SOIL, WATER AND ECOSYSTEM SCIENCES ON CAMPUS COURSES
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SWS 4932: INTRODUCTION TO WATER IN THE ENVIRONMENT
About the Course
“Water not only floats a boat; it also sinks it” Chinese proverb. Water is essential to life. Yet, when water is in the wrong place or contains contaminants, we are faced with many challenges, such as sea-level rise, eutrophication, and microplastic pollution. This course will look at several challenging topics in water science (primarily freshwater, with a deep dive into saltwater with sea-level rise).
Course Learning Objectives
After successfully completing the course, students will be able to:
- Define key terminology used in water sciences (e.g. algae, nutrients, emerging contaminants, eutrophication, watershed, sea level rise)
- Apply fundamental principles of chemistry and physics in relation to the way soil and vegetation impact water quality and quantity in a watershed
- Hypothesize on how soil, climate, and geology impact a water body’s properties and ecology using case studies from Florida
- Investigate the role of soil subsidence in sea-level rise using case studies
- Evaluate water use in relation to human needs and natural ecosystem function
- Communicate topics and solutions in water science by participating in group activities during class
Credits: 3
Semesters Offered: Spring
General Education Requirement Course: No
Prerequisites: None
Textbook: None. Required readings are available in Canvas.