Graduate Studies Reports Access
Graduate Course Proposal Form Submission Detail - IDS6210
Tracking Number - 5404
Current Status:
-
Campus: Tampa
Submission Type: New
Course Change Information (for course changes only):
Comments:
Detail Information
- Date & Time Submitted: 2016-02-25
- Department:
- College: CS
- Budget Account Number: 321000
- Contact Person: Ioannis Dogaris
- Phone: 8139748982
- Email: idogaris@usf.edu
- Prefix: IDS
- Number: 6210
- Full Title: Bioresources for a sustainable future
- Credit Hours: 3
- Section Type: C -
Class Lecture (Primarily)
- Is the course title variable?: N
- Is a permit required for registration?: N
- Are the credit hours variable?: N
- Is this course repeatable?: N
- If repeatable, how many times?: 0
- Abbreviated Title (30 characters maximum): Bioresources
- Course Online?: B -
Face-to-face and online (separate sections)
- Percentage Online: 0
- Grading Option:
-
- Prerequisites:
- Corequisites:
- Course Description: Agricultural and biological resources (bioresources) for producing food, bio-based products, and renewable energy are presented and discussed along with their environmental and climate change impact using an integrated food-energy-water nexus approach.
- Please briefly explain why it is necessary and/or desirable to add this course: Needed for new program/concentration/certificate
- What is the need or demand for this course? (Indicate if this course is part of a required sequence in the major.) What other programs would this course service? Needed for the concentration track "Climate Change and Sustainability" of the MA in Global Sustainability. Expected to be significant as public interest in climate change and sustainability increases,
- Has this course been offered as Selected Topics/Experimental Topics course? If yes, how many times? No
- What qualifications for training and/or experience are necessary to teach this course? (List minimum qualifications for the instructor.) Ph.D.
- Objectives: 1) Assess the benefits, opportunities, and challenges of bioresources in today's economy
2) Understand how nature works regarding the climate, biodiversity and the flow of natural resources, and realize the impact of human activity on the environment
3) Recognize the interactions between energy, water and food and the how their sustainability will safeguard the future of humans and the ecosystem on the planet
4) Understand the variety of technologies currently employed and under development for production of bioenergy and bioproducts from biomass and algae
5) Comprehend the life cycle of products derived from bioresources and the green supply chain
6) Develop critical thinking about the socio-economic aspects of the bioeconomy
- Learning Outcomes: At the end of the course, students should be able to:
1) Recognize climate change events and their impact on the environment, and assess policy and technology responses to climate change.
2) Design sustainable bioresource production, biodiversity use and conservation strategies.
3) Calculate yields, estimate costs and assess environmental impact of biomass and algae production for food, biofuels, and bioproducts.
- Major Topics: 1) Natural resource challenges
2) Climate change, adaptation, and mitigation
3) Biodiversity in the ecosystem
4) Sustainable water management
5) Crop sustainability
6) Sustainable forestry
7) Marine bioresources
8) Food sustainability
9) Biomass and algae for energy
10) Biomass and algae for bioproducts
11) Life cycle analysis and green supply chain
12) Socio-economic aspects of bioresources
- Textbooks: Major reference books:
1) “Biorenewable resources: engineering new products from agriculture” by Robert C. Brown and Tristan R. Brown, 2nd edition, Wiley Blackwell, 2014.
2) “Sustainability Science” by Bert J. M. de Vries, Cambridge University Press, 2012.
3) “Introduction to modern climate change” by Andrew Dessler, Cambridge University Press, 2012.
4) “Biodiversity: an introduction” by Kevin J. Gaston and John I. Spicer, 2nd edition, Blackwell Pub., 2004.
- Course Readings, Online Resources, and Other Purchases: The students will be provided by the instructor with a list of publications, articles, and reference books as reading assignments.
