Cluster: Global Environmental Change

Students are barraged on a daily basis with news stories of El Nino, global warming, CO2 increasing, greenhouse effects, ozone hole, etc. This cluster will introduce some of the scientific concepts and issues of natural global cycles and how the systems have changed in the past. We will discuss the physical, chemical and biological changes of the earth's environment in the past, present and future. The past will concentrate on the physical, chemical and biological changes that are recorded in the rock, ice and sediment record. The present will concentrate on recent changes on the oceans and atmosphere, and discuss the human dimension. The future will discuss the merits and limits of global models.

Cluster Coordinator: Michael Cummings
Office: CH 17 J
Phone: 503-725-3395
E-mail: cummingsm@pdx.edu

Sophomore Inquiry: Global Environmental Change

(UNST 232)

This course will provide enough content and description of the global system for students to have a conceptual framework to do further studies on global environmental change. This course will include a variety of exercises, including homework problems, writing exercises, group exercises and likely one or more mid-term exams. There will be some use of mathematics and graphical information, including use of Excel as an analytical tool. Having the computer in the classroom will allow analysis to take place in a group setting.

This SINQ leads to the Global Environmental Change Cluster.

Approved Cluster Courses:

Academic Year 11-12

*Courses listed below are all Approved Cluster Courses. The links beside the course titles are for documentation purposes.