Overview
Environmental Science 200: Introductory Environmental Science is a junior-level course designed to introduce you to the basic terminology, techniques, and concepts of environmental science and to expose you to simple experiments that will allow you to apply fundamental concepts to real-world situations.
Learning outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, you should be able to
- recognize and use the appropriate scientific vocabulary for describing and analyzing issues in environmental science.
- describe the connections among elements of an environmental system.
- assess basic scientific evidence about environmental issues and interpret data about the environmental impacts of human activities.
- quantitatively describe the effects of your personal activities on the environment, including your carbon footprint.
- observe your local environment as part of broader scientific studies, such as citizen science projects.
Evaluation
To receive credit for ENSC 200, you must achieve a course composite grade of at least D (50%) and a grade of at least 50% on the final examination. The weighting of the composite grade is as follows:
| Activity | Weight |
| Unit Quizzes, Units 1–25 (1% each) | 25% |
| Lab Assignments 1–4 (5% each) | 20% |
| Lab Assignment 5 | 15% |
| Final Examination | 40% |
| Total | 100% |
The final examination for this course must be requested in advance and written under the supervision of an AU-approved exam invigilator. Invigilators include either ProctorU or an approved in-person invigilation centre that can accommodate online exams. Students are responsible for payment of any invigilation fees. Information on exam request deadlines, invigilators, and other exam-related questions, can be found at the Exams and grades section of the Calendar.
To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University’s online Calendar.
Materials
Digital course materials
Links to the following course materials will be made available in the course:
Miller, G. T., Jr., & Hackett, D. (2014). Living in the environment (3rd Canadian ed.). Nelson Education.
Special Instructional Feature
Home labs involve the use of materials typically found around a home as well as information gathered from local and internet-based sources.
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.
Evaluation
To receive credit for the ENSC 200 challenge registration, you must achieve a grade of at least C– (60%)on the examination. The challenge evaluation consists of a three-hour exam.
Challenge for credit course registration form