Course Syllabus
Sustainable Environments
Science & Technology
ENST 0842, 002, 5933
FALL, 2025
Instructor: Victoria Sarmiento
Syllabus PDF
The course syllabus will provide you with the course schedule, course objectives, explanations of assignments and assessments, grading policies, and instructor contact information. Please read it carefully. You should have a deep familiarity with the schedule and process of the course.
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Basic Course Information
General Education
This course fulfills the General Education area of Science and Technology
Gen Ed facilitates linkages by stressing the development of eight skills and abilities rather than on content knowledge. The Program in General Education provides opportunities for students to engage in:
- Critical Thinking
- Contextualized Learning
- Interdisciplinary Thinking
- Communication Skills
- Scientific & Quantitative Reasoning
- Civic Engagement
- Information Literacy
- Lifelong Learning
Meeting Time and Location
In person: Mondays and Wednesdays, 10:00-10:50 am, 102 Mazur Hall
Asynchronous: An extra 50 minutes per week on Canvas
Emergency Meetings
In the event that we are unable to meet in person, such as due to bad weather, expect a Canvas announcement directing you to a Zoom meeting or providing other guidance.
Instructor Information
Victoria Sarmiento
Please refer to me as Professor Sarmiento. My pronouns are She/her
My Contact Information
Email: victoria.sarmiento@temple.edu
Please reach out to me at any time for assistance with the course or just to chat about the field or navigating university life. The best way to reach me is to send me a message through the Canvas inbox or email me. I will generally respond within 24 hours. Please do not send a follow-up email before 24 hours have passed.
My Office
318 Gladfelter (Main campus) or zoom by appointment
Student Drop-In Hours
Seeking out individual assistance from the instructor is a normal part of the learning process. I set aside 11:00 to 12:00 on Mondays and Wednesdays for you to come to my office with no appointment necessary. We can discuss the course content, your progress on the assessments, your future in the field, or anything else you need to talk about. If my regular Drop-In Hours don’t fit your schedule, please email me to make an appointment. I want to help you succeed!
Purpose of the Course
Overall Purpose
Enhance your capability to be environmentally informed consumers and citizens based on a sound understanding of the ecological, technological, economic, political, and ethical dimensions of environmental sustainability.
Overview of the Course
Humans are at a critical juncture in their relationship with the environment. Many of the global changes occurring in the atmosphere, climate, and oceans can be attributed to human activity. While the standard of living has increased for many people across the globe, the technological advancements that have made this possible endanger future generations because of their environmental impacts. Environmental toxins and air pollution are increasing, and fossil fuels and forests are being depleted at unsustainable rates. Now more than ever, the viability of human life depends on the scientific understanding of global environmental change, and on developing science-based policies to both protect the environment and promote human well-being in a just and sustainable manner.
NOTE: This course fulfills a Science & Technology (GS) requirement for students under GenEd and Science & Technology Second Level (SB) for students under Core. Students cannot receive credit for this course if they have successfully completed EES/Geology 0842, ENST 0942, or GUS 0842/0942.
3 Credit Hours
Learning Goals
Upon successful completion of this General Education course, you will be able to:
- Understand the scientific basis of the environmental challenges facing humankind (GenEd competencies III, V, VII, A, B, C).
- Demonstrate an understanding of environmental sustainability (GenEd competencies I, II, V, C, E).
- Describe and communicate how individual, corporate, and government actions impact the environment (GenEd competencies I, II, III, IV, VIII, D, E).
- Evaluate scientific evidence for environmental problems and solutions (GenEd competencies I, III, V, VII, VIII, C, D, E).
All materials, activities, and assessments of this course are designed to help you achieve these goals. If at any time you feel that you are not making progress towards one of these goals, please reach out to me. It is my job to help you get there!
