describe the function, operation, and efficacy of the four major public land management agencies in the United States.

understand the causes and consequences of urban sprawl.

describe approaches and policies that promote sustainable land use.

define the theory of plate tectonics and discuss its importance in environmental science.

explain how soil forms and describe its characteristics.

describe human nutritional needs and the challenges of overcoming hunger and malnutrition.

explain the development of modern industrial agriculture, the role played by inputs such as irrigation water, fertilizers, and pesticides, and the environmental consequences of modern farming methods.

identify the benefits and costs of using genetically modified organisms in agriculture.

describe alternatives to industrial farming methods.

explain the environmental impacts of various approaches to raising and harvesting meat and fish.