulary Study prior to taking this course.

Prerequisites

Special information

First day attendance is mandatory.
Overlap: Student cannot receive credit for both NATH 204 Environmental Science and NSCI 204 Environmental Science.
4 Undergraduate credits

Effective January 11, 2010 to present

Meets graduation requirements for

Learning outcomes

General

  • Explain and apply knowledge of environmental chemistry, biology, geology and physics to natural conditions and human impacts on the Earth's air, water, solid earth, and biological communities.
  • Understand and apply knowledge of measurement and use of lab equipment used in the environmental sciences, and use that knowledge in the proper conduct and interpretation of a scientific investigation.
  • Critically evaluate information about environment science, discern opposing views, and recognize biases in the presentation and interpretation of that information.
  • Evaluate critically environmental and natural resource issues in light of understandings about interrelationships, ecosystems, and institutions.
  • Evaluate environmental issues from a natural science perspective, asking questions about the evidence presented, and making informed judgments about science-related topics and policies.
  • Explain how various natural ecosystems are used by humans, how humans are dependent on them, and how human activities alter them
  • Formulate and test hypotheses by performing a field experiment in environmental science, including the collection of data, statistical and graphical analysis of results, and an interpretation of its sources of error and uncertainty; Communicate their experiential findings, analyses, and interpretations both orally and in writing.
  • ¿Demonstrate understanding of scientific theories and knowledge in environmental science at the level necessary for informed citizenship.
  • Evaluate critically environmental and natural resource issues in light of understandings about interrelationships, ecosystems, and institutions.

Minnesota Transfer Curriculum

Goal 3: Natural Sciences

  • Demonstrate understanding of scientific theories.
  • Formulate and test hypotheses by performing laboratory, simulation, or field experiments in at least two of the natural science disciplines. One of these experimental components should develop, in greater depth, students' laboratory experience in the collection of data, its statistical and graphical analysis, and an appreciation of its sources of error and uncertainty.
  • Communicate their experimental findings, analyses, and interpretations both orally and in writing.
  • Evaluate societal issues from a natural science perspective, ask questions about the evidence presented, and make informed judgments about science-related topics and policies.

Goal 10: People and the Environment

  • Explain the basic structure and function of various natural ecosystems and of human adaptive strategies within those systems.
  • Discern patterns and interrelationships of bio-physical and socio-cultural systems.
  • Describe the basic institutional arrangements (social, legal, political, economic, religious) that are evolving to deal with environmental and natural resource challenges.
  • Evaluate critically environmental and natural resource issues in light of understandings about interrelationships, ecosystems, and institutions.
  • Propose and assess alternative solutions to environmental problems.
  • Articulate and defend the actions they would take on various environmental issues.

Fall 2024

Section Title Instructor books eservices
50 Environmental Science Reimann, Trish Books for NSCI-204-50 Fall 2024 Course details for NSCI-204-50 Fall 2024

Spring 2025

Section Title Instructor books eservices
50 Environmental Science Reimann, Trish Books for NSCI-204-50 Spring 2025 Course details for NSCI-204-50 Spring 2025