Below are courses offered at the University of Alberta that relate to Water Research.
Biology Courses at the U of A
Biology 333 Wetland Ecology and Management. *3 (fi 6) (first term, 3-0-3). Wetland Ecology and Management. Introduction to the ecology of wetland ecosystems, communities and plants. Major topics include landscape features, hydrological and chemical cycles of wetlands, wetland communities and major flora and fauna. Emphasis will be on wetlands in Western Canada including the bog, fen and marsh systems in boreal Alberta, prairie and montane wetlands. Loss or alteration of wetlands due to human activity is documented. A field trip is required. Prerequisite: BIOL 108 and a 200-level Biological or Earth Sciences course. Credit may be obtained in only one of BOT 333 and BIOL 333. (This page contains a summary of information contained in the calendar. In case of discrepancy, the calendar is the final authority).
Biology 340 Global Biogeochemistry. *3 (fi 6) (second term, 3-0-0). Global Biogeochemistry. An introduction to biogeochemical cycles in the environment. Discusses processes and reactions governing cycles in the atmosphere, lithosphere, terrestrial ecosystems, freshwater wetlands and lakes, river estuaries, and the oceans. Outlines the global cycles of water, carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur. Group discussions will incorporate current topics in anthropogenic alterations of natural cycles that lead to ecosystem degradation. Prerequisites: CHEM 101 and BIOL 208; MICRB 265 strongly recommended.
Biology 364 Freshwater Ecology. *3 (fi 6) (first term, 3-1s-0). Freshwater Ecology. An introduction to the ecology of freshwater ecosystems. Lectures will examine the roles of biota in ecological patterns and processes in lakes, ponds, rivers, and streams, emphasizing north-temperate and boreal regions. Seminars will focus on recent papers from the primary literature. Designed to stand-alone or to provide a biological complement to BIOL 464. Prerequisite: BIOL 208.
Biology 381 Pollution Ecology.*3 (fi 6) (first term, 3-0-0). Pollution Biology.
The ecological impact of natural and anthropogenic pollutants on aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. The major groups of environmental pollutants and the phenomenon of long-range transport of pollutants are used as an introduction to several important global pollution problems. Lectures deal specifically with acid precipitation, metals in the environment, stratospheric ozone depletion, and the greenhouse effect, exploring effects on plants at the biochemical, physiological, ecological, and ecosystem levels. This background is then used to discuss issues such as forest decline, multiple plant stresses, biomagnification, global diversity, economics and politics of pollution control, progress toward pollution control, and progress toward pollution abatement. Prerequisite: A 200-level Biological Science course.
Biology 464 Limnology.*3 (fi 6) (second term, 3-0-3). Limnology.
Discussion of physical and chemical regimes in lakes, ecology of various aquatic organisms, calculation of hydraulic and chemical budgets, models used in lake management, and lake management problems such as acid rain and eutrophication. Prerequisite: A 300-level Biological Sciences course (BIOL 364 recommended) and *6 in University level Chemistry. Credit may be obtained for only one of ZOOL 464 and BIOL 464.
Biology 560 Current Problems in Ecology. *3 (fi 6) (either term, 0-3s-0). Current Problems in Ecology. Seminar and reading on current problems concerning selected aspects of ecology. More than one section may be available and topics change from year to year. Please consult the Department for current information. Credit for this course may be obtained more than once. Prerequisite: at least one 400-level ecology course.
Biology 664 Seminar in Aquatic Ecology.*1 (fi 2) (either term, 0-2s-0). Seminar in Aquatic Ecology. Credit may be obtained more than once.
Civil Engineering Courses at the U of A
Civ E 321 Principles of Environmental Modeling and Risk. *3.8 (fi 6) (3-0-3/2). Introduction modeling environmental processes to predict the movement of water and fate of contaminants in the hydrologic cycle. Principles of mass transfer, conservation of mass, environmental transformations, nutrient enrichment and depletion are developed. Introduction to storm events, rainfall, runoff, stream discharge and stormwater management. Applications of modeling results to the quantification of risk using examples from hydrology, water pollution and health protection and development of environmental regulations. Prerequisite: CIV E 221. Corequisite: CIV E 330.
