GENERAL INFORMATION
Ms. Va Dany, Head, Environmental Science,
e-mail: vadany@hotmail.com, tel: 011-876-037
Mr. Saneth Vathna, Deputy Head, Environmental Science,
e-mail: svathna@hotmail.com, tel: 011-887-504
Room: #112A, Campus I

Introduction
Knowledge of environmental science is important particularly in Cambodia, where many natural resources and infrastructure have been destroyed by war. The lack of implementation and enforcement of environmental laws is another obstacle to environmental protection and conservation that is leading to unsustainable development. Therefore human resources in environmental science are vitally needed to push works toward maintaining safe, healthy and sustainable living standards for the whole population of Cambodia.In Cambodia, there are many jobs waiting for students with a degree in Environmental Science, including teaching, work at the Ministry of Environment or environmental work at wide range of NGOs and in the private sector. (back to top)

Background
In 1993, the Royal Government of Cambodia established the Ministry of Environment with the aim of trying to curtail Cambodia's many environmental problems. At the time, there was no center where Cambodians could be trained in environmental management.To meet this demand, in 1995, with assistance from the Canadian Embassy, the Royal University of Phnom Penh ran a one-year Postgraduate Certificate in Environmental Studies. Experts from non-governmental and international organizations and government agencies came to voluntarily lecture with the aim of training the students in turn to become lecturers and activists in the environmental field.
(back to top)

Admission
High School Certificate or equivalent qualification and the National University Entrance examination with pass in Culture, Chemistry and Biology. (back to top)

Assessment
Students are assessed through practical experience such as lab work and field research as well as group research and examinations. (back to top)

Resources
The department houses a small library, laboratories and computer for student use. (back to top)

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
GENERAL EDUCATION

English
Years I-III
As most textbooks and research books in Cambodia are written in English, foreign language acquisition is essential for professors and students alike who want to increase their skills and knowledge levels. (back to top)

Fundamentals of Sociology
Year I
Students discover sociological perspectives on knowledge and apply their insight to social and personal issues that they face in their everyday life. Includes theories on social issues and the behavior of man, and methods for solving community problems.

Khmer Culture and Society
Year I
Examines the meaning and value of the Khmer culture, and its influences on other nations. Emphasis is on religion, Khmer culture in each period, and the flow of foreign culture in it. Enhances appreciation of the Khmer country and culture and reflects on the role of people in building their own country.

Cambodian History
Year I
Examines Khmer history and the evolution of the social structure of Cambodia through such topics as culture, civilization, economics, finance, agriculture, social security, education, arts, industry, architecture, and government policies.

Introduction to Logic
Year I
Students develop their ability in mathematical reasoning and in reading and writing proofs. Topics include deductive reasoning, variables and sets, conditional and biconditional connectives, quantifiers, proof strategies, relations and functions, and mathematical induction.

General Mathematics I & II
Year I
Students learn about physical quantities related to the environment such as area, length, mass, temperature and acceleration. First semester students study algebraic relationships and operations, domain and range, quadratic functions, composite functions, co-ordinate geometry, differentiation, permutations and combinations, areas and volumes, trigonometric functions, series, and solutions of equations. Second semester students learn about trigonometric identities, vectors, matrices, transformation geometry, coordinate geometry, curve sketching, differentiation, and integration.

General Chemistry I & II
Year I
Students gain a basic understanding of chemistry and learn methods for studying the chemical phenomena occurring on the earth, in water, and in the atmosphere. Topics include matter, atoms and atomic bonding, reactions of ions in solution, measurements and moles, gases, liquids and solids, solutions and solubility, chemical families, energy changes in chemical reactions, electrons in transition electrochemistry, kinetics, dynamic chemical equilibrium, and acids-bases equilibrium.

Using Library Resources
Year I
Students learn how to use reference books, such as encyclopaedias, atlases and dictionaries, and how to find information using technologies such as the Internet, e-mail, CD-ROM, video and microfiche.

PC Applications
Year I
Students gain knowledge in MS Word and Excel Programs. Students gain practical and theoretical knowledge in how to use and create texts, tables, pictures, WordArt, calculations, graphics and MS Access database program. (back to top)

BASIC REQUIREMENTS

Laboratory Techniques I
Year I
Students learn methods of research and analysis in laboratories. Covers the fundamental concepts in laboratory operation, including rules, safety, common lab equipment, cleaning processes, formulas, calculations, and lab report writing.

General Biology I & II
Year I
Semester one is about the biology of cells and origin of life, from the early theories to the modern uses and harmful effects. Semester two is about the biology of organisms and ecosystems, their relationships to one another, behaviours and how they change, as well as organisms that are useful and harmful. There is a practical course of experiments related to the theory for biological students.

General Chemistry Lab
Year I

General Geography
Year I
Covers fundamental knowledge on the planet Earth: its size, shape and motion in solar and galaxy systems; its atmosphere and effects on soil, plants, river water, and climate; the natural distribution of water; and human activities related to land, atmosphere and water.

General Physics I and II
Year II
Covers basic theories in physics such as mechanics, kinetics, electrostatics and wave motion.

