|
|
|
|
|
DoES The
Department of Environmental Science (DoES) was
established with the inception of the Junior College of the The
DoES is presently staffed by four full-time
lecturers and one part-time lecturer who service approximately 640
students. The principal course offered by DoES
leads students to the Intermediate Level examination in Environmental Science
(unit code IM11) offered by the Who can take this course? Course
IM11 is open to all students who are in possession of the minimal
qualifications required by the Junior College. Who usually takes this course? In
practice, the bulk of students registering for IM11 are majors in arts,
languages or humanities who are looking to add some science (most usually, quite
unwillingly) to their list of qualifications. The What if I'm not particularly enamoured
of science? No
matter. Most people who have taken this course in the past weren't
particularly keen on science either. Many applicants tend to conjure up
visions of physics or mathematics from their secondary school days.
Most of the material that shall be covered is probably new to most students.
If you're interested in earthquakes, plate tectonics, pollution, weather,
climate and genetics, amongst many other topics, then this course should
appeal to you. But do I have to do any of that stuff again? Some,
yes, but by no means all. The programme of
work being offered to students tends to focus on everyday problems and
situations that most people would probably be familiar with anyway.
However, an ability to appreciate such situations necessitates a solid
grounding in basic science. Such a foundation is supplied during the
first year of the course. The second year of the course is taken up
with using such basic principles as tools to interpret the dynamics of the
natural environment. So it should be interesting..... Interesting,
yes. But not by any means trivial. What
background knowledge do the lecturers assume ? Would you be trying to ram all that conservation and animal
rights stuff down our throats ? No, of course not. This is a course in
environmental science not in environmentalism. You shall, first
and foremost, follow a course in science. The rise of environmentalism
is obviously discussed in the course, as is also conservation biology.
But students are generally left to make up their own minds about any social attitudes
arising from their studies. OK, interesting stuff. But at the end of the day I'll
have to sit for an exam.... What sort of grades did previous students obtain? Do I
stand any chance of making it? You
certainly do. Our pass rates have been consistently high over the past
decade. You can view recent
examination performances here. What about instruction? Who lectures on the course? No
problem with that. The DoES presently
comprises four full-time lecturers, all of whom possess high-level
qualifications (i.e. postgrad degrees or diplomas)
in this field. Just as importantly, all four are qualified teachers and
also hold additional degrees or certificates in education. We are well
aware of the difficulties that students may encounter and are therefore available
for individual tutorials at any time. All you have to do is to ask for
an appointment. Perhaps. But you're saying all this. What
was the student response to this course? Has it been a popular course? Rather.
We regularly enroll in excess of 600 students every year. I'm tempted.... Pop
into our office at any time (Room 160, Junior College) and whoever may be
there would be happy to furnish you with more information. |
[HOME | UNIVERSITY HOME | JUNIOR COLLEGE | AREAS & SUBJECTS
| SEARCH ]
[ABOUT | STAFF | RESEARCH | LECTURE NOTES | STUDENTS' WORK
| NOTICE BOARD ]
|
E-mail us at envsci@jc.um.edu.mt |
|
|
|
|