Environmental Science 304 – Integrated Environmental Science                         Fall 2004

Instructor:  Jim Taulman

 

General Information

 

Course Description – This course presents a variety of perspectives on current global environmental issues and their social and political contexts.  An attempt is made to incorporate Native or Indigenous beliefs and cultural views. 

 

Prerequisites – LSci 203, Traditional Foods, Plants, and herbs; and English 113, with a grade of C or better, or permission of the instructor.

 

Learning Objectives – It is expected that the student will become familiar with both sides of current issues dealing with significant global environmental concerns and the socio/political frameworks within which these issues will be resolved.  Successful participation in class will require reading and becoming familiar with assigned articles in course texts and articles provided by the instructor.  Evaluation will be made through scheduled exams and discussions in class. 

 

 Conferences – Student conferences will be by appointment.  If you need to meet with me email or call and set up a time to meet before or after class.  I can be contacted at:  605-745-3959 and by email at jtaulman@olc.edu

 

Attendance – You should make a commitment to come to every class on time.  If you have a schedule conflict with this class, drop it and take it again another semester.  A student may be dropped after 3 consecutive absences and will automatically be dropped after 5 total absences.  Partial attendance on a given day will be recorded on an hourly basis, that is, missing 1 hour will count for 1/3 of a class period.

 

Books – The texts for this course are Sacred Ecology by Fikret Berkes and Taking Sides by Thomas Easton and Theodore Goldfarb.  Both of these books are available in the bookstore at Piya Wiconi.  In addition, readings will be handed out from In the Absence of the Sacred by Jerry Mander and other sources.

 

Homework – Work assignments will consist of reading and being familiar with chapters in the textbooks, or other articles provided by the instructor, for each class period.  Individuals will be asked to explain and interpret ideas described in chapters covered each class period. 

 

 

 

 

 

Grading – Four tests will be given and the grade will be comprised of an average of those four scores.  Do not plan on being able to change a grade after the semester is over.  Make your best effort during the semester because the grade you earn will be a permanent entry on your transcript.

 

A = 90 - 100

B = 80 - 89

C = 70 - 79

D = 60 – 69

F = 59 and below

 

Field Trips – I may schedule a field trip during the semester.  This will probably take place on a weekend in order to allow sufficient driving time and so as not to conflict with your other classes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Environmental Science 304 – Integrated Environmental Science                                                 Fall 2004

Instructor:  Jim Taulman

 

Lecture (4 tests)                                                                                                                      Chapter                                                                                                                                                                                                           

 

Aug. 30 – Introduction                                                                                                 

 

Sept. 6 – From Sacred Ecology:

            Context of traditional ecological knowledge                                                                   4

            Cree worldview “from the inside”                                                                                  5

 

Sept. 13 – From Sacred Ecology:

            How local knowledge develops: cases from the West Indes                                           8

            Toward a unity of mind and nature                                                                                10

 

Sept. 20 – From Sacred Ecology:

What Americans don’t know about Indians                                                                   11

            The gift of democracy                                                                                                   13

 

Sept. 27 – Test #1

 

Oct. 4 – From Sacred Ecology:

            Lessons in stone age economics                                                                                    14

            The theft of Nevada                                                                                                      17

 

Oct. 11 – From Sacred Ecology:

            Corporations as machines                                                                                             7

            The new order and new resistance                                                                                Epilogue

            Organizations                                                                                                                Appendix

 

Oct. 18 – Test #2. 

 

Oct. 25 – From Taking Sides:  

            Issue 2: Is biodiversity overprotected?

            Issue 3: Are environmental regulations too restrictive?

            Issue 4: Should environmental policy attempt to cure environmental racism?

           

Nov. 1 - From Taking Sides:

            Issue 5: Is the precautionary principle a sound basis for international policy?

            Issue 6: Do environmentalists overstate their case?

            Issue 7: Should ANWR be opened for drilling?

 

Nov. 8 – Test #3

 

Nov. 15 – From Taking Sides:

            Issue 12: Do human activities threaten to change global climate?

            Issue 14: Municipal waste: is recycling sound policy?

 

Nov. 22 – From Taking Sides:

            Issue 15: Nuclear waste: should we focus on Yucca Mountain?

            Issue 16: Is limiting population growth a key factor in protecting the global environment?

 

Nov. 29 – Wrap up, discussion of environmental science, renewable energy, environmental ethics

 

Dec. 5 – Final Test