BSc minor Living Earth (WULEA)

The BSc minor Living Earth is an introduction to earth sciences, including soil science, hydrology and meteorology.

Continue to an overview of the minor

profile

It focuses on the Earth's surface and the atmospheric boundary layer in which life can exist. It explains structures and patterns found and teaches the physical, chemical and biological processes within and between soil, water and atmosphere. It also deals with the impact of human activities on the Earth and on the challenge how to manage and use soil, water and atmosphere as humanity's most important natural resources.

The approaches are based on natural sciences and both process-oriented and spatially explicit. Field and some laboratory methods are exercised. This minor helps in understanding the role of the abiotic environment in distribution and functioning of biota (including humans). If you are aiming for the MSc programme ‘Earth and Environment’, this minor is NOT suitable: please e-mail to mee.msc@wur.nl.

Learning Outcomes

After successful completion of this minor students are expected to be able to:

  • explain the mechanisms underlying processes operating on the Earth, and the resulting structures and patterns at the Earth's surface;
  • apply the methods that are used to describe and interpret phenomena occurring at or near the Earth's surface: data collection, analysis, simulation and modelling;
  • apply the measuring techniques that Earth scientists commonly use in the field and in the laboratory.

Target group

This minor is interesting for WU-students of the BSc programmes:

  • BBI Biology
  • BES Environmental Sciences
  • BPW Plant Sciences
  • BBN Forest and Nature Conservation
  • BIL International Land and Water Management.

Additionally, the minor is of interest for students from BSc's like Biology, Environmental Sciences, Civil Engineering, Natural Sciences.

Target group and Assumed Knowledge

This minor is interesting for students with a VWO-profile N&T and/or N&G (secondary school profile Science & Technology and/or Science & Biology).

Overlapping courses or content with

BSW Soil, Water, Atmosphere

Language

English

Semester

Second semester (period 4, 5 and 6)

Programme or thematic

Programme minor