CIV E 431 Water Resources Engineering. *3.8 (fi 6) (3-0-3/2). Hydrotechnical analysis, including: advanced open channel hydraulics; advanced surface water hydrology; groundwater and well hydraulics; and environmental hydraulics. Prerequisites: CIV E 321, 331. Credit cannot be obtained in this course if credit has already been obtained in CIV E 433.
CIV E 439 Water Resources Engineering Design. *4.5 (fi 6) (3-0-3). Design of hydraulic structures and river engineering works, including: dams, spillways, energy dissipators, bridges, culverts, erosion protection and river training works. Students work in teams on a design project. Prerequisite: CIV E 431 or both of CIV E 321 and 331.
CIV E 641 Advanced Surface Water Hydrology *3 (fi 6) (3-0-0). Precipitation, evaporation, infiltration. Streamflow and hydrograph analysis. Hydrologic systems. Hydrologic routing. Simulation models. Statistical methods.
CIV E 739 Advanced Topics in Fluid Mechanics and Hydraulics. *3 (fi 6) (3-0-0).
CIV E 749 Advanced Topics in Water Resources Engineering. *3.5 (fi 6) (3-0-1). Related Lab experiments.
Environmental and Conservation Science Courses at the U of A
ENCS 461 Climates and Ecosystems. *3 (first term, 3-2s-0). The basic principles by which the cycles of water, carbon, and nutrients through soils, plants, and the atmosphere are controlled in terrestrial ecosystems under different climates. Interrelationships among water, carbon and nutrient cycles in natural and managed ecosystems that have developed in different climatic zones. Environmental consequences of human intervention in the cycles for food and fibre production in different ecosystems. Prerequisite: SOILS 210. Recommended courses: PL SC 221 or BOT 240. Credit may not be obtained in both ENCS 361 and 461 [Renewable Resources]
Environmental Engineering Courses at the U of A
ENV E 320 Environmental Hydrology. *3.8 (fi 6) (3-0-3/2). Introduction to concepts in hydrology and hydrogeology. Hydrology topics include precipitation, evaporation, infiltration, streamflow, and hydrograph analysis. Hydrogeology topics include infiltration, percolation, seepage, drainage, aquifer hydraulics, and urban runoff quality. Prerequisite: CIV E 330; Corequisite: CIV E 331.
ENV E 421 Municipal Systems. *3.8 (fi 6) (3-0-3/2). Detailed and advanced design of water supply systems, sewerage, and storm drains. Rates of flow and hydraulics of networks and sewers, rainfall-runoff analysis, storm water storage, and loads on conduits. Extensive computer simulation of systems. Prerequisites: ENV E 222, CIV E 331; Corequisite ENV E 320.
ENV E 440 Facility Design. *4.5 (fi 6) (3-0-3). Design and planning of water supply, water and wastewater treatment, storm water management, and solid waste facilities. Course includes major design projects, field trips, and presentations. Students work in teams on a design project. Prerequisites: ENV E 222, 421.
Forest Science Courses at the U of A
FOR 555 Problems in Forest Hydrology. *3 (fi 6) (0-3s-0). Individual study. Directed study in forest hydrology. Prerequisite: consent of Instructor.
Microbiology Courses at the U of A
MICRB 491 Environmental Microbiology. *3 (fi 6) (3-0-0). Interactions between microorganisms and the environment. Topics include methods of sampling various environments, methods for monitoring microbial activities, petroleum microbiology, bioremediation, survival of airborne microorganisms, microbial metabolism of selected pollutants. Prerequisite: MICRB 265, corequisite: a 300-level Biological Sciences course or consent of Instructor. Note: Credit can be received in only one of MICRB 391, 491 and 591.
