Overview
Environmental Studies 305: Environmental Impact Assessment, a three-credit, senior-level course, is designed to introduce you to a systematic process for predicting and evaluating the significant environmental consequences of a proposed action or undertaking. This process—environmental impact assessment—has been applied primarily to new infrastructure projects, such as power plants, highways, pipelines, dams, mines, airports, incinerators, and landfills. Assessment processes have also been used to consider the implications of new technologies, plans, and policies that may result in significant social and biophysical effects. This course focuses on environmental assessment processes—what they are meant to accomplish, and how they are designed or should be designed to be effective, efficient, and fair.
Evaluation
To receive credit for ENVS 305, you must complete all assignments and achieve a minimum grade of at least 60 percent on the final examination and a composite course grade of at least C- (60 percent). The weighting of the course grade is as follows:
| Activity | Weight |
| Assignment 1: Preliminary Submission for the Major Assignment | 5% |
| Assignment 2: Short Essay | 20% |
| Assignment 3: Major Assignment | 35% |
| Final Online Exam | 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
Physical course materials
The following course materials are included in a course package that will be shipped to your home prior to your course’s start date:
Richardson, M., Sherman, J., & Gismondi, M. (1993). Winning back the words: Confronting experts in an environmental public hearing. Toronto: Garamond.
Other Materials
All other course materials can be found online