Course Description. This course is designed to provide the student with an overview of the broad field called environmental technology including: a short history of pollution, global and international environmental issues, human population, sustainable development, environmental laws and regulations, the effects of pollution on human health, occupational health and safety, air and water pollution and pollution control, hazardous waste management, pollution prevention, and college research, writing, and oral presentation. Formerly called Introduction to Environmental Hazardous Materials.
Course Outline
- Introduction; Historical perspective
- Global environmental issues, Sustainable development, Human population
- Library research skills, Research paper writing
- Health effects of hazardous materials
- Air pollution
- Water and wastewater
- Environmental laws and regulations
- Hazardous materials
- Hazardous wastes
- Waste minimization and pollution prevention
- Occupational health and safety
- Oral presentation of research paper
Course Objectives. Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- Recall past and current environmental contamination and its impact on past and current environmental legislation
- List the career opportunities in environmental technology
- Critically discern the subtle issues of environmental justice and its implications on certain social groups
- Analyze global environmental issues and the impact of global pollution on all the plant’s inhabitants
- Analyze of the concepts surrounding a sustainable society, the paradigm shifts that are required for a society to achieve sustainability, andthe impact of human population growth on current infrastructure
- Compare and contrast federal and California environmental laws
- Be aware of the governmental rulemaking process that results from environmental and health and safety laws
- Distinguish between laws and regulations
- Comprehend the regulatory jurisdiction of federal, California, and local environmental and health and safety agencies
- Understand the impact of pollution and uncontained hazardous substances on human health and the environment
- Compare and contrast the environmental compartments: air, water, and solid waste
- Evaluate the scientific, technological, and social issues that affect the field of environmental technology
- Comprehend overall treatment concepts for air and water pollution
- Be aware of the basic concepts of pollution prevention
- Learn basic library research techniques, essay writing, and oral presentation skills
Text Books
Ann Boyce, Introduction to Environmental Technology, Van Nostrand Reinhold.
W. Strunk, Jr., & E.B. White, The Elements of Style, McMillian.
