Independent University, Bangladesh

Department of Environmental Management

Course Outline
Course Title: Introduction to Environmental Science
Autumn 2018, STs at 1:40 pm (section-09), Duration: 1:30 hrs
Room: BC 8012, Level 8
Instructor’s details:
Ahmed Shahnewaj Chowdhury
Senior Lecturer
Office: Room-9009 B, Visiting Hours: STs at 11:00 to 1:00 and MWs at 12:00-3:00 pm (or by
appointment)
Email: Shahnewaj@iub.edu.bd
Cell: 01971570845

Course Rationale:

ENV 101 is a basic course in environmental study. Environmental Science is the study of the
interactions among the physical, chemical and biological components of the Environment with a
focus on degradation of the environment related to human activities. It is an interdisciplinary
subject that draws knowledge from both scientific and non-scientific disciplines. The course
highlights on issues like global warming and climate change, pollution, natural resource
management, ecosystems and biodiversity, with special reference to Bangladesh.

Course Objectives:

 Have an understanding of the world environment

 Be aware of all the current environmental issues
 Be exposed to how humans have degraded the environment
 Learn your responsibilities to reduce environmental impacts

Course Policy:
1. It is the student’s responsibility to gather information about the assignments and covered topics
during the lectures missed. Regular class attendance is mandatory. Points will be taken off for
missing classes. Without 70% of attendance, sitting for final exam is NOT allowed. According to IUB
system students must enter the classroom within the first 20 minutes to get the attendance
submitted.
2. The date and syllabus of quiz, midterm and final exam is already given here, however,
announcements will be given ahead of time. There is NO provision for make-up quizzes.
3. The reading materials for each class will be given prior to that class so that student may have a
cursory look into the materials.
4. Class participation is vital for better understanding of environmental issues. Students are invited
to raise questions.
5. Students should take tutorials with the instructor during the office hours. Prior appointment is
required.
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 6. Students must maintain the IUB code of conduct and ethical guidelines offered by the school of
Environmental Science and Management.
Required Text/References:
The course will be based mostly on the following books [some other books and journals may be referred
time to time]:
 Living in the Environment: Principles, Connections, and Solutions. By George Tyler
Miller, Published by Thomson Brooks/Cole, 2004

 Environmental Science: A Living Planet By Daniel B Botkin and Edward A Keller,

Published by John Wiley & Sons Inc, 2000

Link to Virtual Learning System: 103.254.86.4/sesm (Department of Environmental Management –

ENV 101, sec 3 – Login as a guest – passwords is 1234)

Assessment and Marks Distribution:

Students will be assessed on the basis of their overall performance in all the exams, quizzes, and class
participation. Final numeric reward will be the compilation of:
Two quizzes due in different times of the semester (20%)
Assignment(15%)
One mid-term test (25%)
A cumulative final exam (30%)
Class Works and Attendance (10%)
[Class attendance is mandatory; failure to do so may deduct the final marks]

Grade Conversion Scheme:

The following chart will be followed for grading. This has been customized from the guideline
provided by the School of Environmental Science and Management.

A A- B+ B B- C+ C C- D+ D F

90-100 85-89 80-84 75-79 70-74 65-69 60-64 55-59 50-54 45-49 0-44
* Numbers are inclusive

Audit:

Students who are willing to audit the course are welcome during the first two classes and are
advised to contact the instructor after that.

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Note:

Plagiarism – that is, the presentation of another person’s thoughts or words as though they were the
student’s own – must be strictly avoided. Cheating and plagiarism on exam and assignments are
unacceptable.

University Regulation and Code of Conduct:

Please see the Green Book for further information about academic regulation and policies, including
withdrawal and grading, appeals and penalties for plagiarism and academic misconduct.

Students with Disabilities:

Students with disabilities are required to inform the Department of Law of any specific requirement for
classes or examination as soon as possible.

More Readings:

Incomplete (‘I’) Grade:

Awarding of Incomplete or ‘I’ grades should be strongly discouraged. ‘I’ will only be allowed for students
who have a valid reason (ascertained by the senior management). In situations where the student is
unable to complete the course due to unanticipated illness or family emergency and has not attended at
least 75% of the classes held, he / she will be asked to withdraw from that course and repeat it. In
unavoidable circumstances where students have completed 75% of the classes but are unable to
continue (due to illness or family emergency), incomplete grade of ‘I’ may be granted. Incomplete
course has to be completed by the end of the next semester, otherwise grade ‘I’ automatically becomes
grade ‘F’. The student is not required to register for the course in the next semester.

Withdrawal (‘W’):
A ‘W’ grade means withdrawal. A student may decide to withdraw from a course by the deadline.
Students must apply to the Program Office for withdrawal from a course with the permission of the
concerned course instructor, Academic Advisor, and the Dean. Withdrawal from only one course in a
semester is allowed but the students should provide valid reason along with documents while applying
for the withdrawal.

