Environmental Science BA (A), Energy and Sustainable Land Use, 7.5 credits

Aim

The purpose of the course is that the student should get basic knowledge and skills in environmental science, concepts and perspectives. The course also aims at giving the student basic understanding of energy resources and energy systems as well as insights regarding the use of natural resources from society's perspective connected to sustainability.

Course objectives

After the course, the student is expected to be able to:

• describe processes within the land and water landscape
• describe the use of land and water and its environmental impact
• apply simple energy resource calculations for renewable energy sources and identify and describe their impact on ecosystems
• describe and discuss resource issues from a sustainability perspectiv
• describe different sectors of society (land-based industries, construction, energy, industry and transport) and their potential to contribute to sustainable development.

Content

The course is based on lectures and seminars. The subject content includes meteorology, hydrology, soil physics, soil chemistry and soil biology, including microbiology, and how these affect and are affected by forest management, agriculture and climate change. The course addresses the physical and hydrological processes of the soil that can help us predict the movement of water in the soil and plants' access to water, as well as the role of the soil as a carbon sink. The course also covers the processes that regulate land-atmosphere exchanges and energy distribution, as well as the principles of energy extraction from renewable energy sources. We discuss how energy flows are affected by the properties of different soil surfaces and the conditions for forestry, land-based industries and food production.

Entry requirements

General entry requirements

Selection rules and procedures

The selection process is in accordance with the Higher Education Ordinance and the local order of admission.

Teaching form

The teaching consists of lectures and seminars.

Teaching will be given in English.

Examination form

I100: Assignment with oral presentation, 3.5 Credits
Grade scale: Two-grade scale

T200: Written examination, 4 Credits
Grade scale: Seven-grade scale, A-F o Fx

Grading criteria for the subject can be found at www.miun.se/gradingcriteria.

The examiner has the right to offer alternative examination arrangements to students who have been granted the right to special support by Mid Sweden University’s disabilities adviser.

Examination restrictions

Students are entitled to three examination opportunities within one year according to the examination format given in this version of the course syllabus. After the one-year period, the examination format given in the most recent version of the course syllabus applies.

Grading system

Seven-grade scale, A-F o Fx