- Student Expectations/Requirements and Grading Policy: There will be 2 closed book exams and a graded research project assignment. Class participation with regards to discussions posted on Canvas is expected. Test material will be taken from lecture presentations and assigned readings. The instructors reserve the right to assign grades of +/– and to apply a curve (at their discretion per USF policies). The breakdown of grading is as follows:
• Midterm Exam: 35%
• Final Exam: 35%
• Research Project: 20% (10% presentation and 10% report)
• Class Participation: 10%
- Assignments, Exams and Tests: 1) Written research project report
2) Presentation of research project findings
- Attendance Policy: Course Attendance at First Class Meeting – Policy for Graduate Students: For structured courses, 6000 and above, the College/Campus Dean will set the first-day class attendance requirement. Check with the College for specific information. This policy is not applicable to courses in the following categories: Educational Outreach, Open University (TV), FEEDS Program, Community Experiential Learning (CEL), Cooperative Education Training, and courses that do not have regularly scheduled meeting days/times (such as, directed reading/research or study, individual research, thesis, dissertation, internship, practica, etc.). Students are responsible for dropping undesired courses in these categories by the 5th day of classes to avoid fee liability and academic penalty. (See USF Regulation – Registration - 4.0101,
http://usfweb2.usf.edu/usfgc/ogc%20web/currentreg.htm)
Attendance Policy for the Observance of Religious Days by Students: In accordance with Sections 1006.53 and 1001.74(10)(g) Florida Statutes and Board of Governors Regulation 6C-6.0115, the University of South Florida (University/USF) has established the following policy regarding religious observances: (http://usfweb2.usf.edu/usfgc/gc_pp/acadaf/gc10-045.htm)
In the event of an emergency, it may be necessary for USF to suspend normal operations. During this time, USF may opt to continue delivery of instruction through methods that include but are not limited to: Blackboard, Elluminate, Skype, and email messaging and/or an alternate schedule. It’s the responsibility of the student to monitor Blackboard site for each class for course specific communication, and the main USF, College, and department websites, emails, and MoBull messages for important general information.
- Policy on Make-up Work: Automatic make-up examinations will be given ONLY for students involved in official University of South Florida activities (i.e. athletics, conferences, field trips, etc.). Students away on official USF business during scheduled exams must present a valid excuse on official USF stationary signed by the appropriate college personnel. Students missing examinations due to illness must verify their health problems with signed documentation from an acceptable corroborative source (e.g. your doctor). Students needing to miss examinations due to chronic health conditions or to death in the family should consult with the instructor. Late assignments will not be graded unless the instructor has granted permission in advance. The current university policy concerning incomplete grades will be followed in this course. Incomplete grades are given only in situations where unexpected emergencies prevent a student from completing the course and the remaining work can be completed within a specified period of time. The instructor is the final authority on whether you qualify for an incomplete. Incomplete work must be finished by the end of the subsequent semester or the “I” will automatically be recorded as an “F” on your transcript.
In the event of an emergency, it may be necessary for the USF campus to suspend normal operations. During this time, USF may opt to continue delivery of instruction through methods that include but are not limited to: learning management system (Canvas), email and/or alternative schedule. It is the responsibility of the student to monitor their courses for specific communication, and the main USF, College and department websites, emails and MoBll messages for important general information.
Students in need of academic accommodations for a disability may consult with Students with Disabilities Services (http://sds.usf.edu/) to arrange appropriate accommodations. Students are required to give reasonable notice prior to requesting an accommodation.
The University of South Florida policies apply to all aspects of this course. There is zero tolerance for cheating, plagiarism, and other forms of academic dishonesty. The application project paper MUST include proper citation of sources; failure to do so will result in a grade of F. Any infringement will result in the maximum prosecution of the offender by the University of South Florida and may result in various consequences ranging from a course grade of F to academic suspension.
- Program This Course Supports: MA Program in Global Sustainability
- Course Concurrence Information: Can serve as elective for graduate students from across the USF system.
- if you have questions about any of these fields, please contact chinescobb@grad.usf.edu or joe@grad.usf.edu.