Environmental Chemistry Option

The statement of the option in the ACS Guidelines booklet:

ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMISTRY: Six semester hours of biology, geology, or other environmentally related science, and at least two semesters of advanced work in chemistry of the environment, including some aspects of aquatic, atmospheric, and geochemistry. Field work and studies of modeling in environmental systems are encouraged in the advanced work. These advanced courses may include research culminating in a comprehensive written report. Advanced courses may be offered by departments other than chemistry.

There are wide differences in environmental courses offered in educationally sound programs. Therefore, the requirements of six semester hours of introductory work outside the core and two semesters of advanced work were intentionally left open. Some guidance is given below.

What additional Introductory-level natural science or engineering courses should be required?
(Chemistry, calculus, and physics are in the core.)

The answer here clearly depends on the institution. Avoid courses in environmental science designed for nonscience students. Good introductory environmental science courses, where they exist, may be appropriate. Ecology is a rigorous subject giving an excellent broad introduction to environmental issues at some institutions, while at others it may lack scientific rigor. Basic biology and geology or earth science courses may be appropriate. However, some may have little content directly related to the environment. On some campuses geography departments offer natural science courses that play a central role in this area. Engineering schools often offer sound broadly-based environmental courses.

Conclusion: departments must assess carefully what is best at their institution.

What should be In the advanced courses?

The focus of advanced study must be on the chemistry of environmental systems. Courses without explicit chemistry prerequisites must be carefully justified. Fieldwork, working with real data, and the modeling of environmental systems are encouraged. A good program has a balance among the three major systems: earth, air, and water. Carefully guided independent research is always an excellent option for advanced work. While policy-oriented courses such as environmental law or economics may be of great interest and importance to these students, they may not count as advanced environmental chemistry courses. Many advanced courses will be found in departments other than chemistry.

Conclusion: departments must examine carefully all advanced courses, looking for a strong chemical component and making every effort to avoid duplication of course content. Coordination with and participation by other departments may be essential to this process.

Some possible advanced course topics:

Aquatic Chemistry/Marine Chemistry	Soil Chemistry
Atmospheric Chemistry	Microbiology
Biochemistry of Toxins and Pollutants	Hydrology at all Scales (ocean to puddle)
Trace Analysis	Chemistry and Climate Change
Radiochemistry and the Environment	Ocean Circulation
Advanced Analytical Chemistry including Chemometrics
Multimedia Transport of Substances of Environmental Concern
Sources and Effects of Environmental Pollutants

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