344/544 Objectives

I have structured this course into three components. Initially we shall examine, primarily through comparative case studies, the arrays of phenomena that adversely affect humans during environmental interaction. I stress two reciprocal themes: 1) hazards are a normal complement to resource exploitation, and 2) humans derive hazards from, but also impose them onto, their environment.

How do people come to locate themselves in harm's way? People know, and could avoid, nearly all hazardous environmental phenomena. Sometimes, however, people knowingly choose to occupy - or even create - risky places, when they believe resource benefits will exceed what they perceive to be small potential costs. In the second portion of this course we therefore will consider the role of individuals' perceptions ("how they think") and behavior ("how they act"), and how organizations operate, at potentially harmful locations.

Finally, the third portion of the course will focus on practical application of human organizations to hazardous situations; this field component will emphasize search and rescue techniques.

ATTENDANCE: Except while learning faces and enrolling late registrations during the first week, I will not call roll at classes. In a class this small I quickly learn names, and will note excessive absences without comment. The continuity of your notes documents whether you have conscientiously attended.

GRADE COMPOSITION: There will be three scheduled exams (see below). The format of the first two exams will be one-hour multiple choice questions with focus upon the application of fundamental concepts. These will derive from the topics that we examine in lectures.

There will also be a field skills test during the last week of classes; this is NOT during the the final exam period. The final "exam", which counts and which REQUIRES your attendance, will be a bit out of the ordinary, but "low pressure".

If you must miss an exam, please give me advance notice; you must make up the exam within one week of your return to classes.

GRADE COMPOSITION:

Exam I - (R)16MAR ..........................…...... 30%

Exam II - (R)11MAY ............................….... 30%

Field Skills Test - (F)12MAY .............….... 30%

Final "Exam" (R 18MAY05 14:45) ..............… 10%

N. C. Heywood maintains this page, last updated 24JAN05.