Environmental Sciences

ES: Environmental Conservation and Reclamation Courses

Location

Vermilion

Credential

Diploma

Program Length

2 years

Year 1 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

There's a new optional work-integrated learning course for all Environmental Science majors! If taken in between year 1 and year 2, students can opt out of BI 210 or SC 301 in year 2.

EPR 200 Environmental Science Practicum - 3 credits

This work integrated learning course for all majors in the Environmental Sciences Diploma program provides a minimum 120 hours work experience in which students prepare themselves for career by applying theory-based concepts and lab experience in a workplace environment between their 1^st and 2^nd year studies. P/F. Prerequisites: Successful completion of a minimum of 30 cu of course work in one of the Environmental Sciences diploma programs with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0. Corequisites: none.

Year 2 required courses

BI 210 Forest Ecology - 3 credits

This course is an introduction to forest ecology and ecological forest management. The impacts of industry and other land-use on forests are investigated at a landscape scale. Topics include dendrology, ecological disturbance, forest biodiversity, forest management techniques, approaches to forest restoration, and reclamation criteria for forested areas. Field trips and labs are used to develop field skills in tree and shrub identification, timber cruising, forest harvesting, stand assessment, and ecosystem classification. Prerequisites: BI 110 & BO 120. Co-requisites: none.

ESC 423 Fundamentals of Remediation - 3 credits

This course focuses on fundamental aspect of remediation and the use of cost-effective technologies for cleaning up hydrocarbon and metal contaminated soils and groundwaters. The course applies the fundamental principles of fate and transport, retardation, and transformation to remediation technologies for soil such as: soil vapor extraction (SVE), chemical oxidation, thermal incineration, bioremediation, phytoremediation, and multiphase extraction, and for contaminated ground water: source control, ground water barriers and flow control, pump and treat method and In-situ treatment. Prerequisites: SC 200 & SC 336. Corequisites: none.

SC 281 Invasive Plant Ecology & Management - 3 credits

This course focuses on vegetation management strategies for industrial sites, natural areas, and anthropogenic landscapes. Plant biology and competitive strategies of weed specie are studied in detail with emphasis on invasive plants. Integrated tools and techniques for control are described and include prevention, cultural, manual, physical, and chemical approaches. Students spend considerable time in lab identifying weed species, seedlings, and seeds. Prerequisites: BI 270 & BO 120. Co-requisites: None

SC 301 Applied Hydrology - 3 credits

This course focuses on the main components of the hydrologic cycle and how this impacts quantity, quality and distribution of water resources within a watershed basin. Precipitation, evapotranspiration, runoff, streamflow and groundwater flow are examined with reference to drought, flooding, erosion and sedimentation. Students are introduced to field techniques in stream discharge measurement, and geomorphic characterization of watersheds. Pre/co-requisites: None

SC 307 Environmental Site Assessment - 3 credits

This course introduces students to environmental site assessment and groundwater monitoring. The focus is on assessing sites from sectors such as pulp and paper, oil and gas, mining, and agricultural developments. Emphasis is placed on phase I and phase II site assessments, and Tier I and Tier II guidelines. Students learn how to delineate a contaminated site, sample soil and groundwater, and use industry-level software such as AbaData.

Prerequisites: SC 200 or equivalent. Co-requisites: None

SC 311 Resource Industries - 3 credits

Students who planning for a career in the oil and gas field are introduced to and build knowledge of the petroleum and related industries. This course focusses on an understanding of facilities, equipment, and processes of the up-stream and mid-stream petroleum industry including: hydrocarbons, types of oil and gas, exploration, drilling, land and scouting, transportation and storage. While discussion of down-stream industries will connect these products and processes to consumers through refineries, markets, trends and economics. Pre/co-requisites: none.

SC 336 Environmental Contaminants - 3 credits

This course introduces students to environmental contaminants, their physical- chemical properties and fate and transport in environmental media (air, water, and soil). The focus is on industrial pollutants discharged into the environment from various sectors such as pulp and paper, oil and gas, mining, and agricultural developments. Emphasis is placed on contaminant risk assessment and risk management. Students learn about emerging environmental contaminants and evolving engineering solutions to mitigate these contaminants.

Prerequisite: SC 200. Corequisite: SC 301

SO 320 Soil Conservation and Reclamation - 3 credits

This course is a study of understanding soil properties from a soil conservation perspective to assist in reclamation activities on disturbed industrial sites. The primary focus is on understanding soil properties to prevent soil degradation during the planning, construction, and reclamation processes. Field techniques used to assess soil degradation and to implement erosion and sediment control projects are emphasized, in addition to conducting detailed site assessments post-reclamation.

Prerequisite: SO 210. Co-requisites: None

SO 340 Soil Classification & Landforms - 3 credits

This is an in-depth study of the Canadian System of Soil Classification with emphasis on the factors affecting soil genesis and taxonomy. Topics include geology, glaciation, weathering and the chemistry and physics of Canadian soils. Extensive fieldwork focuses on methods of classifying soils and landforms, soil mapping and report preparation/use, and basic procedures in land assessment. Prerequisite: SO 210 or equivalent. Co-requisites: None

SO 350 Soil Health & Fertility - 3 credits

This course is a study of soil as a medium of plant growth to support revegetation of disturbed sites. The fertility status of soils and plant/soil relationships are discussed in depth alongside management techniques to prepare and revegetate disturbed sites. Major topics include the function and mode of uptake of essential nutrients by plants, the forms, and transformations of macronutrients in soils, the influence of soil chemical and physical characteristics on plant fertility, and the revegetation process. The impact of fertilizer chemistry, application method, and timing of application on soil fertility status on revegetation of disturbed sites is also reviewed.