Environmental Sciences
Environmental Sciences Certificate Courses
Location
Vermilion
Credential
Certificate
Program Length
1 year
Required courses
BI 110 Ecology & Field Biology - 3 credits |
This course introduces fundamental ecological principles and concepts. Interactions between organisms and their environments are emphasized throughout. Major themes include: the physical environment, natural selection, plant and animal adaptations, population dynamics, predator-prey systems, and ecosystem productivity. Time is spent in the field studying biotic and abiotic relationships in local community types using standard ecological field methods. Pre/corequisites: none. |
BI 205 Limnology: Lakes & Rivers - 3 credits |
This course covers various physical, chemical, and biological properties of both standing and running freshwater systems. Students are introduced to various techniques used in the collection and analysis of limnological data, and how to use these data to assess the health of freshwater ecosystems. Prerequisite: none. Co-requisites: BI 110 |
BI 270 Managing Rangeland Ecosystems - 3 credits |
A study of rangeland ecology, this course focuses on soil-plant-animal-water interactions in rangeland ecosystems. Basic factors determining survival and the competitive strategy of range plants are studied in detail. Sound range management strategies designed to ensure ecosystem stability and sustainability are emphasized. Considerable time is spent in lab learning to key and identify native plants. Prerequisite: BO 120. Co-requisites: None |
BO 120 Field Botany & Plant Taxonomy - 3 credits |
Native plants and communities of Alberta are studied focusing on general and applied plant botany. Students obtain practical field experience in plant community relationships while identifying, collecting, and preserving plants for further study. Students spend considerable time learning to use plant keys for taxonomic classification and for identifying plant species and families. Pre/co-requisites: None |
CO 166 Scientific Writing & Computer Applications - 3 credits |
This course explores fundamental approaches to scientific writing. Considerable time is spent discussing what constitutes critical content and how that content is effectively organized for a variety of documents used in the scientific industry. Strategies for efficient technical writing are emphasized for discipline-specific applications. Students become familiar with common computer software such as Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Pre/co-requisites: None |
MA 202 Statistics & Data Management - 3 credits |
This course provides an introduction to the basic statistical procedures and data management techniques commonly used in the environmental sciences. Emphasis is placed on methods for organizing, storing, retrieving, analyzing, graphing and interpreting environmental data with database and spreadsheet software. Major analytical topics include measures of central tendency and dispersion, probability distributions, parametric and non-parametric hypothesis tests, correlation analysis, simple linear regression, and single-factor analysis of variance. Pre/co-requisites: None |
SC 110 Inorganic Chemistry - 3 credits |
This course introduces students to inorganic chemistry with an emphasis on environmental applications. Basic chemical concepts such as chemical bonding, chemical reactions and state of matter are presented in the lecture series with application of those concepts in the laboratory component. Pre/co-requisites: None |
SC 125 Environmental Mapping & Technology - 3 credits |
This course is an introduction to the theory and techniques of collecting, using, manipulating, and displaying spatial data in the field of environmental sciences. Students first learn general environmental mapping; focused on map reading, map contents, coordinates systems and the National Topographic System (NTS maps). Global Positioning System (GPS) instruments are used for navigation, and students learn to collect and upload differentially corrected field coordinate data. Key concepts in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and remote sensing are then introduced. Students learn the fundamentals of GIS, including map projections, data models, spatial analysis, and environmental applications of GIS. Lastly, students are introduced to the principles of remote sensing, to the various types and sources of drone and satellite imagery and to a variety of remote sensing applications in the environmental sciences. Students gain practical experience and introductory proficiency in GIS using the ESRI suite of GIS products, including ArcGIS Online and ArcGIS Pro. Pre/co-requisites: none. |
SO 210 Introductory Soil Science - 3 credits |
This course provides an overview of soil formation processes and the fundamental morphological, physical, chemical and biological characteristics of soil. Students gain knowledge of soils through lectures and hands on experience. Students become familiar with The Canadian System of Soil Classification to the Order level and the issues associated with ‘problem soils’. Prerequisites: None. Co-requisites: SC 200 |
ZO 105 Introductory Wildlife - 3 credits |
New course fall 2024. Outline under development |