Enquiry for Science Major/Minor/Programme Requirements
ENVS1401 Introduction to environmental science (6 credits) Academic Year 2025
Offering Department Earth and Planetary Sciences Quota ---
Course Co-ordinator Dr C Not, Earth and Planetary Sciences < cnot@hku.hk >
Teachers Involved (Dr C Not,Earth and Planetary Sciences)
Course Objectives To provide students with an inter-disciplinary introduction to Environmental Science highlighting the interconnections between biological, geological, and chemical processes.  
To convey the basic science behind environmental interactions and place it within the context of human impacts and dependence on the natural world.  
To better understand how humans interact, manage, and sustain the environment within the context of our economies, governments and individual choices.
Course Contents & Topics The teaching and learning will be organized around key issues, and loosely divided into three sections.
Part I: The basics: application of science to solve environmental problems; key ecological, chemical, and earth science concepts essential to environmental science, understanding the underlying causes of environmental problems (human population growth and economics).
Part II: Using and conserving our resources: how we use and misuse key natural resources; the difficulty in assuring a sustainable supply of energy; waste management and air pollution issues.
Part III: Global issues: How do our actions change the face of the planet? Can sustainable development be achieve? Will we be able to limit our contribution to global climate change?
Course Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this course, students should be able to:

CLO 1 Explain and describe connections between the physical and biological components of the environment.
CLO 2 Discuss the impacts of human activities on the environment.
CLO 3 Explain the concept of environmental sustainability and give examples of how society can adapt behavior to achieve sustainability.
CLO 4 Understand how we are overusing our resources and compare different approaches to resolving specific problems presented in class.
Pre-requisites
(and Co-requisites and
Impermissible combinations)		 NIL
Course Status with Related Major/Minor /Professional Core 2025 Major in Environmental Science ( Core/Compulsory )
2025 Minor in Environmental Science ( Core/Compulsory )
2024 Major in Environmental Science ( Core/Compulsory )
2024 Minor in Environmental Science ( Core/Compulsory )
2023 Major in Environmental Science ( Core/Compulsory )
2023 Minor in Environmental Science ( Core/Compulsory )
2022 Major in Environmental Science ( Core/Compulsory )
2022 Minor in Environmental Science ( Core/Compulsory )
2021 Major in Environmental Science ( Core/Compulsory )
2021 Minor in Environmental Science ( Core/Compulsory )
Course to PLO Mapping 2025 Major in Environmental Science < PLO 1,2,3 >
2024 Major in Environmental Science < PLO 1,2,3 >
2023 Major in Environmental Science < PLO 1,2,3 >
2022 Major in Environmental Science < PLO 1,2,3 >
2021 Major in Environmental Science < PLO 1,2,3 >
Offer in 2025 - 2026 Y        1st sem    Examination No Exam     
Offer in 2026 - 2027 Y
Course Grade A+ to F
Grade Descriptors
A Demonstrate thorough understanding of the subject and an ability to apply knowledge gained in class to a wide range of complex, familiar and unfamiliar situations. Show evidence of logical thinking and some original thought. Coursework completed on time and to a high academic standard.
B Demonstrate a good understanding of the subject and an ability to apply knowledge to familiar and some unfamiliar situations. Show evidence of logical thinking abilities. Coursework completed on time and to a good academic standard.
C Demonstrate general but incomplete understanding of the subject and an ability to apply knowledge to most familiar situations. Show some evidence of logical thinking, but with some inconsistencies. Some coursework incomplete, but submitted on time and in an adequate academic standard.
D Demonstrate partial but limited grasp of the subject and a limited ability to apply knowledge to some familiar situations. Show only able to apply knowledge to simple examples. Show little evidence of logical thinking. Coursework submitted late to a poor standard.
Fail Demonstrate little or no understanding of the subject and very little or no ability to apply knowledge to familiar situations. Show no evidence of logical or coherent thinking. Coursework missing or substandard.
Communication-intensive Course Y
Course Type Lecture-based course
Course Teaching
& Learning Activities
Activities Details No. of Hours
Field work two half day field trips 10.0
Lectures 24.0
Tutorials group discussion/case studies 24.0
Reading / Self study 100.0
Assessment Methods
and Weighting
Methods Details Weighting in final
course grade (%)		 Assessment Methods
to CLO Mapping
Assignments Assignement 30.0 1,2,4
Presentation Group project 15.0 1,2,3,4
Project reports Group project 15.0 1,2,3,4
Test Quizzes 40.0 1,2,3,4
Required/recommended reading
and online materials		 Miller: Living in the Environment (Thomson, 2007, 15th ed.)
Keller and Botkin: Essential Environmental Science (Wiley, 2008)
Course Website NIL
Additional Course Information NIL


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