Minimum curriculum requirements for Magister Programmes
in ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
  1. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
    2.

    Magister programmes in Environmental Protection last 5 years (10 semesters). The total course load is ca. 3600 hours. The minimum curriculum requirements cover 1485 hours and comprise sets of general, basic and major courses.

  2. PROFILE OF THE GRADUATE

    3. Magister programmes in the field of Environmental Protection prepare specialists for programming, organisation and control of activities in the area of environmental protection and shaping at the local, regional and national level, as well as for scientific research related to these issues. The graduate should possess basic knowledge of biology, chemistry, ecology, physics, computer science and mathematics; general knowledge of biochemistry, geology and soil science, hydrology, meteorology and climatology, microbiology and toxicology; and specialist knowledge in the following areas: human impact on the environment, threats to the atmosphere, hydrosphere and pedosphere, nature protection, environmental control and shaping, water management, management of municipal wastes and wastes produced by industrial and agricultural activities, and finally legal and economic issues related to environmental protection. This will allow graduates to take up employment in administration agencies, industry, agriculture, research units, higher education institutions, institutions concerned with integrated environmental management as well as in the school education sector, with this option available to those who have complied with additional requirements as laid down in separate legislation.

  3. COURSE GROUPS AND MINIMUM COURSE LOAD

  1. GENERAL COURSES

240 hours

  1. BASIC COURSES

495 hours

  1. MAJOR COURSES

750 hours

Total:

1485 hours

  1. COURSES BY GROUP AND MINIMUM COURSE LOAD

  1. GENERAL COURSES

240 hours

  1. Foreign Language

120

  1. Humanities (Ethics, Sociology, Psychology, Philosophy /of Nature/, Intellectual Property Protection or other course to be chosen by the student)

60

  1. Physical Education

60

  1. BASIC COURSES

495 hours

  1. Mathematics and Statistics

60

  1. Physics

75

  1. Computer Science

75

  1. Biology

120

  1. Chemistry

120

  1. Biochemistry

45

  1. MAJOR COURSES

750 hours

  1. Ecology

60

  1. Microbiology

30

  1. Geology, Geomorphology and Soil Science

75

  1. Hydrology and Water Management

75

  1. Meteorology and Climatology

45

  1. Toxicology

60

  1. Nature Protection

45

  1. Law and Economics in Environmental Protection

75

  1. Technologies Applied in Environmental Protection

90

  1. Environmental Monitoring

45

  1. Civilisation Threats to Environment, and Sustainable Development

60

  1. Environmental Impact Assessment

45

  1. Landscape Planning

45

NB.: Courses may be combined or divided as well as supplemented with new contents.

  1. CURRICULUM CONTENTS

  1. BASIC COURSES

  1. MATHEMATICS AND STATISTICS

    2. Concept of function. Basic properties of function. Elementary functions. Examples of functional interdependencies in nature. Sequences and series of numbers, power series. Differential and integral calculus of single-variable functions: basic methods for calculation of derivatives and integrals; continuity, limit and extremes of function. Differential equations and methods of solving such equations. Systems of linear equations. Analytical geometry in Cartesian spaces. Basic concepts of probability calculus: event, random variable, distributions. Fundamentals of statistics. Methods for compilation of empirical data. Role and application of statistical methods in environmental research. Deterministic and probabilistic models of selected processes occurring in nature. Modelling of natural phenomena.

  2. PHYSICS

    3. Units of measurement. Measurement of physical quantities. Fundamentals of classical mechanics and phenomenological thermodynamics. Elements of hydromechanics. Electric and magnetic properties of matter. Electromagnetic waves. Basic processes occurring in the atmosphere, hydrosphere and lithosphere. Elements of acoustics, noise. Elements of wave and geometric optics. Fundamentals of quantum mechanics. Electron, molecular and nuclear spectroscopy. Ionising radiation: sources and interactions with biotic and abiotic matter. Effects of solar radiation on the Earth: role of solar energy. Cosmic radiation.

  3. COMPUTER SCIENCE

    4. Structure of a computer and peripheral devices. Personal computer operations. Single- and multi-user systems. Operating systems: DOS, Windows. Application programmes: text editors, demonstration programmes, spreadsheets, statistical packages, data bases. Local area networks. E-mail. Internet. GIS – Geographical Information System. Computer modelling in environmental protection.

