Basic requirements for human survival include food, water, shelter, and energy. These resources are globally distributed, and increasingly the acquisition of these commodities impacts, and indeed defines, local and international relationships, economically, environmentally, and politically. This theme explores geographical distributions of these resources, ways in which access to and use of resources shapes local and international relationships, technical systems that enable us to recover and use resources such as energy, and economic tools that drive decision-making about resource use.

Themes in General Education are Designed to: assist students in making systematic and deliberate connections between the ways various disciplinary perspectives address the same topic. provide a framework for faculty in different departments to collaborate on research projects and share innovative teaching strategies. encourage students to explore areas of specific interest at a deeper level.

ECO 3620 – Environmental Resource and Economics 3 hours The course explores the efficient allocation of environmental and natural resources and examines the continuing conflict between economic activity and environmental quality and the conservation of natural resources. The course applies economic theory to local, regional, national, and international environmental issues. MUST HAVE 60 EARNED HOURS TO ENROLL

FCS 2351 – Global Nutrition: Emerging Health Challenges 3 hours This course will examine global nutritional issues as they pertain to health and incidence of disease, integrating social, biological, political, economic, and environmental factors. The relationship of nutrition and global health to diverse aspects of globalization and economic development will be explored. Specific issues include hunger and obesity, infant mortality and elder health, nutritional programs and agencies, local to global food markets, and meat versus plant food sources. Students will gain the ability to accurately evaluate the food and health issues of a specific country or region. Lecture three hours.

GHY 1020 – World Regional Geography 3 hours The study of our contemporary world divided into the regions of North America, Central and South America, Africa, the Middle East, Europe, the Russian Realm, and South, East and Southeast Asia. Examination of global issues including population problems, technology and culture change, rural versus urban development, resource exportation and international trade, political identity and international conflict.

TEC Energy Issues and Technology 3 hours This course will explore the various forms of energy and will examine the complete range of energy alternatives existing in the world today. Students will examine energy resources and their economic and environmental impacts. Students will also have the opportunity to learn about the concepts, tools, techniques, and materials needed to design and construct systems that are used to produce energy. The course consists of three major sections: principles of power and energy, conventional energy resources, and renewable energy resources. Students will study how to measure energy resources and estimate the power that could be produced from them, as well as the technological options that exist for transforming these resources into useful sources of energy. Lecture three hours.