General Education Competencies and Area Learning Goals
Gen Ed facilitates linkages by stressing the development of eight skills and abilities rather than on content knowledge. The Program in General Education provides opportunities for students to engage in:
- Critical Thinking
- Contextualized Learning
- Interdisciplinary Thinking
- Communication Skills
- Scientific & Quantitative Reasoning
- Civic Engagement
- Information Literacy
- Lifelong Learning
Science & Technology Learning Goals
GenEd Science & Technology courses present scientific process in context, helping students understand how scientific phenomena and/or technological change affects human life and the planet.
Science & Technology courses are intended to teach students how to:
- Understand and describe the scientific process;
- Understand the sequential nature of science and technology;
- Recognize, use and appreciate scientific or technological thinking for solving problems that are part of everyday life;
- Understand and communicate how technology encourages the process of discovery in science and related disciplines; and
- Retrieve, organize, and analyze data associated with a scientific or technological model.
The Learning Environment
How Class Will Be Conducted
The in-person part of the class sessions will consist of a brief lecture and depending on available time, one or more learning activities based upon the assigned reading for the day. You are expected to complete the preparatory reading, video, or podcast assignment before coming to class in order to ensure that we can all engage in an informed dialogue.
For the online asynchronous part of the course, you can choose when to complete your work throughout the week, but most successful students block off specific times in their schedule to dedicate to the class and log in several times a week. You can expect a mix of video lectures and interactive activities designed to reinforce the material. I will post weekly announcements to keep you on track and informed, and I will check discussion boards regularly to engage with student posts and answer questions. Written or video feedback on assignments is typically provided within one week of the submission deadline.
Classroom Civility
It is important to foster a respectful and productive learning environment that includes all students in our diverse community of learners. Our differences, some of which are outlined in the University's nondiscrimination statement, will add richness to this learning experience. Therefore, all opinions and experiences, no matter how different or controversial they may be perceived, must be respected in the tolerant spirit of academic discourse.
Treat your classmates and instructor with respect in all communication, class activities, and meetings. You are encouraged to comment, question, or critique an idea, but you are not to attack an individual. Please consider that sarcasm, humor, and slang can be misconstrued in online interactions and generate unintended disruptions. Profanity should be avoided as should the use of all capital letters when composing responses in discussion threads, which can be construed as “shouting” online. Remember to be careful with your own and others' privacy. In general, have your behavior mirror how you would like to be treated by others.
For more information, please visit the IDEAL website.
Materials
Required Materials
Links to required readings, videos, etc., will be supplied electronically in Canvas in the appropriate module.
Software or Other Supplies
If you need access to basic software for creating documents, slideshows, or spreadsheets, you have free access to Microsoft 365.
Whether you use a paper or digital tool, you should have a calendar for managing your schedule. I use Outlook calendar, a software available to you as part of the Microsoft 365 suite of tools. Similarly, I expect you to take notes while reading course materials and during lectures, but the choice is yours whether to use software or paper.
Accessibility
It is important to me that every student has the opportunity to succeed at this course. Please reach out to me if ANY obstacle is in the way of your success!
Any student who has a need for accommodations based on the impact of a documented disability or medical condition should contact Disability Resources and Services (DRS) located in the Howard Gittis Student Center South, 4th Floor at drs@temple.edu or 215-204-1280 to request accommodations and learn more about the resources available to you. If you have a DRS accommodation letter to share with me, or you would like to discuss your accommodations, please contact me as soon as practical. I will work with you and with DRS to coordinate reasonable accommodations for all students with documented disabilities. All discussions related to your accommodations will be confidential. Students can learn more about the accommodation process and pre-register on the DRS website. Students may register at any time during the semester, but accommodations are not active until you register, so I recommend doing so as early in the semester as possible.
Resources and Support
Sometimes the biggest factors impacting student success are things happening beyond the scope of the individual classroom. Temple provides a wide array of resources both to help you overcome academic challenges and those not directly related to the educational challenges of the course. Please reach out to me if you need help deciding which resources might be right for you.
Undergraduate Research Support
Disability Resources and Services
If you are experiencing food insecurity or financial struggles, Temple provides resources and support. Notably, the Temple University Cherry Pantry is in operation as well as a variety of resources from the Division of Student Affairs.
