COURSE SPECIFICATION FORM,
approved by the Academic Council 17.06.2015 (#39)
SECTION A: DEFINITIVE
Items in this section may be reviewed and developed within Schools as part of the Annual Program
Monitoring Process and in line with the Guidelines to Modifications to Programs and Courses.
1. General course information
1.1 School: SSH
1.6 Credits (ECTS): 6
1.2 Course Title: Environmental Biology
1.7 Course Code: BIOL 333
Pre-requisites: BIOL courses with letter grades of
Effective from:
1.3
no less than C including MBio II
1.8 (year) 2020
1.4 Co-requisites: N/A
Programs:
_______________________________________
Bachelor of Science
Program in Biological
Core
Elective
1.5
Sciences
(in which the course
is offered)
2. Course description (max.150 words)
This course covers a foundational material on ecosystems, biodiversity, environmental
microbiology and toxicology. Terrestrial, freshwater and marine ecosystems. Bioinvasions.
Metagenomics and whole genomic sequencing methods in environmental microbiology.
Approaches used to identify, evaluate, and manage ecological risks of chemicals on aquatic and
terrestrial environments; emphasis on methods useful to assess effects of contaminants on
ecosystems; testing techniques, site assessment and monitoring procedures. Global distribution of
pollutants and its effects on near and remote ecosystems. Field studies, biomarkers, stable isotope
and various spectral and imaging techniques for evaluating ecosystems and pollutant hazards on
wildlife. GIS, examples of satellite data analysis in relation to ecosystems research.
3. Summative assessment methods (tick if applicable):
3.1 Examination
3.5 Presentation
3.2 Term paper
3.6 Peer-assessment
3.3 Project
3.7 Essay
3.4 Laboratory Practicum
3.8 Other (specify)
____________
4. Course aims
1) Broaden the knowledge of the students in the field of environmental science with emphasis on
environmental microbiology and toxicology, as well as methods to study the environment
2) Strengthen scientific writing and presenting skills
3) Strengthen professional language
5. Course learning outcomes (CLOs)
5.1 By the end of the course the student will be expected to be able to:
1) Students will outline different concepts of biodiversity and discuss spatial and
temporal aspects of biodiversity;
2) Students will apply knowledge of the sciences within an interdisciplinary context in
solving environmental issues such as environmental health, food and agriculture,
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COURSE SPECIFICATION FORM,
approved by the Academic Council 17.06.2015 (#39)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)
energy, waste and pollution, climate change, population, resource management, and
loss of biodiversity.
Students will be able to apply general principles of ecology and evolution to
ecological and environmental data, hypotheses, problems and controversies.
Students will learn basic principles of environmental toxicology.
Students will apply the tools commonly used in field research, particularly in
the study of water bodies; and will learn basics how to find their way on the
landscape using map, compass and GPS technology, and use spatial analysis software
such as GIS, Google Earth and Google Maps.
Students will carry out an applied research project in the environmental sciences.
Students will practice how to communicate science effectively through written
work and oral presentations, prepare a scientific report in the form of the poster and
present it
5.2
CLO
ref #
1
2
3
Program Learning Outcome(s) to
which CLO is linked
4. Demonstrate knowledge of the
natural and social studies
7. Use research skills and methods to
complete projects
1. Communicate fluently in the
English language
Graduate Attribute(s) to which
CLO is linked
2. Be intellectually agile, curious,
creative and open-minded
1. Possess an in-depth and
sophisticated understanding of their
domain of study
2. Be intellectually agile, curious,
creative and open-minded
5. Be fluent and nuanced
communicators across languages
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COURSE SPECIFICATION FORM,
approved by the Academic Council 17.06.2015 (#39)
1
6.
6.1
6.2
7.
