Semester I
- EVS101(Environmental Chemistry): This module aims to introduce students to the core concepts of chemistry applicable to environmental science. It explores chemical processes in five spheres of environment with main emphasis on atmosphere and hydrosphere. It also exposes students to various methods of air, water and soil quality analysis, and concept of water recycling and soil remediation.
- ICT102 (Introduction to Computer and typesetting): This module deals with the basics of computer science to enable students to learn and develop skills on basics of computer and its operating systems. The student will be enabled to recognize hardware and software and apply relevant software in their day to day life.
- ECL103(Principles of Ecology and Ecosystems): The general objective of this module is to introduce the students to the concept of ecology and ecosystems. This will help students in appreciating the dynamic nature of the ecosystem. It covers the basic principles of population, community and ecosystem ecology. It covers ecosystem ecology extensively with studies on energy and material flux, productivity, and freshwater and forest ecology. It also gives practical experience in field ecology.
- ACS101(Academic Skills ):This module aims to develop the knowledge and understanding of a range of academic skills required for study at university level. The module will focus on the development of academic writing, oral presentation, as well as listening skills to enable students to communicate effectively in both spoken and written forms. The module will enhance their learning throughout their studies at university and beyond, through close reading, discussions and critiquing of academic texts. Further, it will also enhance studentsβ capacity to critically reflect on their own learning.
- DZG101(Dzongkha):
Semester II
- ACS102(English for Effective Communication).
- CLM101(Fundamentals of Hydrology): This module introduces students to the fundamental concepts of hydrology. The module will equip students with basic terminologies and theories of hydrology. It covers practical aspects on stream discharge measurement in Bhutanβs context.
- CLM102(Introduction to Meteorology and Climatology):This module aims to develop knowledge and understanding on meteorology, climatology and its applications. The module provides basic understanding of weather systems such as monsoon. The module also explores climate patterns and weather forecasting and their impacts due to human activities.
- NRM108( Water Resource Management):This module aims to enhance studentsβ skills on assessing potential and existing impacts on the water environment from industrial and land use practices, abstraction and agriculture. This module will cover holistic approach to water resources management at the watershed and sub-watershed level with a specific focus on watershed planning and techniques, adaptive management strategies, capacity building approaches, and water governance. The module will also provide basis to analyze how water is used and the activities associated to potential conflicts. The module will assess the water management in detail through the analysis of different types of multisectoral regulation system or watershed management approach. Further, this module will also explore current and emerging national and international water issues to link with interdisciplinary approaches to anticipate regional, national and local level solutions.
- SOC103 (Environmental Sociology): The module explores different aspects of human interaction with the natural environment including study of social systems, organization and institution, culture, health, technology and social inequality. The module also intends to study changing relationship between social system, environment and its influence on individuals, groups and societies.
Semester I
- EVS202(Waste Management): This module will provide students with broader understanding on waste and waste management practices. This module will also expose students to in-depth knowledge and skills on managing wastes using different strategies and approaches, provide hands on experience on waste segregation, treatment and remediation.
- EVS203(Conservation Biology): This module focuses on the knowledge and skills of modern conservation science which is cross disciplinary in nature and transcends the traditional boundaries of biology, ecology and environmental management. The students will learn about the need to manage biodiversity in the context of rapid increase in human impacts on ecosystems. Students will learn about the effectiveness of different approaches to conservation and develop a conceptual and practical understanding of conservation. This module also provide an awareness of the range of arguments for and against different strategies for managing ecological processes and conservation challenges.
- GSE101(Analytical Skills): The module aims at developing critical and analytical thinking skills of students to enhance their creativity and ability to think laterally that will aid problem solving and decision-making abilities. With these essential analytical thinking and problem-solving skills students gain an edge in a competitive world.
- CLM203( Applied Hydrology): This module builds upon the module on Fundamentals of Hydrology and introduces students to applied hydrology. The emphasis of the module is on techniques and tools used for flood frequency analysis and streamflow forecasting. Besides other modeling tools and techniques for hydrological analysis, the students will be given theoretical inputs and hands-on training in the use of hydrological modelling tool HEC-RAS (Hydrologic Engineering Center- River Analysis System) to link module lessons to real-life practice. This module will also enhance the knowledge of the students on cryosphere science with emphasis on glacial processes and landforms, and different monitoring methods/techniques of glacier mass balance measurement.
