Earth and Environmental Sciences - Junior

Course # EAES 3256

Credits 6

Pre-requisites and Co-requisites: Introduction to Earth and Environmental Sciences, Introduction to Geological Materials and Resources, Sedimentary Geology and Stratigraphy

Course Description

This course provides a comprehensive introduction to both qualitative and quantitative methods in structural geology. It explores the recognition, interpretation, and mechanical principles of ductile and brittle structural elements such as faults, folds, joints, lineation, etc., with a strong emphasis on analyzing geological structures in natural settings. Students will gain a fundamental understanding of geological stress and strain, rock mechanics, and tectonic deformation processes that are investigated in the field and via the analysis of published data sets in order to comprehend basic processes.

Through hands-on practicals, students will apply structural analysis techniques, enhance their ability to recognize and interpret deformation structures in field, and develop skills in analyzing geological maps. Structural geology requires understanding of geological maps and basic knowledge of geological mapping. Therefore, in this course you will be introduced with the basic techniques of geological mapping and field observations to collect structural data for geological mapping. Rock samples will be used during lectures to practice identifying and analyzing structural elements, reinforcing theoretical concepts with real-world examples. By integrating theoretical knowledge with practical applications, this course prepares students to critically assess and interpret structural features in various geological global settings but with emphasis on Central Asian contexts.

Course Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the course students will be able to:

• Understand fundamental rock deformation processes in the solid Earth, including stress, strain, and mechanical behavior by integrating stress–strain analysis.
• Analyze forces and rock stresses using force-based approaches to deformation.
• Differentiate between brittle and ductile deformation and identify associated rock structures.
• Evaluate the influence of key factors such as rock composition, temperature, confining pressure, and deformation rate on structural development.
• Interpret deformation structures and their implications for geological evolution in both laboratory and field settings.
• Describe the spatial architecture and kinematics of tectonic structures.
• Predict the continuation of tectonic structures at depth based on surface observations.
• Apply Schmidt's net (stereographic projection) for structural analysis and visualization of geological data.
• Utilize rock samples to identify and analyze structural elements such as faults, folds, and shear sense indicators, reinforcing theoretical concepts through hands-on examination.
• Quantitatively assess deformation processes that couple tectonics, surface processes, and climate.

Course Assignments and Grading

Course # EAES 3266

Credits 6

Pre-requisites and Co-requisites: Introduction to Earth and Environmental Sciences –             Introduction to GIS and Remote sensing.

Course Description

The course in Hydrology offers a fundamental understanding of all facets of hydrology, with a primary emphasis on water on the surface of the earth. The goal of this course is to learn about the physical, chemical, hydrological, geological, and other factors that influence the occurrence and dynamics of ground and surface water. Students will gain the skills necessary to research water systems, carry out laboratory and field investigations, and resolve hydrological issues. Students will gain exposure to a variety of spatial data types used in the investigation of hydrology and water resources, such as expertise in RS and GIS systems.

Course Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the course students will be able to:

• Explain the hydrologic cycle, particularly the inherent hydrologic processes and what affects the inherent hydrologic processes.
• Describe basic concept of remote sensing and numerical/spatial analysis techniques commonly used in hydrology and hydrogeology data analysis.
• Use numerical/spatial analysis techniques within image processing and GIS framework to solve hydrology, hydrogeology, and environmental problems.
• Identify/define the water cycle and its driving processes.
• Apply the water-balance equation to various hydrological problems in time and space.
• Measure elements of the water cycle, such as stream flow to explain how human activity affects those elements.
• Analyse municipal planning and hydrological data to assess the area's water resource management.
• Analyse how ground water has been used by humans conducting case studies.

Course Assignments and Grading

Course # EAES 3246

Credits 6

Pre-requisites and Co-requisites: Introduction to the Earth and Environmental Sciences, Biology, and Environmental Chemistry

Course Description

Soil determines the nature of plant ecosystems and the capacity of land to support human, animal, plant, and other organisms. This introductory soil science course is designed to provide an overview of the fundamental concepts of soil science and lead to the development of students’ understanding of the properties and processes that are basic to the use and management of soils. Specifically, this course covers the fundamentals of soils including soil formation, soil classification, soil physics, soil biology, soil ecology, soil chemistry along with soil management aspects such as soil fertility and nutrient management, soil erosion and control and soil health in the Anthropocene. Students are also expected to gain practical experience by creating a soil map and conducting soil lab experiments which would enhance their understanding about the importance of soil, various types of soil, physical, chemical, and biological properties of soil especially in mountainous areas.

