EESC 2204 Environmental Systems: Carbon Cycle
Carbon dioxide emissions and climate change are among the most pressing environmental issues confronting humanity in the 21st century. This course will give you a comprehensive insight into Earth's natural carbon cycle and the ways in which human activities are modifying it. Starting with fundamental carbon chemistry, we'll explore the carbon cycle across diverse environmental systems, including the atmosphere, soil, rivers, and oceans. Lastly, we will examine the fate of anthropogenic carbon dioxide and explore ongoing technologies designed to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
Course overview
- Department
- Earth and Environmental Sciences
- School
- MCAS
- Credits
- 2
- Level
- Undergraduate
- Offered
- Periodically
Requirements fulfilled
- Environmental Geoscience B.S.: (A) 12 credits from EESC2201–2208 (2 credits each, plus laboratories) and/or EESC1132 (4 credits) (Current University Catalog; students should confirm their catalog year)
- Environmental Studies: Environmental Systems Courses (6 credits) (Current University Catalog; students should confirm their catalog year)
- Environmental Studies: B. One of the following courses (plus lab; 2 credits) (Current University Catalog; students should confirm their catalog year)
Course evaluations
- Course rating
- 3.67 / 5 · Very Good
- Instructor rating
- 3.91 / 5 · Very Good
- Terms evaluated
- 4
| Term | Instructor | Course overall | Instructor overall | Well organized | Clear learning objectives | Intellectually challenging | Helpful assignments | Applicable beyond course | Attendance necessary | Weekly effort | Responses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring 2026 | Xingchen Wang | 3.9 | 4.2 | 4.5 | 4.6 | 4.4 | 4.4 | 4.2 | 4.5 | 1–3 hrs/week | 14 of 20 |
| Spring 2024 | Xingchen Wang | 3.8 | 3.8 | 4.3 | 4.3 | 4.6 | 4.4 | 4.5 | 4.6 | 1–3 hrs/week | 44 of 52 |
| Fall 2022 (midterm) | Xingchen Wang | 3.3 | 3.6 | 4.4 | 4.4 | 4.4 | 4.1 | 4.2 | 4.2 | 1–3 hrs/week | 36 of 50 |
| Fall 2021 | Xingchen Wang | 4.1 | 4.5 | 4.4 | 4.4 | 4.6 | 4.5 | 4.4 | 4.6 | 4–6 hrs/week | 17 of 24 |
| Fall 2021 (midterm) | Xingchen Wang | 3.4 | 4.1 | 4.3 | 4.1 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 3.9 | 4.1 | — | 7 of 24 |