Environmental Studies

Paper Code: 
25AENV100
Credits: 
02
Periods/week: 
02
Max. Marks: 
100.00
Objective: 

The course will enable the students to

1.   Develop  a comprehensive understanding of various environmental issues.

2.   Recognize the  consequences of human actions on the  environment and  to prevent deterioration of environment

 

Course Outcomes: 

Course

Learning outcome

(at course level)

Learning and teaching strategies

Assessment

Strategies

Course

Code

Course

Title

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

25AENV

100

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Environmental Studies (Theory)

CO49. Develop  a comprehensive understanding of various ecological processes and environmental issues

CO50. Evaluate the  holistic issues related to natural resources and  sustainable development.

CO51. Develop   critical thinking     for     shaping strategies for environmental protection  and   conservation of biodiversity, social

equity        and        sustainable

development

CO52. Evaluate the consequences of human actions  on   the   environment and ways to prevent the deterioration of the

environment

CO53. Reflect  critically the roles,  responsibilities, and identities of  human beings as citizens, consumers and environmental actors in a complex,   interconnected world.

CO54   Contribute   effectively in course-specific interaction

Approach in teaching: Interactive Lectures, Discussion, Power  Point Presentations, Informative videos

 

Learning activities for the students: Self-learning assignments, Effective questions, presentations, Field trips

Quiz,   Poster Presentations, Power Point Presentations, Individual and group

projects, Open Book Test, Semester End Examination

 

6.00
Unit I: 
I Introduction to Environment and Ecosystem
  1. Scope  of Environmental Studies and  its applications
  2. Relationship of Environmental Studies with other subjects
  3. (Multidisciplinary nature of Environment)
  4. Concept of sustainability and  sustainable development.
  5. Environmentally important dates and  abbreviations
  6. Types  of Ecosystems and  their  general characteristics
  7. Producers, consumers and  decomposers
  8. Energy  flow in the  ecosystem
  9. Food chains, food webs  and  ecological pyramids
  10. Ecological  Succession

 

6.00
Unit II: 
Natural Resources: Renewable and Non-renewable Resources

1. Land resources and  land  use  change; Land degradation, soil erosion and desertification.

2. Deforestation:  Causes  and   impacts  due   to  mining,   dam   building   on  the environment,forests, biodiversity and  tribal  populations.

3. Water: Use and  over-exploitation of surface and  groundwater, floods,  droughtsEnergy  resources: Renewable  and  non- renewable  energy sources, use  of alternateenergy  sources, growing energy needs, case studies

6.00
Unit III: 
Biodiversity and Conservation
  1. Levels of biological  diversity: genetic, species and  ecosystem diversity
  2. India  as a mega-biodiversity nation; Biogeographic zones of India
  3. Biodiversity  patterns and  global  biodiversity hot  spots
  4. Endangered and  endemic species of India
  5. Threats to  biodiversity:  Habitat  loss,  poaching  of  wildlife,  man-wildlife conflicts,biological invasions
  6. Conservation         of          biodiversity:     In-situ  and       Ex-situ conservation   of biodiversity
  7. Names of International and  National  agencies related to biodiversity conservation

 

6.00
Unit IV: 
Environmental Pollution
  1. Types, Causes,  effects and   control   measures of  : Air pollution;  Water pollution;  Soilpollution; Noise pollution
  2. Pollution  case studies
  3. Solid waste management: Control  measures of urban and  industrial waste.
  4. Nuclear  hazards and  human health risks
  5. Global   environmental    issues:    Climate    change,   global    warming,   ozone layer  depletion,acid rain and  impacts on human communities and  agriculture
  6. Environment  Laws:   Environment   Protection   Act,1986;   Air  (Prevention   & Control  of Pollution)   Act,  1981; Water   (Prevention and  control   of  Pollution) Act, 1974; Wildlife Protection Act, 1972; Forest Conservation Act, 1980
  7. International     agreements:    Montreal     protocol,     Kyoto     protocol     and
  8. Convention  onBiological  Diversity  (CBD)

 

6.00
Unit V: 
Human Communities and the Environment
  1. Human population growth: Impacts on environment, human health and  welfare
  2. Resettlement and  rehabilitation of project affected persons; case studies
  3. Disaster management: floods,  earthquake, cyclones and  landslides
  4. Environmental movements:Chipko, Silent  valley,  Bishnois  of Rajasthan
  5. Environmental  ethics:  Role  of  Indian  and  other religions  and  cultures  in
  6. environmental conservation
  7. Environmental  communication and  public  awareness, case studies  (e.g., CNG vehicles  in Delhi)

 

ESSENTIAL READINGS: 

1.   Agarwal,  K. C. (2001). Environmental Biology. Bikaner: Nidhi Publication Ltd.

2.   Barucha, E. (2004). The Biodiversity  of India. Ahmedabad: Mapin Publishing Pvt. Ltd.

3.   Begon, C. a. (2006). Essentials of Ecology.  Blackwell.

4.   Belsare, D. K. (2007). Introduction to Biodiversity. APH Publishing Corporation.

5.   Bhatia,   A.  L.,  &Kohli, K.  S.  (2015). Ecology  and   Environmental  Biology.RBD publishing house.

6.   De, A. K. (2003). Environmental Chemistry (5th  Ed.).  New Age Intl.  (p)  Ltd.

7.   Miller, G. T. (2013). Environmental Science. Cengage Larning.

8.   Odum, E. (1971). Fundamentals of Ecology.  W.B. Saunders Co. USA.

9.   Prabu, P. (2009). Ecology and  environmental Science. Avinash Paperbacks.

 

REFERENCES: 

SUGGESTED READINGS:

1.   Rajagopalan, R. (2005). Environmental Studies. Oxford University  Press.

2.   Santra, S. (2011). Environmental Science. New Central  Book Agency Pvt. Ltd.

3.   Sharma, P. D. (2008). Ecology and  Environment. Rastogi  Publications.

4.   Singh,  S. (1991). Environmental Geography. Prayag PustakBhawan.

5.   Srivastava, K. (2002). An Introduction to Environmental Studies. Kalyani Publishers.

e-RESOURCES:

1.ScienceandEnvironment,Academia:https://www.academia.edu/39981526/SCIENCE_and_THE_ENVIRONMENT

2.Environment Science, Slide share:https://www.slideshare.net/kevinlinson/environmental-science-and- classifications-136689106?from_search=15

 

Academic Year: 
2025-26
  • Printer-friendly version