Course Syllabus
Course: NR 2010
Division: Natural Science and Math
Department: Natural Resources
Title: Environmental Policy and Reporting
Semester Approved: Summer 2019
Five-Year Review Semester: Summer 2025
End Semester: Spring 2025
Catalog Description: This course is an introduction to governmental policy and regulations. Students will learn about policies and regulations including the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The course will also include an introduction to governmental reporting on data obtained in the field.
Semesters Offered: Spring
Credit/Time Requirement: Credit: 1; Lecture: 1; Lab: 0
Justification: This course will introduce students to the typical standards of governmental analysis and reporting that employees in the natural resources field should be familiar with. This course will also allow students to work directly in the field to obtain data in which they will report according to these governmental standards.
Student Learning Outcomes:
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
Implement NEPA policy and regulation standards
Plan and implement projects for standard environmental reporting purposes
Conduct basic analysis, in the field or laboratory
Make deductions from their analysis concerning environmental conditions
Write high quality environmental documentation using approved guidelines
Content:
This course will include:
• Understanding and practice of Environmental Impact Statements (EISs)
• Understanding and practice of Environmental Assessments (EAs)
• Understanding and practice of Finding of No Significant Impact Statements (FONSIs)
• Understanding and practice of other regulatory documents as needed
• Analysis and use of data to create high-quality EISs, EAs, FONSIs, or other environmental documents using approved NEPA guidelines.
Key Performance Indicators:
In class discussion and quizzes: 40%
Policy and regulation reports: 30%
Field sampling: 20%
Final Exam: 10%
Representative Text and/or Supplies:
In-house developed materials
Pedagogy Statement:
Maximum Class Size: 30
Optimum Class Size: 15