1.Introduction to humans and the environment
- Population
- Urbanization
- Sustainability
2. Terrain analysis
- Surficial materials
- Soil classification
- Glacial geology
3. Natural hazards
- Flooding
- Mass movements
- Earthquakes
- Volcanoes
4. Environmental resources and risk assessment
- Risk assessment
- Water resources
- Mineral extraction
- Energy resources
- Solid waste disposal
5. Global environmental change
- Climate change
- Trends in resource usage
6. Lab and field topics may include:
- Air photo interpretation
- Terrain and terrain stability mapping
- Earthquakes
- Mass movement and volcanic hazard mapping
- Groundwater contamination
- Watershed restoration
- Climate change implications
- Urban geology
Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:
1. Discuss the drivers of the relationship between humans and their environment;
2. Classify terrain based on physical properties of soil, surficial materials and processes;
3. Explain the causes, processes and potential mitigations of various natural hazards such as earthquakes, floods, mass wasting events and volcanoes;
4. Describe the components of environmental risk and hazard assessment as applied to various environmental resource issues;
5. Discuss how the relationship between humans, their environment and resources will change in the future.
| Field reports (1-2) and assignments | 15-30% |
| Labs (8-9) | 20-30% |
| Midterm exam | 20-25% |
| Final exam | 30% |
Evaluation will be carried out in accordance with Douglas College policy. The instructor will present a written course outline with specific evaluation criteria at the beginning of the semester. Evaluation will be based on the table above.
Students should consult the bookstore for the latest required course materials, including textbooks.
Example textbook:
- Keller, E., Environmental Geology, Pearson - or equivalent.
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