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General Information

Course ID (CB01A and CB01B)
E S D062A
Course Title (CB02)
Environmental Management Tools: Environmental Management Systems and Environmental Performance Reporting
Course Credit Status
Credit - Degree Applicable
Effective Term
Fall 2023
Course Description
Examines: 1) Environmental Management Systems (systematic approaches, such as ISO 14001 and EMAS, used to achieve both regulatory compliance and "beyond compliance" environmental improvement within businesses and other organizations), and 2) Environmental Performance Reporting (involving publicly available reports issued by businesses and other organizations showing their environmental performance based on established metrics). Also includes an examination of Green Business Certification programs. Explores associated job and career opportunities in these areas.
Faculty Requirements
Course Family
Not Applicable

Course Justification

This course is CSU transferable and is a requirement for the CTE Certificate and Degree in Environmental Resource Management and Pollution Prevention. The course meets a student identified need to learn about and use specific real-world tools that employers look for/demand, one of which is the use of Environmental Management Systems and associated Environmental Performance Reporting.

Foothill Equivalency

Does the course have a Foothill equivalent?
No
Foothill Course ID

Course Philosophy

Formerly Statement

Course Development Options

Basic Skill Status (CB08)
Course is not a basic skills course.
Grade Options
  • Letter Grade
  • Pass/No Pass
Repeat Limit
0

Transferability & Gen. Ed. Options

Transferability
Transferable to CSU only

Units and Hours

Summary

Minimum Credit Units
4.0
Maximum Credit Units
4.0

Weekly Student Hours

TypeIn ClassOut of Class
Lecture Hours4.08.0
Laboratory Hours0.00.0

Course Student Hours

Course Duration (Weeks)
12.0
Hours per unit divisor
36.0
Course In-Class (Contact) Hours
Lecture
48.0
Laboratory
0.0
Total
48.0
Course Out-of-Class Hours
Lecture
96.0
Laboratory
0.0
NA
0.0
Total
96.0

Prerequisite(s)

Corequisite(s)

Advisory(ies)

ESL D272. and ESL D273., or ESL D472. and ESL D473., or eligibility for EWRT D001A or EWRT D01AH or ESL D005.

Limitation(s) on Enrollment

Entrance Skill(s)

General Course Statement(s)

Methods of Instruction

Lecture and visual aids

Discussion of assigned reading

Discussion and problem solving performed in class

In-class exploration of Internet sites

Quiz and examination review performed in class

Homework and extended projects

Field observation and field trips

Guest speakers

Collaborative learning and small group exercises

Assignments

  1. Reading assignments from the text and other assigned sources.
  2. Writing assignments involving summary, synthesis and critical analysis of data and information.

Methods of Evaluation

  1. Quizzes to evaluate student comprehension of course concepts and principles and their application.
  2. Written homework assignments that require students to demonstrate the ability to summarize, integrate and critically analyze course concepts and principles and their application.
  3. A Final Assessment involving completion and presentation of a written Environmental Management System that includes a Performance Tracking and Reporting Plan.

Essential Student Materials/Essential College Facilities

Essential Student Materials: 
  • None.
Essential College Facilities:
  • Kirsch Center for Environmental Studies
  • (Special Purpose Facilities: 1) LEED Platinum-rated green building designed to showcase and teach about effective energy management, efficient environmental resource use, and pollution prevention, 2) Equipment Demonstration/Computer Lab (KC 239), 3) Natural Science Lab (KC 120) 4) Open Teaching Classroom/Lab (ESA Building), 5) Rooftop Air Pollution Monitoring Station)

Examples of Primary Texts and References

AuthorTitlePublisherDate/EditionISBN
Hitchcock and Willard. "The Step-by-Step Guide to Sustainability Planning." Earthscan. 2008
Kausek, Joe. "Environmental Management Quick and Easy: Creating an Effective ISO 14001 EMS in Half the Time." ASQ Quality Press. 2007.

Examples of Supporting Texts and References

AuthorTitlePublisher
International Organization for Standardization (ISO). "ISO 14001: Environmental Management Systems Standard: 2015 Version." Geneva, Switzerland.
Cahill, Lawrence and Kane, Raymond. "Environmental Health and Safety Audits." 9th Edition. Government Institutes. 2011.
Hitchcock and Willard. "The Business Guide to Sustainability." 2nd Edition. Earthscan. 2009.

