Environmental Science 304 Integrated Environmental Science Fall 2006
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. 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:
1. Sacred Ecology by Fikret Berkes
2. Taking Sides by Thomas Easton and Theodore Goldfarb
3. In the Absence of the Sacred by Jerry Mander
These books are available in the bookstore at Piya Wiconi.
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 D = 60 69
C = 70 79 F = 59 and below
Environmental Science 304
Integrated Environmental Science Fall
2006
Instructor: Jim Taulman
Lecture
(4 tests) Chapter
Aug. 29 Introduction
Sept. 5 From Sacred Ecology:
Context of traditional ecological knowledge 1 & 4
Cree worldview from the inside 5
Sept. 12 From Sacred Ecology:
How
local knowledge develops: cases from the
Toward a unity of mind and nature 10
Sept. 19 From In the Absence of the Sacred:
What Americans dont know about Indians 11
Indians are Different from Americans 12
The gift of democracy 13
Sept. 26 Test #1
Oct. 3 From In the Absence of the Sacred:
Lessons in stone age economics 14
The
theft of
The
theft of
Oct. 10 Indian holiday
Oct. 17 From In the Absence of the Sacred:
Corporations as machines 7
The new order and new resistance Epilogue
Organizations Appendix
Oct. 24 Test #2
Oct. 31 - 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. 7 - 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. 14 Test #3
Nov. 21 From Taking Sides:
Issue 12: Do human activities threaten to change global climate?
Issue 14: Municipal waste: is recycling sound policy?
Nov. 28 From Taking Sides:
Issue
15: Nuclear waste: should we focus on
Issue 16: Is limiting population growth a key factor in protecting the global environment?
Dec. 4 Final Test