The goal of this course is for you to obtain an understanding of environmental geologic topics, how they affect our world and our lives, and how we can better manage our environment.  The end result will be an ability to critically read environmental geologic material and an ability to ask the right questions when encountering specific environmental geologic issues.  This requires understanding the scientific concepts of each topic, the economic impacts of each, and the land or resource management options of each. 

1) Eleven  essay-problem set assignments.  Each essay will be a concise examination of a specific environmental geologic issue.  Each problem set will utilize evaluation of online data.

2) Each of the eleven assignment blocks will require reading the appropriate chapter and web assigned material and answering the  key concept questions. I also expect two questions to be submitted from each chapter from each student on material that was either unclear or led you to further thinking.  I will answer these for the entire class to see on the web page or in an email.  

3) Watershed assessment.  This is a field based assessment of a watershed in your area.  The Environmental Hazards project is also field based and chosen from your local area.  These constitute the lab portion of the course.

Grades;

It is critical in an online class to keep up.  You can work ahead one week, more than that and the material may change, based on current events and work completed.  Work more than one week late is not accepted.  Completion dates are indicated in each assignment block on this page.  

1. Essay-Problem Sets:7% each -70% total

2. Concept questions-unanswered questions-15%

3. Watershed assessment- 15%

 Text Environmental Geology;

6th Edition Carla Montgomery:  McGraw Hill

ESCI 243    Physical World        Fall 2004

Instructor: Dr. Mauri  Pelto; 213-2168; peltoms@nichols.edu.  

Class Web Pages: