Upon completion of this course the student will be able to explain the steps of the Scientific Method and their purpose; describe the concept of sustainability; discuss the history of the Environmental Movement; describe the concept of ecosystems and list various types; recognize the structural levels within ecosystems including food webs, energy flow, non-feeding relationships and nutrient cycles; describe basic population growth curves and the factors that influence them; define the concept of succession and be able to distinguish between primary and secondary succession; discuss change within ecosystems due to natural selection, mutation and continental drift; diagram the general timeline of earth’s history; list and apply the 5 Principles of Ecosystem Sustainability; describe the history of human population growth and the factors that influenced it; recognize the differences in population growth and its influences between developed and developing nations; describe the theory of Demographic Transition; recognize the components of the soil ecosystem; discuss practices leading to soil erosion, leaching, mineralization, desertification and salinization; describe the processes involved in the hydrologic cycle; list the two patterns controlling air flow and precipitation; describe the sources and main human uses of water and understand how man disrupts the water cycle; recognize differences in subsistence and industrialized agriculture; describe the causes and solutions for hunger, malnutrition and famine; recognize the magnitude of Biodiversity, its value and the impact of its loss; recognize the major ecosystems and list the 7 major functions they perform; distinguish between conservation and preservation; describe the history of man’s energy use, including the Oil Crisis of the 1970’s and Desert Storm; discuss the uses, advantages and disadvantages of oil, natural gas and coal; discuss the basic process of fission in a nuclear reactor and the advantages and disadvantages of this power source; describe the benefits and limitations of renewable energy sources including solar, wind , biomass, geothermal and tidal power; discuss the concepts of hazard and risk; distinguish between cultural, biological, physical and chemical hazards; describe the process of risk assessment and management; describe the advantages and disadvantages of chemical and alternative forms of pest control; distinguish between point and non-point source pollution; discuss the cause and effects of eutrophication on aquatic systems; the basic steps involved in sewage treatment; recognize the components of municipal solid waste; discuss the benefits and options for recycling; describe how toxins move through the environment and through food chains; recognize the strengths and weaknesses of the Superfund Program; discuss the causes and potential effects of global warming and ozone loss ; list the major air pollutant categories; distinguish between primary and secondary air pollutants; describe the causes and effects of acid rain; discuss the concept of cost-benefit analysis and the basic benefits and costs of environmental regulations; describe the problems associated with urban sprawl; list some attributes of sustainable communities .