Discipline: Economics Degree Credit  [X]
Non Credit  [ ]
Nondegree Credit  [ ]
Comm Service  [ ]
 

Riverside Community College District
Integrated Course Outline of Record

Economics 5


COURSE DESCRIPTION
5 Economics of the Environment Units: 3.00
 
Prerequisite(s): None.

Advisory: Qualification for English 1A
Economics 5 searches for an economic understanding of contemporary environmental problems. Economic theory is used to explain why there is inefficient resource use and pollution. Public policy to correct environmental problems is examined critically, looking at the costs and benefits of such programs as Superfund cleanup, government regulation, and market incentives. The course also studies the effect of environmental problems and policies on wealth distribution, economic growth and international relations. 54 hours lecture.
 
SHORT DESCRIPTION FOR CLASS SCHEDULE
A general education course emphasizing the economic understanding of contemporary environmental problems.
 
ADVISORY ENTRY SKILLS
Before entering the course, students will be able to:
  1. Critically discuss and analyze primary and secondary texts, recognizing key ideas and responding in both oral and written form;

  2. Analyze, synthesize, and evaluate concepts studied in primary and secondary texts using intermediate to advanced critical thinking skills;

  3. Compose developed, unified, stylistically competent writing assignments and adjust writing to the target audience with intermediate to advanced skill.
STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES
 Upon successful completion of the course, students should be able to:
  1. Describe, analyze and evaluate economic concepts, paradigms, and theories of the environment.
  2. Identify major current environmental problems and use economic theory to analyze and evaluate the problems.
  3. Identify current policies to remedy the environmental problems and assess the effectiveness of policies.
  4. Evaluate the impact of environmental policies on the distribution of wealth and income, economic growth, and international relations.

 
 
COURSE CONTENT
  TOPICS
 

1.   What are Environmental Problems? 
      a.   Ecology of air, water and earth
      b.   Measuring environmental degradation
      c.   Uncertainty in environmental predictions
      d.   Role of industrialized versus non-industrial nations
      e.   Role of the individual versus society
2.   The Economic Perspective on Environmental Problems
      a.   Capitalist versus non-capitalist economies
      b.   Market inefficiency
      c.   Public goods
      d.   Externalities
3.   Public Policies for Environmental Problems
      a.   History of concern for the environment
      b.   Evolution of US environmental programs
      c.   Environmental programs in other countries
      d.   Current controversies in public policy
4.   Economic Perspective on Environmental Policies
      a.   Tradeoffs
      b.   Cost benefit analysis theory
      c.   Application of cost benefit analysis to current problems
      d.   Depletion theory
5.   The Future of the Environment and Environmental Policy
      a.   Sustainability (renewable and nonrenewable resources)
      b.   Regulatory compliance
      c.   Market incentives
      d.   Impact of worldwide industrialization

 
 
METHODS OF INSTRUCTION
 Methods of instruction used to achieve student learning outcomes may include, but are not limited to:

  • Conduct classroom lecture and demonstration in order to develop the necessary understanding of the environment, its problems, and policies.
  • Create and have students participate in small group analysis of environmental problems and policies
  • Develop and assign class and/or computer-based exercises in order to have students practice identifying and apply economic analysis to current environmental problems and policies
  • Create and have students participate in active learning techniques in order to engage students more actively in the learning process
 
METHODS OF EVALUATION
 Students will be evaluated for progress in and/or mastery of learning outcomes by methods of evaluation which may include, but are not limited to:

  • Exams designed to assess the students’ grasp of concepts, paradigms and theories of the environment, environmental problems, and environmental policies
  • Short papers designed to assess the students’ ability to analyze environmental concepts, paradigms, theories, problems, policies, and the results of those policies.  These papers are also assigned to help students’ learn the material by writing and contemplating.
  • Class and individual projects designed to assess the students’ ability to gather information, analyze materials and test results.
  • Class participation/demonstrations/oral reports designed to engage students in the dialogue of the environment.
ASSIGNMENTS

Required Reading Assignments


Required Writing Assignments


Other Outside-of-Class Assignments
 
COURSE MATERIALS
 All materials used in this course will be periodically reviewed to ensure that they are appropriate for college level instruction. Possible texts include:

  • Brown, Lester R. . Eco-Economy. any: Norton, 2001.
  • Brown, Lester R. . The Earth Policy Reader. any: Earth Policy Institute, 2002.
  • Bookchin and Foreman. Defending the Earth. any: South End Press, 1991.
  • Field, Barry c. . Environmental Economics. any: McGraw-Hill, 2002.
  • Seitz, Nelson, & Halcron. Economics of Resources, Agriculture, and Food. any: McGraw-Hill, 2002.
  • Tieteonberg, Tom. Environmental and Natural Resource Economics. any: Pearson/Addison-Wesley, 2006.
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