  4. BIOLOGY

    5. Levels of life organisation: non-cellular forms, cells, tissues, organs. Unicellular and multicellular organisms. Biological concept of species. Evolutionary processes: origin and extinction of species. Structure and physiology of prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms. Principles of biological nomenclature. Systematics and biological characteristics of major taxonomic groups of plants and animals with special regard to species in extinction, endangered species, protected species and species performing bio-indicative functions. Position and role of animals in the alimentary chain. Geography of plants and animals with special regard to domestic flora and fauna. Fundamentals of classical, population and molecular genetics. Genetic engineering techniques, transgenic organisms.

  5. CHEMISTRY

    6. Inorganic and analytical chemistry: Structure of atom and molecule. Properties of chemical elements. Origin, characteristics, properties and applications of combinations of representative and transition elements. Coordination and organometallic compounds. Characteristics and properties of phases. Solutions. Determination and detectability of substances. Separation methods: extraction, ion exchange, chromatography, precipitation. Analytical methods: acid-base titration, pemanganate titration, complexometric titration, precipitation and weight analysis. Instrumental methods: electrochemical, thermal, chromatographic, spectroscopic (absorption and emission) methods and methods based on detection of ionising radiation. Mass spectrometry.

    Organic chemistry: Overview, characteristics and properties of selected groups of organic combinations: hydrocarbons, halogen-organic compounds, oxygen-organic compounds (alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, ethers, organic acids), sulphur-, nitrogen- and phosphorus-organic compounds, hetero-cyclic compounds, and natural compounds: fats, sugars, steroids, vitamins, dyes. Basic reactions of organic compounds: substitution, addition, elimination. Relations: structure – properties, structure – biological activity.

    Physical chemistry: Elements of quantum mechanics: chemical bonds, intermolecular interactions. Elements of statistical thermodynamics. Chemical thermodynamics. Elements of thermodynamics of irreversible processes. Chemical kinetics. Catalysis. Phase equilibriums. Sorption processes. Conductivity of electrolyte solutions. Electrolysis. Cells. Corrosion. Colloidal systems. Fundamentals of electron and oscillation spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance and photochemistry.

  6. BIOCHEMISTRY

    7. Molecular background of life and evolution processes. Contemporary theories of the origin of life on the Earth. Structure and functions of proteins, nucleic acids, lipids and carbohydrates. Interrelations between structure and biological functions of compounds. Structure and functions of biological membranes. Energy metabolism. Enzymes and coenzymes. Regulation of basic metabolic paths. Photosynthesis and other anabolic processes. Hormones. Elements of immunology. Use of biotechnological methods in environmental protection.

  1. MAJOR COURSES
  1. ECOLOGY

    2. Organisation of ecological systems. Environment, habitat, biotope, ecological niche. Relation between organism and environment; limitations; adaptation to environment; ecological scales of organisms. Population: size, demographic structure, spatial structure, dynamics, proliferation of populations. Life strategies. Ecosystem: components, primary and secondary production, trophic chains and networks, matter circulation. Energy flow, energy budget. Dynamics of ecosystems. Diversity and typology of ecosystems. Phytocenosis in an ecosystem; phytosociological classification. Biogeochemical cycles. Systems above the ecosystem level. Main biomes in the world. Eco-physiology.

  2. MICROBIOLOGY

    3. Position of micro-organisms in the world of living organisms. Characteristics of selected micro-organism groups, criteria of division. Structure and functioning of a bacterial cell. Growth and development of bacteria. Metabolic processes in bacteria and their regulation mechanisms. Bacterial, animal and plant viruses. Role of bacteria in the circulation of chemical elements in nature. Heterotrophy and autotrophy in the world of micro-organisms. Diagnostics of micro-organisms. Role of bacteria in the metabolism of sulphur, nitrogen and carbon compounds. Micro-organisms pathogenic for plants, animals and people. Methods of protection against pathogens. Role of micro-organisms in the cleaning of the environment.

