Environmental Studies

Paper Code: 
25AENV 300
Credits: 
2
Contact Hours: 
30.00
Max. Marks: 
100.00
Objective: 

Course Objectives:  

1. To provide students with a clear understanding of environmental concerns and to follow sustainable  development practices  

2. To analyze concepts and methods from ecological and physical sciences and their application in  environmental problem-solving.  

 
Course Outcomes: 

Course Outcomes (COs): 

Course

Learning Outcome

(at course level)

Learning and teaching strategies

Assessment

Strategies

Course Code

Course

Title

25AENV300

Environmental Studies 

Upon completion of the paper,  the student will:  

CO145: Develop a comprehensive  understanding of various ecological  processes and environmental  issues  

CO146: Evaluate the holistic issues related to natural  resources and sustainable  

development  

CO147: Develop critical thinking for  shaping strategies for  environmental protection and  conservation of biodiversity, social  equity and sustainable  development  

CO148: Evaluate the consequences  of human actions on the  environment and ways to prevent  the deterioration of the  environment  

CO149: Reflect critically the roles,  responsibilities, and identities of  human beings as citizens,  consumers and environmental  actors in a complex,  interconnected world.  

CO150: Contribute effectively in  course-specific interaction

Approach in  

teaching:  Interactive Lectures, Discussions,  

PowerPoint  

Presentations,  

Informative videos  

Learning  

activities for the  students:  

Self-learning  

assignments,  

Effective questions,  presentations, Field  trips 

Quiz, Poster  

Presentation,  

PowerPoint  

Presentations,  Individual and  group projects,  Open Book  

Tests  

Semester End  Examination 

 

6.00
Unit I: 
Introduction to Environment and Ecosystem

  • Scope of Environmental Studies and its applications 

  • Relationship of Environmental Studies with other subjects (Multidisciplinary nature of Environment)  

  • Concept of sustainability and sustainable development 

  • Environmentally important dates and abbreviations 

  • Types of Ecosystems and their general characteristics 

  • Producers, consumers and decomposers 

  • Energy flow in the ecosystem 

  • Food chains, food webs and ecological pyramids 

  • Ecological Succession 

5.00
Unit II: 
Natural Resources: Renewable and Non-renewable Resources

  • Land resources and land use change; Land degradation, soil erosion and desertification. 

  •  Deforestation: Causes and impacts due to mining, dam building on the environment,forests, biodiversity  and tribal populations. 

  • Water: Use and over-exploitation of surface and groundwater, floods, droughts

  • Energy resources: Renewable and non-renewable energy sources, use of alternate  energy sources, growing energy needs, case studies.

6.00
Unit III: 
Biodiversity and Conservation

  • Levels of biological diversity: genetic, species and ecosystem diversity 

  • India as a mega-biodiversity nation; Biogeographic zones of India 

  • Biodiversity patterns and global biodiversity hot spots 

  • Endangered and endemic species of India 

  • Threats to biodiversity: Habitat loss, poaching of wildlife, man-wildlife conflicts, biological  invasions Conservation of biodiversity: In-situ and Ex-situ conservation of biodiversity. 

  • Names of International and National agencies related to biodiversity  conservation 

8.00
Unit IV: 
Environmental Issues

  • Types, Causes, effects and control measures of: Air pollution; Water pollution; Soil pollution; Noise pollution 

  • Pollution case studies 

  • Solid waste management: Control measures of urban and industrial waste. 

  • Nuclear hazards and human health risks 

  • Global environmental issues: Climate change, global warming, ozone layer depletion, acid  rain  and impacts on human communities and agriculture 

  • Environment Laws: Environment Protection Act,1986; Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution)  Act, 1981; Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974; Wildlife Protection Act, 1972;  Forest Conservation Act, 1980 

  • International agreements: Montreal Protocol, Kyoto Protocol and Convention on Biological  Diversity (CBD) 

5.00
Unit V: 
Human Communities and the Environment

  • Human population growth: Impacts on environment, human health and welfare  Resettlement and rehabilitation of project-affected persons; case studies  

  • Disaster management: floods, earthquakes, cyclones and landslides  

  • Role of women in Environmental Conservation  

  • Environmental movements: Chipko, Silent Valley, Bishnois of Rajasthan  

  • Environmental ethics: Role of Indian and other religions and cultures in environmental conservation  

  • Environmental communication and public awareness, case studies (e.g., CNG vehicles in Delhi) 

Essential Readings: 

Essential Readings: 

  • Belsare, D. K. (2007). Introduction to Biodiversity. APH Publishing Corporation. Pandey, B. N. (2003). Biodiversity Conservation, Environmental Pollution and Ecology.  Ashish Publishing House 

  • Agarwal, K. C. (2001). Environmental Biology. Bikaner: Nidhi Publication Ltd. 

  • Barucha, E. (2004). The Biodiversity of India. Ahmedabad: Mapin Publishing Pvt. Ltd.

  • Bhatia, A. L., & Kohli, K. S. (2015). Ecology and Environmental Biology. RBD  publishing house. 

  • Santra, S. (2011). Environmental Science. New Central Book Agency Pvt. Ltd. 

  • Sharma, P. D. (2008). Ecology and Environment. Rastogi Publications.  

References: 

Suggested Reading: 

  • Wang, Y. (2014). Encyclopedia of Natural Resources 2 Vol. Taylor and Francis. 

  • De, A. K. (2003). Environmental Chemistry (5th Ed.). New Age Intl. (p) Ltd. 

  • Miller, G. T. (2013). Environmental Science. Cengage Larning. 

  • Prabu, P. (2009). Ecology and environmental Science. Avinash Paperbacks. 

  • Singh, S. (1991). Environmental Geography. Prayag Pustak Bhawan.  

e-RESOURCES: 

Journals:

  • Journal of Environmental Sciences 

  • Biodiversity and Conservation 

  • Environmental Science and Pollution Research 

  • Conservation Biology 

 

Academic Year: 
2025-2026
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