Main Field of Study and progress level:
Environmental Health: Second cycle, has only first-cycle course/s as entry requirements
Grading scale: Pass with distinction, Pass, Fail
Responsible department: Department of Ecology and Environmental Science
Revised by: Faculty Board of Science and Technology, 2021-06-21
Contents
The course is directed towards analyses of environmental changes and their causes, with a focus on human impact. Many of today's environmental problems, such as lake acidification, lake eutrophication, heavy metal accumulation in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, as well as climate change are not spontaneous events, rather they are the consequence of long-term perturbations. The present status of the environment cannot be properly understood without knowledge of the historical developments leading up to the present day. To assess the impact of human activities on ecosystems it is necessary to develop an understanding of the natural variability within these systems. The primary themes of the course are: long-term perspectives on lake-water quality (acidification, eutrophication), spatial and temporal trends in atmospheric pollutants; and climate change reconstructions. You will learn how to use environmental archives such as lake sediments and peat to study environmental changes, and learn about sampling techniques and different methods for environmental analyses. A project related to current research on environmental changes constitutes an important part of the course.
Expected learning outcomes
After completing the course the student should be able to: - Explain and analyze the state of the natural environmental and human impacts, - Apply a scientific approach to study environmental change by: perform an advanced sediment-based survey, perform and evaluate sediment-based analyzes, in collaboration with others, present the results of an environmental science project (orally and in writing), - Contribute actively in seminar discussions of current scientific literature, - To summarize, analyze, evaluate and synthesize new environmental scientific research data in the context of the issues dealt with during the course.
Required Knowledge
120 ECTS-credits of which 60 ECTS-credits in Physical Geography; or 60 ECTS-credits in Biology: or 60 ECTS-credits in Environmental Science; or its equivalence.English proficiency equivalent to English A from Swedish Upper secondary education. (IELTS (Academic) with minimum score 5.5 and no individual score below 5.0. TOEFL (Paper based with minimum score 530 and minimum TWE 4). TOEFL (Internet based with minimum score 72 and minimum Written 17)). Basic entrance requirements for higher studies in Swedish language proficiency is also required if the course is taught in Swedish.
Form of instruction
Teaching consists of lectures, seminars and project work. Seminar exercises and project work are compulsory parts of the course.
Examination modes
Examination of the course is both written and oral. The grades on the written exam, the seminars on scientific articles and the project as well as the course as a whole, are Failed, Passed and Passed with distinction. A student that has performed two test for a course or part of a course without getting the grade passed, has the right to get a new examiner appointed, if there are no particular reasons against it (HF 6 chapter 22§). The request for a new examiner is sent to the prefect for the department of ecology and environmental science. A student who has achieved a passed grade on an examination may not retake this examination in order to attampt to achieve a higer grade. To pass the whole course, all tests must be passed and compulsory parts performed. The grade on the course is a combined assessment of all the different parts of the examinations and is awarded when all compulsory parts are performed. CREDIT TRANSFER Credit transfers are always tried individually (See the universitys guidelines and credit-of-transfer-ordinance)
Literature
The literature list is not available through the web.
Please contact the faculty.