Library Resources
Temple University Libraries provide resources to assist Temple students with their class projects and research needs. Visit the Libraries’ website to find millions of articles, books, video, and other resources, both in print and online.
The site also provides tutorials to help you start your research, as well as subject and course research guides to help you identify resources that may be particularly useful for this class.
Contact the library at any stage of the research process. You can chat with a librarian 24/7 or make an appointment with your subject librarian, who can help you explore a topic, craft a research question, and identify and cite sources.
Course Schedule
Module 1. Environmental Sustainability |
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WEEK |
DATES |
CONTENT |
ASSIGNMENT/EXAM |
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Week 1 |
25-Aug |
Introduction |
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27-Aug |
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Week 2 |
1-Sep (No class) |
Biodiversity |
Assignment 1 due Sep 3: |
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3-Sep |
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Week 3 |
8-Sep |
Environmental Justice |
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10-Sep |
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Week 4 |
15-Sep |
Governance |
Assignment 2 due Sep 17: |
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17-Sep |
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Week 5 |
22-Sep |
Exam 1 |
Exam 1: Sep 24 |
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24-Sep |
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Module 2: Atmosphere, Energy and Climate Change |
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Week 6 |
29-Sep |
Climate change and debates |
Assignment 3 due Oct 1: |
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1-Oct |
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Week 7 |
6-Oct |
Global Temperature and Atmospheric Carbon |
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8-Oct |
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Week 8 |
13-Oct |
Mitigation, Adaptation and Impacts |
Assignment 4 due Oct 15: |
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15-Oct |
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Week 9 |
20-Oct |
Energy |
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22-Oct |
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Week 10 |
27-Oct |
Exam 2 |
Exam 2: Oct 29 |
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29-Oct |
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Module 3: Population, Agriculture and Water |
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Week 11 |
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Population |
Assignment 5 due Nov 5: |
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Week 12 |
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Land Systems |
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Week 13 |
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Sustainable Futures |
Assignment 6 due Nov 19: Sustainable Futures |
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24 - 28 NOV FALL BREAK AND THANKSGIVING HOLLIDAY |
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Week 14 |
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Exam 3 |
Exam 3: Dec 3 |
Grading & Assessment Guidelines
Grading Scale
Assignments (5/6 assignments) 45%
Exams (3 exams) 45%
Participation 10%
Total 100%
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Percentage |
Letter Grade |
|---|---|
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94-100 |
A |
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90-93 |
A- |
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87-89 |
B+ |
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84-86 |
B |
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80-83 |
B- |
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77-79 |
C+ |
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74-76 |
C |
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70-73 |
C- |
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67-69 |
D+ |
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64-66 |
D |
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61-63 |
D- |
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0-60 |
F |
Course Minimum Grade
A grade of “C-” or better is required in all GenEd courses for you to satisfy a General Education requirement.
Assessment Summary
Evaluative Components
You are graded in Sustainable Environments based on three categories of assessment: exams, essays, and class participation. Here is more information about them:
- Exams:
On the schedule above you will find listed three exams. Each exam covers only the material since the previous exam; none of the exams are cumulative. Exams will be predominantly short answer, but will also include a combination of multiple choice and/or fill in the blank. Study guides will be made available to guide your studying.
Exams must be completed during regular class time, in our regular classroom, unless approval is given by the professor in advance. Please let the professor know in advance if you have a disability accommodation.
Exams will be taken on paper. Exams are open book and open note, but you may not have an electronic device of any sort with you. It’s okay to have hand-written notes or print outs of notes with you if you like. Be aware that these must be *notes* of some sort: print outs of Wikipedia pages or AI-produced material are not allowed. The professor does reserve the right to examine what you have with you. Please do not cheat. Use course material to answer the questions, not random things you took from the internet as you prepared for the exam.
Missed Exam Policy: Exams can only be made up given significant, documented medical reasons or family emergencies.
