Earth and Environmental Sciences - Sophomore

Course # HUSS 1037

Credits 3

Course Description

The course aims at developing and refining students’ language skills in listening, speaking, reading, and writing. It assists students to practice and be able to confidently use Tajik language in a variety of settings, including social, professional and academic ones, aligned with the upper-intermediate level.

Course Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the course students will be able to:

• Express ideas fluently, accurately and appropriately at an upper-intermediate level
• Articulate clear questions and ideas in class discussion
• Prepare, organize, and deliver engaging oral presentations
• Interpret complex texts, speeches and interviews
• Write clear and well-structured paragraph to express their points of view
• Identify the main idea(s), specific details; summarize and paraphrase information in a text
• Utilize suitable communication techniques (i.e. formal and informal) in both oral and written communications
• Write short essays, using introduction, body and conclusion
• Demonstrate appropriate level of grammatical accuracy and lexical range in their speech and written works.

Course assessment and grading

Course # HUSS 2072

Credits 3

Course Description 

The modern societies have transformed politics into a separate domain of action and a specialized field of knowledge. This course aims to introduce students to the diversity of political phenomena that affect our everyday lives ranging from local politics to the international system. The general topics such as the formation of the modern state, its current functions and problems, contemporary international system, will be followed by the focus on the recent political processes in Central Asia, including the emergence of the independent states, regional cooperation and competition, the role of global actors in the region. The course is designed to help students explore how the challenges of decolonization, globalization, digitalization and growing environmental concerns can be addressed by the next generations. From a practical perspective, students are expected to learn to competently evaluate policy choices by doing several projects (e.g. constitution project, conflict resolution project). 

Course Learning Outcomes  

Upon completion of the course, the student should be able to:

• Compare and contrast the difference between classical and modern approaches to politics;
• Define the approaches to power, types of power relations;
• Describe the form(s) and function(s) of the state;
• Describe local contexts and diverse legacies of states in Central Asia;
• Explain the role legitimacy and justice play in political processes;
• Discuss the varied impact that globalization, digitalization, and climate change have on modern states and political processes.

Course Assessments and Grading 

Course # HUSS 2061 

Credits 3

Course Description

This Law course is specifically designed for students majoring in Global Economics and Earth and Environmental Sciences at the University of Central Asia's Khorog Campus in Tajikistan. Students will explore foundational concepts of international law, trade and contract law, and environmental law.  More specifically, this course aims to explore the following foundational legal topics:  

• International & State Laws - This module covers the foundational concepts of international law, including statehood, recognition, sovereignty, legal personality, and jurisdiction. It also covers the major legal systems of the world, types of legal systems, categories, and sources of law, and judicial systems. 
• Trade & Contract Law - This module covers the foundational concepts of trade relations, including contract law, terms, and drafting, as well as contract terms and payments and the resolution of contractual disputes. 
• Environmental Law - This module covers the constitutional responsibilities and roles related to the environment and sustainable development, principles of environmental protection, environmental planning through impact assessment and land-use law. 

Course Learning Outcomes 

Upon the completion of the course, students will be able to:

• Develop a comprehensive understanding of various legal systems worldwide and the foundational concepts of international, business and environmental laws;  
• Describe and compare major legal systems in Central Asia; 
• Think critically using legal reasoning and analysis techniques to evaluate issues, formulate sound arguments and reach well-reasoned conclusions;   
• Read, negotiate and draft a contract; and  
• Analyze the international community’s legal response of treaties against climate change and protecting freshwater resources.  

Course Assessments and Grading 

Course # EAES 2044

• Credits 6

  Pre-requisites: Introduction to Earth and Environmental Sciences, Chemistry I 

  Course Description 

  This interdisciplinary course prepares students to apply the principles of chemistry to explain distribution of different types of elements in the major Earth units such as lithosphere, mantle, hydrosphere and biosphere and the rules controlling elements distribution and exchange in these major units. Students learn how elements are formed in the universe and how they constituent the Earth. Also, they learn thermodynamics of elements in different geochemical systems. Students learn to apply geochemical tools to solve problems of hydrogeology, petrology, sedimentology and environmental science. By the end of the course, students understand the practical applications of geochemistry to formation of minerals and rocks, water quality and prospecting for ores.  

  Course learning outcomes 

  Upon completion of the course, the student should be able to:

  • Discuss common geochemical processes in Earth science. 
  • Explain elements formation in the universe.
  • Explain the geochemistry of lithosphere, mantle and hydrosphere.
  • Use geochemical approach to identify minerals and rocks, locate resources such as metal ores, to identify pollutants from aquatic systems.  
  • Apply isotope geochemistry to solve geological problems. 
  • Discuss the characteristics of elements and compounds in sediments, soils and water. 
  • Interpret geochemical data using the appropriate instrumentation and techniques such as pH meter and turbidity meter in the field work and laboratory work. 
  • Use appropriate laboratory and field equipment and techniques to safely collect samples, measure and analyze data for rocks and minerals (using portable XRF machine) and water samples.
  • Recognize appropriate methods to analyze data and evaluate the significance of experimental results.

  Course Assessments and Grading 

  Item	Weight
  Class participation	10 %
  Quizzes	15 %
  Mid-term exam-Written open ended and multiple-choice questions	15 %
  Laboratory report	15 %
  Course project	15 %
  Final exam-Written open ended and multiple-choice questions	30 %

Course # EAES 2013

Credits 6

Course Description

This course provides an introduction into the study of general biology, starting from basic scientific concepts and processing to chemistry, physics and the natural laws that govern life. The course continues with studies of living creatures, from the tiny and simple through to the complexities of plants and animals, ending with a basic understanding of ecology and the study of biotechnology. Students will investigate biological concepts including the chemical basis of life, cell structure and function, metabolism, reproduction, genetics, evolution, biological diversity and classification, plant structure and function, animal structure and function and ecology.

