Undergraduate Syllabus
1st Year
Course Code : 0031ORE101
Course Title : Freshmen Orientation (Co-curricular)
Credit: 1
Rationale of the course:
This course will provide an opportunity to make the newly admitted students acquainted with the background of Stamford University Bangladesh and the Department of Environmental Science. It is important to become familiar with the mission, rules and regulations, policies of the university with detailed knowledge about the departmental activities like procedures for registration, evaluation, examination policies, disciplinary actions, financial policies etc. so that the students know what to do during their tenure of studentship. This course will give clear idea about all necessary activities required for a student which will help them to understand what to do during different situations and where to seek advice for different issues.
Course Code : 0521ENV110
Course Title : Introduction to Environmental Science
Credit: 3
Rationale of the course:
This course is designed to deliver students’ knowledge about basic components of the environment, relationship between man and environment, environmental degradation and its relationship with sustainable development. It is the science that helps students to understand their social responsibility for environmental development, create awareness among them for solving the different environmental problems.
Course Code : 0521ENV115
Course Title : Introduction to Earth Science
Credit: 3
Rationale of the course:
This course is designed to provide students with an understanding of the nature of earth science and environmental science and the concepts, definition, principle, branches and scope of them. The students also gain knowledge about solar system, geologic time, climate change strategies, evolution of earth environment and plate tectonics. The students will be competent to apply these knowledge and concepts to environmental systems.
Course Code : 0521ENV120
Course Title : Fundamentals of Ecology
Credit: 3
Rationale of the course:
This course is designed to provide students with an understanding of the nature of environment, concepts, definition, principle, branches and scope of ecology, population and population regulations, community and community dynamics, ecosystem and ecosystem dynamics, ecological factors and their impacts. The students will be competent to apply ecological concepts to environmental systems and to understand the impacts of human activities on ecosystems.
Course Code : 0521ENV125
Course Title : History of Development of Science
Credit: 3
Rationale of the course:
This course is designed to provide students with an understanding of the history of developments of science and the nature, principle, branches and scope of science in early age, middle age, and modern age. The students also gain knowledge about agricultural and industrial revolutions, and practices in UN based organizations and other international institutions. The students will be competent to apply these knowledge and concepts to societal benefits.
Course Code : 0521ENV130
Course Title : Introduction to Climatology
Credit: 3
Rationale of the course:
This course is designed to introduce students with different components of weather and climate and its distribution. This course will deliver students with an understanding of climatology, factors, and components of climate, global variation, and transboundary. Basic ideas on types and distribution will also be conceptualized to identify from surrounding environment.
Course Code : 0521ENV135
Course Title : Physical Environment
Credit: 3
Rationale of the course:
This course is designed to introduce students with lithosphere and its basic components as a part of earth’s physical environment and living systems. This course will deliver students with an understanding of minerals, mineral crystals, rocks, igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks, soils and weathering, fossils, and their interactions. Basic ideas on physical properties of these components will also be conceptualized to identify from physical environment.
Course Code : 0521ENP111
Course Title : Laboratory Work I (Physical Environment)
Credit: 4
Rationale of the course:
This course is designed to train students to identify various minerals and rocks and their composition and characteristics from physical environment, which will lead them in finding out their utilization and environmental and economic significance. Lithosphere and its basic components as a part earth’s physical environment and living system. This course also covers identification and determination of several physical properties of soil.
Course Code : 0521ENV100
Course Title : Viva voce I
Credit: 1
Rationale of the course:
The first-year viva is an academic interview at which the examiners will be looking for an understanding of the basic concepts of environmental science discipline completed within this academic year. First year viva will cover topics related to concepts in environmental science, earth’s several spheres, weather and climate, global warming and greenhouse effect, biodiversity, ecosystem and ecology, minerals and rocks, soil, fossil, and environmental pollution.
2nd Year
Course Code : 0521ENV210
Course Title : Environmental Economics
Credit: 3
Rationale of the course:
This course is designed to deliver students’ knowledge about the fundamental economics that deal with mathematical facts and data related to environmental pollution. It is the science that helps students to organize, summarize, and analyze data on environmental parameters for reasoning to identify the economic consequences due to environmental pollution.
