1. Introduction

 Environmental Science is an interdisciplinary field dealing with the scientific study of natural systems and human impacts on these systems. Most environmental problems are complex, demanding the problem-solving insights of multiple disciplines. A student seeking to specialize in Environmental Science is required to focus on at least three areas.  First, it is important for him to understand the natural processes (both physical and biological) that operate in the world. Second, it is important to appreciate the role that technology plays in our society and its capacity to alter natural processes as well as solve problems caused by human impact.  Third, the complex social processes that are characteristics of human populations must be understood and integrated with knowledge of technology and natural processes to fully appreciate the role of humans in the natural world.

The program proposed here is clearly different from Environmental Engineering in both its content and objectives. The distinction lies in the emphasis of the proposed program on the scientific aspects of environment rather than on its engineering applications.

 2. Objectives of the Program

 The proposed Environmental Sciences program aims at providing students with a broad-based foundation in the scientific principles that govern natural and engineered environmental systems. In addition, the program will focus on the critical environmental problems which transcend national borders, but which also have local relevance. The program will help students prepare for careers that require the policy-and decision-making skills necessary to integrate technical knowledge into a broader, applied framework.

 The program will integrate the natural, chemical, and physical sciences taught in the College of Sciences with a strong emphasis on concept-based learning and empiricism. In this program the students are to be trained for careers in Environmental Science research and management  in a wholly problem-solving setting.

3. Employment Opportunities

 Graduate students with a Mater’s degree in Environmental Sciences have a wide choice of employment opportunities  in the following sectors:

               ·        Government or private sectors dealing with environmental effects of oil, water resources, and mineral resources on the earth’s systems.

               ·        Government planning agencies dealing with the environmental assessments of urbanization programs in arid regions.

               ·        Consultation, construction and maintenance firms dealing with environmental applications.

               ·        Research institutes and national organizations dealing with detection, monitoring and mitigation programs of environmental hazards.

4. Admission Requirements

 Science or engineering graduates  from recognized institutions who have a GPA of 3.00 or above (on a 4.00 scale), or equivalent, are eligible to apply for admission as a regular student in the Master of Environmental Sciences Program. Applicants should also have satisfied the Graduate School admission requirements. Students with any deficiencies in their undergraduate courses will be required to take the relevant deficiency courses.

  5. Participating Departments

 The program will be administered by the Department of Earth Sciences in the College of Sciences with the active involvement of the Department of Chemistry. In addition, students will also take courses from other University departments as electives.                                                                     

 6. Degree Awarded

 The degree awarded in this program is Master in Environmental Sciences.

 7. Availability of Resources

The resources available in KFUPM and in the College of Sciences in particular, will be utilized in administering the program. Physical resources in terms of space, laboratory facilities, computer labs and research instrumentation, are for the most part available in the Departments of Earth Sciences, Chemistry, and Physics.   (see the Research & Teaching Facilities section). Hence, the program will be initiated using the existing resources without any major acquisitions.

Most of the required faculty for the proposed program will be drawn from the participating departments in the College of Sciences. The experts available in these departments should suffice  to teach the various courses suggested in the program. However, the program will also benefit greatly from the recruitment of some additional faculty members with who have an environmental orientation (in Physics and Chemistry).

 8. Research and Teaching Facilities

 The Earth Sciences Department houses a variety of teaching and research laboratories. Facilities and instruments include a thin-section preparation laboratory, polarizing, reflection, and binocular microscopy, sieving, x-ray diffractometry, a wet geochemistry laboratory, portable hydrogeochemistry laboratory, ground-penetrating radar (GPR), paleomagnetism laboratory, remote sensing and aerial photography, ISEM and two Sun Workstations in addition to a well-developed PC lab and computing facilities.

 The Department and RI/KFUPM centers are furnished with the required field and lab. equipment, tools and other facilities (i.e. geophysical, soil mechanics, rock mechanics, soil/water sampling) that are needed for environmental and geological activities. Additional facilities including XRF, SEM, ICP, TEM, AA, CL, and GC-MS are available in the KFUPM Research Institute (RI).  The Department owns three 4-wheel drive vehicles and a dune buggy for field trips.

 The laboratory facilities in the Chemistry Department include a wide array of general equipment, in addition to major instruments such as, the AC-80 FT Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectrometer, the Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) Spectrometer with a 15 inch magnet, 4-microwave bridges at the L, S, X and Q bands and an electron-nuclear double resonance accessory,  an X-ray diffractometer equipped with low temperature accessories, an inductively coupled plasma emission spectrometer, a flame atomic absorption spectrometer,  a C, H, N, S-Elemental analyzer, infrared spectrometers including dispersive and Fourier transform Infrared (FTIR) spectrophotometers, and conventional and capillary gas chromatographs.

