Norwegian

Course description

• Course content
• Learning outcome
• Admission
• Prerequisites

• Overlapping courses
• Teaching
• Examination

Course content

This course provides an interdisciplinary introduction to our contemporary environmental challenges in a chemical perspective. Central themes are the interaction between life and the environment, energy and energy consumption, air pollution and their effects, water and water pollution, radioactivity, environmental organic chemistry and how this knowledge is used by the government. A group project provides the opportunity to focus on a selected environmental issue and training in scientific publishing. The course is suitable for students who plan further study in the field, but has a multidisciplinary approach making it also suitable for students from other disciplines that need basic knowledge of environmental chemistry in their curriculum.

Learning outcome

The course provides an understanding of how:

• knowledge of chemistry is used to understand how pollutants are transported and accumulate in the environment
• pollution affects the environment
• our demand for energy is an important driver for our local, regional and global environmental problems
• knowledge of chemistry can be used to solve environmental problems
• conditions in the watershed and climate affect water quality

Through the course, students shall become able to provide balanced assessments of positive and negative aspects of recent development in our environment. Through project work, you gain experience in how to gather and compile information, summarize them and present the issue in a scientific format.

Admission

Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for in Studentweb.

If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures.

Prerequisites

Formal prerequisite knowledge

In addition to fulfilling the Higher Education Entrance Qualification, applicants have to meet the following special admission requirements:

• Mathematics R1 (or Mathematics S1 and S2) + R2

And in addition one of these:

• Physics (1+2)
• Chemistry (1+2)
• Biology (1+2)
• Information technology (1+2)
• Geosciences (1+2)
• Technology and theories of research (1+2)

The special admission requirements may also be covered by equivalent studies from Norwegian upper secondary school or by other equivalent studies (in Norwegian).

KJM1001 – Introduction to chemistry (continued), KJM1100 – General chemistry (continued) or equivalent courses.

Overlapping courses

This course overlaps 9 ECTS credits with KJ203 and 10 ECTS credits with KJM4700 – Environmental Chemistry (discontinued).

Teaching

Lectures (40 hours). The students shall, usually in groups, write an essay on an environmental issue. The essay is a prerequisite for taking part in the exam.

The first lecture is mandatory. If you are unable to join, the Expedition Office has to be informed in advance (phone 22 85 54 46, or e-mail ekspedisjonen@kjemi.uio.no). If you fail to register as an active student for the course in either of these ways, you will loose the access to the course for the given semester.

Examination

The essay will count 25% towards the final grade. Written digital exam (4 hours) at the end of the semester will count 75%. Students must have achieved a grade of pass or better on the final exam to pass the course.

Oral examination is offered for Spring 2020

All reports will be subjected to the anti-cheat programme Ephorus.

A passed essay is valid the semester it was approved for the first time and in four subsequent semesters.

Examination support material

Pocket calculator. The calculator must fulfill the requirements specified by The Department of Mathematics (only in Norwegian).

Language of examination

You may submit your response in Norwegian, Swedish, Danish or English.

Grading scale

Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail. Read more about the grading system.

Explanations and appeals

• Explanation of grades and appeals

Resit an examination

Students who can document a valid reason for absence from the regular examination are offered a postponed examination at the beginning of the next semester.

Re-scheduled examinations are not offered to students who withdraw during, or did not pass the original examination.

Withdrawal from an examination

It is possible to take the exam up to 3 times. If you withdraw from the exam after the deadline or during the exam, this will be counted as an examination attempt.

Special examination arrangements

Application form, deadline and requirements for special examination arrangements.