Course Code : 0521ENV215
Course Title : Basics of Cartography (Map reading)
Credit: 3
Rationale of the course:
This course focuses on an understanding of the basic concepts of cartography and maps. Students will be provided with the knowledge on signs, symbols, and colour code, and their appropriate use in maps. This course also covers the wetland environment and resources management to ensure sustainable development. This course will also cultivate knowledge and skills necessary to interpret and drawing maps on various aspects in regional and global scale.
Course Code : 0521ENV225
Course Title : Introduction to Forestry and Agriculture
Credit: 3
Rationale of the course:
Forest and agriculture are two major sectors of economic activities and employment in Bangladesh. However, rapid population growth is leading to agricultural expansion that has adverse impacts on both forest and land resources. This unsustainable resource extraction and unplanned utilization are endangering biodiversity, destructing ecosystems and eventually leading to diminish returns. Considering local to global aspects regarding forestry and agriculture, this module has been designed with causes of depletion, environmental consequences, and sustainable forest resource management. Moreover, challenges faced by the agricultural sector, food security, environmental footprint, and sustainable farming practices.
Course Code : 0521ENV230
Course Title : Introduction to GIS and Data Management
Credit: 3
Rationale of the course:
This course serves as an introduction to the understanding of Geographical Information System (GIS). The students will gain a global perspectives of organizing geographic, descriptive, and image data through the different topics studied related to GIS. The students will also be introduced to spatial data analysis and visualization. The course allows the students to learn about cartography and map designing. Finally, the students will be introduced to the use of GIS to address different environmental problems.
Course Code : 0521ENV235
Course Title : Climate Change and Global Warming
Credit: 3
Rationale of the course:
This course is designed to introduce students with the concept of climate change, greenhouse gases, global warming, and sea level rise. This course will deliver students with an understanding of causes, sources, and impacts of climate change, greenhouse gases, global warming, and sea level rise. This course also discusses the basic ideas on paleoclimatology and climate regulations. Students will get the idea about Climate change Movement.
Course Code : 0531ENV240
Course Title : Basics of Environmental Chemistry
Credit: 3
Rationale of the course:
This course covers the chemistry of earth's environment, including the natural chemical processes as well as anthropogenic contributions. The environment in this context is divided into atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere, and astrosphere. Particular emphasize given to human influences in each of these "spheres," including the causes, effects, detection, prevention, and mitigation of pollution. Environmental pollution is a global problem, with many technological and cultural causes, and as such requires an understanding of numerous disciplines in order to solve them. This course thus involves the integration of concepts from chemistry, biology, geology, ecology, atmospheric sciences, hydrology, toxicology, political science, and others. Major topics to be covered include stratospheric ozone depletion, global climate change and energy, acid rain, waste disposal, organic and inorganic pollutants, and environmental regulation in Bangladesh.
Course Code : 0011SOC202
Course Title : Bangladesh Studies
Credit: 3
Rationale of the course:
This course will introduce students with the historical, geographical, ecological, social, economic, political, governmental, financial, and developmental aspects of Bangladesh so students will aware of their culture, heritage and citizenship. It will also introduce them to social and moral responsibilities towards the country and humanity.
Course Code : 0521ENV245
Course Title : Geography & Environment: Bangladesh
Credit: 3
Rationale of the course:
This course is designed to provide students with an understanding of geo-political evolution of Bangladesh, geography, geology, climate, soil, river and drainage system, and ecology of Bangladesh. The students will be competent to apply geographical concepts to environmental systems and to understand the impacts of historical and human activities on nature. Considering local to global aspects of physical environment, this course has also been designed to discuss about common disasters (flood, cyclone, drought, earthquake etc.) of Bangladesh.
Course Code : 0521ENV250
Course Title : Basic Statistics
Credit: 3
Rationale of the course:
This course is designed to deliver knowledge about basic statistics to students that deal with mathematical facts and data related to environment. It is the science that helps students to organize, summarize, and analyze data on environmental parameters for reasoning to solve problem and infer new information.