- CLM204(Climate Change): This module explores basic principles, processes of climate change and its impacts on natural as well as human systems. It deals with fundamentals of climate change, its causes, current status, future projections and its consequences. Climate Change is pressing and challenging with regard to rising temperatures and sea levels, retreat of glaciers, alterations to precipitation patterns and frequent extreme weather events, climate induced changes in biogeographical patterns and loss of biodiversity which poses severe threats to contemporary and future societies. This module will also allow students to investigate the issue using interdisciplinary skills.
Semester II
- GSE202(Personal Development): This module focuses on developing studentsβ behavioural competencies, skills and increasing the knowledge to support their development in terms of cultural values, build critical and analytical thinking, develop skills in anticipation and adaptability; and become responsible and resilient individuals. The module will also enable students to explore and manage their emotional intelligence. The module includes activities and tools to identify their strengths and weaknesses, leadership and critical thinking skills.
- EVS204(Pollution Abatement and Management): This module will provide sensitization to students to the impact of air pollution on ecosystems and human health by analyzing the types of pollution and the main environmental pollutants and examining ways of monitoring and measurement of different pollutants. This module will also provide the knowledge and skills on the use of tools dealing with theoretical concepts. In continuation it also includes calculation procedures for the selection and design of equipment directed to the treatment of industrial effluents, understanding issues and their abatement principles of industrial pollution.
- EVS205(Green Technology and Development): The module introduces different types of energy, their impact on environment and explores the need for innovation in energy sector. This module explores green initiatives taken to maintain quality of environment through sustainable and resource efficient application of science and technology. It deals with current environmental problems and fundamental roles of science and technology in green technologies in assessing and responding environmental threats.
- EVS206(Environmental Systems Analysis): This module deals with analysis and assessment of the dependence and influence of socio-technical systems on ecosystem. Its aim is to support informed decision making towards sustainable behavior in different domains of human actions where different decision making situations related to environment and sustainable development are associated. Further this module will deal with analysis and assessment on consequences of technical, economic and social activities and ways to improve informed environmental decision-making through use of systems-based approach to solve environmental problems using systems thinking approach.
- GES202(Geology and Soil Science): This module provides theories on origin and modification of the earth through geological time scale. It describes the theories and principles of continental drift, plate tectonics, stratigraphy, geological processes, geoedaphics and biogeography. It provides insights on types of landforms and the structure and composition of major rocks and minerals. It describes the formation and properties of soil. It also provides the practical knowledge and skills necessary for the physical, chemical, biological analysis and mapping of soils. The module also describes the geology of Bhutan Himalayas and role of mountains on speciation and distribution of plants.
Semester I
- RST301(Research Methods): This module equips students with necessary knowledge and skills of research methods needed in carrying out case studies, experiments and social surveys and write technical reports. It includes the concepts of research, data collection procedures, case studies and survey methods, research designs, experimental research designs, and scientific writing.
- CLM305(Climate Change Assessment and Mitigation): This module provides a brief introduction on climate change especially in the Hindu Kush Himalaya,details the concepts of and methods to climate change impacts, vulnerability and adaptation assessment. One of the focus of the module is to provide hands-on exercise on how to use some of the tools and techniques to assess the impacts and vulnerability. It also provides concepts to design and implement the adaptation strategies for natural and manmade ecosystems. Further, this module focuses on providing in-depth understanding for students to the climate change mitigation theories, and practices special focus on the mitigation actions at individual, and national levels. The module is mainly divided into four parts such as regional status of climate change, vulnerability assessment, adaptation, mitigation and policy options to address the climate change impacts including the negotiations at the global level concerning climate change.
- CLM306(Paleoclimatology): This module deals with the knowledge and skills required to generate proxy data using ice cores, annual tree-ring and pollens and to reconstruct the past climates and understand how the past climatic changes has affected the environment. One of the major components that the students will learn is how to generate data associated with tree growth and annual tree ring features and apply the theory of dendrochronology for dating tree rings, reconstructing past climate, to analyse the impacts of climatic changes and its effect on environment by linking geomorphological and hydrological events for environmental research. Further this module also provide students with knowledge to analyse pollen/spores for the reconstruction of the paleo-environment and paleoclimate.
