Sustainable Environmental Studies

This course is designed to prepare students for developing critical reviews and analytical skills. Students will learn literature and field research techniques, as well as presentation methods on topical and special local, national, and global environmental issues.

Learning Outcomes

At the end of the course, students should be able to:

1. Demonstrate knowledge in reviewing relevant literature and conducting fieldwork.
2. Prepare and present well-structured seminar papers on environmental issues.
3. Conduct scientific literature surveys related to their study areas within the context of environmental standards.

This course introduces students to simple analytical techniques for analyzing planning data, including both continuous and discontinuous functions applied to planning forecasts. Topics include population projection techniques, spatial interaction models, cohort survival methods, and other quantitative tools. Students will also study basic statistics, research design and methodology, sources of information in planning, sampling techniques, data collection, and statistical analysis methods such as regression, analysis of variance, and factor analysis. The course further includes a review of research techniques in Nigeria.

Learning Outcomes

At the end of the course, students should be able to:

1. Understand and apply various sampling techniques and methods of data presentation using statistical tools.
2. Compare and contrast different sampling methodologies and assess their suitability for a range of research situations.

This course focuses on the establishment of maximum allowable concentrations of substances in the environment—air, soil, and water. The course covers topics such as air quality standards and parameters, primary sources of information on air quality criteria and policies, air environmental settings, air impacts, prediction and assessment of air impacts, and impact mitigation strategies.

Additional topics include concepts of soil quality and their significance, development of frameworks for evaluating soil quality, and understanding the soil quality index. Students will explore what determines soil quality and soil health, and how standards for soil quality are set. The course also examines categories of water use, including human consumption, industrial and domestic use, environmental water quality, and agricultural water quality. Fieldwork and laboratory sessions will provide practical experience in assessing environmental quality.

Learning Outcomes

At the end of the course, students should be able to:

1. Understand air, soil, and water quality standards and their environmental significance.
2. Acquire practical experience in environmental sample collection and laboratory analysis.

This course aims at giving the student quantitative skills necessary for banking and financial decision making. The focus of the course will be more of application rather than theory. It covers descriptive statistics, probability and expectations, discrete and continuous distribution, and statistical decision theory, study of estimation, tests of hypothesis and confidence intervals. Time series analysis, index number with applications in finance, multiple regression, including correlation analysis. It will also cover inventory, forecasting, queuing models, analysis of variance, use of computer as a tool as it applies to finance.

Learning Outcomes

At the end of the course, students should be able to:

1. Understand Quantitative Techniques: Explain various quantitative tools and their applications in decision-making.
2. Problem Solving with Quantitative Methods: Apply quantitative techniques to analyze and resolve practical problems effectively.

This course provides an analytical overview of the environmental elements of surface mining operations. It covers the operation and design of surface mining systems and components, with emphasis on minimizing adverse environmental impacts and maximizing the utilization of mineral resources. Topics include environmental pollution and its interrelationship with mining and mineral processing operations, mine atmosphere, detection of mine gases, physiological effects, inflammation and detonation, gas layering and diffusion, and dust hazards.

The course also examines environmental pollution-related hazards such as explosions, gassing, fires, and pneumoconiosis. Students will study pollution monitoring and control methods, including gaseous and particulate pollutant control through absorption, combustion, catalytic destruction, cyclones, inertia separators, electrostatic precipitators, bag filters, and wet scrubbers. Additionally, the course covers effluent treatment processes such as flocculation, coagulation, and sedimentation, as well as water recovery, recycling, and ventilation system design for sustainable mining operations.

Learning Outcomes

At the end of the course, students should be able to:

1. Understand various forms of pollution associated with mining activities and applicable treatment processes.
2. Identify how wastes are generated and managed during different stages of mineral resource production.
3. Explain methods for minimizing the negative environmental effects of mining and mineral processing operations.
4. Discuss how mining activities affect and are influenced by societal factors such as economics, politics, and population dynamics.

This course introduces students to the principles of waste management, focusing on the origin, collection, storage, and treatment of solid waste generated from communities. It also covers methods of sewage disposal and the management of municipal sewage systems. Major industries and their waste streams are examined alongside waste treatment methods, theories, and practical applications. The course emphasizes solid waste minimization through the principles of reduction, reuse, recycling, and recovery.

Learning Outcomes

At the end of the course, students should be able to:

1. Demonstrate a broad understanding of key aspects of municipal and industrial waste management.
2. Apply management options such as reduction, collection, reuse, recycling, and disposal in waste handling processes.
3. Explain the concept of turning waste into wealth through sustainable waste management practices.
4. Develop effective waste disposal and management strategies for different waste types.

