InTeGrate Modules and Courses >Water Science and Society > Course Overview
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These materials are part of a collection of classroom-tested modules and courses developed by InTeGrate. The materials engage students in understanding the earth system as it intertwines with key societal issues. The materials are free and ready to be adapted by undergraduate educators across a range of courses including: general education or majors courses in Earth-focused disciplines such as geoscience or environmental science, social science, engineering, and other sciences, as well as courses for interdisciplinary programs.
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Initial Publication Date: March 31, 2017

Instructor Materials: Overview of the Water Science and Society Course

Course Goals

Students will:

  • effectively describe the two-way relationship between water resources and human society: how water availability and quality affect economic opportunities and human well-being, and how human activity affects water resources;
  • knowledgeably explain the distribution and dynamics of water at the surface and in the subsurface of Earth and how the distribution and characteristics are expected to change over the next 50 years;
  • identify appropriate data collection practices for a variety of hydrologic data, synthesize and analyze data from multiple sources, and interpret the results;
  • develop strategies and best practices to decrease water stress and increase water quality;
  • thoughtfully evaluate information and policy statements regarding the current and future predicted state of water resources and communicate their evaluations in terms that can be understood by the general public.
Summative Assessment: Students develop a final 10-slide presentation and 2-page written summary (extended abstract with at least 5 significant references) to develop a Water Portfolio for a water-critical urban area. A key element of the presentation will be an independent evaluation and analysis of: (1) data collected from the scientific literature, publicly accessible databases (e.g., USGS or USDA, city/county or state data); or (2) economics, cost/benefits, or pros and cons of active or proposed policies.

Course Description

This course is designed as a general education investigation of the importance of water to the existence of life on Earth, and the qualities of water that lead to its unusual but critical properties. The first part of the course will provide a basic scientific background for understanding water movement, occurrence, and behavior, through a series of interactive activities. The second part of the course will draw upon this scientific framework to understand the relationships between water and human activities. Among other diverse topics, we will examine the role of water in climate regulation, the impact of water on human populations and activities, the benefits and drawbacks of modern water management strategies related to irrigation and dams, and policy issues regarding water quality and availability. A sense of the human history of water use and the impacts of natural cycles will be conveyed through activities, virtual field trips (filmed footage with the instructors and discussion focused on key topics related to surface water, water re-use and recycling, and dams), and assigned readings and associated online discussions. Although we will focus on case studies from the American West, we will extend this to include global issues of water scarcity and potential conflict, for example in India, China, and the Fertile Crescent.

Course Outline

Modules for Water, Science, and Society (InTeGrate online course) 12 weeks (some modules 2-week duration)

1. Fresh Water: Scarcity or Surfeit? (2 Units over 2 weeks)

2. Physical Hydrology (4 Units over 5 weeks)

3. Social Science of Water (4 Units over 5 weeks)


Adapting the Course to Different Structures, Formats, and Schedules

The course may be taught in its entirety, or individual modules may be extracted for use within other courses. This course works well as a "blended" course, with the modules being completed at home and the activities being completed or presented in a weekly in-person class meeting. It could also be taught entirely online, or the activities could be used in conjunction with lectures developed by the instructor to introduce the relevant concepts in a traditional lecture-based course.

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These materials are part of a collection of classroom-tested modules and courses developed by InTeGrate. The materials engage students in understanding the earth system as it intertwines with key societal issues. The collection is freely available and ready to be adapted by undergraduate educators across a range of courses including: general education or majors courses in Earth-focused disciplines such as geoscience or environmental science, social science, engineering, and other sciences, as well as courses for interdisciplinary programs.
Explore the Collection »