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ENERGY: THE ISSUES AND THE SCIENCE (SMT-271544)

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Course Description:


In this world, energy is crucial for events of any kind. The existence of life, the origin of civilization, and our modern society are all based on the capture and flow of energy. However, as the largest user of fossil fuel energy with the highest per capita consumption in the world, the current patterns of energy use in the United State are without question unsustainable over the long term and raise critical questions of self-sufficiency and global impact.

This course will discuss fundamental energy science principles in the context of chemistry, biology, and physics. The study will examine the origin and flow of energy through the system, what it does, and its ultimate fate. The course will further explore current issues in energy including the economics of energy production, how public policy on energy will impact our everyday life, how the environment is effected by energy consumption, and how new technologies can help achieve a sustainable energy policy. Students in this course will be challenged to critically examine the use of energy in our society and to formulate a personal understanding of this complex issue.

This course fully meets the General Education requirement in Natural Sciences.


This online course is offered through Online Learning. You can take this as an individual course or as part of an online degree program, with term starts in March, May, September, November and January. View current term offerings and all online courses. Click here to register for online courses.

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Liberal Study
Lower Level
Credits: 4
Meets General Education Requirement In: Natural Sciences-Full

Term(s) Offered (Subject to Change) : Summer.

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