 9. Comparison with USA Universities

The program was compared in terms of courses,  number of credit hours and course descriptions with some well known American Universities. The results of the survey are summarized in the table below:

 10. Degree Plan

 11. Program Requirements

Core Courses

General Required Courses:

Degree Requirements:

Environmental Sciences Elective Courses

Students are also required to take two courses from the following elective course list for a total of 6 credit hours as Environmental Sciences electives.

List of Technical Electives

Students are required to take two courses from the following list as technical elective courses for a total of 6 credit hours.

12. COURSES DESCRIPTIONS

Core Courses

ENVS 510:  Advanced Environmental Geology                       (3-0-3)

Study of interaction between man and geologic environment; role of geology in environmental applications, natural, man-made, and technological hazards, generation and dispersion of contaminants in earth systems; waste management, environmental impact studies, selected case studies.

Prerequisite: GEOL 201 or equivalent

ENVS 520: Advanced Environmental Chemistry                      (3-0-3)

Study of the sources, reactions, transport, effects, and fates of chemical species in water, soil, and air environment; nature and source of hazardous wastes, their environmental chemistry, and their treatment, minimization, and the effect of pollutants and hazardous substances on living organisms.

Prerequisite: CHEM 102 or equivalent

ENVS 530: Advanced Biological Studies                                       (3-0-3)

Examines major issues in biology, human uses of environments, and study of biological diversity in different types of environments. Offers an opportunity for students to conduct in-depth individual research projects in biology. Critical examination of published evidence, extensive library research, data analysis, writing of reviews, and oral presentations. Students present their scientific results in a symposium. Field trips to affected sites and interaction with conservationist, and biologists.

Prerequisite: BIOL 101 or equivalent

ENVS 540: Environmental Sciences and Policy                          (3-0-3)

Introduction to the emerging interdisciplinary field of environment science.  Explore connections between traditional relationship of disciplinary of the physical and natural sciences.  Evaluate the impact of human activities, consider the environmental, economic and social consequences of changing those activities, and consider how scientific information gets converted into policy.

Prerequisite: Graduate standing

General Required Courses

ENVS 599   Seminar                                                                                  (0-0-1)

Graduate students are required to attend all the technical seminars organized by the department.  Additionally, each student must present at least one seminar on a current research topic.  This course is designed to provide students with an overview of research in the Department, and a familiarity with the latest research methodologies, journals and professional societies in their discipline.  This course is graded on a Pass or Fail basis.

Prerequisite:  Graduate standing.

Degree Requirements

ENVS 610     Thesis                                                                                   (0-0-6)

Preparation of a thesis, oral presentation and defense.

Elective Courses

ENVS 511:  Advanced Engineering Geology                           (3-0-3)

Use of different site investigation techniques for identification and evaluation of environmental problems before and after construction phases, engineering geological mapping, and assessment of engineering geological hazards in the arid region, geohazards risk assessment, sampling and monitoring methods utilized in the environmental applications.  Special emphasis is also given to study the engineering geological aspects of existing environmental problem(s) at selected site(s).

Prerequisite: GEOL 341 or equivalent

ENVS 514:  Desertification                                                        (3-0-3)

Course covers the concept and evolution of desertification, land degradation, dimension and distribution of desertification in each continent, process of desertification, prevention and remedial measures.  Special emphasis is given to desertification in the Middle East.

Prerequisite: GEOL 201 or equivalent

ENVS 517: Exploration Geophysics for Environmental           (3-0-3)

     Applications                                                                                   

Basic geophysical techniques used in exploration and detection of environmental problems, emphasizing seismic, electric, and electromagnetic methods.

Prerequisite: GEOP 202 or equivalent

ENVS 521:  Applied Hydrogeology                                           (3-0-3)

The course will emphasize the quantitative evaluation of groundwater systems, including aquifer testing, steady and unsteady state flow equations, well field designs, and integration of ground-water and surface water systems. An introduction to geophysical and geochemical methods of exploration for planning and design of regional water resource investigations.

Prerequisite:  GEOL 423 or equivalent

ENVS 524:  Ground-Water Planning & Management              (3-0-3)

Darcy's law, theory and quantitative measurements of flow through porous and fractured media, application of digital models for aquifer simulation, waste disposal, salt water intrusion and control. Case histories in the management and protection of ground-water resources. Literature review and special field problems in resource developments.