Detailed course information
Academic Year: 2019-2020
Semester: Summer 2020
Course leader and teaching staff
Position
Name
6.3
6.4
Schedule (class days, time):
Location (building, room):
Office
#
Course Leader
Natalie Barteneva
7E522
Course Instructor(s)
Natalie Barteneva
7E522
Teaching Assistant(s)
8. Course Outline
Session
Date
(tentative)
2 (TBD)
N/A
1
Office hours/or
by appointment
Natalie.barteneva@
nu.edu.kz
Natalie.barteneva@
nu.edu.kz
None
Any week day by
appointment
Any week day by
appointment
N/A
Topics and Assignments
Intro in Environmental Biology.
Biodiversity 1-2
Ecosystem. Quantitative analysis of population
dynamics 1-2
Marine evolutionary biology. Ocean. Freshwater
and Salt lakes. Aral sea catastrophe.
Eutrophication. Cyanobacteria. Guest Speaker.
2
3
4
5
6
Contact
information
During the
course
Practical session and water sample collection
Course Aims
(ref. # only,
see item 4)
1
1,2
1,2,3
CLOs
1
1
1
1,2,3
1
1,2,3
1
1,2,3
1
7
8
Environmental microbiology. I
1,2,3
1
Environmental microbiology and emerging
1,2,3
1
diseases
9
During the Practical session. Methods of water samples
1,2,3
1
Course
analysis (remote access or demo)
10
Environmental toxicology
1,2,3
1
11
Pollution.
1,2,3
1
12
Ecological Risk assessment.
1,2,3
1
13
During the GIS and satellite data analysis in relation to
1,2,3
1
course
ecosystems.
14
Poster session. Presentations.
1,2,3
2,3
15.
Final Exam
1,2,3
1,2,3
9. Learning and Teaching Methods (briefly describe the approaches to teaching and learning to be employed
in the course)
1
Instructor’s lecture and participant’s discussion
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COURSE SPECIFICATION FORM,
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2
3
Facilitator mode
Independent individual directed research and reading
10. Summative Assessments
#
Activity
1
2
3
Final exam
Poster presentations
Class participation, project and
practical participation
11. Grading
Letter Grade
Percent range
A
95-100
A90-94.9
B
85-89.9
B
80-84.9
B75-79.9
C
70-74.9
C
65-69.9
C60-64.9
D
55-59.9
Date
(tentative)
TBA
TBA
Weighting (%)
40%
40%
20%
CLOs
1-3
1-3
1-3
Grade description (where applicable)
Excellent, exceeds the highest standards
Excellent, meets the highest standards
Very good, meet high standards
Good, meet most of standards
More than adequate
Acceptable, meets basic standards
Acceptable, meets some of the basic standards
Acceptable, but falls short of some basic standards
Minimally acceptable, falling short of meeting many basic
standards
D
50-54.9
Minimally acceptable, lowest passing grade
F
0-49.9
Failing, very poor performance
12. Learning resources (use a full citation and where the texts/materials can be accessed)
E-resources, including,
CyanoHABs website; NASA Global Climate Change
but not limited to:
(climate.nasa.gov); IUCN Red list of threatened species
databases, animations,
(iucnredlist.org); United Nations Environment network
simulations, professional
(unenvironment.org);
blogs, websites, other ereference materials (e.g.
video, audio, digests)
E-textbooks
(1) Marine conservation biology; Ed. E.A. Norse; Selected
Chapters; https://www.amazon.com/Marine-ConservationBiology-Maintaining-Biodiversity-dp1559636629/dp/1559636629/ref=mt_paperback?_encoding=UT
F8&me=&qid=1582728025
Laboratory physical
Mobile spectrometer and multimeters; cytometer; imaging flow
resources
cytometer
Special software programs GIS-related programs; Argis and open sources software
Journals (inc. e-journals)
Nature Global Change; Environmental Research; Nature; Science;
eLIFE
Text books
13. Course expectations
Description of Exams Exams will include a variety of assessment types including multiple choice,
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COURSE SPECIFICATION FORM,
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true and false, compare and contrast, matching, and short essay questions. Students are expected to
understand and use proper English grammar, sentence structure, and spelling for essay questions. Use
of dictionaries during exams is NOT allowed. You may ask the instructor for definitions but not your
fellow students. Students are expected to have basic calculating skills that include fractions, decimals,
exponents (e.g., squares & square roots, powers of ten) and the ability to solve simple algebraic
expressions. In addition, they must be able to add, subtract, multiply, and divide small numbers without
a calculator.
