Institute / School Name

Program Name
Course Code
Course Name
Lecture / Tutorial (per
week)
Course
Coordinator
Name

Chitkara University
Engineering
GEL 3101
Environmental Sciences
3
Course Credits

Manish Randhawa

1. Scope and Objectives of the Course

1. The goal of Environmental Science course is to provide students with concepts about
natural resources, ecosystems, biodiversity, energy resources, environmental pollution
and waste management which are required to understand the interrelationships of the
natural world.
2. The course will also enable students to identify and analyze environmental problems both
natural (disasters such as floods and earthquakes) and man-made (industrial pollution
and global warming).
3. The course will allow students to understand the societal and environmental impacts of
energy and examine alternative solutions for meeting the growing energy needs.
4. Case studies on wide variety of topics will further expose students to real-world issues
and help them develop analytical thinking, communication and group working key skills.
2. Textbooks
TB1: Textbook of Environmental Studies for Undergraduate Courses by Erach
Bharucha, First Edition,
University Grants Commission, Universities Press (India) Private Limited.
3. Reference Books
RB1: Environmental Studies by R. Rajagopalan, First Edition, Oxford University
Press.
RB2: Environmental Sciences by Anindita Basak, Second Edition, Pearson education.
RB3: Environmental Studies by Benny Joseph, Second Edition, Tata Mc Graw Hill.
4. Other readings and relevant websites
S.No Link of Journals, magazines and Research Papers of related course
.
1. http://www.sciencemedia.de/environment/environmental_sciences_01.htm
2. http://www.envis.nic.in
3. http://www.downtoearth.org.in

5. Relevant Websites:
S.No Web address (Exact page address)
.
1. http://www.science.uwaterloo.ca/~cchieh/cact/applychem/watertr
eatment.htm

Salient Features
Water treatment

2. www.biodiversityhotspots.org
www.gbif.net
3. http://www.wordiq.com/definition/Solid_waste_management

Biodiversity

4. http://www.ugc.ac.in/policy/env/Chapter6.pdf

Solid waste
management
Legislation

5. www.ase.org

Save energy

6. envfor.nic.in/legis/legis.html

Environment laws

6. Course Plan
Class
Lectu
re
(1hr)

Lectur Topics
e
Numb
er
(1hr)

4
5

The multidisciplinary nature of

environmental studies
Definition, Scope and Importance; Need
for Public Awareness
Natural Resources: Renewable and nonrenewable resources Associated
problems:
Forest resources, use and over,
exploitation, deforestation, timber
extraction, mining, dams and other
effects on forest and tribal people .
Introduction to case studies and
allocation
Water resources: Use and over
utilization of surface and ground water,
floods, drought, conflicts over water,
dams , benefits and problem
Mineral resources: Use and exploitation,
environmental effects of extracting and
using mineral resources
Food resources: World food problems,
changes caused by agriculture and
overgrazing, effects of modern
agriculture, fertilizer-pesticide
problems, water logging, salinity, case
studies.
Energy resources: Growing energy
needs, renewable and non-renewable
energy sources, Uses of various
alternate energy sources.
Land resources: Land as a resource,
land degradation, man induced

Text
Book /
Refere
nce
Book /
Other
readin
g
materi
al
TB1

Page
numbe
rs of
Text
Book(s
)

Weight Lectur Causes

age for e Held for
End
Deviati
term
on

1-12

5%

TB1

13-23

15%

RB2

19-37

TB1
RB2

23-27
38-43

TB1

28-30

TB1

31-32

TB1

33-45

TB1

46-47

10

11
12

10

13

11

14

12

15
16

13
14

17

15

18
19

16

20

17

21
22

18

23

19

24

20

25

21

26
27

22

28

23

29

24

landslides, soil erosion and

desertification.
Role of an individual in conservation of
natural resources
Equitable use of resources for
sustainable lifestyles.
Review of case study proposals
Ecosystems:
- Concept of an ecosystem
- Structure and function of an
ecosystem.
- Producers, consumers and
decomposers.
- Food chains, food webs and Ecological
pyramids
Energy flow in the ecosystem

TB1

48-49

TB1

5154,

TB1

55-57

TB1

Ecological succession
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
Case Study Presentation
Biodiversity and its conservation:
Introduction - Definition: genetic,
species and ecosystem diversity.

TB1
TB1

6061.5
58-59
61-71

TB1

71-77

TB1

7980,
82-85

Value of biodiversity: consumptive use,

productive use, social, ethical, aesthetic
and option values.
Bio-geographical classification of India.
Case Study Presentation
ST-1
( 13TH FEB 18TH FEB)
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.

RB3

75-78

TB1

81

TB1
RB3

86-88
80-82

TB1

89-92
92100

TB1

101106

TB1

108117

TB1

118124
125132

Case Study Presentation

Environmental Pollution: Definition,
Cause, effects and control measures
of :
a. Air pollution
b. Water pollution
c. Noise pollution
d. Soil pollution
e. Marine pollution

TB1

15%

15

20%

30
31

25

32

26

33

27

34
35

28

36

29

37

30

38
39

31

40-

32

41

33

42
43

34

44

35

45

36

46
47

37

48

38

Case Study Presentation

f. Thermal pollution
g. Nuclear hazards

TB1

136138

Solid waste Management: Causes,

effects and control measures of urban
wastes and industrial wastes.
E-waste introduction
Role of an individual in prevention of
pollution. Disaster management: floods,
earthquake, cyclone and landslides.
Case Study Presentation
Social Issues and the Environment:
From Unsustainable to Sustainable
development -Urban problems related
to energy,
Environmental ethics: Issues and
possible solutions.
Water conservation, rain water
harvesting, and watershed
management
Resettlement and rehabilitation of
people; its problems and concerns
Case Study Presentation
Climate change, global warming, acid
rain.