This course introduces students to the key components of occupational health and safety in the workplace. Topics include safety in industrial environments, occupational hazards and diseases, hazard control measures, relevant legislation, occupational medicine, and the principles of industrial ventilation. Emphasis is placed on identifying, assessing, and mitigating workplace risks to promote the health and safety of employees.

Learning Outcomes

At the end of the course, students should be able to:

1. Identify common occupational accidents and hazards in industrial settings and explain their health implications, as well as appropriate safety measures.
2. Contribute to the development and maintenance of a healthy and safe work environment.
3. Demonstrate familiarity with basic occupational health and safety legislation.

Introduction to the principles and applications of environmental monitoring. Topics include environmental sampling methodology, sample preservation and processing, analytical techniques for environmental monitoring, and criteria for selecting analytical methods. Students will learn to analyze air, water, soil, sediment, food, and biological samples for inorganic and organic pollutants, as well as manage and present environmental data.

Learning Outcomes

1. Understand procedures for establishing environmental monitoring systems.
2. Select appropriate types of environmental monitoring based on sampling locations, measured parameters, and media.

This course introduces the concept of pollution, its sources, and effects on the environment. It examines ecological disasters, environmental impacts of urbanization and industrialization, and various pollution control measures — including legal, social, economic, and technological approaches. Students will also learn techniques for pollution measurement and monitoring.

Learning Outcomes

1. Identify key environmental problems associated with pollution.
2. Evaluate the effects of pollutants on air, water, and soil environments.
3. Analyze industrial activities to identify environmental impacts.
4. Develop strategies for controlling, reducing, and monitoring pollution.

This course examines the process of risk assessment — identifying potential sources of harm and determining preventive actions. Topics include differences between hazards and risks, hazard identification, characterization, exposure assessment, and risk evaluation. Students will study techniques for assessing, reducing, and managing environmental and industrial risks, including probability, impact, treatment, residual risk, and monitoring.

Learning Outcomes

1. Identify and assess risks associated with projects and industrial activities.
2. Apply techniques for risk reduction and prioritization of preventive actions.

This course introduces the definitions, concepts, and frameworks of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). It covers EIA for development projects, strategic environmental assessment, and reporting procedures for ensuring sustainable project outcomes.

Learning Outcomes

1. Understand EIA as a vital tool for achieving sustainable development.
2. Develop familiarity with EIA processes and report writing.

This course explores environmental issues related to global warming and climate change. Topics include causes and effects of global warming, societal responses, greenhouse gases, and relationships between global warming and climate variability. The course also covers Earth’s energy balance, external forcing mechanisms such as orbital variations, solar output, volcanism, plate tectonics, and carbon management.

Learning Outcomes

1. Understand the causes and effects of global warming and climate change.
2. Demonstrate awareness of energy conservation and carbon management principles.

This course applies scientific and engineering principles to improve and restore degraded environmental systems, including air, water, and land resources. Emphasis is placed on providing healthful environmental conditions for human habitation and industrial activities. Topics include industrial effluent treatment methods and sustainable resource management techniques.

Learning Outcomes

1. Recognize key areas of environmental engineering and their applications.
2. Understand different methods of effluent treatment used in industries.

This course introduces students to land resource studies, principles of land evaluation, and rural land appraisal using integrated surveys. Topics include sustainability classification, remote sensing, data collection and analysis, conservation, water resource mapping, and landscape design. Students will also explore the role of natural resources in urban landscape planning.

Learning Outcomes

1. Understand land resource evaluation, conservation, and landscape architecture principles.
2. Analyze how urban regions function within broader spatial and economic frameworks.
3. Demonstrate knowledge of institutional and policy frameworks guiding planning and development.
4. Identify challenges and opportunities in spatial and urban land-use planning.

This course examines the definition, role, and importance of transportation systems. It explores different modes of transport including aviation, maritime, rail, and road systems, with a focus on coordination, infrastructure maintenance, and planning. Topics include transport policy, traffic management techniques, intelligent systems, and institutional frameworks for urban transport planning.

Learning Outcomes

1. Demonstrate understanding of transportation planning concepts and applications.
2. Analyze public transport systems and urban traffic management techniques.
3. Plan transportation systems that align with sustainable urban development.

In this course, students are required to conduct an independent research project within their area of interest, in line with the curriculum structure and research priorities of the Department. The project will demonstrate the student's ability to apply research methods, analyze data, and present findings relevant to environmental studies.