Course Code : 0521ENP211
Course Title : Laboratory Work II (Cartography)
Credit: 4
Rationale of the course:
This course is designed to train students in map making skills in support of their theoretical knowledge. They will learn to identify location and time of any place on the earth, calculate and present map scale, select and produce map projection, and produce and interpret maps on environmental aspects.
Course Code : 0521ENV200
Course Title : Viva voce II
Credit: 1
Rationale of the course:
The second-year viva is an academic interview at which the examiners will be looking for an understanding of the basic concepts of environmental science discipline completed within this academic year. Second year viva will cover topics related to concepts in environmental economics, cartography, forestry and agriculture, basic environmental chemistry, climate change and global warming, use of statistics in environmental science discipline, GIS and data management, and geography and environment of Bangladesh.
Course Code : 0521ENF200
Course Title : Field Work I
Credit: 12hrs
Rationale of the course:
Fieldwork is designed to provide students an opportunity to acquire “real-world” experiences for the purpose of developing direct leadership, programming, and administrative skills to enter into a professional career. It’s a way for students to practically observe what they learn from different theoretical courses in the classroom.
3rd Year
Course Code : 0531ENV310
Course Title : Biodiversity and Conservation
Credit: 3
Rationale of the course:
Biodiversity and conservation course provides students with a broad overview of interdisciplinary subject by examining how man can best live with the earth’s environment. It concentrates on the biological nature of environmental science: environmental conventions, biological communities, biodiversity and conservation, ecosystems, wildlife protected areas of Bangladesh, disasters, population, food, and hunger. Biodiversity conservation protects plant, animal, microbial and genetic resources for food production, agriculture, and ecosystem functions such as fertilizing the soil, recycling nutrients, regulating pests and disease, controlling erosion, and pollinating crops and trees.
Course Code : 0521ENV315
Course Title : Remote Sensing Interpretation
Credit: 3
Rationale of the course:
The course deals with use of satellite and airborne imagery for environmental and agricultural applications such as land use/cover mapping, site evaluation, and monitoring degradation and change. Topics include the interaction of electromagnetic radiation with the earth's surface, spectral characteristics of earth surface materials, the nature of imagery collected by a variety of current earth-observation sensors, the use of this imagery for detecting, mapping and monitoring environmental features, collection of field data to interpret imagery, integration of remote sensing and geographic information systems (GIS) for environmental monitoring and modelling, and specialized forms of imagery such as radar, thermal, airborne video and digital photography. Practical use of computer-based image analysis software to enhance and interpret digital images, produce thematic maps, analyse change over time, and combine images and map data. Field-based practical work, include the use of spectroradiometers for collecting reflectance data about land cover.
Course Code : 0521ENV320
Course Title : Fluvial geomorphology
Credit: 3
Rationale of the course:
This course focuses on an introduction to fluvial geomorphology through teaching students to read river landscapes. Students will be taught to identify the challenges to manage river landscapes and associated features like flood, floodplain, delta. This course also covers wetland environment, and resources management to ensure sustainable development.
Course Code : 0521ENV325
Course Title : Population and Environment
Credit: 3
Rationale of the course:
This course will give an overview of global demography including population growth, fertility, mortality and migration, social and economic factors of population growth and their impacts on environmental system.
Course Code : 0531ENP311b
Course Title : Laboratory Work IV: Environmental Chemistry
Credit: 4
Rationale of the course:
The course is to provide knowledge on general chemistry laboratory experiments for qualitative and quantitative analysis. The course has been designed by including the basic procedures of different chemistry experiments. Students will be able to learn the applications of laboratory glass wares, uses of chemical balances, electric oven, furnace, magnetic stirrer, hot-plate, distillation plant, pH meter, conductivity meter, titration process, recording of burette reading, thermometer reading, calorimetric analysis, molecular weight calculation of chemical compounds.
Course Code : 0521ENV330
Course Title : Environment, Health and Disease
Credit: 3
Rationale of the course:
Anthropogenic influences on the environment cause adverse effects. Pollutants from various sources enter into environmental compartments and lead to ecosystem disruption. Moreover, non-degradable and/or slowly degradable pollutants may persist in the environment for several years and enter into human body through ingestion, absorption and inhalation. Accordingly, Human health is exposed to acute and chronic effects due to bioaccumulation and biomagnification processes. Consequently, community health deteriorates, resulting in adverse socio-economic and environmental impacts. In this vein, this course is designed to address biological, physical, and chemical agents affecting human health, and how health and environment inextricably intertwined.