Changes of Grade:
Change of grade is strongly discouraged. However, an instructor may request a change of grade when a
computational or procedural error occurred in the original assignment of a grade. Instructor must
submit the ‘Grade Change Form’ to the respective program office within one month of submitting the
final grade rolls. A Grade change has to be requested within 1 month of the day of publishing the grades.

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 Class & Exam Schedule, Topics and Readings:
Teaching Assessment
Sessions Learning Outcomes Topics Readings
Strategy Strategy
1.Introduce to each other
2.Students will be informed about the
course rationale
Discussion &
3. Students will be informed about the
Session – 1 Introduction Cooperative N/A
course policy and rules Course policy and outline
Learning
4. Students will be informed about the available on Virtual learning
course assessment system

1.Students will be able to interpret

what is Environment
2. Students will be able to distinguish
Introduction to Formative
betweendifferent components of the Handout (available on Virtual
Session – 2 Environmental Lecture and Q/A Assessment &
environment Learning System)
Science Written Test
3. Students will be able to discover the
benefits we derive from environment
and how we are harming it

1.Students will be able to interpret

what is Environmental Science and
what are the importance of studying it
Video: Environmental
2. Students will be able to state the
Sustainability, Link:
current environmental issues Introduction to Formative
Lecture, Q/A and https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Session – 3 3. Students will be able to explain how Environmental Assessment &
Visual learning v=GnYHFRq7-5s
the current concern on environment Science Written Test
Handout (available on Virtual
arose
Learning System)
4. Students will be able to interpret
the concept of sustainability and
environmental ethics

Session – 4 1.Students will be able to interpret Lecture, Q/A Formative Daniel B Botkin and Edward A
what is ecosystem and ecology Assessment & Keller, pg:83-90
2. Students will be able to distinguish Written Test Handout (available on Virtual

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 between food chain and food web
3. Students will be able to Ecosystems
Learning System)
differentiate between different types
of ecological pyramid
1.Students will be able to determine
the factors influencing an aquatic
Video: Introduction to biomes
ecosystem
Link:https://www.youtube.com/w
2. Students will be able to distinguish
atch?
between and describe different types
Formative v=hIy0ZlyPPDg&list=PLeTgfKYXsFcI
of aquatic ecosystem Lecture, Q/A and
Session – 5 Assessment & 3pFHE6t_nwYZcDgxdQdpE
3. Students will be able to classify Ecosystems and Visual learning
Written Test Daniel B Botkin and Edward A
world biomes and describe their Biodiversity
Keller, pg:145-148
characteristics
Handout (available on Virtual
4. Students will be able to interpret
Learning System)
what is Biodiversity, what are its types
and its importance
1. Students will be able to find the Video: Preserving Biodiversity in
threats to biodiversity conservation Bangladesh
2. Students will be able to explain how Ecosystems and Link:https://www.youtube.com/w
biodiversity can be conserved Biodiversity atch?v=OoqRqnVdKd4
Formative
3. Students will be able to illustrate Lecture, Q/A and Loss of Biodiversity
Session – 6 Assessment &
the ecosystem and biodiversity of Visual learning Link:
Bangladesh Written Test
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=iLGlXGyrc4Y
Handout (available on Virtual
Learning System)

1.Students will be able to describe

what are biogeochemical cycles Biogeochemical Daniel B Botkin and Edward A
Formative
2. Students will be able to determine Cycles Keller, pg:117-123
Session – 7 Lecture and Q/A Assessment &
their importance to nature Handout (available on Virtual
Written Test
3. Students will be able to illustrate Learning System)
the processes of water cycle

1.Students will be able to illustrate the Video: The Carbon cycle or the
processes of carbon cycle circle of life
2. Students will be able to illustrate Formative Link:
Lecture, Q/A and
Session – 8 the processes of nitrogen cycle Assessment & https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Visual learning
3. Students will be able to illustrate Biogeochemical Written Test v=4vJ_1ojjlxw
the processes of phosphorus cycle Cycles Handout (available on Virtual
Learning System)

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 1.Students will be able to clarify and
verify the issues from the previous Written test and
learning Quiz 1 due Discussion N/A Syllabus is on VLS
Session – 9
2. Students’ learning will be assessed
3. Students will be able to identify the
scope for further improvement
1.Students will be able to interpret
what is pollution and pollutants
2. Students will be able to Formative Daniel B Botkin and Edward A
Session –
differentiate between point and non- Assessment, Keller, pg:400-413
10 Lecture and Q/A
point sources of pollutant Pollution Written Test& Handout (available on Virtual
3. Students will be able to illustrate [Assignment Assignment Learning System)
the sources, causes and impacts of announced]*
water pollution
1.Students will be able to illustrate the
sources, causes and impacts of air
pollution Pollution
Daniel B Botkin and Edward A
2..Students will be able to illustrate Lecture and Article Formative
Session – Keller, pg:462-471& 486-493
the sources, causes and impacts of reading Assessment &
11 Handout (available on Virtual
noise pollution Written Test
Learning System)
3. students will be describe different
pollution control measures

1.Students will be able to clarify and

verify the issues from the previous
learning
Session – Recap of the
2. Students will be able to discuss on Discussion N/A N/A
12 earlier lectures
any previous topics
3. Students will be able to prepare for
the midterm examination
1.Students will be able to clarify and
verify the issues from the previous
Session –
learning
13 Midterm Written test N/A Syllabus is on VLS
2. Students’ learning will be assessed
3. Students will be able to identify the
scope for further improvement
Session – 1.Students will be able to explain Lecture, Q/A and Written Test Daniel B Botkin and Edward A
14 greenhouse effect Visual learning Keller, pg:441-444
2. Students will be able to determine Video 1- Greenhouse effect
the link between enhanced green Global Link-
house effect and global warming Warming and https://www.youtube.com/watch?

