Beach along Lake Michigan with footsteps

IB 102, a course in introductory environmental botany that fulfills the General Education:  Natural Sciences & Technology Category requirement. 3 hrs. credit


Not offered Spring 2012.
Lecture/Discussion Topics Moodle Entrance Grading Information

Integrative Biology 102 is designed for undergraduates who are not biology majors. Students will learn important biological principles using plants as examples. The biological, economic and environmental importance of plants in today's world will also be emphasized. Plants figure prominently in the world's environmental problems from mitigating global climate change to cleaning up contaminated soil. Lectures will be organized around the theme of "feeding a hungry and growing human population."  The course covers many topics that relate to the efficient, sustainable production of food.

Technology plays a large role in course delivery.  Students attend discussion face-to-face every other week.  On the off weeks, students will have online assignments.  This gives students greater flexibility in time management.  See the Lecture/Discussion Topics web page for a list of discussions.

Recommended Texts:

  • Environmental Science: A Global Concern, 11e by Cunningham & Cunningham , An ebook of the text may be purchased at www.coursesmart.com.  Also available, a version with just the chapters we use.
  • Plants and Society, 5e  by Levetin and McMahon (free electronic access through Moodle)
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Proficiency Exam:  An exam that covers all the topics in the course consisting of sixty multiple-choice questions and five short-answer essays.  A score of 70% or more is passing and fulfills course requirements earning three hours of credit.  The score does not affect a student's GPA.  Sign up outside 301 NHB by noon the day of the exam.
Course Goals: Time and Place:

As a result of taking this course, a student should be able to:

  • list environmental problems that are the result of human population growth and consumption.
  • explain the science behind those environmental problems.
  • explain the connections between human population growth, consumption and environmental problems.
  • judge the environmental sustainability of a given human behavior.
  • list actions that can be taken to educate others about environmental problems.
  • list actions an individual can take to reduce his/her ecological footprint.
  • analyze the complex problem of maintaining a healthy human population while sustaining a healthy natural environment.
  • take actions locally that have an environmentally positive impact globally.
  • compose a personal environmental ethic.
  • defend the statement, "we are a global community where one impacts all."
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Instructor:

Environmental Sites:

University of Illinois, Office of Sustainability

The College Sustainability Report Card (U of I gets a B-)

The Good Human,  About My Planet, Earth Portal,Illinois Environmental issues,
350.org, Greentips by the Union of Concerned Scientists, New American Dream (a resource fo the conscious consumer).

Visit this World Clock to find out about population and consumption. Another World Clock.

For those interested in World Hunger and projects to reduce hunger.
If there are any problems with the IB 102 course pages, please e-mail Beth Morgan at bamorgan@life.illinois.edu.