- RST302(Statistics): This module aims at providing basic knowledge and skills in compiling and coding of data, analyses of data, interpreting results of analyses and presentation of results in the form of tables, figures short writings. The students will be introduced with the knowledge and skills of using R and SPSS software besides the use of Excel spreadsheet.
- Elective 1
Semester II
- ECN302(Applied Environmental Economics):This module will introduce students to the origin and need for environmental economics. The students will be exposed to various environmental analysis and benefit-cost analysis tools used to assess economic values of environmental goods. The module will also expose students to policy analysis tools and how they can be employed to prevent environmental problems.
- GIS201(Geographic Information Systems and Remote Sensing): This module provides student with concepts and hands-on practice on Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Global Positioning System (GPS). The module also provides brief concept on Remote Sensing (RS) and the applications of satellite imageries for land use and change mapping, and relate its applications in conjunction with GIS and GPS.
- CLM307(Climate Resilient Agriculture): This module deals with measures to address the impending impact of climate change on agriculture concerned with adaptation and resilience. Students will be aware of the climate change issue with respect to its extent and impact and acquire knowledge about various means to mitigate climate change impact on agriculture sectors. The module also deals with basic of the climate smart agriculture, practices, and enabling environment in which the students would be able to link three aspects such as equitable increases in farm incomes, food security and development; adaptation strategies required to build resilience of agricultural and food security systems to climate change; and approach to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture. This will be able to build the studentsβ knowledge and skills on how to facilitate and support the adoption of climate-smart technologies and practices to be able to make agriculture resilient.
- ECL304(Land Reclamation and Ecological Restoration): This module will introduce students to concepts on how to meet the increasing demands to manage and restore degraded land as close as possible to its original status and wasteland to productive land to support ecosystems functions and services. This module will provide students with the skills to assess, plan, and implement strategies or actions required to restore or reclaim the degraded and wasteland in order to make the land productive as much as possible. This module will specifically deal with general principles of land reclamation and restoration and then links to mountain environment and discusses how to reclaim the land in the context of road, construction and mining.
- MGT302( Project Planning and Management): The broad objective of the module is to build the capacity (knowledge and skills) of the students by providing inputs on project planning and management. Therefore, the module will examine project management roles and environments, the project life cycle and various techniques of planning, monitoring and evaluation to achieve project objectives. Through group works and assignments students will get an opportunity to relate theoretical and practical perspectives to project planning and management.
Semester I
- EVS407(Environmental Toxicology): This module will introduce students to the various environmentally toxic elements and pollutants. It also provides the fundamental knowledge on biological and health effects of environmental pollutants. It explores eco-toxicological issues and classifications related to environmental and human health. It will also equip students with practical experiences in testing and identifying environmental pollutants.
- EVS408(Strategic Environmental Assessment): This module will extend the aims and principles of environmental impact assessment required at the pre-project level of decision-making. In addition to the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), this module also allows students to analyze and anticipate how to address the environmental effects of policies, plans, programmes and other proposed strategic actions. This module will also allow students to carry out life cycle assessment (LCA). It is essential to have in-depth understanding of Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) for people who are involved in the EIA, for making informed decision-making in support of environmental protection and sustainable development. It will also enable students to design and implement environmental impact assessment procedures in assumed settings.
- EVS409(Environmental Policies and Law): This module aims to offer an overview of a general legal framework and different regulatory regimes for the protection of the environment. Further, it demonstrates that law has an essential part to play in the protection of the environment.
- NRM409( Natural Resource Conflict Resolution and Management): This module will introduce students to the theoretical concepts of conflict, causes, dynamics, consequences and approaches in environment and natural resource management including the traditional conflict management procedures. The module will address the inability of some of the conflict management strategies and also address unique environmental and natural resource conflicts. It intends to impart knowledge and skills for effective management of environmental and natural resource conflicts through formal mediation, negotiations, and alternative dispute resolutions at various levels. This module will acquaint students with basic facilitation and communication skills essential for effectively managing and resolving environmental conflicts.
- Elective 2
Semester II
- RST403(Research Project): This module is designed to provide students with the understanding and first-hand experience of carrying out a research project by applying concepts/theories and practice by integrating multiple sources of information and testing their analytical skills. It will allow the students to specialize to some extent in a given field of study.