Environmental Studies

A foundation course on how the natural world works, how people are changing it, and what we can do about it, from forests and rivers to climate change and environmental law, with Indian and global case studies.

8 modules50 lectures4 credits

What you will learn

Explain the multidisciplinary nature of environmental studies and why public awareness matters
Analyse natural resources, ecosystems and biodiversity, and the threats and conservation measures that apply to them
Describe the causes, effects and control of environmental pollution and the management of waste and disasters
Evaluate social issues, climate change, population, human health and environmental law, including recent updates
Carry out and report on field work in your own locality

Modules

Multidisciplinary Nature of Environmental Studies

Definition, scope and importance · need for public awareness

2 lectures

Start module 2

Natural Resources

Forest and water resources · mineral, food and energy resources · land resources and equitable, sustainable use

8 lectures

Start module 3

Ecosystems

Structure and function · energy flow, food chains, pyramids, succession · forest, grassland, desert and aquatic ecosystems

6 lectures

Start module 4

Biodiversity and its Conservation

Levels and values · hotspots and mega-diversity · threats, endangered and endemic species · in-situ and ex-situ conservation

8 lectures

Start module 5

Environmental Pollution

Air, water, soil, marine, noise, thermal and nuclear pollution · solid waste management · disaster management

8 lectures

Start module 6

Social Issues and the Environment

Sustainable development · water conservation and resettlement · ethics, climate change, ozone, acid rain, consumerism · environmental laws

7 lectures

Start module 7

Human Population and the Environment

Population growth and family welfare · environment and health, HIV/AIDS · human rights, value education, women and child welfare, IT

6 lectures

Start module 8

Field Work

Environmental assets · a polluted site · plants, insects and birds · simple ecosystems · field report

5 field hours

Start module

Assessment

The course is assessed out of 100 marks: short-answer questions (25 marks), essay-type questions with choice (50 marks), and field work (25 marks). Each module has a practice quiz and a graded assignment, and Module 8 builds towards the field report.