Overview

Issues concerning our health and environment have become increasingly important in recent years. Ozone depletion, the “greenhouse effect,” heavy metal poisoning, and acid rain are only a few controversial items that have come to the public's attention through the media. Often “facts” are (intentionally or unintentionally) misrepresented, overdramatized, or taken out of context. It becomes difficult to weigh the importance of much of this information when one is constantly bombarded by media sensationalism.

It has become increasingly important for young scientists not only to become aware of environmental and health issues, but also to be well informed about them. This course offers students the most reliable and recent scientific information available so that they may draw independent and informed conclusions about environmental issues.

Environmental chemistry is a multidisciplinary subject covering such fields as meteorology, engineering, geology, ethics, politics, physics, medicine, toxicology, and chemistry.

Evaluation

To receive credit for CHEM 330, you must achieve a course composite grade of at least "D" (50 percent), an average of 60 percent on the assignments, a grade of at least 45 percent on each of the examinations, and a grade of at least 60 percent on the term paper. The weighting of the composite grade is as follows:

To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University's online Calendar.

Course Materials

Textbook

Environmental Chemistry, 2nd ed., by Colin Baird. New York: W. H Freeman and Company, 1999.

Solutions Manual for Environmental Chemistry, 2nd ed., by Colin Baird. New York: W. H Freeman and Company, 2000.

Other materials

The course materials also include a study guide, student manual, and a assignment manual.