Print Syllabus

Syllabus

MX0134 Environmental assessment, 15.0 Credits

Miljöanalys

Subjects

Environmental Science Biology Environmental science Biology

Education cycle

Master’s level

Advanced study in the main field

Second cycle, has only first-cycle course/s as entry requirements
Master’s level (A1N)

Grading scale

Language

English

Prior knowledge

Knowledge equivalent to:

• 150 ECTS first-cycle courses, including

• 60 ECTS in a scientific subject such as Biology, Agricultural Science, Soil Science, Earth Sciences, Environmental Science or Technology,

• 15 ECTS Chemistry,

• 15 ECTS Soil Science, Earth Sciences or Biology

and

• a level of English equivalent to upper-seconday-school English (Engelska 6).

Objectives

The course aims at providing knowledge to analyse and assess environmental data to assess environmental status in relation to national and international environmental norms. Focus is on limnic biology and chemistry, terrestrial biology and soil chemistry. The course will also deal with risk analysis and different theories and models for risk assessment of pollutants. The course includes planning of environmental studies, data collection methods, data analysis, evaluation of results, assessment of ecological status, risk analysis, design of indicators and communication of results. An overall goal is that students who have passed the course should be able to use raw data from their own or previously performed environmental monitoring and through statistical analyses and scientific theory to make an ecological status assessment and relate results to relevant norms.

Upon completion of the course the student should be able to:

• plan basic environmental monitoring programs and field experiments,

• apply theoretical and practical knowledge of sampling in both aquatic and terrestrial environments,

• analyse and evaluate data from experiments and environmental monitoring, to analyse, describe and assess both geochemical and biological environmental status,

• apply the critical load concept and the EU Water Directive to assess ecological status,

• describe the pathways, conversions and effects on the environment of various organic pollutants and metals,

• describe how indicators are developed and used in environmental assessment,

• be familiar with how established risk assessment systems are built and how they are applied,

• account for heterogeneity in soil, and be familiar with applying geostatistics to evaluate data from soil sampling

Content

During the course, environmental assessment is applied in various environments and environmental problems: - the forest landscape, - lakes and streams, - acidification, - eutrophication and - organic pollutants. The course also includes a tool part for theoretical and practical analysis techniques. During calculations, basic parts of environmental analysis will be practiced: - dimensioning of studies, - time series analysis, - geostatistics, - biodiversity calculations and risk analysis. Data collection and sampling techniques will be practiced in compulsory field exercises. Data from field exercises will be processed in a project work.

Grading form

The grade requirements within the course grading system are set out in specific criteria. These criteria must be available by the course start at the latest.

Formats and requirements for examination

• Passed results on the exam and all assignments, as well as approved oral and written presentation of the project work.

• Active participation in compulsory exercises.

• If a student has failed an examination, the examiner has the right to issue supplementary assignments. This applies if it is possible and there are grounds to do so.

• The examiner can provide an adapted assessment to students entitled to study support for students with disabilities following a decision by the university. Examiners may also issue an adapted examination or provide an alternative way for the students to take the exam.

• If this syllabus is withdrawn, SLU may introduce transitional provisions for examining students admitted based on this syllabus and who have not yet passed the course.

• For the examination of a degree project (independent project), the examiner may also allow the student to add supplemental information after the deadline for submission. Read more in the Education Planning and Administration Handbook.

Transitional provisions

• Exams: At least three retake sessions (renewed exams) must be offered within two years of the decision to cancel the course. • Compulsory elements: At least one opportunity for a retake session must be offered within two years of the decision to cancel the course.

Other information

• The right to participate in teaching and/or supervision only applies for the course instance the student was admitted to and registered on.

• If there are special reasons, students are entitled to participate in components with compulsory attendance when the course is given again. Read more in the Education Planning and Administration Handbook.

Additional information

Field exercises will be one day excursions at bicycle distance from Uppsala. It is an advantage if course participants have studied basic statistics, but not a requirement.