6 Billion People And Counting is an integrated course ("coordinated studies") that melds together environmental issues and problems with college-level algebra . This course is fully integrated and blended, not just two classes stuck together on paper, with Math Guy lecturing one day and ENV/GEL Guy lecturing the next. In this integrated class, Math Guy talks about population growth, and ENV/GELGuy helps students run exponential regression on the calculator.

    The main focus of this dual course is to apply mathematics to science, to put math and science together the way they are supposed to be. In this course, math is one of the languages of science, expressing the amount of lead in drinking water in quantitative terms. In this course, math is the tool of science, forecasting how often giant oil spills take place. In this course, math is used to understand earth and environmental issues and problems, and help devise solutions that are based in reality, not appearance.

    The course centers around a weekly group exercise where students solve or analyze environmental problems using real geological, physical, chemical, and biological data. Sometimes the instructors provide the environmental data, sometimes the students find it on the web, and sometimes the students collect data themselves either in the lab or out in the field. Students work with real numbers and real environmental examples, often messy and complex, not idealized or invented examples where all the points line up perfectly.

    There are two all-day field trips on two different weekends, where students will be gathering data in small field teams.  Students will work with their own data in class during the following week.  One field trip will visit old-growth, second growth and third growth forests just west of Mt. Rainier, to learn about forest ecology, tree biology, and logging practices.  Another field trip will visit a small stream in the Cascade foothills, where students will measure stream profiles and collect data on stream volumes.

    This integrated course essentially acts as a "capstone" course for many students completing their Q requirement (college-level quantitative literacy) for the AA degree. It's a capstone course for many students who just need to finish their Q requirement before moving on. Non-science and non-math majors are the biggest audience so far, but more and more science majors are expressing interest, because of the opportunity to apply mathematics to the physical and natural worlds.

    Students can satisfy a number of degree requirements by passing this course.  6 Billion and Counting gives you 10 credits of Integrated Studies credit; 10 credits of "IS" are required to graduate.  The MAT 107 part gives you 5 credits of Quantitative Reasoning credit; 5 credits of "Q" are required to graduate.  The ENV 150 part can be used as 5 credits of either Individuals/Cultures/Societies or Natural World towards your AA degree.  The GEL 102 part counts as a laboratory science and falls under Natural World. 

    Students enroll in the following:  5 credits of MAT 107Z, and 5 credits of ENV 150Z OR 5 credits of GEL 102Z.  

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