Course Code : 0521ENV335
Course Title : Gender, Environment and Development
Credit: 3
Rationale of the course:
This course investigates crucial interconnections between empowerment, gender and community development, examining the ways in which gender and community participation influence development policies, processes and programs; and the extent to which development, gendered relations, and communities are transformed in the process. It examines key concepts and theoretical frameworks of development with a particular focus on the intersection of development terms such as community, participation, sustainability, gender, equality & empowerment, in light of current issues in development discourse and critical analysis of development practice and policy. In the course, then, explore the use of certain concepts and ideals, such as empowerment, gender equality, sustainable development, as well as central issues in development practice and policy. These include the interaction between poverty and gender; the empowerment of women through work and microfinance/credit; and the proposed empowerment of communities (and countries) through the girl effect. The complexities of corporate community development are also examined, as is the practice of tourism (volunteer/cultural) as sustainable community development, the issue of gendered violence, legislation, and human rights at the level of local communities; and an analysis of the Sustainable Development Goals from the standpoint of gender and the community.
Course Code : 0521ENV340
Course Title : Environmental Law
Credit: 3
Rationale of the course:
This course explores domestic environmental law through the lens of emerging environmental debates and controversies. The course provides an overview of significant government environmental statutes (including Air Pollution Control Rules, Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (Superfund), National Environmental Policy Act, Endangered Species Act, and Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, examines arrange of approaches to addressing environmental harms (from common law suits to command and control regulation), and introduces students to contemporary issues in environmental law, including the use of public nuisance theories to address environmental harms and the response to climate change.
Course Code : 0521ENV345
Course Title : Environmental Planning and Management
Credit: 3
Rationale of the course:
This course is designed to provide students with an understanding of the concepts, definition, principle, branches and scope of environmental planning and management. The first part of the course will focus on the planning process, implementing and evaluation of environmental policies and plans. The concept of sustainability and sustainable development as a fundamental objective of environmental planning and management will be explored from the ecological and socio-political perspectives. The link between sustainable development and strategic environmental assessment are reviewed and different environmental management systems and models are discussed.
Course Code : 0521ENV350
Course Title : Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
Credit: 3
Rationale of the course:
This course is designed to introduce students about the importance of Environmental Impact Assessment prior to development activities. This course will deliver students with an understanding of conceptual framework regarding environmental assessment as a safeguard of ecosystem. Basic ideas on types and steps of EIA and its assessment process will also be conceptualized through different case studies in reference to Bangladesh.
Course Code : 0531ENP311b
Course Title : Laboratory Work (Environmental Chemistry)
Credit: 4
Rationale of the course:
The course is to provide knowledge on general chemistry laboratory experiments for qualitative and quantitative analysis. The course has been designed by including the basic procedures of different chemistry experiments. Students will be able to learn the applications of laboratory glass wares, uses of chemical balances, electric oven, furnace, magnetic stirrer, hot-plate, distillation plant, pH meter, conductivity meter, titration process, recording of burette reading, thermometer reading, calorimetric analysis, and molecular weight calculation of chemical compounds.
Course Code : 0521ENV300
Course Title : Viva voce III
Credit: 1
Rationale of the course:
The third-year viva is an academic interview at which the examiners will be looking for an understanding of the concepts of environmental science discipline completed within this academic year. Third year viva will cover topics related to concepts in environmental microbiology, remote sensing, fluvial geomorphology, environment, health and disease, population and environment, gender, environment and development, environmental law, remote sensing, environmental planning and management, and environmental impact assessment.
Course Code : 0521ENF300
Course Title : Field Work II
Credit: 2
Rationale of the course:
Fieldwork is designed to provide students an opportunity to acquire “real world” experiences for the purpose of developing direct leadership, programming, and administrative skills to enter into a professional career. It’s a way for students to practically observe what they learn from different theoretical courses in the classroom.
