Environmental science education at the Swiss Federal Institute of technology (ETH)

In 1987 ETHZ, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, first offered a degree course in environmental sciences. The curriculum is based upon a comprehensive view of the environment and its systems. The first two years of the programme cover a multidisciplinary basic education in mathematics, natur...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Water science and technology 2000, Vol.41 (2), p.31-36
Main Author: FRISCHKNECHT, P. M
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Applied sciences
Aquatic environment
Biology
Case studies
Ecological monitoring
Education
Environmental hygiene
Environmental science
Exact sciences and technology
General aspects
Global environmental pollution
Hygiene
Mathematics
Microbiology
Natural sciences
Occupational training. Personnel. Work management
Physics
Pollution
Problem solving
Science education
Social sciences
Students
Switzerland
Technology
Training
Citations: Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:In 1987 ETHZ, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, first offered a degree course in environmental sciences. The curriculum is based upon a comprehensive view of the environment and its systems. The first two years of the programme cover a multidisciplinary basic education in mathematics, natural and social sciences. For their advanced education in the fifth to nineth semesters the students select one of four science disciplines (Chemistry/Microbiology, Physics, Biology or Environmental Hygiene) and one of four environmental systems (Aquatic Systems, Atmosphere, Terrestrial Systems or Anthroposphere). The education in natural sciences is accompanied by a compulsory case study, which is implemented as a didactic tool to teach ecological problem-solving, and courses in environmental social sciences and environmental technology. During the professional practical training of about four months, students gain insight into the constraints of a professional environment. In the tenth semester a diploma project - equivalent to a master's thesis - is carried out.
ISSN:0273-1223
1996-9732
DOI:10.2166/wst.2000.0040