  3. GEOLOGY, GEOMORPHOLOGY AND SOIL SCIENCE

    4. Information about the Earth: position in the solar system; geophysical properties; structure; chemical composition: minerals and rocks, continents and oceans. Geological time. Geological processes and their role in the formation of rocks: principle of uniformitarism, volcanism, plutonism, metamorphism. Exogenous processes: eolian processes, fluvial processes and processes occurring in the marine environment; glaciations, weathering and karstification. Geomorphologic characteristics of various areas in Poland: typical morphological forms and their origin, role of slope evolution in shaping the land sculpture. Anthropogenic transformations of the lithosphere. Soil-forming factors and their impact on the formation of soils. Organic matter transformations in soils; humus and humus substances. Water in the soil and its availability for organisms. Physical properties of soils and their role in shaping the habitat of plants and edaphone. Soil sorption and transport of substances (pollutants) in soils. Soil-forming processes; natural and anthropogenic evolutionary sequences of soils. Systematics of soils in Poland and the world. Use valuation, fertility and productivity of soils. Impact of human activity on soils; forms of transformations; degradation. Soil reclamation.

  4. HYDROLOGY AND WATER MANAGEMENT

    5. Occurrence and circulation of water in nature. Underground water resources: genesis, typology and environmental determinants of formation. Springs: occurrence, water supply, hydrological regime and classification. River systems: diversity of flowing water networks, water level, ebb-tide measures, river structures, low waters, freshets, floods. Natural and artificial lakes: genesis, types of water supply, thermal air currents, and water level variations. Swamps. Seas and oceans: origin, chemical mechanism and dynamics of waters, anthropogenic changes in the marine environment. Water balance of the Earth; detailed water economy balance in the drainage basin. Forms and scope of human intervention in the circulation of water. Disposable and renewable water resources. Retention of water in the drainage basin; methods for enrichment of resources and reduction of water shortages. Flood threats and preventive measures. Demand for water in municipal economies and agriculture. Use of waters in navigation and power industry. Degradation of surface and underground waters: preventive measures, self-purification, reclamation. Use of waters for municipal needs and in the economy: standards, classifications by use. Protection of water resources.

  5. METEOROLOGY AND CLIMATOLOGY

    6. Basic concepts in meteorology and climatology. Earth’s atmosphere: structure, properties, dynamics and behaviour. Evolution of the atmosphere. Energy balance of the Earth-atmosphere system. Circulation of heat and water in the atmosphere. Atmospheric circulation. Spreading of pollutants through the atmosphere. Gas and dust pollutants. Outer space pollutants. Anthropogenic changes in the atmosphere: greenhouse effect, destruction of the ozone layer, acid rains. Self-purification of the atmosphere. Climate-forming factors and processes. Climate in various zones of the Earth. Changes in the Earth’s climate. Elements of the weather. Basic meteorological devices and equipment. Synoptic meteorology. Use of the knowledge about climate in human activity: agriculture, urban planning and tourism.

  6. TOXICOLOGY

    7. Concept of poison and classification of poisons. Factors determining toxicity of substances. Doses. Causes and types of poisoning. Absorption, transport, distribution, accumulation, biotransformation and excretion of poisons. Assessment of poison impact on organisms: toxicity, toxico-kinetics and toxico-dynamics. Remote effects of poisons: mutagenic, cancer-generating effects and teratogenic effects. Exoestrogens and exoandrogens. Toxic substances contaminating natural environment and migrating to plants, animals and food, originating from drugs, pesticides, metals, inorganic and organic compounds, plastics. Bio-accumulation and bio-magnification of poisons in the trophic chain. Substances contaminating food during its production, processing and storage. Poisoning risk assessment. Poisoning prevention methods.

  7. NATURE PROTECTION

    8. Nature as a set of various assets: assets of economic, cognitive (scientific), educational and aesthetic value. Biological and landscape diversity as the main goal of nature protection. Nature protection methods in the process of using natural resources. Protection of nature in Poland: threats to flora and fauna. Categories of threats to species according to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). International classification and functions of protected areas (according to the IUCN). Area protection: national park, nature reserve, landscape park, protected landscape area. Methods of passive (strict) protection, active (partial) protection and landscape protection. Strict and partial species protection. Individual protection: nature monuments, ecological arable land, documentation stand, nature and landscape complex. Active protection of nature. Principles of drawing up protection plans. Strategy for nature protection in the European Union. ECONET and CORINE networks.

