Aim
The overall objectives of the course are to provide an increased knowledge and a greater understanding of important environmental problems in an international perspective, and to help the students acquire a critical and scientific work mode.

Knowledge and understanding
For a passing grade the student must

• Can identify and define a relevant and manageable problem within the area of environmental science,

• Can carry out an analysis with a satisfying depth, using several perspectives/disciplines.

Skills and abilities
For a passing grade the student must

• Present his/her work according to current scientific standards.

Judgement and approach
For a passing grade the student must

• Show ability to formulate, discuss, and respond to constructive criticism within the framework of the writing process.

Contents
The course may be given a theme that may vary from year to year. The course work consists mainly of the students carrying out individual project work, alone or in groups of two. The project may be presented as a scientific report, a scientific article, or in some other generally accepted scientific format.

The course comprises several seminars, where project progress is discussed, and possibly some lectures and/or study visits. Each project is tutored individually. Students are required to discuss and deliver constructive criticism on each other’s contributions at seminars.

Literature
The fixed course literature is limited; instead each student should search knowledge, mainly through scientific literature and articles, in line with the common theme and his/her objectives within this theme.