IEM 302 - Energy, Environment, and Climate Change

Description:
The course examines the physical principles behind climate change science and how they relate to energy and resource use on our planet. Emphasis placed on examining how energy decisions impact past, present, and future climates.

Prerequisites:
Prerequisite: GEOG 107.

Credits: (4)

Learner Outcomes, Activities and Assessments

Learner Outcome	Activity (optional)	Assessment
Demonstrate knowledge of how the Earth’s climate system functions and how different factors (both natural and anthropogenic) influence the operation of that system.		Through relevant exam questions in mixed formats (e.g., multiple choice, essay, short answer), each student will demonstrate mastery of selected climate change concepts.
Explain how and why past climates vary from those of today and how energy production (in all forms) has influenced those climatic variations.		Through relevant exam questions in mixed formats (e.g., multiple choice, essay, short answer), each student will demonstrate mastery of selected climate change concepts.
Discuss and present how climate change is impacting Earth’s non-energy resources (i.e., freshwater supply, food supply, faunal/floral biodiversity, soils, etc.).		Students will complete a group project that will draw upon primary and secondary literature to identify and interpret the impact of climate change on Earth’s non-energy resources and present those findings to the class.
Identify and analyze how global energy production and consumption influences Earth’s current climate and scenarios of future climate change.		Students will complete a 3-4 page paper that will draw upon primary and secondary literature to identify and analyze how human energy decisions are likely to influence Earth’s future climate.
Collect data and evaluate the extent to which different countries/regions contribute to global climate change and how their energy production and consumption decisions play a role.		Students will complete a 5-6 page paper that allows them to conduct research on a country/region’s energy production and consumption and how it contributes to global climate change.