YORK COLLEGE of CUNY

Earth and Physical Sciences

EHS 140: Introduction to Environmental Sciences

Class hours: Monsay and Wednesday 10:00 am - 11:50

am Online/Distance and In-person Learning Mode

Instructor Contact Info.:

Darlene DeFabio
Email: [email protected] or 718 262-2654
Office hours: by email appointment or before class.

EHS 140: Introduction to Environmental Sciences

Total Credit: 3 (2 hours lecture, 2 hours lab)
Course Description:
The course examines man-made environmental pollution problems and possible alternatives.
Topics include energy, air, and water pollution, land-use, environmental assessment, pollution
evaluation and social choices. Information learned in lecture is reinforced through laboratory
activities on environmental data set and hands-on experimentation.
Prereq: none. Not open to the students with credit in HPEH 140.

Learning Outcomes:
This course is interdisciplinary, involving a wide variety of topics and considerations from
different specialty areas of sciences. Students will study natural resources, ecosystems,
population dynamics, energy use, human interaction with environment. Students who
successfully complete this course may be able to respond to:

⮚ What is nature like when it is undisturbed by people?

⮚ What are the effects of people on nature?
⮚ What are the effects of nature on people?

Texts:
Lecture - Environmental Science: Earth as a living planet, 9th Edition, by Daniel B. Bokin
and Edward A. Keller, Wiley, ISBN: 978-0470520338@2010.
Laboratory- Laboratory Manual for Environmental Sciences, In-House manual by Dr. Ratan
Kumar Dhar, York College. To be uploaded on black board prior to the lab class.

Quizzes and Tests:

There will be two quizzes and two exam assessments. Quizzes will be given using the multiple
choice format. The exams will be given on combination of multiple-choice, True/False, fill-in the
blanks and short answer questions. Tests/ Exams will be based on the chapter readings, lectures,
and topics discussed in class. Please note that Textbook chapters are provided as guidelines, but
the lectures will not be limited to book chapters. Therefore, your best strategy is to attend
lectures carefully and follow the articles, discussions, and lecture notes. Each quiz will need to
be completed within the allotted time with time constraints and will need to complete the quiz
within the allotted time .

1
Exams will be given in-person or with similar restrictions, but students will be a longer time
window to complete the exam.

Lab reports: (Should be neat and organized)

There will be 6 laboratory modules that will be covered in 2-3 lab meetings. Student must
prepare the lab reports with all the question answered correctly and with a conclusion of the
workout results (10% of lab grade) and each lab report weighs six (6) points as follows. Failing
to meet the deadline will result in the point deduction; 10% for each day up to maximum
for 3 days. After 3 days lab report will not be accepted.

o Laboratory – 1: Map and Planetary Literacy (6 pts): Students are looking at different maps
to understand the information on maps such as watersheds, ridges, trenches, endangered
species etc. Students will also conduct a few exercises to help them make and utilize maps to
visualize landscapes.

o Laboratory – 2: Hurricanes, Climates and Weather (6 pts): Students apply their basic
learning from their lectures to understand how the some of the components of the Earth
System could cause large scale weather patterns (climate) as well as local weather changes
by transferring heat. Students learn a) how the large heat machine like Hurricane in the open
ocean is constructed, b) how to track them, c) how to predict where they will do the most
damage.

o Laboratory – 3: Population and natural resource consumption (6 pts): Students analyze the
world population, food production, energy consumption, production and various other things
have changed over time to address some of the fundamental questions such as “Are these
changes sustainable?”, “Can the past trends continue into the future?” and “What are the
factors that are most likely to change the trends?”

o Laboratory – 4: Monitoring the microbiological pollution in waste water (6 pts): In this

laboratory, a microbiologucal analysis will allow us to understand an important water quality
parameter used in our water quality assessment. Specifically, we will look at the presence
and concentration of Escherichia coli (E. coli), a fecal coliform that can be an indicator for
other dangerous disease-causing bacteria from human or animal feces, in water samples taken
from park pond/lake.

o Laboratory – 5: Museum trip: Global and local biodiversity (6 pts): Global and local
biodiversity: Students make their own-trip to American Museum of Natural History to
explore the global and local biodiversity of New York City. Students will be provided the
questionnaires to prepare their report.

o Laboratory – 6: Water Quality Monitoring(6 pts): The objective of this laboratory is to

selectively measure several water quality parameters for NYC tap water obtained on York
College campus. Measurements will also be made on several brands of bottled water.
Students should then summarize their results and compare them with the results reported by
most recent NYC water quality data report.

2
 Presentation:
Each student will be required to pick a specific environmental topic or case study to give a 10
minute oral presentation (power point slides- not more than 10). Students will be encouraged to
select the local issues (such as PlanNYC topics) or any issue of global Pandemic. Presentation
will be judged based on the student’s critical thinking on the topic, mode and art of presentation.
Research Topic must be submitted to instructor by the deadline.

Course grading:
55% of the course is based on the lecture part and 45% is based on the laboratory component and
research. Lab work is designed to complement lecture material.
Grading:

Quizzes 2 (5% each) 10%

Midterm Assessment 20%
Final Assessment 20%
Presentation (outline +presentation) 10%
Laboratory Exercises (6x6) 36%
Homework 4%

Final grades will be assigned on the following basis (scaled scores for all work)
A A A B B B C C C D D F
+ - + - + - +
97.0- 93.0- 90.0- 87.0- 83.0- 80.0- 77.0- 73.0- 70- 67.0- 60.0- 0-
100 96.9 92.9 89.9 86.9 82.9 79.9 76.9 72.9 69.9 66.9 5
9

Academic Policies: All other relevant college policies may be found in the college bulletin and
will be strictly followed in this class.

