INTD 240 - Dealing with Environmental Issues in an Urbanized World

Global change, increasing pollution, and a decrease of available resources are effects of the growing human population worldwide. For the first time in human history, more people live in urban areas than in rural areas, a shift that occurred several decades ago in the United States. Never before has urbanization defined so deeply our lifestyle, health, and relationship with the environment and with other individuals. This is particularly true in California and, more specifically, in the LA metro area. The goal of this course is to look into the complex fabric of urbanization and in the strong interactions linking the biophysical and the social environment. During the class activities, students will learn about a suite of environmental issues that are relevant in urban ecosystems. To expose students to the ‘real world’, this course will explore some of the many professions that deal with different aspects of the urban fabric and that can have a significant impact on different decision-making processes, on the life and well-being of human, and on the urban environment as a whole.

4 credits