4th Year
Course Code : 0521ENV410
Course Title : Environmental Microbiology
Credit: 3
Rationale of the course:
Environmental microbiology is concerned with the study of microorganisms in the soil, water, and air and their application in bioremediation to reduce environmental pollution through the biological degradation of pollutants into non-toxic or less toxic substances. Culture of microorganisms to look at some of the basic processes of life shared by all living organisms: growth, reproduction, cell structure and function, and the basics of genetics.
Course Code : 0521ENV415
Course Title : Natural Hazards and Disaster Management
Credit: 3
Rationale of the course:
This course is designed to introduce students with different events of natural hazard and disaster management in reference to developing countries. This course will deliver students with an understanding of conceptual framework of hazards, risk assessment and mitigation, global aspects of natural disaster, and mitigation framework. Basic ideas on types and distribution of hazards will also be conceptualized through different case studies in reference to Bangladesh.
Course Code : 0521ENV420
Course Title : Research Techniques
Credit: 3
Rationale of the course:
This course focuses on an introduction of basic concept of research, methods, sampling technique, and data presentation. Students will be taught to design research, develop different research methods, and make presentation on different research problems. This course also covers different types of survey method, and students will learn different types of presentation methods.
Course Code : 0521ENP411
Course Title : Laboratory Work V (Pollution Analysis)
Credit: 4
Rationale of the course:
This course deals with major problems of pollution of the atmosphere, water, land surface, and surrounding environment. It covers measuring concentration of various pollutants and pollution level in biosphere and analysing these in the view of management approach.
Course Code : 0521ENV425
Course Title : Hydrogeology and Water Resource Management
Credit: 3
Rationale of the course:
This course will give an overview of global water resource availability and crisis, integrated water resources planning and management, natural water resources system, water resources system of Bangladesh, extreme water events, flood protection (structural vs. non-structural measures), climate change and water resources, water resources system modelling, water and poverty.
Course Code : 0521ORE103
Course Title : Developing Professional Skills
Credit: 1.5
Rationale of the course:
This course will make students familiar with the knowledge, skills and attitude that will be required in personal and professional life. They will be introduced to the needs of the job market, professional and ethical behavior that will be necessary after graduation from this department. It will also orient students with soft and hard skills to adapt with the changing world. This course will give them idea on how to change mind and compete in the job market through continuous professional development. Provide introductory idea on entrepreneurship development.
Course Code : 0521ENV430
Course Title : Pollution and Waste Management
Credit: 3
Rationale of the course:
This course is designed to introduce students with an understanding of causes and sources, and impact of different types of pollution. The course will cover water chemistry, characteristics of water & wastewater, primary, secondary & tertiary treatment processes, sludge disposal, and design of water and wastewater treatment plants. At the end of the course, the students will have a working knowledge of the water and wastewater industry and have necessary skills to perform a preliminary design of a treatment plant. Also, students will learn about hazardous waste treatment, solid waste management and hospital waste management.
Course Code : 0521ENV435
Course Title : Geology of Bengal Basin, Marine Environment and Blue Economy
Credit: 3
Rationale of the course:
This course focuses on an introduction to Bengal basin through teaching students to read geologic, tectonic, structural and geographic development basin over time. Students will be taught to identify the boundary of basins and sub-basins, and present environment and resources of this region, challenges to manage river landscapes and associated features like flood, floodplain, delta and to perform mitigation. Understanding the development process of marine environment and resources of the Bay of Bengal.
Course Code : 0521ENR401
Course Title : Research Project
Credit: 4
Rationale of the course:
Laboratory works in research lab/ study area will help the students to achieve professional level knowledge and dynamic skills which will benefit them to prepare for future development. Working under a supervisor and team members will also develop their communication skill and etiquette. This course will also help him/her to understand the management, troubleshoots and problem solving approaches of an industry or research laboratory.
Course Code : 0521ENV400
Course Title : Viva voce IV
Credit: 1
Rationale of the course:
The fourth-year viva is an academic interview at which the examiners will be looking for an understanding of the concepts of environmental science discipline completed within this academic year. Fourth year viva will cover topics related to concepts in environmental microbiology, natural hazards and disaster management, pollution and waste management, hydrogeology and water resource management, geology of Bengal basin, research techniques, and project work.