12/26/2024 4:01:47 PM	NRM 12 Course Outline as of Fall 2025	Changed Course
CATALOG INFORMATION
Discipline and Nbr:  NRM 12	Title:  INTRO TO ENVIRON CONSERV
Full Title:  Introduction to Environmental Conservation
Last Reviewed:1/25/2021

Units		Course Hours per Week			Nbr of Weeks	Course Hours Total
Maximum	3.00	Lecture Scheduled	3.00		17.5 max.	Lecture Scheduled	52.50
Minimum	3.00	Lab Scheduled	0		3 min.	Lab Scheduled	0
		Contact DHR	0			Contact DHR	0
		Contact Total	3.00			Contact Total	52.50
		Non-contact DHR	0			Non-contact DHR Total	0

Total Out of Class Hours:  105.00

Total Student Learning Hours: 157.50

Title 5 Category:  AA Degree Applicable
Grading:  Grade or P/NP
Repeatability:  00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP
Also Listed As: 
Formerly:  NRM 10

Catalog Description:

An introduction to principles and techniques for the management, conservation, and sustainable use of natural resources. Includes an examination of the causes, consequences, and solutions of contemporary issues affecting environmental conservation.

Prerequisites/Corequisites:

Recommended Preparation:
Eligibility for ENGL C1000 or equivalent or appropriate placement based on AB705 mandates

Limits on Enrollment:

Schedule of Classes Information
Description:

An introduction to principles and techniques for the management, conservation, and sustainable use of natural resources. Includes an examination of the causes, consequences, and solutions of contemporary issues affecting environmental conservation.

(Grade or P/NP)
Prerequisites:
Recommended:Eligibility for ENGL C1000 or equivalent or appropriate placement based on AB705 mandates
Limits on Enrollment:
Transfer Credit:CSU;UC.
Repeatability:00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP

ARTICULATION, MAJOR, and CERTIFICATION INFORMATION

Associate Degree:		Effective:	Fall 1981	Inactive:
Area:	C H	Natural Sciences Global Perspective and Environmental Literacy
CSU GE:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
	B2	Life Science		Fall 2003
	E	Lifelong Learning and Self Development
	B2	Life Science		Fall 1981	Fall 2003
IGETC:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
CSU Transfer:	Transferable	Effective:	Fall 1981	Inactive:
UC Transfer:	Transferable	Effective:	Fall 1981	Inactive:
C-ID:

Certificate/Major Applicable: Both Certificate and Major Applicable

COURSE CONTENT

Student Learning Outcomes:
At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:

1. Evaluate and prioritize sustainable management principles for the conservation of natural resources.

2. Discuss the causes, consequences, and solutions of contemporary issues affecting environmental conservation.

 

3. Apply scientific inquiry and ecological concepts to natural resource conservation.

 

Objectives:

At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:

1.  Define the nature of scientific inquiry and apply to contemporary environmental issues affecting natural resource conservation.

2.  Describe the values, themes, methods, and history of environmental conservation.

3.  Define and discuss terms related to environmental issues and natural resource conservation.

4.  Recognize and identify ecological inter-relationships between living and non-living components of the ecosystem.

5.  Make decisions that affect natural resources based on evaluating basic ecological and scientific principles.

6.  Recognize characteristics and general distributions of California ecosystems and determine how humans have impacted ecosystem functions.

7.  Summarize the causes and consequences of human population growth on the environment, including natural resource depletion and climate change.

8.  Describe the major categories, sources, and hazards of air and water pollution.

Topics and Scope

I.  Introduction

   A.  Concepts of Ecology and Sustainability

         1. Ecology as science

         2. Scientific inquiry to natural resource problems

         3. Terms and issues related to environmental conservation

   B.  Biological and Physical Principles of Ecosystem Management

         1.  Mineral cycling and nutrient uptake

         2.  Photosynthesis and energy transfer

         3.  Ecological succession

   C.  Historical Development of Resource Utilization

II. Natural Resources

    A.  Soil

         1. Physical, chemical, and biological properties of soil

         2. Soil erosion and conservation

   B.  Forest and Fire Management

         1. Silvicultural techniques of sustainable forest management

         2. The role of fire in natural ecosystems and forest management

    C.  Range

         1. History of range use in the United States

         2. Analysis and evaluation of range condition and range trend

         3.  Range management techniques

   D.  Wildlife Ecology

         1. Principles and characteristics of wildlife populations

         2. Methods of controlling wildlife populations

         3. Principles of habitat management

         4. Economic importance of the fish and game resource

   E.  Biodiversity

         1. Trends, threats, and contemporary issues affecting biodiversity

         2. Conservation practices of biodiversity

   F.  Wilderness and Outdoor Recreation

         1. The role of federal, state, and regional governments for multiple-use management of public lands

   G.  Water Resources

         1. Analysis of the hydrologic cycle

         2. Groundwater and surface water management principles

         3. Water in California

   H.  Fisheries

         1. Aquatic ecology

         2. Commercial fishery management techniques

         3. A study of the conflict of uses

III.  Role of Human Populations

   A.  Population Dynamics, Distribution, and Control

   B.  Agriculture

         1. Analysis of the environmental impacts of industrial and sustainable agriculture

         2. Assess methods of sustainable agriculture

   C.  Air and Water Pollution

         1. Fossil fuels and greenhouse gas emissions

         2. Sources and management of water pollution

         3. Analysis of pollution impacts on environmental health

   D.  Climate Change

         1. Analysis of the causes, consequences, and solutions of climate change

         2. Assess the effectiveness of solutions of climate change

   E.  Environmental Policy

         1. A study of the role of policy in environmental conservation

         2. Overview of major environmental policies and organizations

Assignments:

1. One report on Natural Resource Management (2-3 pages)

2. Weekly reading assignments (10-20 pages)

3. Weekly online discussion assignments

4. One written evaluation of credible scientific information

5. One book review (5-6 pages)

6. Weekly quizzes

7. One final research project including written paper (3-4 pages)

8. One oral presentation (15 minutes)

Methods of Evaluation/Basis of Grade.

Writing: Assessment tools that demonstrate writing skill and/or require students to select, organize and explain ideas in writing.		Writing 20 - 30%
Report on Natural Resource Management, book review, discussion assignments
Problem solving: Assessment tools, other than exams, that demonstrate competence in computational or non-computational problem solving skills.		Problem Solving 20 - 30%
Written evaluation of credible scientific information
Skill Demonstrations: All skill-based and physical demonstrations used for assessment purposes including skill performance exams.		Skill Demonstrations 20 - 30%
Final research project, oral presentation
Exams: All forms of formal testing, other than skill performance exams.		Exams 15 - 20%
Quizzes
Other: Includes any assessment tools that do not logically fit into the above categories.		Other Category 0 - 0%
None

Representative Textbooks and Materials:

Natural Resource Conservation Management for a Sustainable Future. 10th ed. Chiras, Daniel and Reganold, John. Prentice Hall. 2010 (classic)

The Post Carbon Reader: Managing the 21st Century's Sustainability Crises. Heinberg, Richard and Lerch, Daniel. Watershed Media. 2010 (classic)

Instructor prepared materials

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