SYLLABUS FOR UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS

ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES

            (SYLLABUS FOR UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS AS PER UGC MODEL CURRICULAM)

  

Unit 1: The Multidisciplinary Nature of Environmental Studies

Definition, scope and importance

Need for public awareness. (2 lectures)

Unit 2: Natural Resources

Renewable and Non-renewable Resources:

·         Natural resources and associated problems.

(a) Forest resources: Use and over-exploitation, deforestation, case studies. Timber extraction, mining, dams and their effects on forests and tribal people.

(b) Water resources: Use and over-utilization of surface and ground water, floods, drought, conflicts over water, dams-benefits and problems.

(c) Mineral resources: Use and exploitation, environmental effects of extracting and using mineral resources, case studies.

(d) Food resources: World food problems, changes caused by agriculture and overgrazing, effects of modern agriculture, fertilizer-pesticide problems, water logging, salinity, Case studies.

(e) Energy resources: Growing energy needs, renewable and non-renewable energy sources, use of alternate energy sources. Case studies.

(f) Land resources: Land as a resource, land degradation, man induced landslides, soil erosion and desertification.

• Role of an individual in conservation of natural resources.
• Equitable use of resources for sustainable lifestyles. (8 lectures)

Unit 3: Ecosystems

•  Concept of an ecosystem.
•  Structure and function of an ecosystem.
•  Producers, consumers and decomposers.
•  Energy flow in the ecosystem.
•  Ecological succession.
•  Food chains, food webs and ecological pyramids.
•  Introduction, types, characteristic features, structure and function of the following ecosystem:

(a) Forest ecosystem

(b) Grassland ecosystem

(c) Desert ecosystem

(d) Aquatic ecosystems (ponds, streams, lakes, rivers, oceans, estuaries) (6 lectures)

Unit 4: Biodiversity and Its Conservation

·        Introduction, definition: genetic, species and ecosystem diversity

·         Bio-geographical classification of India.

·        Value of biodiversity: consumptive use, productive use, social, ethical, aesthetic and option values

·         Biodiversity at global, National and local levels.

·         India as a mega-diversity nation.

·         Hot-spots of biodiversity.

·         Threats to biodiversity: habitat loss, poaching of wildlife, man-wildlife conflicts.

·        Endangered and endemic species of India.

·        Conservation of biodiversity: in-situ and ex-situ conservation of biodiversity.

(8 lectures)
Unit 5: Environmental Pollution

• Definition
• Causes, effects and control measures of

(a) Air pollution (b) Water pollution

(c) Soil pollution (d) Marine pollution

(e) Noise pollution (f) Thermal pollution

(g) Nuclear hazards

•  Solid waste management: Causes, effects and control measures of urban and industrialwastes.
• Role of an individual in prevention of pollution.
•  Pollution case studies.
•  Disaster management: Foods, earthquake, cyclone and landslides. (8 lectures)

Unit 6: Social Issues and the Environment

•  From unsustainable to sustainable development.
•  Urban problems related to energy.
• Water conservation, rain water harvesting, watershed management.
•  Resettlement and rehabilitation of people; its problems and concerns. Case studies.
•  Environmental ethics: Issues and possible solutions.
•  Climate change, global warming, acid rain, ozone layer depletion, nuclear accidents and holocaust. Case studies.
•  Wasteland reclamation.
•  Consumerism and waste products.
•  Environment Protection Act.
•  Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act.
•  Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act.
•  Wildlife Protection Act.
•  Forest Conservation Act.
•  Issues involved in enforcement of environmental legislation.
•  Public awareness. (7 lectures)

Unit 7: Human Population and the Environment

•  Population growth, variation among nations.
• Population explosion—Family Welfare Programme.
•  Environment and human health.
•  Human rights.
•  Value education.
•  HIV/AIDS.
•  Women and Child Welfare.
•  Role of Information Technology in environment and human health.
•  Case Studies. (6 lectures)

Unit 8: Field Work

• Visit to a local area to document environmental assets—river/forest/grassland/hill/ mountain.
•  Visit to a local polluted site—Urban/Rural/Industrial/Agricultural.
•  Study of common plants, insects, birds.
•  Study of simple ecosystems—pond, river, hill slopes, etc.
(Field work equal to 5 lecture hours