MICRB 492 Laboratory Methods for Environmental Microbiology. *3 (fi 6) (0-0-6). Laboratory experiments evaluate methods for enumerating bacteria from aquatic environments and introduce methods for monitoring their metabolic activities. Factors that influence petroleum biodegradation and comparisons of methods for sampling airborne microorganisms are also studied. Strong emphasis on statistical analysis of numerical data obtained. Pre- or corequisite: MICRB 491. MICRB 392 and 492 cannot both be taken for credit.
Renewable Resources Courses at the U of A
REN R 250 Water Resource Management. *3 (fi 6) (3-0-0). Global perspective of supply of and demand for water, basic hydrologic principles, concepts in water management, human intervention in the hydrologic cycle, and environmental issues related to this intervention. Prerequisite: *30 at the university level with at least *6 in the life or natural sciences. Credit will be given for only one of ENCS 203 and REN R 250.
REN R 350 Physical Hydrology. *3 (fi 6) (3-0-3). Principles of physical and land-use hydrology. The interaction of vegetation, soils, and storage processes with physiography and climate in regulation of hydrologic processes and hydrologic response of watersheds including effects of disturbance on these functions. Prerequisite: SOILS 210 or written consent of Instructor. Credit will only be given for one of FOR 350 and REN R 350.
REN R 452 Forest Watershed Management. *3 (fi 6) (0-3s-0). Seminar discussions/presentations on issues and methods in forest management and the production, protection, and regulation of wildland water resources. Relationship between disturbance (natural/anthropogenic) and water yield, regime, water quality. Watershed management as a component of integrated wildland management (ECA procedures, hydrologic modeling, stream protection zones (SPZs), best management practices (BMPs) and cumulative effects assessment). Prerequisite: *60 at university level. Credit will only be given for one of FOR 450 and REN R 452.
REN R 545 Small Watershed Hydrology. *3 (fi 6) (0-3s-0). An examination of land use and management practices affecting water quantity and quality in rural watersheds. Considerations of snowmelt hydrology. Current hydrologic models and their treatment of infiltration, runoff, and evapotranspiration. Model calibration and validation with field data. Prerequisite: A course in hydrology or water resources. Facility with computers an asset. Offered in alternate years.
Soil Science Courses at the U of A
SOILS 440 Soil Physics. *3 (fi 6) (3-0-3). Quantitative characterization of soil physical properties. Description and measurement of soil physical properties that determine retention and movement of water in soils, soil temperature, soil aeration, soil strength, soil compaction and consolidation. Particular emphasis will be placed on current in situ techniques and their applications. Examples from areas of land resource management, soil remediation, agriculture, and forestry will be used to illustrate the principles. Prerequisites: SOILS 210 and completion of *60 university credit in the sciences.
SOILS 450 Soil Environmental Chemistry. *3 (fi 6) (3-0-3). Chemical processes in soil and related terrestrial environments and the consequences of these processes as they relate to environmental quality and pollution of soil and water, nutrient levels, and mechanical stability or dispersion of clays and soils. The course describes fundamental chemical concepts such as soil solution speciation, precipitation/dissolution, and adsorption exchange and then uses the concepts in the examination and computer modelling of some current environmental, agricultural and engineering problems. The leachate chemistry of certain large volume industrial wastes is also examined in the course. Prerequisite: A chemistry course plus completion of two full years of university.
SOILS 540 Advanced Soil Physics. *3 (fi 6) (second term, 3-0-3). Physical principles of water, solutes, and heat transport in the soil-plant-atmosphere continuum; formulation and solution of mathematical equations describing the dynamic interactions among water, solutes, heat, soil matrix and plants; application of physical theories at the field scale, including effects of the soil spatial variability and preferential flow. Offered in alternate years. Prerequisites; A course in calculus and a course in one of the following: soil physics, soil mechanics, hydrogeology, physics or thermodynamics.