Learning Outcomes and Objectives

Course Objectives

  • Assess the potential impacts of a business or other organization on human health and environmental resources.
  • Examine the value to a business or other organization of both meeting legal regulatory requirements and going "beyond compliance."
  • Examine Environmental Management Systems (EMS) used to achieve both regulatory compliance and "beyond compliance" environmental improvement within businesses and other organizations.
  • Examine Environmental Tracking and Performance Reporting by businesses and other organizations.
  • Examine Green Business Certification Programs.
  • Explore potential job and career opportunities involving Environmental Management Systems, Environmental Performance Tracking and Reporting, and Green Business Certification.
  • Examine appropriate/applicable software systems and monitoring/management tools.

CSLOs

  • Demonstrate the ability to communicate the elements, principles and practices involved with Environmental Management Systems and associated Environmental Performance Reporting.

Outline

  1. Assess the potential impacts of a business or other organization on human health and environmental resources.
    1. Examine select case studies of impacts from businesses and other organizations on human health and environmental resources.
    2. Explore the potential risks to a business or other organization as a result of its environmental resource and energy use and its generation of pollution and waste byproducts.
  2. Examine the value to a business or other organization of both meeting legal regulatory requirements and going “beyond compliance.â€
    1. Assess the value – both economically and non-economically - of meeting legal regulatory requirements.
    2. Assess the value – both economically and non-economically - of going “beyond complianceâ€.
    3. Examine case studies of businesses or other organizations embracing “beyond compliance†(ex: IBM).
  3. Examine Environmental Management Systems (EMS) used to achieve both regulatory compliance and “beyond compliance†environmental improvement within businesses and other organizations.
    1. Investigate the relationship between Environmental Management (EM) and use of Environmental Management Systems (EMS).
    2. Examine regulatory compliance auditing techniques and systems.
    3. Examine the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 14001 Standard for Environmental Management Systems.
    4. Examine the Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS).
    5. Compare and contrast the above environmental management schemes.
    6. Examine other related ISO/ISO-like standards (such as other ISO 14000 Series Standards, ISO 50001 for Energy Mgmt Systems, OHSAS 18001 for Health & Safety Mgmt Systems, ISO 26000 for Corporate Social Responsibility, etc.)
    7. Examine case studies of businesses or other organizations that achieved ISO 14001 or EMAS certification (ex: IBM's ISO 14001 certification).
  4. Examine Environmental Tracking and Performance Reporting by businesses and other organizations.
    1. Examine selection and use of appropriate Environmental Performance Metrics to track environmental performance.
    2. Examine the Global Reporting Initiative’s (GRI) Reporting Framework for Environmental and Sustainability Reporting and its associated database of such business/organization-issued reports.
    3. Examine other Reporting Frameworks (for example, San Mateo County's Sustainability Indicators Report).
    4. Examine select Environmental/Sustainability Performance Reports (such as San Mateo County's Annual Sustainability Indicators Report, reports from the GRI database, etc.).
  5. Examine Green Business Certification Programs.
    1. Examine the California Green Business Certification Network
    2. Examine the Bay Area Green Business Certification Program/Network
    3. Examine Local Green Business Certification Programs (for example, San Francisco and Cupertino)
    4. Examine case studies of Green Business Certification (for example, DeAnza College)
  6. Explore potential job and career opportunities involving Environmental Management Systems, Environmental Performance Tracking and Reporting, and Green Business Certification.
    1. Explore job and career opportunities involving Environmental Management Systems.
    2. Explore job and career opportunities involving Environmental Performance Tracking and Reporting.
    3. Explore job and career opportunities involving Green Business Certification.
  7. Examine appropriate/applicable software systems and monitoring/management tools.
    1. Examine Environmental Management System (EMS) software systems and monitoring/management tools.
    2. Examine Environmental Performance Tracking and Reporting software systems and monitoring/management tools.
    3. Examine Green Business Certification software systems and monitoring/assessment tools.
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