  8. LAW AND ECONOMICS IN ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

    9. International standards of environmental protection. Basic legislation concerning the environment currently in force in Poland, the European Union and the world. International, national, regional and local institutions responsible for environmental protection. Penal, civil, administrative, and penal-administrative liability for deterioration of the environmental state. Legal proceedings in cases of breach of legislation concerning the environment. External environmental costs. Direct (administrative and legal), economic, organisational, planning- and information-based methods and instruments of environmental protection and environmental management. Basic economic instruments for environmental protection in Poland and other countries, with special regard to the European Union. Environmental pollution and protection, and economic growth. Ecological, economic and social aspects of sustainable development. Legal, administrative and economic instruments for natural resources management. Ecological policy in the market economy. Financing environmental protection projects.

  9. TECHNOLOGIES APPLIED IN ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

    10. Sources of air pollution (power industry and other industrial sectors, motorisation). Primary and secondary methods for prevention of air pollution. Reduction of pollutant emissions. Alternative sources of energy. Consumption of surface and underground waters, and methods of their purification. Water treatment for municipal and industrial purposes. Characteristics, classification, composition and properties of sewage. Mechanical, biological and chemical treatment of sewage. Technologies for municipal and industrial sewage treatment. Sources, characteristics and classification of wastes. Effects of wastes on the environment. Principles of wastes management: accumulation (selective collection, segregation); use for industrial purposes (reuse, recycling, utilising waste as a source of energy, material and raw material) and agricultural purposes (land reclamation and fertilisation, composting); neutralisation; depositing. Management of hazardous wastes (integrated systems). Preventing waste production: low-waste and waste-free technologies.

  10. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING

    11. Aims and principles of monitoring; complex monitoring. Measurement systems and techniques in environmental monitoring. Basic indicators and acceptable standards of the quality of the environmental (air, water and soil). Representativeness of laboratories; calibration and inter-calibration of methodologies; certification of reference materials; filing of samples; banks of species and environmental materials. Monitoring of the air, underground and surface waters, deposits, soil and land. Monitoring of radioactive contamination. Environmental quality assessment based on the occurrence of specific species and quantitative changes in components of biocenosis. Gathering and processing of monitoring data. Polish monitoring network: links with European and world monitoring.

  11. CIVILISATION THREATS TO ENVIRONMENT, AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

    12. Natural resources, products of nature, natural environment. Scale of environmental problems: local, regional and global problems. Global factors causing changes in and threats to the environment: population growth, increase in consumption, general urbanisation, economic systems and lifestyles, armaments, wars. Model of conservative and consumer society. Global environmental problems: climate change, tropical forest loss, disappearance of biological diversity, desertification, pollution of the pedosphere, waters and atmosphere. General principles of renewable and non-renewable resources management. Idea of sustainable development: ecological use of the Earth’s resources. Government ecological policy.

  12. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT

    13. Polish and international rules and legislation concerning environmental impact assessment (EIA). Categories of harmful effects caused by investments and existing facilities. Role of an investor and environmental protection services in the EIA procedure. Principles of eco-technical negotiations. Location and technological valence. Eligibility and calculation procedures. Maximum impact assessment systems. EIA operational indicators for selected sectors of industry, communication, construction and other projects. Procedures for developing EIA operational indicators. Procedure for issuing decisions imposing the requirement for compliance with EIA. Political and economic decisions supported by the EIA procedure.

  13. LANDSCAPE PLANNING

    14. Principles of landscape and natural resources management. Implementing the idea of sustainable development in landscape management. Landscape planning as a tool for landscape management. Legal, natural, cultural, social and economic determinants of landscape planning. Main planning documents drawn up at the national, regional and local levels: their content, form and role in landscape management. Procedures for drawing up planning documents: reviewing, consultation and approval. Role of social participation in the landscape planning procedure. Principles for drawing up plans (planning documents). Tasks and methodology of nature studies and physiographic studies prepared for the needs of landscape planning. Legal effects of adopting a landscape management plan.

  1. RECOMMENDATIONS

    2. At least 60% of the total course load should be offered in the form of classes, laboratories or field activities. The curriculum should comprise practical professional and diploma-related placements tailored to the speciality and specificity of a given higher education institution.