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MILJØ100 Introduction to Environment Sciences

Credits (ECTS):10

Course responsible:Vegard Martinsen, Åsgeir Rossebø Almås

Campus / Online:Taught campus Ås

Teaching language:Norsk

Limits of class size:50. Check "Note".

Course frequency:Annually

Nominal workload:250 hours.

Teaching and exam period:This course starts in August block. This course has teaching/evaluation in August block and Autumn parallel.

About this course

MILJØ100 is the introductory course for the bachelor's program in environmental science and environmental radioactivity. The course sheds light on interdisciplinary issues related to the UN's sustainability goals and focuses on connections between climate and environment and how human activity affects the natural environment. A general introduction to various topics in geosciences, soil science, biology, water resources, renewable energy and radioactivity in the environment is given. Scientific method, ecosystem functions, food production, pollution and water quality are important topics covered. The subject emphasizes system understanding and critical thinking, where sustainable development, climate change, biodiversity, pollution, global perspective, population growth, nature and valuing the natural basis are central. The August block consists of lectures, field days (sampling, data collection and theory), writing course, sustainability seminar, excursion with overnight stay (company visit) and selection and presentation of a theme for the term paper. The autumn semester is structured according to various environmental science themes. Each theme consists of two double hours of lectures, a double hour of practical exercises related to collected data material or given cases and a double hour of discussion or presentation of questions related to environmental issues, sustainability and global change. The students work in groups on the term paper, which is delivered and presented halfway through the semester.

Learning outcome

After passing the course, students must possess the following knowledge and skills:

Knowledge:

1. Students can define and describe key concepts within environmental science subject areas taught in the course.

2. Students have knowledge of the UN's sustainability goals and can give examples of why environmental science knowledge is important to achieve these goals.

3. Students know and can explain why interdisciplinarity is important for studying and understanding the connections between climate and the environment and how human activity affects the natural environment.

4. Students know the importance of key biogeochemical processes and how human activity such as pollution, population growth and land use affect the natural environment.

5. Students have knowledge of and can explain why basic subjects such as mathematics, chemistry and biology are important in environmental science.

Skills:

Through lectures, data collection, practical exercises, presentations and group work with subsequent written submission, students can apply environmental science knowledge to analyze and evaluate simple but central challenges and opportunities related to human activity and sustainable development.

  • Learning activities
    Field days, data collection and interpretation of data. Lectures, practical exercises and presentations. Groupwork. Excursion. Term paper.
  • Teaching support
    The course has a website in Canvas where you will find information. The teachers will be available for questions during the office hours. Some teachers at MINA will supervise the group project throughout the courses.
  • Recommended prerequisites
    A study in environmental science is an interdisciplinary study that includes elements from subjects such as mathematics, physics, chemistry, geology, hydrology, limnology, meteorology, biology and ecology. Basic knowledge in these subjects is a prerequisite for increasing understanding of how the environment responds to human influence.
  • Assessment method

    Total assessment:

    • Oral exam counts 50%
    • Portfolio assessment: Group assignment (based on report and presentation) and individual assignments from exercises count 50%.

    Both parts of the exam has to be passed. Grading system A-E / Not passed.



    Portfolio Grading: Letter grades Oral exam Grading: Letter grades
  • Examiner scheme
    An external examiner approves exam questions, censors the oral exam and evaluates submitted term papers. An internal examiner evaluates submitted exercises
  • Mandatory activity

    August block: Participation in field days, excursions with overnight stays and writing courses, as well as choosing a term paper and developing a floor plan that is presented in plenary.

    Autumn parallel: Participation in a minimum of 50% of the practice and discussion blocks. Submission of 3 tasks based on practical exercises. Presentation (oral) and submission of a written term paper halfway through the semester for evaluation.

  • Notes
    Students who want to take the course must apply for admission in Studentweb no later than August 14th 2024. After that, the places in the course will be distributed.
  • Teaching hours
    Three weeks in the August block and 4 hours/week in the Autumn parallel
  • Preferential right
    B-MILJØ, B-RAMI
  • Reduction of credits
    10 ECTS agaist MINA100
  • Admission requirements
    Minimum requirements for entrance to higher education in Norway (generell studiekompetanse)