Statistics I and II
Year II
Introduces students to practical applications in statistics, including statistical measures and descriptions of data, probability, distributions of random variables, discrete probability distributions, normal distribution, sampling theory, estimation of parameters, tests of hypotheses, regression and correlation, analysis of variance, and nonparametric statistics.

General Biology Lab
Year II

Organic Chemistry
Year II
Students learn about the fundamentals of organic chemistry, including the structure and properties of organic compounds, bonding and molecular structure, chemical reactivity, conformation, and stereochemistry. They also study homology, nomenclature, preparation and properties of hydrocarbons (alkanes, alkenes, alkynes and dienes, cyclic hydrocarbons, Alkyl Halides).

Population Geography
Year II
Examines the relationship between population and the national economy and problems caused by population growth, especially in developing countries. Students gain knowledge on population transition and projection, demographic indicators, effects of emigration and immigration, population distribution, living conditions, and population breakdowns by age, sex, and groups.

Ecology
Year II
Students learn how the quality of life in Cambodia can be improved through understanding the relationship between organisms and their environment. Students gain an appreciation of nature, an understanding of the advantages of maintaining a diversity of species, methods in preserving and managing nature and skills in surveying nature and solving environmental problems.

Introduction to the Environment
Year II
Introduces students to the interdisciplinary nature of environmental science. Topics include pollution, population problems, energy, and the natural environment.

MAJOR COURSES

Urban Environment
Year II
Examines concepts and issues in urbanization with an emphasis on Phnom Penh. Topics include economic development and environment; environmental challenges; urban environmental, wastewater and solid waste management; urban land use, planning, and governance; transportation; and air, water, noise and odor pollution.

Aquatic Resource Management
Year II
Students learn about management of aquatic resources in natural waters, particularly fisheries. Topics include stock assessment, recruitment, population dynamics and productivity; sustainable yield, harvesting technologies, product processing and marketing and socioeconomic importance.

Solid Waste Management
Year II
Examines generation, handling, separation, processing and storage of solid waste; collection systems; transport; recycling and resources recovery; legislation; field practice and appropriate disposal of solid waste.

Research Methodology
Year II
Explores research processes in scientific research, including categories of research, selection and refinement of research topics, literature reviews, conceptual frameworks, operation alienation, data collection methodologies, data analysis; interpretation; and presentation of research findings.

Environmental Chemistry and Lab. I and II
Year III
Covers sources, reactions, transportation, fate of chemical species in the environment, and influence of human activities. Includes methods of determination of physical, chemical characteristics of water and wastewater, air, and solid waste, and interpretation and application of data.

Air Pollution and Climate Change Issues I and II
Year III
Examines toxic air pollutants, including definitions, sources, effects and control measures, and indoor air pollution. Students learn about climate issues such as acid rain, greenhouse gases emission, and ozone layer depletion. Includes basic principles in designing control devices, mitigation and adaptation on climate change vulnerability.

Environmental Ethics
Year III
Students gain a basic understanding through exploring various perspectives and philosophies concerning the natural environment and resource utilization in order to develop their own ethical perspectives. Emphasizes the human factor in addressing natural resource issues.

Urban Infrastructure and Services
Year III
Examines infrastructure and services in urban areas, particularly Phnom Penh. Explores topics on water supply, sanitation, drainage and wastewater treatment; electricity and gas supply, solid waste collection; urban transportation, health, communication and governance; security service; road and traffic management; land and housing management; finance and bank services.

Water Resource Management
Year III
Examines major concepts in water resources management, including fresh water resources and ecosystems, assessments of fresh water quality in lakes and rivers, strategies for water pollution control, monitoring, management planning, and legislation.

Project Planning and Implementation
Year III
Examines the role of projects in development and the relationship between policies, plans and projects, particularly of non-government organizations. Students learn about project identification; the logical framework approach, preparation of project proposals, appraisals and selection of projects, planning for implementation, monitoring and evaluation.

Environmental Law
Year III
Reviews Cambodia's legal system. Students learn about legal concepts, the role of the judiciary, procedural aspects of environmental law, sources and the nature and scope of laws, policies for the protection of environment, legal theories for suing polluters, methods of proof in environmental mitigation, the role of international agencies in environmental protection, and international environmental law.

Agricultural Development, Planning and Sustainable Agriculture
Year III
Examines the role of agriculture in development, particularly sustainable agriculture. Students learn about small- and large-scale agricultural products, agricultural development policies, agora-ecosystem analysis and regional agricultural planning, options and development of alternatives, the concept of sustainable agriculture and ecological agriculture.

Basic Concepts in Environmental Economics
Year III
Students examine efforts to incorporate environmental concerns into development work. From an economic perspective, students discuss the causes of environmental degradation and understand conceptual frameworks for the organization of information in order to enhance environmental decision-making, and gain an overview of economic methods that assist in the valuation of environmental legislation in different countries.

Environmental Impact Assessment I
Year IV
Students learn how to use the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) tool for controlling, monitoring, evaluating and reducing negative impacts on the environment.