Course Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the course, the student should be able to:

• Arrange the levels of biological organization from least complex to most complex.
• Explain how DNA accounts for both the diversity and unity of life on Earth.
• Relate the structure and function of living organisms to their chemical basis.
• Relate the role of enzymes in biochemical pathways and cellular metabolism.
• Explain how photosynthesis and cellular respiration contribute to the cycling of carbon atoms on Earth.
• Summarize how evolutionary adaptations have led to the anatomical and physiological differences between the major taxonomic groups of organisms.
• Relate the role of plant tissues and organs to plant development, growth, nutrition and reproduction.
• Relate the processes of energy flow and chemical cycling to ecosystem ecology.

Course Assignments and Grading

Course # HUSS 2102E

Credits 1.5

Course description 

This course focuses on Civil defense as a system of measures aimed at the preparation and protection of the population and its material and cultural values from dangers arising during military operations as well as in natural and man-caused emergency situations. It discusses why Civil defense is one of the most important functions of the state and an integral part of defense construction and ensuring population security. Emergencies that pose a threat to people's lives and health, associated with natural disasters including earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, snowstorms and drifts, forest and peat fires are examined. It explains why all developed countries, including the Republic of Tajikistan, to effectively reduce the negative consequences of an emergency, and to protect the population and the national heritage of the country from the dangers of emergencies arising in peacetime and wartime, are constantly preparing for such situations.  

Course Learning Outcomes 

Upon the completion of the course, students will be able to:

• Discuss ways to protect themselves and others during the occurrence of dangerous and harmful environmental events.
• Assess the damage caused by accidents and catastrophes at industrial facilities and ways to prevent the amount of damage caused.
• Identify the main hazards of the human environment, assess the risk of their implementation, and choose methods of protection from hazards to ensure comfortable living conditions.
• Classify industrial objects according to their degree of danger to workers, employees and the population.
• Explain legislative and legal acts in the field of safety and environmental protection, and the safety requirements of technical regulations.
• Explain ways to predict and evaluate possible emergencies, and the measures that can be taken to ensure the stability of economic facilities in the country if they are affected by natural and man-made disasters, epidemics, and other threats to security.
• Explain ways to develop and implement timely measures to protect the population in emergencies, to provide first aid to victims, and to use personal protective equipment in emergencies.

Course Assessments and Grading 

Course # EAES 2215E          

Credits 1.5

TBA

Course # ECON 3213E         

Credits 3

Course description 

Social, economic, and cultural inequalities and environmental issues continue to exist in the Central Asia region and globally. Governments, corporations, NGOs, and individuals recognize these challenges and seek initiatives that enable sustainable development. The course introduces the different models, frameworks, and processes of social entrepreneurship. The mission and vision of social entrepreneurship is explored.  

Course learning outcomes  

Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:  

• Define social entrepreneurship in the local and global context 
• Explain the legal, cultural and business framework and different models of social enterprises in the region through case studies and working with a real social enterprise 
• Apply the social business model canvas 
• Identify social and environmental issues in the local context;
• Identify what are the opportunities for social enterprise around these issues 

Course Assessments and Grading 

Course # ECON 4233

Credits 3

Course Description 

Exploring Tourism Economics in Central Asia's Mountainous Regions is a course designed to delve into the economic aspects of tourism specific to Central Asia's mountainous areas. After a series of introductory lectures, this course fosters active student participation through a "guided readings and presentations" approach. Functioning more like a research seminar, students are encouraged to present and engage in discussions about current research in related fields. In addition, students engage with the tourism industry through visits of tourist service providers, specific resorts, and other key industry stakeholders, gaining firsthand experience and insights. 

There will a be a few introductory lectures on selected topics from existing tourism textbooks.  

Course Learning Outcomes 

Upon the completion of the course, students will be able to: 

• describe the driving forces of the tourism sector in mountainous regions
• recognize the gains and losses linked to tourism activities for different categories of people and localities
• describe the role of mountain tourism in the Central Asian economies
• analyze how tourism stakeholders can be affected by the competitive and macroeconomic environments
• discuss the economic impacts of tourism on mountainous communities are
• analyze how economics can support policy implications to manage leisure and tourism in remote mountainous areas

Course Assessments and Grading

Course # ECON 4223E         

Credits 3

Prerequisites: Microeconomics

This course is provided by CERGE-EI.

Course Description

Energy is a basic necessity of daily life and a vital input to industry in any society. New technologies, especially renewable power generators, such as wind and solar, are changing industry. Also, new climate policies have a growing influence on the economics and practical functioning of energy systems, especially the electricity industry. First, this course aims to give a deeper theoretical insight regarding economic externalities, such as global warming. Several classical economic instruments are presented, such as Pigovean taxes, cap-and-trade programs, subsidies, and mandates. The theory addressed has broad applications, including in the field of public finance and public policy. Second, this course gives an overview of the economics of new potential decarbonization technologies, such as hydrogen, heat pumps, electric cars, and gas as a transition fuel. Third, the most recent decarbonization developments will be discussed.

Course # EAES 2215E          

Credits 1.5

Course Description

The course delves into the fundamental methodologies of the natural sciences, exploring the principles governing natural laws. Encompassing physics, astrophysics, cosmology, biology, chemistry, ecology, and geology, this course aims to cultivate students' understanding of essential research methods and enhance their skills in comprehending natural processes. Specific topics covered include insights into natural events, celestial bodies such as stars and planets, and brief discussions on chemical and environmental occurrences. The course provides a comprehensive overview, fostering knowledge and proficiency in the diverse realms of the natural sciences.

Course Assessments and Grading