Policy for missing an exam and exam re-takes If a midterm exam cannot be taken when it is
scheduled, students are required to inform the professor by email prior to the date and time of an exam
or test. No retakes of midterm exams will be given for any reason. If an exam is missed and if an
appropriate excuse is provided by a student , then the next test score will be applied to the missed test.
This can only be done for one exam. If a student misses more than one exam, a student will receive a
zero on the other missed exams. An excuse documentation must be submitted to the dean's office for
approval. If the last exam is missed and an appropriate excuse is provided, then the grade from the
previous exam will be applied for the last missed exam. If an exam is missed without an appropriate
excuse, a grade zero will be assigned for missed exam.
Excused Absence is when a student misses classes for a one of the following documented reasons
such as personal illness, family emergency, school approved absences such as conference, Olympiad,
or other academic event. I will require an e-mail confirmation from the school administration about
approval of your absence excuse. This means that a written excuse document for the missed classes
must be presented to a dean's office and this document will be required to be approved by the dean's
office.
Unexcused Absence occurs when a student deliberately misses a class without an excuse. A student
will be considered absent without an excuse for a lecture session or for an exam if the exam is
conducted on that particular day.
Missing Final exam Final exam cannot be missed. If a final exam is missed, a student will be required
to provide the appropriate excuse to the dean's office in order to obtain a permission of the dean and of
the department chair to take exam at different time.
Challenge of grade Any challenge of a grade must occur within 1 week of receiving the score. No
reconsideration will be given after this point.
Attendance Policy Attendance at lectures is mandatory. Absences from a lecture, due to illness or
family emergency, can only be formally excused by a note from a medical professional or by a
documented proof. If a student is over 10 minutes late, or if a student leaves half way through class,
he/she will be counted as absent for that class. If you are tardy for three (3) times it would be
equivalent to one (1) absence. We are required to record the attendance at each class session, and we
will count the number of signatures relative to the number of bodies to identify falsification. Students
who have been accepted to the Nazarbayev University are expected to be diligent and responsible
students. Students are expected to attend all class sessions that is 100% of the classes should be
attended in order to pass the class. Your attendance grade will reflect all unexcused absences.
Tardiness and decorum policies Please make every effort to be on time for lectures. If you are late
for class, please enter with minimal disruption to other students: sit in the back row and quietly get out
any necessary materials. Cell phones should be turned off during class time and talking should be
limited to class discussion.
Electronic resources You are expected to regularly check your Nazarbayev University email for
updates and announcements about this course. You are also required to use Moodle as determined by
the instructor.
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COURSE SPECIFICATION FORM,
approved by the Academic Council 17.06.2015 (#39)
Special Accommodations If you have a disability, which requires special accommodations, please
contact me early in the semester so that special arrangements may be made.
14. Academic Integrity Statement
Nazarbayev University and The School of Science and Humanities considers cheating (which includes
plagiarism, ghostwriting, collusion or copying) to be unacceptable and dishonest practice. Any students
caught cheating will receive an automatic grade of 'F' and will be reported to the Dean of SSH for
further penalties. Egregious cases, or a second offense, can result in failure of the course. To avoid the
perception of cheating, you are strongly advised to turn off your cell phone or other communication
devices (unless otherwise requested) and store it in your bag or locker. Use of dictionaries during
quizzes and exams is NOT allowed.
15. E-Learning
If the content of the course and instruction will be delivered (or partially delivered) via digital and
online media, consult with the Head of Instructional Technology to complete this section and/or
provide a separate document complementary to this Template.
16. Approval and review
Date of Approval:
Minutes #:
Committee:
Date(s) of Approved Change:
Minutes #:
Committee:
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