How to succeed in this course: Come to lecture prepared by reading the textbook chapter(s) to
be able to better understand when they’re presented in the class and hand in the complete weekly
lab reports on time. Learn how to take notes in class, summarizing the main points in lecture.
This is an essential skill for success in college. Set aside time for studying every week.

Make-up Exams:
There is no make-up except under circumstances totally beyond students’ control. Students are
strongly suggested to arrange with instructor for their make-up exams. Quizzes will be given at
the beginning of the class. Since lecture will be followed by the test, therefore students will not
allow the take quizzes after 10:40 am. Make-up quizzes will not be allowed at any
circumstances!! If you fail to come on time you will get zero for the quizzes!!!

3
 Tentative Schedule for Wednesdays Lecture (subjected to be changed or modified)

Class
Lecture Topic(s) Reading Test/Exam
Meeti
Chapter
ng

1 Introduction of Course and orientation Introductio

n
2 Before the Flood Film

Lec-1: Course Introduction, Key Themes

3 1
in Environmental Science

4 Lec-2: Critical Thinking in Environmental Science 2

5 Lec.-3: Economics of Environmental Issues 3

6 Lec-4: Human Population & Environment 5

7 Lec.-5: Biogeochemical Cycle 7

Chapter 1,2, MCQ, T/F, SQ

8 Lecture Midterm Exam (In person)
3, (20 pts)
5,7

9 Lec.-6: Fossil fuels and the Environment 15

10 Lec.-7: Alternative Energy & Environment 16

11 Lec.-8: Water Supply, Use and Management 18

12 Lec.-9: Water Pollution and Treatment 19

13 Lec.-10: Air Pollution 21

14 presentation - 10 minutes + 3 min Q&A (5 pts) In-person

15 presentation - 10 minutes + 3 min Q&A (5 pts) In-person

Chapter 15, 16, MCQ, T/F, SQ

TB Lecture Final Exam (In-person)
18, 19, 21 (20 pts)
D

4
Tentative Schedule for Fridays Remote Laboratory (subjected to be changed or modified)
Class
Lab and/or Hands on activities
Meetin
g

1 Laboratory Overview and Introduce Lab-1

2 Laboratory – 1: Map & Planetary Literacy (6 pts)

3 Continued lab-1

Quiz-1- Chapter 1-3

4
(5 pts)
Laboratory – 3: Population and natural resource consumption (6
pts)

5 Continued lab-3

Laboratory – 5: Museum trip (on your own): Global and local

6
biodiversity (6 pts)

7 Continued lab-5

Laboratory – 2: Hurricanes, Climates and Weather (6 pts)

8

9 Continued lab-2

Quiz 2 Chapter 15, 16 & 18 (5 pts)

10
Submit the Research Paper title and outline (2 pages) on Black board -
(4 pts)
Laboratory –4: Testing of Disease Causing Bacteria (FIB): Water
11
Quality Monitoring-I (6 pts)

12 Continued lab-4

Laboratory –6: Water Quality Monitoring-II (6 pts)

13

5
14 Continued lab-6

6
Additional Provisions: York College of CUNY is committed to non-discrimination of
handicapped persons as specified in Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (visit
http://www.york.cuny.edu/bulletin/2010-2011-bulletin). Students who qualify as handicapped
persons under the definition of the act should notify the instructor at the beginning of the course
so that reasonable modification in course requirements may be made when necessary.

Academic honesty: Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated. This includes – but is not limited
to – plagiarism and/or cheating on exams and papers, the purchase or sale of academic papers
and the falsification of records. You must use your own words in answering short and/or
comprehensive questions. If you cheat, you will receive a zero on the exam or assignment and
will also be referred for College disciplinary action. For more detailed information, visit
http://www.york.cuny.edu/bulletin/2010-2011-bulletin for reviewing the conduct guidelines and
rules of York College.

Respect for others: Please turn off your phone before class begins. If you are unavoidably late,
come in quietly without disturbing class. Food is not allowed during lecture. Please do not talk
during lectures or exams unless expected to as part of a class activity. If you regularly disrupt
class by not following these basic rules, you will be required to leave.

Extra Help: If you need any additional assistance pertaining to the understanding of the lecture
topics, please feel free to contact me anytime.

Academic Integrity
Successful teaching and learning depend on trust in the integrity of all involved. York’s
Academic Integrity Policy and Procedures, developed to conform to the CUNY policy on
Academic Integrity, outline College protocol for (1) promoting academic integrity at the College;
and (2) dealing with violations of academic integrity.
The full Academic Integrity Policy and Procedures document is posted on the York College
website at http://www.york.cuny.edu/president/legal-compliance/legal-affairs/cuny-legal-
policies-procedures/Academic-Integrity-Policy.pdf/view

For information grading please visit http://www.york.cuny.edu/bulletin/2015-2016-bulletin

More students’ resources: http://www.york.cuny.edu/bulletin/2012-2013-bulletin

Extra Help: If you need any additional assistance pertaining to the understanding of the lecture
topics, please feel free to contact me anytime.

****Students are encouraged to visit the following departmental site for the career related jobs and
organizational links

http://www.york.cuny.edu/academics/departments/earth-and-physical-sciences/student-
resources/links