Our Changing Planet, 7.5 credits

Main field of study

Course level

Advancement level

Course offered for

• Master´s Programme in Science for Sustainable Development

Entry requirements

• Bachelor's degree equivalent to a Swedish Kandidatexamen in one of the following areas: 
  - natural sciences, 
  - social sciences, 
  - humanities or
  - engineering
• 15 ECTS credits passed in environmental sciences, sustainable development, or equivalent.
• English corresponding to the level of English in Swedish upper secondary education (English 6)
  Exemption from Swedish

Intended learning outcomes

After completion of the course, the student should on an advanced level be able to:

• Investigate the implications of how the Earth is viewed and known as a system
• Discuss structures and functions of Earth systems, including physical, chemical, and biological sub-systems, 
• Describe and apply fundamental concepts of drivers and trends of environmental change,
• Analyse how earth system processes relate to sustainability challenges and global environmental changes. 
• Critically evaluate design and methodology for studying earth system processes and environmental changes.
• Communicate the relevant knowledge within earth system processes and environmental changes orally and in text. 

Course content

The course explores the ways in which the Earth continually changes through complex interrelationships between energy, matter and human activities in the fluid, solid and living Earth. The course will begin by investigating how the Earth is viewed and known as a system and related implications for how global environmental problems are represented. Fundamental processes related with biogeochemical cycles, feedback loops, regulation and sustainability will be analyzed. A critical evaluation of these processes and interactions will be undertaken to determine their role in global environmental changes and to what extent they link with sustainability challenges and planetary boundaries. The course examines how Earth system changes are studied, monitored and estimated.

Teaching and working methods

Teaching and working methods include lectures, laboratory activities, seminars, group works and written individual and group assignments. In addition, students undertake self-studies.

Teaching and examination language: English

Examination

The course is examined through:

• active participation in seminars and laboratory works. Grading scale: Pass/Fail
• group written assignments, presentation and opposition. Grading scale: Pass/Fail
• individual written assignment. Grading scale: ECTS

For a final passing grade (E) on the course, Pass grade is required for active participation in seminars and laboratory works and for group written assignments, presentation and opposition as well as at least E for the individual written assignment. Higher grade will be based on the individual written assignment. Detailed information can be found in the course handbook.

If special circumstances prevail, and if it is possible with consideration of the nature of the compulsory component, the examiner may decide to replace the compulsory component with another equivalent component. 

If the LiU coordinator for students with disabilities has granted a student the right to an adapted examination for a written examination in an examination hall, the student has the right to it. If the coordinator has instead recommended for the student an adapted examination or alternative form of examination, the examiner may grant this if the examiner assesses that it is possible, based on consideration of the course objectives.

Students failing an exam covering either the entire course or part of the course twice are entitled to have a new examiner appointed for the reexamination.

Students who have passed an examination may not retake it in order to improve their grades.

Grades

Other information

Planning and implementation of a course must take its starting point in the wording of the syllabus. The course evaluation included in each course must therefore take up the question how well the course agrees with the syllabus. 

The course is carried out in such a way that both men´s and women´s experience and knowledge is made visible and developed.

Department