ROCHESTER INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY COURSE OUTLINE FORM COLLEGE OF SCIENCE Chester F. Carlson Center for Imaging Science REVISED COURSE: COS-IMGS-241 Earth System Dynamics 1.0 Course Designations and Approvals Required course approvals: Approval request date: Academic Unit Curriculum Committee 2/6/14 3/31/14 College Curriculum Committee 4/14/14 4/14/14 Approval granted date: Optional designations: General Education: Writing Intensive: Honors Is designation desired? Yes No No *Approval request date: **Approval granted date: 2.0 Course information: Course title: Earth System Dynamics Credit hours: 3 Prerequisite(s): 2 nd year standing (or above) or permission of instructor Co-requisite(s): None Course proposed by: Jan van Aardt & Anthony Vodacek Effective date: Fall 2014 Contact hours Maximum students/section Classroom 2 30 Lab 2 30 Studio Other (specify) 2.a Course Conversion Designation (Please check which applies to this course) Semester Equivalent (SE) Please indicate which quarter course it is equivalent to. Semester Replacement (SR) Please indicate the quarter course(s) this course is replacing. Course Revision COS- IMGS- 141 - Earth System Dynamics I 2.b Semester(s) offered (check) 1
Fall Spring Summer Other All courses must be offered at least once every 2 years. If course will be offered on a biannual basis, please indicate here: N/A 2.c Student Requirements Students required to take this course: None Students who might elect to take the course: Any student interested in a general education perspective course. 3.0 Goals of the course 3.1 To understand the science and drivers that couple earth systems, i.e., the hydrosphere, lithosphere, atmosphere, and terrestrial components 3.2 To gain exposure to how these systems interact at global scales 3.3 To develop critical thinking about the science, economic (environmental and business economics), social, engineering, and policy impacts that these earth systems have on society 4.0 Course description IMGS-241 Earth System Dynamics This course is a general elective offering that will expose students to earth systems dynamics, i.e., the lithosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and terrestrial components, and their interactions at a global scale. The course also offers introductions to regional and local scale interactions, as well as societal impacts, e.g., science, engineering, policy, and economics. This course will provide students with the critical thinking skills to evaluate the underlying science of system components, how they fluctuate, interact via feedback loops, their carbon and energy dynamics, and what this means for society as a whole. Special focus will be given to remote sensing methods for assessing global system dynamics, including satellite image analysis. This offering will include theoretical background, guest lecturers, and class discussion centered on prominent topics, e.g., climate change and the science behind this (2 nd year standing (or above) or permission of instructor). Class 2, Lab 2, Credit 3 (F) 5.0 Possible resources (texts, references, computer packages, etc.) 5.1 Kump, Kasting, and Crane, The Earth System, Prentice-Hall, New York, NY. 5.2 Audio-visual: Climate change: "An Inconvenient Truth" and a BBC counterpoint documentaries. 5.3 Internet resources. 6.0 Topics (outline): 6.1 Earth systems dynamics - overview 6.2 Earth system components 6.2.1 Hydrosphere 6.2.2 Lithosphere 6.2.3 Atmosphere 6.2.4 Terrestrial system 2
6.2.5 Summary of interactions 6.3 Climate change: A juxta-position of opinions and science? 6.4 Introduction to earth system impacts on human endeavors 6.4.1 Science 6.4.2 Engineering 6.4.3 Social issues 6.4.4 Economics 6.4.4.1 Environmental 6.4.4.2 Business 6.4.5 Policy 6.5 Introduction to earth system scales and examples: Global 7.0 Intended course learning outcomes and associated assessment methods of those outcomes Course Learning Outcome Quizzes Labs Projects 7.1 Identify the various earth systems and summarize their interactions at global, regional, and local scales. 7.2 Formulate an opinion around climate change, the scientific basis for this, and its impact on society. 7.3 Differentiate and describe how earth systems drive various human endeavors, e.g., science, engineering, and policy. 8.0 Program outcomes and/or goals supported by this course 8.1 To provide students with a depth and breadth of remote sensing as it applies to Earth observation. 8.2 To develop the student s capacity for critical thinking. 3
9.0 General Education Learning Outcome Supported by the Course Communication Express themselves effectively in common college-level written forms using standard American English Revise and improve written and visual content Express themselves effectively in presentations, either in spoken standard American English or sign language (American Sign Language or English-based Signing) Comprehend information accessed through reading and discussion Intellectual Inquiry Review, assess, and draw conclusions about hypotheses and theories Analyze arguments, in relation to their premises, assumptions, contexts, and conclusions Construct logical and reasonable arguments that include anticipation of counterarguments Use relevant evidence gathered through accepted scholarly methods and properly acknowledge sources of information Ethical, Social and Global Awareness Analyze similarities and differences in human experiences and consequent perspectives Examine connections among the world s populations Identify contemporary ethical questions and relevant stakeholder positions Scientific, Mathematical and Technological Literacy Explain basic principles and concepts of one of the natural sciences Apply methods of scientific inquiry and problem solving to contemporary issues Comprehend and evaluate mathematical and statistical information Perform college-level mathematical operations on quantitative data Describe the potential and the limitations of technology Use appropriate technology to achieve desired outcomes Creativity, Innovation and Artistic Literacy Demonstrate creative/innovative approaches to course-based assignments or projects Interpret and evaluate artistic expression considering the cultural context in which it was created Labs Assessment Method Quizzes/labs 10.0 Other relevant information (such as special classroom, studio, or lab needs, special scheduling, media requirements, etc.) 10.1 Smart classroom 4
10.2 Computer lab. 5