Prerequisite:  GEOL 423 or equivalent

ENVS 527:  Environmental Risk Assessment                          (2-3-3)

Introduction to the theories of probability and sampling, application of statistical methods for environmental pollution monitoring; design of spatial and temporal stochastic models; concepts of uncertainty analysis and risk assessment and their applications in environmental analysis.

Prerequisite:  CHEM 102 and GEOL 201 or equivalent

ENVS 531:  GIS Applications in Geology                                (2-3-3)

Introduction to the GIS.  Type of geological and remote sensing data used in GIS and data preparation for GIS studies.  Uses of GIS in mineral and hydrocarbon exploration, and in solving environmental problems and environmental studies.  Spatial relationship and geological associations.

Prerequisite:  GEOL 305 or equivalent

ENVS 534:  Geomorphology                                                        (3-0-3)

Study of landforms along with the agents and processes that produce them.  Geomorphology of selected regions, etc., geomorphic provinces.

Prerequisite:  GEOL 201 or equivalent

ENVS 537:  Photogeology and Remote Sensing                      (2-3-3)

Stereoscopic interpretation of topographic and geologic features; methods of delineating formational contacts, faults, and other geologic features.  Estimation of dip and strike on air photos.  Application of multispectral imagery including infra-red multispectral photography, radar, and other techniques to geological environments.  A visit to the department of photogrammetry in the Ministry of Petroleum and Minerals will be made is necessary.

Prerequisite:  GEOL 305 or equivalent

ENVS 541:    Analytical Geochemistry                                         (3-0-3)

Analytical techniques presently available for geochemical correlation purposes have increased dramatically both in number and level of sophistication.  This course focuses on the recent advancements in correlation techniques such as gas chromatography and mass-spectrometry (GC, GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, and MS/MS), principles and analytical applications of modern molecular and atomic spectroscopy.  Ultraviolet, visible, infrared, luminescence and scattering techniques.  Flame, plasma, arc and spark emission, atomic absorption and atomic fluorescence techniques. X-ray diffraction, nuclear magnetic resonance and isotopic ratio techniques.

Prerequisite:  ENVS 520 or consent of the Instructor

ENVS 544:    Organic Geochemistry                                            (3-0-3)

The objective of this course is to provide an up-to-date overview on the composition of the biosphere, both chemically and isotopically, thus affording a perspective on the nature and fate of organic compounds that may be preserved in the geosphere.  The course focuses on the early diagenesis of organic matter and its consequences for the application of molecular biomarkers; kerogen and related materials; and application of organic geochemical methods for hydrocarbon exploration.  The application of organic geochemistry in quaternary research and an assessment of present-day problems and future perspectives in organic geochemistry are discussed.

Prerequisite: ENVS 520 or consent of the Instructor

ENVS 547:  Environmental Pollution                                        (3-0-3)

The course will mainly deal with problems related to marine pollution. Some of the topics are: different marine habitats, sources of marine pollution, types of pollution, effects of pollution on marine life, prevention and remedies for problems of pollution.

Prerequisite:  ENVS 520 or consent of the Instructor

ENVS 551:  Environmental Geochemistry                              (3-0-3)

Interaction of water with minerals and organic compounds at the low temperature of many environmental settings. Emphasis on understanding groundwater compositions and capacity for transporting metals and organic solutes in the groundwater. Species classification, mass transport, surface reactions, contaminant sources, and remediation methods.

Prerequisite: ENVS 520 or consent of the Instructor

ENVS 554:  Environmental Ecology                                         (3-0-3)

The goal of this course is a better understanding of resource- sharing among communities, and basic and fundamental concepts of terrestrial and aquatic environments. Global changes and nutrient cycling, nutrient availability and how resource competition among individuals within a community affects the distribution and abundance of organisms and human interactions. It also focuses on primary production, decomposition, and microbial ecology.

Prerequisite: ENVS 530 or consent of the Instructor

ENVS 557: Environmental Physics                                           (3-0-3)

Physical principles used in the assessment, prevention or reduction of environmental problems. Main themes include energy sources, energy and mass transport, and pollution in soil, water and air.

Prerequisite: PHYS 201 or 212 or equivalent

ENVS 561:  Health Physics                                                       (3-3- 4)

Physical and biological aspects of the use of ionizing radiation in industrial and academic institutions; physical principles underlying shielding instrumentation, waste disposal; biological effects of low levels of ionizing radiation, lecture and lab.

Prerequisite: PHYS 102 or equivalent

ENVS 564: Statistical Methods in Environmental  Researches

                                                                                                     (3-0-3)

Role of statistics in scientific research, particularly environmental. Different statistical methods and their application in environmental studies, experimental design; inference and modeling. Solutions to environmental  problems based on statistical methods and modeling.

Prerequisite: STAT 201 or equivalent