Earth & Environment Studies - Ecology

Introduction

Ecology is a course that investigates the relationship between biology and the environment. Besides ecological knowledge, such as the multiple composition components, energy flow way, food chain network and automatically regulation function in the ecological system, students will also learn the influence of environment towards the ecological system, especially the drawbacks of human activities, for instance, the expanded deserts, water supply crisis, climate change and the thinning of the ozone layer. On top of that, students will investigate the conservation and preservation of the ecological environment.

Study Subjects

• Animal Biology
• Earth and Ocean Science
• Ecological Applications
• Ecology and Conservation of Diversity
• Ecology Field Course
• Ecology of Communities and Ecosystems
• Global Marine Systems
• Introduction to Biostatistics
• Physical Geography
• Plants: How They Shape the World
• Statistical Methods
• Tropical Field Ecology

Career Opportunities

Upon graduation, students may work in the government departments or research institutions as an environmental researcher, natural resources organizer, land development officer, development program supervisor or a related administrator. Students can devote themselves in the nature reserves, for example, the ecological restoration and conservation projects of mangrove forests.

Earth & Environment Studies - Environmental Science

Introduction

Environmental science is an interdisciplinary academic field which studies the relationship between human and the ecological environment with its major objective to balance the effects of development towards the environment. Therefore, students will learn environmental management and natural sciences, to mitigate the damage towards the environment since the industrial revolution. For instance, water and air pollution, discharge of industrial waste, waste management and natural resource shortages.

Study Subjects

• Advanced Environmental Assessment
• Advances in Earth Observation
• Dissertation in Environmental Science
• Earth Observation
• Environmental Field Course
• Environmental Modelling
• Environmental Policy and Economics
• Environmental Pollution and Remediation
• Environmental Science and Society
• Forest, Environment and Society
• Glacial Environments Field Course
• Global Environmental Change
• Global Environmental Processes
• Hydrogeochemistry
• Introduction to Geographic Information Systems
• Introduction to Sustainable Development
• Introduction to Tropical Conservation Science
• Introductory Geology
• Landscape Ecology and Spatial Conservation Planning
• Natural Resources of Malaysia
• Patterns of Life
• Plant Science
• Soil Science
• The Ecology of Natural and Managed Ecosystems
• Tourism and the Environment
• Tropical Ecology
• Tropical Environmental Science Field Course
• Wildlife Behaviour

Career Opportunities

In general, graduates may work for the government department or the research institutions, for examples, Department of Science, Technology and Environment, Department of Chemistry, Department of Agriculture, Department of Forests and the Department of Geology. Students can opt to work as an environmental researcher, natural resource planner, land development officer, maritime personnel, development plan supervisor or a related administrator. Apart from that, students may engage in private industry as an industrial administrator, to ensure the development plans or sewage system fit the environmental quality law proposed by the government.

Earth & Environment Studies - Geography

Introduction

In general, geography is considered a science which attempts to explain the world around us and the impact of both natural and manmade factors and events. Geography is the study of the earth's surface, is an academic discipline that can lead to a career in mapping, planning, or environmental protection. Several colleges and universities offer undergraduate, master's, and doctoral degrees in geography, and many allow students a chance to focus in specific areas within this field, like global information systems (GIS) or environmental geography.

Study Subjects

• Human geography
• Physical geography
• Globalization
• GIS and mapping
• Geopolitics
• Biogeography
• Climate Change
• Coastal, Health & Development Geography
• Ecology & Geomorphology
• Soil science

Career Opportunities

Geography careers offer opportunities to develop solutions to some of the most pressing issues for modern society, including climate change, natural disasters, overpopulation, urban expansion, and multicultural integration. The career path that graduates choose may depend on whether you have studied physical geography or human geography. One, focusing on the Earth’s physical materials and processes, and the latter is social science, focusing on issues relating to human communities and cultures.

The jobs available are environmental consultant, cartographer, town planner, GIS officer, conservation officer, landscape architect, teacher/lecturer, politics or non-profit organizations and more.

Earth & Environment Studies - Geology

Introduction

Geology is the core discipline of the earth sciences and encompasses many different phenomena, including plate tectonics and mountain building, volcanoes and earthquakes, and the long-term evolution of Earth’s atmosphere, surface and life. Geology is the science that studies the Earth’s physical structure and substances, the history of rocks, the processes that act on them and the most economical way to use the world’s resources. Geology involves methods and knowledge from biology, chemistry, physics and mathematics.

Study Subjects

• Earth Sciences
• Geography
• Biology, Chemistry, & Physics
• Archaeology
• Psychology
• Environmental Biology
• Quantitative Science
• Mathematical and Geophysical Tools
• Paleontology & Sedimentary Rocks
• Data Analysis
• Global Climate Change

Career Opportunities

As a geology student, you will learn about a range of topics such as the origins and development of landscapes, earthquakes, volcanoes, sustainability, glaciers, water composition and processes, floods, groundwater flow, the interaction between humans and the planet, and dinosaur evolution.

There are many careers available to geologists in fields including environmental geology and geoscience, pollution control, glacial geology, geological surveying, water supplies, engineering geology, ground investigation, geochemistry, volcanology, field seismology and geotechnical engineering. It is also common for geologists to undertake further study or independent research.

Earth & Environment Studies - Oceanography

Introduction

Oceanography is the science of studying oceans and the various processes related to it. It is also known as oceanology or marine science. This is a subject that is slowly but steadily attracting interest of the students in India. The subject deals with the study of the ocean bed, ocean currents, waves, marine organisms, plate tectonics, ecosystem analysis, fluid dynamics and other related topics. Oceanography is also related to various other subjects like geology, physics, meteorology and geography.  The study of the marine flora and fauna and judging their consumption-worthiness is also a part of the subject.

Study Subjects

• Physical Meteorology
• Physical and Dynamical Climatology
• Dynamical Climatology
• Physical Oceanography
• Practical
• Computer Programming and Data Processing
• Meteorology and Oceanography Computations
• Synoptic Meteorology

Career Opportunities

The career opportunities come in both governmental and private organizations. The UPSC conducts tests for placements in Central Government Agencies like the Geological Survey of India, Meteorological Survey of India and the Central Groundwater Board. The companies in the private sector include environmental consultancies, ocean instrumentation and manufacturing companies, water companies, energy supply companies and NGOs. Other organisations that offer employment include Coal India, Mineral Exploration Authority, Oil & Natural Gas Corporation and Hindustan Zinc. An oceanographer can be employed in a wide range of capacities including Environmental Scientist, Geo-desist, Geographer, Geologist, Geophysicist, Hydrographer, freight and maintenance manager, Oceanographer or as a mining engineer.