Environmental Science A2

Aim

On completion of the course, the student should, at a basic level, be able to - use systems analysis to study and handle environmental issues, and account for different applications of systems analysis in the environmental work, - account for how different perspectives lead to different systems analyses, for example different views on the gender issue and on sustainable development, - write and defend an academic work, - retrieve primary data and use secondary data, and analyse and interpret data by means of statistical hypothesis tests. - account for the bases of environmental legislation and environmental economics, and for the preconditions and conditions of community planning. - design an environmental impact assessment and an environmental management system. - work in groups and constructively profit from group processes.

Content

The course is divided into the following modules: Systems Analysis, 8 HE credits This module covers systems analysis as a method for studying and handling environmental issues. The concepts of system, system delimitation, system components and relations are central. Essay, 7 HE credits This module addresses how own academic work is planned, carried out and defended. Critical review in the form of opposition is also covered. Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Management Systems, 8 HE credits This module covers basic principles, methods and tools for assessing the environmental impact of an enterprise and the environmental work conducted by the management of the enterprise. Project work constitutes an essential part of the contents of the module. Environmental Law and Economics, 3 HE credits This module covers the basis of environmental law and the structure of the Environmental Code. The preconditions and conditions of community planning and the background and development of environmental legislation and environmental institutions are central. The course addresses basic principles of environmental economics from an economic and a business economic perspective. Data Collection and Statistics, 4 HE credits This module covers the bases of data collection and different kinds of freely available databases. The module includes chemical analyses of water and soil. Analysis of data is carried out by means of statistical hypothesis tests. Dynamic models are introduced as an aid to analyse data and predict consequences.