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 3.Students will be able to describe the Climate Change v=VYMjSule0Bw
sources and contribution of major Video 2- The impacts of Climate
green house gases Change
4.Students will be able to describe Link-
what is climate change https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=lhkgmKXOM1A

Handout (available on Virtual

Learning System)
1.Students will be able to determine
the evidences of anthropogenic
climate change
2.Students will be able to illustrate the Global
consequences of climate change Warming and Handout (available on Virtual
3.Students will be able to illustrate Climate Change Learning System)
Lecture and Article
Session – ways to mitigate and adapt to climate
reading Written Test
15 change
4.students will be able describe the
climate change impact in Bangladesh

1.Students will be able to illustrate Natural

different types of natural resources Resource and Daniel B Botkin and Edward A
Lecture and
2.Students will be able to differentiate Environment Formative Keller,
Session – Pictorial
between renewable and non- Assessment & Pg:296-298 and 326-340
16 presentation
renewable resources Written Test Handout (available on Virtual
3. Students will be able to describe Learning System)
different types of renewable
resources
Session – 1. Students will be able to describe Lecture, Q/A and Formative Daniel B Botkin and Edward A
17 about different types of fossil fuels Energy Article reading Assessment & Keller, pg:305-312
2.Students will be able to determine Resource and Written Test Article Source:
the environmental impacts of energy Environment http://www.conserve-energy-
resources [Assignment future.com/
3. Students will be able to describe due Handout (available on Virtual
ways to conserve energy Presentation Learning System)
4. Students will be able to summarize Topic Declared]
the condition of energy sector of

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 Bangladesh
1.Students will be able to classify the
distribution of water resources
2. Students will able to determine the Water Resource
Daniel B Botkin and Edward A
water consumption pattern of the Management
Keller, pg:376-385
world
Lecture and Visual Formative Video: UN Water video
Session – 3.Students will be able to describe
Learning Assessment & https://www.youtube.com/watch?
18 how to manage and conserve water
Written Test v=6IC9R7hezd0
resources
Handout (available on Virtual
4. Students will be able to describe
Learning System)
the condition , problems and
distribution of water resources in
Bangladesh
1.Students will be able to interpret
what is waste and what are the
different types of wastes
Daniel B Botkin and Edward A
2.Students will be able to state the Formative
Session – Lecture, Q/A and Keller, pg:537-543
environmental impacts of hazardous Waste Assessment &
19 Visual learning Handout (available on Virtual
waste Management Written Test
Learning System)
3.Students will be able to explain
different methods of waste
management
1.Students will be able to interpret
different terms related to population
characteristics
2.Students will be able to state factors
Daniel B Botkin and Edward A
influencing population growth rate Formative
Session – Population and Lecture, Q/A and Keller, pg:6-13, 59-76
3.Students will be able to describe Assessment &
20 Environment Visual learning Handout (available on Virtual
pattern of historical population Written Test
Learning System)
growth rate
4.Students will be able to discover the
environmental impact of population
growth
1.Students will be able to clarify and
verify the issues from the previous
Session – learning
Quiz 2 due Written test N/A Syllabus is on VLS
21 2. Students’ learning will be assessed
3. Students will be able to identify the
scope for further improvement
Session – 1.Students will be able to interpret Ecological foot Lecture, Q/A and Formative Handout (available on Virtual
22 and illustrate the concept of print and Green Visual learning Assessment & Learning System)

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 ecological footprint living
2. Students will be able to describe
ways to minimize impacts on
Written Test
environment through green living
3. Students will be able to describe
the facts behind eco-tourism
1.Students will be able to build a
model/visual presentation based on
their study of a particular topic
Session 23 2.Students will be able to display their Presentation Visual presentation N/A N/A
findings
3.Student will be able to perform in
front of the class
1.Students will be able to build a
model/visual presentation based on
their study of a particular topic Presentation
Session –
2.Students will be able to display their Visual presentation N/A N/A
24
findings
3.Student will be able to perform in
front of the class
1.Students will be able to clarify and
verify the issues from the previous
learning
Session – Recap of the
2. Students will be able to discuss on Discussion N/A N/A
25 Earlier Lectures
any previous topics
3. Students will be able to prepare for
the final examination
Session – Final Exam (as
1. Students’ learning will be assessed
26 per IUB Written test N/A Syllabus is on VLS
Schedules)

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