Environmental Pollution and Health Impacts I and II
Year IV
By examining global experiences and solutions, students gain vital knowledge on environmental pollution, urgently needed for susceptible countries like Cambodia. They study health impacts arising from lack of sanitation and safe water supply, water-borne diseases, human excreta, solid waste, air pollution and pesticides.

Environmental Policy
Year IV
Students learn how a country's ability to protect the environment depends on social and economic forces and practices in local businesses and communities, not only government policies. Students examine environments, models, and implications in Asia and South East Asia. Policies are on resource and resistance, waste management, pollution management, environmental health, freshwater, natural resources conservation, energy, as well as bank policies such as green banking.

Sustainable Forest Management and Policy
Year IV
Students gain an understanding of natural protection and conservation by participating in the national reforestation program, where they conduct field visits to forest areas or forest concessions. They are introduced to basic concepts in forestry management and conservation. They study the effects of policies and laws on community forestry management, the role of NGO' s and the media in influencing government policies and laws on community forestry, and the local politics of large-scale logging projects. Students link indigenous knowledge with modern policies to establish creative co-management in community forestry development.

Wastewater Pollution Control
Year IV
Students are introduced to wastewater pollution control strategies and techniques in order to solve problems of improper wastewater discharge. Topics include sources, classification and characteristics of wastewater; effects of wastewater; the state of wastewater in Asia and the Pacific; wastewater treatment units and processes; natural systems for wastewater treatment; standards and incentives for wastewater pollution control; wastewater monitoring; waste minimization and cleaner production; waste audit; and wastewater recycling and reuse.

Integrated Natural Resource Management Planning and Applications
Year IV
Students examine a range of approaches, tools and planning techniques, and the experiences and solutions of other developing nations, for creating strategies and plans for natural resource conservation and sustainable development in Cambodia. Students learn how natural resources have been under severe threat due to unplanned development activities and scarce resources will soon be exhausted if immediate attention is not paid.

Environmental Impact Assessment II
Year IV
This course further examines EIA, focusing on issues, guidelines and environmental protection measurements in industry, agriculture, forestry, coastal and municipal pollution management in Cambodia. Students study design concepts and alternative strategies for impact reduction, and learn to prepare IEE and EIA statements. (back to top)

Curriculum
*Explanation: The code 3(2-1) indicates the study load and number of credits. In this example:
'3'= number of credits, '2' = number of lecture hours, and '1' = number of tutorial or practical hours.

YEAR ONE
Semester One		Semester Two
General Education		General Education
English I	2(6-0)	English II	2(6-0)
Fundamentals of Sociology	2(2-0)	Using Library Resources	1(1-0)
Khmer Culture and Society	2(2-0)	General Mathematics II	3(3-0)
Cambodian History	3(3-0)	PC Applications	3(2-2)
Introduction to Logic	1(1-0)	Basic Requirements
General Mathematics I	3(3-0)	General Chemistry Laboratory	1(0-3)
General Chemistry I	3(3-0)	General Geography	3(3-0)
Basic Requirements		General Biology II	3(3-0)
Laboratory Techniques I	1(0-3)	General Chemistry II	3(3-0)
General Biology I	3(3-0)
Total	20 Credits		19 Credits

YEAR TWO
Semester One		Semester Two
General Education		General Education
English III	2(6-0)	English IV	2(6-0)
Basic Requirements		Basic Requirements
General Physics I	3(3-0)	General Physics II	3(3-0)
Statistics I	3(3-0)	Statistics II	3(3-0)
General Biology Laboratory	1(0-3)	Major Courses
Organic Chemistry	3(3-0)	Urban Environment	3(3-0)
Population Geography	3(3-0)	Aquatic Resource Management	3(3-0)
Ecology	3(3-0)	Solid Waste Management	3(3-0)
Introduction to the Environment	3(3-0)	Research Methodology	3(3-0)
Total	21 Credits		20 Credits

YEAR THREE
Semester One		Semester Two
General Education		General Education
English V	2(6-0)	English VI	2(6-0)
Major Courses		Major Courses
Environmental Chemistry and Laboratory I	4(3-3)	Environmental Chemistry and Laboratory II	4(3-3)
Air Pollution and Climate Change Issues I	3(3-0)	Air Pollution and Climate Change Issues II	3(3-0)
Environmental Ethics	3(3-0)	Environmental Law	3(3-0)
Urban Infrastructure and Services	3(3-0)	Agricultural Development Planning and Sustainable Agriculture	3(3-0)
Water Resource Management	3(3-0)	Basic Concepts in Environmental Economics	3(3-0)
Project Planning and Implementation	3(3-0)
Total	21 Credits		18 Credits

YEAR FOUR
Semester One		Semester Two
Major Courses		Major Courses
Environmental Impact Assessment I	3(3-0)	Environmental Impact Assessment II	3(3-0)
Environmental Pollution and Health Impacts I	3(3-0)	Environmental Pollution and Health Impacts II	3(3-0)
Environmental Policy	3(3-0)	Group Research	10 Credits
Sustainable Forest Management and Policy	3(3-0)
Wastewater Pollution Control	3(3-0)
Integrated Natural Resource Management and Planning	3(3-0)
Total	18 Credits		16 Credits

(back to top)