Can global civilization become ecologically sustainable?
The course is divided into four modules. Our course schedule will be flexible. When the class appears to “get” the major concepts in a module, I will provide an exam to evaluate your learning. The one exception is the comprehensive final examination scheduled for the last week of the semester. The first module examines the question: What are humans? To answer this interesting question, we will examine key concepts from the disciplines of biology, anthropology, and history. Are we animals? If so, how does our animal nature effect our behavior? Why has human social organization become increasingly complex? While investigating these questions, we will begin to understand the importance of energy systems in comprehending humans. Understanding energetics is the key to understanding ecology. Energy is also the link that connects all four modules of the course. The second module examines more closely the question: What is ecology? In addition to reviewing the basic concepts, theories and laws
