VAC-2 B23-VAC-201

Session: 2023-24

Part A - Introduction

Subject Environmental Science

Semester I/ II

Environmental Studies

Name of the Course

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 Course Code B23-VAC-201

Course Type: VAC

(CC/MCC/MDC/CC-M/DSEC
/VOC/DSE/PC/AEC/VAC)

Level of the course (As per 100-199

Annexure-I

Pre-requisite for the course (if NA

any)

Course Learning Outcomes (CLO): After completing this course, the learner will be able to:

1. Understand the concept of environmental studies,

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 sustainable development and ecosystem.
2. Learn about the various natural resources and about
biodiversity and its conservation.
3. Know about the types of pollution, solid waste
management, global environmental issues and
environmental laws.
4. Understand the concept of population growth and its
impacts on environment and disaster management.
5. Get knowledge about the environment, its problems,
impacts and solutions.

Credits Theory Practical Total

2 NA 2

Contact Hours 2 NA 2

Max. Marks: 50 Time: 2 hours

Internal Assessment Marks: 15

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 End Term Exam Marks: 35

Part B- Contents of the Course

Instructions for Paper- Setter

Total number of questions set will be nine. Questions no. 1 is compulsory covering the entire
syllabus. Two questions will be set from each unit. Students have to attempt five questions in all,
selecting one question from each unit including the compulsory question. Each question is of 7
marks. All questions carry equal marks. Final theory exam time allowed will be of 3 hours.

Unit Topics Contact

Hours

I Introduction to environmental studies: 02 hours/week

Multidisciplinary nature of environmental studies; Scope and
importance; Concept of sustainability and sustainable
development.

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 Ecosystems:
Definition, structure and function of ecosystem; Energy flow
in an ecosystem: food chains, food webs, Major ecosystems
types: Forest ecosystem, Grassland ecosystem, Desert
ecosystem and Aquatic ecosystem (lakes, rivers, oceans).

II Natural resources: Renewable and Non- renewable

Resources
Land resources: Land degradation and soil erosion.
Forest resources: Importance of forests, deforestation: causes
and impacts on environment.
Water resources: Use and over- exploitation of surface and
ground water.
Energy resources: Renewable and non- renewable energy
sources.
Biodiversity and Conservation:
Definition and its types, 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.
Ecosystem and biodiversity services: Ecological, economic,
social, ethical, aesthetic and informational values.

III Environmental pollution

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  Environmental pollution: types, causes, effects and controls;
Air, water, soil and noise pollution.

 Solid waste management: Sources, methods of disposal:

Landfill, incineration and composting.
 Climate change, global warming, ozone layer depletion, acid
rain and impacts on human communities and agriculture.

Environmental Policies & Practices

 Environmental laws: Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, Air

(Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, Water
(Prevention and control of Pollution) Act, 1974.

IV Human Communities and the Environment:

 Human population growth: Impacts on environment, human

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 health and welfare.
 Resettlement and rehabilitation of project affected person.
 Disaster management: floods, earthquake, cyclones, landslides
and drought.
 Environmental ethics: Role of Indian and other religions and
cultures in environmental conservation.

Suggested Evaluation Methods

Internal Assessment:15 marks End Term

Examination:
Theory: 35 marks
(Written exam)

➢ Theory

· Class Participation: 4 marks

· Seminar/presentation/assignment/quiz/class test etc.: 4marks
· Mid-Term Exam: 7 marks

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 Part C-Learning Resources

Recommended Books/e-resources/LMS:

1. Kaushik, A & Kaushik, C.P. 2022. Perspectives in Environmental Studies. New Age International Pvt
Ltd, New Delhi.
2. Bharucha, E. 2021. A Textbook of Environmental Studies for Undergraduate Courses, Orient
Blackswan Pvt Ltd.
3. Goswami, P., Mandal, J. & Singh, S. 2022. A Textbook on Environmental Studies, Ashok book stall,
Assam.
4. Joshi, P.C. & Joshi, N. 2009. A Text Book of Environmental Science. APH Publishing Corporation.
5. Basu, M. & Xavier Savarimuthu, S.J. 2017. Fundamentals of Environmental Studies. Cambridge
University Press.
6. Singh, R.P. & Islam, Z. 2012. Environmental Studies. Concept Publishing Company.

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 ANNEXURE-I

Levels of Courses

Levels of Courses: Courses shall be coded based on the learning outcomes, level of difficulty,
and academic rigor. The coding structure is as follows:

0-99: Pre-requisite courses required to undertake an introductory course which will be a pass or
fail course with no credits. It will replace the existing informal way of offering bridge courses
that are conducted in some of the colleges/ universities.

100-199: Foundation or introductory courses that are intended for students to gain an
understanding and basic knowledge about the subjects and help decide the subject or discipline
of interest. These courses may also be prerequisites for courses in the major subject. These
courses generally would focus on foundational theories, concepts, perspectives, principles,
methods, and procedures of critical thinking in order to provide a broad basis for taking up more
advanced courses. These courses seek to equip students with the general education needed for
advanced study, expose students to the breadth of different fields of study; provide a foundation
for specialized higher-level coursework; acquaint students with the breadth of (inter) disciplinary
fields in the arts, humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences, and to the historical and
contemporary assumptions and practices of vocational or professional fields; and to lay the
foundation for higher level coursework.

200-299: Intermediate-level courses including subject-specific courses intended to meet the

credit requirements for minor or major areas of learning. These courses can be part of a major
and can be pre-requisite courses for advanced-level major courses.

300-399: Higher-level courses which are required for majoring in a disciplinary/interdisciplinary

area of study for the award of a degree.

400-499: Advanced courses which would include lecture courses with practicum, seminar-based
course, term papers, research methodology, advanced laboratory experiments/software training,
research projects, hands-on-training, internship/apprenticeship projects at the undergraduate level
or First year Postgraduate theoretical and practical courses.

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500-599: Courses at first-year Master’s degree level for a 2-year Master’s degree programme

600-699: Courses for second-year of 2-year Master’s or 1-year Master’s degree programme

700 -799 & above: Courses limited to doctoral students

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