Integration of Chemistry and Professional Studies in Environmental Engineering

Abstract

In this study the first year experience on course integration according to new curricula of the Degree Programme of Environmental Engineering is presented. The connected courses were Basic Chemistry (basic course), Soil Science and Engineering (professional course) and Writing Scientific Reports in English (language course). The outcome of the first years’ experience was analyzed based on teachers’ experiences and students’ feedbacks. The problems were identified and some suggestions for further improvement of integration of chemistry are presented.

Integration of the courses was definitely a positive experience for the students and for the teachers as well. It promoted the most essential skills students should possess: com-plexity thinking, self-directed learning, self-reflection and collaborative skills. Overall integration enhanced learning of Basic Chemistry as well. Because of the need of care-ful planning and close collaboration between teachers, integration might be time con-suming in the beginning, but later will probably ease the teachers’ work. Additionally, it provides the teacher with a more holistic view of the teaching program.

Improvement is still needed in teacher collaboration and timing to avoid student con-fusion. Other disciplines should in some form be connected to the courses mentioned in this work. With respect to the connection of Chemistry and professional disciplines, small problem-based tasks that require environmental considerations, support the chem-istry theory and are meaningful tasks in the professional course would engage students even more in the process of constructing their own knowledge.