TB1

139142

TB1

144150

TB1

151161,
167175,
302318
162165

Ozone layer depletion, nuclear

accidents and holocaust; Case Studies,
Wasteland reclamation Consumerism
and waste products
-Environment Protection Act
-Water (Prevention and control of
Pollution) Act
Case Study Presentation
- Air (Prevention and Control of
Pollution) Act ,Wildlife Protection Act,
Forest Conservation Act
Issues involved in enforcement of
environmental
legislation, Public awareness
Human
Population
and
the
Environment:
Population
growth,
variation among nations, Population
explosion - Family Welfare Program
Case Study Presentation
Environment
and
human
health,
HIV/AIDS,Human
Rights,
Value
Education.
Women and Child Welfare, Role of
information Technology in Environment
and human health
ST II (16TH APRIL- 20TH APRIL)

RB1

TB1
TB1

165166

TB1

176178

TB1

179180
181186
187190

TB1

TB1

191194

TB1

195205

TB1

207213

TB1

214236

TB1

236241

20

10%

7. Evaluation Scheme:
Component 1

Quizzes /Assignments/ Presentation/Class Test/ Open Book Test/ Case

Study

20

Component 2*

Sessional Tests (STs)*

20

Component
3**

End Term Examination**

60

Total

100

* There are three Sessional Tests (STs) for all theory papers, the first two are compulsory
and the third one is the non-mandatory make up / mercy test. The average of best two
is considered.
** The End Term Comprehensive examination will be held at the end of semester. The
mandatory requirement of 75% attendance in all theory classes is to be met for being
eligible to appear in this component.
8. Details of Evaluation Component 1
Descripti
on

Durati
on

Mark
s

Case
Study
Allocation
Case
Study
Proposal

Presentati
on

20 min

Weighte
d
Percent
age
-

To be held
in week

Remarks

1stweek

- A group of 4-5 students will be

assigned a predefined case study
topic.
20
20%
3rd week
- Each group submits an outline of
their case study, their objective and
their action plan
Presentation of Case Study - 5th week onwards
30%
20

- Group Power Point presentations

- 2 groups will present every week.
- Presentation as a whole will be
evaluated (communication skills,

Viva

10

15%

Participati
on
Final
Report

10

15%

20

20%

logical flow and structuring of the

content, etc.)
- Viva on case study to each
member of the group
- Class participation (quality and
extent of participation)
- Students will submit a detailed
report (8-10 pages) of their case
study.

This Document is approved by:

Designation
Course Coordinator
PI/CoD/HoD
Dean
Date
Revised No.

Name
Manish Randhawa

Signature

SYLLABUS ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES FOR CU

CONTENT

ACTUAL

WEIGHTAGE

LECTURES

IN THE ENDTERM EXAM

I: The Multidiscplinary Nature Of

5%

15%

Environmental Studies: Definition, Scope and

Importance Need for Public Awareness
II. Natural Resources: Renewable and nonrenewable resources Natural resources and
associated problems 1. Forest resources Use
and over exploitation, deforestation, case
studies, Timber extraction, mining, dams and
other effects on forest and tribal people, Water
resources- Use and over utilization of surface

and ground water, floods, drought, conflicts over

water, dams, benefits and problems. Mineral
resources: Use and exploitation, environmental
effects of extracting and using mineral resources,
case studies. Food resources: World food
problems, changes caused by agriculture and
overgrazing, effects of modern agriculture,
fertilizer-pesticide problems, water logging,
salinity, case studies.Energy resources:
Growing energy needs, renewable and nonrenewable energy sources use of alternate energy
sources. Case studies.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.
III: Ecosystems: Concept of an ecosystem.

15%

15%

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
ecosystems:
a. Forest ecosystem b. Grassland ecosystem c.
Desert ecosystem d. Aquatic ecosystems (ponds,
streams, lakes, rivers, oceans, estuaries)
IV. 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
megadiversity nation. Hot-sports of biodiversity.
Threats to biodiversity: habitat loss, poaching of
wildlife, man wildlife conflicts. Endangered and
endemic species of India, Conservation of
biodiversity: Insitu and Ex-situ conservation of
biodiversity.
V. Environmental Pollution :
6

20%

20%

10%

Definition, Cause, effects and control measures

of Air pollution. Water pollution, Soil pollution,
Marine pollution, Noise pollution, Thermal
pollution, Nuclear hazards. -Solid waste
Management, Causes, effects and control
measures of urban and industrial wastes, Role of
an individual in prevention of pollution,
Pollution case studies. Disaster management:
floods, earthquake, cyclone and landslides
VI. Social Issues and the Environment:
Unsustainable to Sustainable development ,
Urban problems related to energy, Water
conservation, rain water harvesting, and
watershed management, Resettlement and
rehabilitation of people; its problems and
concerns. Case Studies
VII. 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.
Revised No. =