Syllabus

Revised 1/11/2023

ENVS 110: Introduction to Environment & Sustainability
Spring 2023: ENVS 110: Introduction to Environment & Sustainability
Section 1 MWF @ 1:10 PM – 2:00 PM  in 207 SCSC

Instructor: Dr. John Krygier
Office: Schimmel-Conrades Science Center 206
Office Hours:  Typically MW 9:15-noon but email me a specific time you want to meet. Email for other times.
jbkrygier@owu.edu | http://krygier.owu.edu

This course explores ways to understand interactions between our social and natural worlds within an interdivisional and interdisciplinary framework. The first major course goal is to familiarize students with concepts and theories from environmental geography, political ecology, and related fields. As such, ENVS 110 provides a basic conceptual background for upper-level courses in OWU’s Environmental Studies and Environmental Science majors. Campus and the Delaware, Ohio area serve as a point of engagement throughout the semester. Environmental and sustainability issues are everywhere, and understanding how these issues play out on the ground in real places is the second major goal of the course. All students in ENVS 110 will engage in a semester-long project that applies their understanding of course content and has them construct a viable theory-into-practice proposal, with a draft TPG proposal and presentation of results. Students will develop an overview of the context of their topic, assess their environmental values, research and create an annotated bibliography, develop a draft TPG grant, and present their efforts at the end of the semester. This course is a requirement for majors and minors in Environmental Science and Environmental Studies. Open to all students. No prerequisites. ENVS 198 (.25 credit) should be taken with this course by new ENVS majors.

Learning Objectives:

1. Understand core interdivisional/interdisciplinary environmental concepts and theories of environment and sustainability. (readings & lectures)
2. Increase familiarity with environmental and sustainability issues in Delaware, Ohio, and on-campus
3. Understand the relationship between concepts and theories and a specific environmental issue through research for sources, and preparing an annotated bibliography, a draft TPG grant proposal, and a presentation. (assessment of each step)
4. Engage with other Environment & Sustainability peers, upperclassmen, faculty, staff, and community members.

Course text:
Paul Robbins, John Hintz, and Sarah A. Moore, Environment & Society: A Critical Introduction (3rd edition). Wiley/Blackwell 2022.
E-Book: not yet available (12/19/22)

Evaluation

  • 100 pts: Chapter Review & Presentation
  • 100 pts: Sources and Annotated Bibliography
  • 100 pts: Project Proposal & Presentation
  • 100 pts: Project Synthesis & Attendance & Improvement
  • 100 pts: Keywords (see schedule)

Subscribe to ENVS 110 Calendar:

  1. On your computer, open Google Calendar.
  2. On the left, next to “Other calendars,” click Add  Addand then Subscribe to calendar.
  3. Copy & paste this address in the Add calendar field, where prompted: 
    owu.edu_pgg3cf6e7s9tj6evcbnc69lfk0@group.calendar.google.com
  4. Press Enter. The calendar will appear on the left side under “Other calendars” as ENVS 110 Intro to E&S

Subscribe to the OWU Academic Calendar

  1. On your computer, open Google Calendar.
  2. On the left, next to “Other calendars,” click Add  Addand then Subscribe to calendar.
  3. Copy & paste this address in the Add calendar field, where prompted: 
    owu.edu_vl2d8chfrg995vsn2rjnossosg@group.calendar.google.com
  4. Press Enter. The calendar will appear on the left side under “Other calendars” as Academic Calendar – OWU.