Environmental Contamination
Qualifications
Overview
Environmental Contamination is the science of prevention, mitigation, and treatment of contaminants and invasive organisms in our unique ecosystems.
More skilled graduates are needed to assess natural threats to our environmental biosecurity, public health, and trade economies. These issues can range from toxicology in water, pests harming our local flora and fauna, diseases affecting our agricultural produce, and many other risks.
This major offers practical learning in identifying chemical and biological contaminants and their source, analysing their impact, and developing strategies to prevent further exposure.
- The Environmental Contamination major takes advantage of hands-on learning using UC’s field stations around Waitaha Canterbury, and a dedicated microscopy facility and microbiology lab on campus.
- A number of research hubs at UC are investigating environmental hazards and harmful organisms, for example the Centre for Integrated Research in Biosafety (INBI).
UC offers a major in Environmental Contamination as part of the Bachelor of Environmental Science with Honours.
Environmental Contamination major
The following courses are required throughout the degree:
100-level
200-level
Plus one course chosen from:
- GEOG 201 Environmental Processes: Principles and Applications
- HLTH 214 Environmental and Occupational Health
- SOIL 203 Soil Fertility
- WATR 201 Freshwater Resources
300-level
Plus two courses chosen from:
- BIOL 309 Experimental Design and Data Analysis for Biologists
- BIOL 313 Advanced Microbiology
- CHEM 340 Environmental Chemistry and Toxicology
- PHYS 330 Environmental and Climate Modelling
400-level
Plus two courses chosen from:
Contamination risk is high due to increasing infrastructure, transportation, and natural resource use. Environmental scientists with specialist knowledge in microbiology and contamination are essential to helping combat ongoing damage to our natural world.
This major will prepare you for work in border security, disaster response and management, Health and Safety (H&S) process, planning, and investigation for at-risk work environments, environmental law and policy, consultancy, research, water and infrastructure planning, agriculture, forestry, and health services.
Find out more about what you can do with a degree in Environmental Science.
Contact us
Te Kura Aronukurangi | School of Earth and Environment
Phone +64 3 369 0655
Email earthandenvironment@canterbury.ac.nz
Location
Level 2, Beatrice Tinsley building – see campus maps
Postal address
Te Rāngai Pūtaiao | College of Science
Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury
Private Bag 4800
Christchurch 8140
New Zealand
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