- Assignments:
You will be given 6 assignments throughout the semester. Of these 6, only your best 5 will count (thus, you can skip one or do them all). Prompts for all assignments will be posted to Canvas at least one week prior to their due date. All due dates are listed on the schedule below.
Late work policy: Barring prior permission from the instructor, no late assignments will be accepted without penalty. Any assignment submitted within 48 hours of the due date will be eligible for a 5-point deduction. After the 48 hour grace period, assignments can be submitted for half credit up through the last day of classes.
- Participation:
As in everything you do in life that is worth doing, attendance is expected and mandatory. I will take attendance in class, assign short written participation activities and give brief quizzes throughout the semester. The quizzes will be simple participation exercises that may be given during our in-person class or on Canvas and will not be announced ahead of time. If you’re present and participate, it’s easy to earn full credit.
Missed quiz policy: Quizzes can only be made up with permission of the instructor. Also, be aware that I reserve the right not to count your quiz if you are spending an excessive amount of time on a cell phone, texting, sleeping, reading a newspaper, walking in late, walking out early, being disrespectful to your classmates, etc.
When planning your semester, I recommend adding all due dates to your calendar. For the more extensive assessments, I recommend scheduling at least three hour-long work/study sessions per week, at least one week before the due date.
Technology Guidelines
Technology Requirements
To participate in this course, you will need the equipment, software, and internet access necessary to reliably use Zoom and Canvas, as well as “productivity tools” like word processors and slide show creators.
Limited resources are available for students who do not have the technology they need for class. Students with educational technology needs, including no computer or camera or insufficient Wifi access, should submit a Student Technology Assistance Application located in TUPortal and linked from the Dean of Students Support and Resources. The University will endeavor to meet needs, such as with a long-term loan of a laptop or Mifi device, a refurbished computer, or subsidized internet access.
Note that there are technology resources available for students, including on-campus computers available for student use, the Tech Center computer labs and free laptop and battery borrowing at Charles Library, software that is available for free download and other specialty software that may be available for remote access through ITS.
Technical Support
For a listing of technical support services available to Temple University students, see the Tech Support page.
Live Chat or Request Help: help.temple.edu
Phone: 215-204-8000
Email: help@temple.edu
Website: its.temple.edu
Location: The TECH Center, Room 106
AI Policies: Acceptable and Unacceptable Use of AI
The use of generative AI tools (e.g. ChatGPT, Dall-e, etc.) is permitted in this course for the following activities:
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Brainstorming and refining your ideas;
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Fine tuning your research questions;
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Finding information on your topic;
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Drafting an outline to organize your thoughts; and
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Checking grammar and style.
The use of generative AI tools is not permitted in this course for the following activities:
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Impersonating you in classroom contexts, such as by using the tool to compose written content assigned to you or content that you put into a discussion.
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Writing a draft of a writing assignment.
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Writing entire sentences, paragraphs or papers to complete class assignments.
You are responsible for the information you submit based on an AI query (for instance, that it does not violate intellectual property laws, or contain misinformation or unethical content). Your use of AI tools must be properly documented and cited in order to stay within university policies on academic honesty. When in doubt about permitted usage, please ask for clarification
Academic Guidelines
Academic Freedom
Freedom to teach and freedom to learn are inseparable facets of academic freedom. I have the freedom and responsibility to design and facilitate our learning environment to best achieve the promise of the course as outlined in its official description. You have the responsibility to engage with the course in good faith and freedom from mistreatment when your opinion differs from mine. Note that it is not an abuse of this freedom for me to require that you support relevant opinions with clear argumentation and solid evidence. For more on academic freedom, consult the official Temple policy on the matter.
Academic Integrity
Temple University believes strongly in academic honesty and integrity. Plagiarism and academic cheating are, therefore, prohibited. All work you submit for assessment should be your own efforts. For more on this topic, consult the relevant portions of Temple Bulletin and the Student Conduct Code.