EARTH SC/ENVIR SC/GEOG 4EA3

Environmental Assessment

Calendar Description

Technical and policy issues involved in the production and the appraisal of environmental impact assessments.

Two lectures, one lab; one term
Prerequisite(s): One of EARTH SC 2EI3, GEOG 2EI3; or registration in Honours Biology, a Civil Engineering program, an Engineering and Society program, an Honours Integrated Science program or an Honours program in the School of Geography and Earth Sciences
 
Cross-List(s): ENVIR SC 4EA3, GEOG 4EA3, EARTH SC 4EA3
 

 

Time/Term Offered: Term One Fall 2012-13

Instructor: Dr. Maureen Padden
Room: General Science Building Rm. 205
Tel:(905) 525.9149 x20118
Email: paddenm@mcmaster.ca
Office hours: Wednesday, 10:30-12:30

Teaching Assistant:
TBA

 

Course Outline Avenue to Learn

Introduction:

Course Content and Objectives
Environmental assessments are widely applied tools in the environmental industry in Canada to identify and mitigate potential negative consequences of proposed projects. We’ll explore the stages and techniques used in environmental assessments in Canada and apply them to both completed environmental assessments and current, on-going assessments.
The learning outcomes for this course are summarized below:
1. You will understand the process of environmental assessments in Canada.
2. You will learn to critically assess the information provided to the public about environmental assessments.
3. You will be able to state a persuasive opinion on a current environmental project and back it up with an evidence-based argument.
Course Organizatio

This course involves two 50-minute lectures per week and one 50-minute lab period. Assessment will be in the form of two tests (one during the semester and one in the final exam period), lab debates and a major project. The project will be peer-reviewed before final submission. The lecture schedule for this course outlines what topics will be covered and when they will be covered during the term. Please note that the lecture schedule will likely be modified throughout the term as some topics may not be finished in the predicted lecture time.

Lecture/Labs:

Lecture Time: Wednesday, 8:30-9:20 and Friday, 10:30-11:20, Lecture Location: PC 155
Labs:
Section 1: Tuesday, 1:30 - 2:20 in BSB B138
Section 2: Thursday, 2:30 - 3:20 in BSB B138
Section 3: Thursday, 11:30 - 12:20 in BSB B138
Section 4: Wednesday, 1:30 - 2:20 in BSB B138

VERY IMPORTANT DATES

Lecture Midterm: Friday, Oct. 12 (in class)
Final Exam: TBA (Scheduled by the Registrar)

Required Text Books/Course materials:

Text Book:
Introduction to Environmental Impact Assessment: A Guide to Principles and Practice by Bram F. Noble (available in University Bookstore)
Resource Materials:
Lecture notes (available on the course website)
Online web resource links may be posted on the course website

Evaluation:

The distribution of marks in this course is as listed below:

In-lab Debate 10% (9% for debate performance, 1% for feedback)
Midterm Test 20%
Assignment 30%
Final Exam 40% (all course material – cumulative)

Final grades will be changed should an error in grade addition or grade entry occur. If there is an error in your final grade contact the instructor immediately.

The Registrar schedules all deferred final exams. If you miss or leave an examination for medical reasons you must submit a Petition for Special Consideration form with supporting documentation of illness, personal or family reasons, to the Office of the Associate Dean normally within five working days of the missed examination.

Academic Dishonesty

Academic dishonesty consists of misrepresentation by deception or by other fraudulent means and can result in serious consequences, e.g. the grade of zero on an assignment, loss of credit with a notation on the transcript (notation reads: “Grade of F assigned for academic dishonesty”), and/or suspension or expulsion from the university.

The following illustrates only three forms of academic dishonesty:

  • Plagiarism, e.g. the submission of work that is not one’s own or for which other credit has been obtained.

  • Improper collaboration in group work.

  • Copying or using unauthorized aids in tests and examinations.

It is your responsibility to understand what constitutes academic dishonesty. For information on the various kinds of academic dishonesty please refer to the Academic Integrity Policy, located at http://www.mcmaster.ca/policy/Students-AcademicStudies/AcademicIntegrity.pdf

The instructor and university reserve the right to modify elements of the course during the term. The university may change the dates and deadlines for any or all courses in extreme circumstances. If either type of modification becomes necessary, reasonable notice and communication with the students will be given with explanation and the opportunity to comment on changes. It is the responsibility of the student to check their McMaster email and course websites weekly during the term and to note any changes.