Aquatic science

| OBJECTIVES | CONTENT AND APPROACH | TARGET PUBLIC | COURSE STRUCTURE | TEACHING LANGUAGE | Coordinator for the orientation
 

photo Marie-Elodie_1.jpg

OBJECTIVES

The orientation « Aquatic Science » offers a multidisciplinary training in issues relating to freshwater. It has been created and developed in terms of global-scale issues, but integrating a focus on the continuum of freshwater processes typical of the Swiss landscape where the mountains play a critical role as the « water towers » of Europe.

The training integrates explicitly the hydrological linkages between glaciers and high mountain environments, soils and the subsurface, and the rivers and lakes of the piedmont zone. Such a perspective, unique in the Swiss University landscape, allows treatment of issues relating to surface and subsurface water at the scale of river basins, these being the entities that unite environmental management with the basic understanding of the impacts of humans on the quantity and quality of water.

CONTENT AND APPROACH

The curriculum followed to complete the Master of Science (MSc) in Environmental Science is based upon a first year of compulsory courses (two modules common to all orientations ; one module related to the chosen orientation) ; and a second year containing two modules (one involving freechoice courses, and the other related to the Master’s thesis).

TARGET PUBLIC

The orientation « Aquatic Science » is intended for students in Environmental Science who wish to specialise in aquatic sciences, providing a multidisciplinary perspective upon issues relating to freshwater.
The specialisation is open primarily to those with a Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Environmental Science or Geology. Other candidates with a Bachelor’s degree, such as in other quantitative programmes in the Natural Sciences or Engineering, may be eligible after consideration of their application.

COURSE STRUCTURE

Modules common to all orientations (30 ECTS total) : Foundations in Environmental Science ; Environmental data and systems analysis.
Orientation « Aquatic Science » (30 ECTS total) : Courses addressing subsurface fluid flow ; freshwater biogeochemistry and toxicology ; tracing fluid flow ; aquatic ecosystems in glaciers, rivers and lakes ; field and laboratory methods, excursions
Free-choice courses (20 ECTS) : Courses intended to enhance the orientation, chosen by the student and approved by the director of the programme.
Master’s thesis (40 ECTS)

TEACHING LANGUAGE

All compulsory courses are given in English. Students have to choose optional courses, and these may be given in English or French according to their choice. The recommended level of English is C1.
All assessed work, including exams, reports and the Master’s thesis, may be written in English or French.

Coordinator for the orientation

Dr. Marie-Elodie Perga, marie-elodie.perga@unil.ch

Flyer in English

couverture aquatic science.jpg (Specialisations_GSE_2018.pdf)

Flyer in French

couverture sciences_aquatiques.jpg

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