Course Learning Outcomes

Upon completion, students will be able to:

• Explain the soil formation processes including the basic processes, environmental factors, weathering, and characteristics of soil profile.
• Evaluate various classes of soil including categories of soil classification systems, features of soil diagnostic horizons and characteristics of soil orders.
• Explain the basic physical, biological, ecological, chemical, and mineralogical properties of soil.
• Determine soil textural classes using soil textural triangle.
• Explain the chemical properties of soil such as pH, salinity, acidity, and the role of organisms that live in the soil.
• Explain the importance of the soil in the environment, the interactions of various properties of soil and its impact on plant growth, soil behavior, and soil management.
• Evaluate the challenges of soil management related to nutrients, erosion, and maintenance of soil health.
• Analyze drought hazards, exposure vulnerabilities, drought impacts across different sectors and apply integrated methodologies for effective drought planning and response.

Course Assessments and Grading

Course # EAES 4216E

Credits 6

Pre-requisites and Co-requisites: Introduction to the Earth and Environmental Sciences, Environmental Governance: Water, Air, Land and Biosphere, and Environmental Chemistry.

Course Description

Water resources are experiencing increased environmental, social, political, and economic impacts. To address these impacts, it is highly important to have a comprehensive understanding of science and policy related to water resources management for further sound and sustainable decision-making. This interdisciplinary course adopts a holistic approach to water management with a specific focus on technical, economic, and social aspects. Students are expected to gain practical experience by solving a set of exercises, attend field trips including local water treatment plants and a wastewater treatment plant as well as participate in an engaging role-play simulation game related to promotion of the Water-Food-Energy approach which would enhance their understanding of scientific and policy aspects of water management.

Course Learning Outcomes

Upon completion, students will be able to:

• Estimate agricultural and urban demands for meeting human needs.
• Explain the basic physical, chemical, and biological water quality parameters.
• Explain the conventional water treatment processes along with physical, chemical, microbiological and radiological characteristics of water.
• Explain the municipal wastewater treatment processes along with physical, chemical, microbiological and radiological characteristics of wastewater.
• Describe water allocation frameworks including national, basin, regional/sub-basin and individual as well as water allocation challenges.
• Describe the water conflict and cooperation scholarship including causes of water conflicts, role of stakeholders as well as tools and tracks of water diplomacy.
• Examine the main principles and mechanisms of international environmental law relevant to water resources management and their implementation in water legislation of Central Asia.
• Discuss the existing challenges of transboundary water cooperation including interactions between water, food, and energy sectors.

Course Assessments and Grading

Course # EAES 3038E

Credits 6

Pre-requisites and Co-requisites: Introduction to Earth and Environmental Sciences.

Course Description

The course offers an introduction to quantitative analysis of surface processes in mountainous terrain, and examines the interaction of climate, tectonics, and geomorphic processes in the sculpting of Earth's surface. This course explores the fundamental principles of neotectonics, and their impact on Central Asia. Students will examine the mechanics of fluvial, hillslope, and glacial processes through the principles of weathering, soil formation, runoff, erosion, seismic deformation, permafrost thaw, slope stability, sediment transport, river morphology, and glacial erosion.

Surface Processes in Mountain Environments examines the physical laws governing hillslope, fluvial, glacial, and periglacial processes, with a strong emphasis on quantitative analysis and geological mapping. The course integrates digital elevation models (DEMs), remote sensing data, and geological maps to link surface processes with lithology, structure, and tectonic settings. Taking this course will allow students to acquire an appreciation of how mountainous landscapes are formed and their continued evolution through time.

This course assumes prior knowledge of geomorphic landforms and systems. Students are expected to already be familiar with descriptive geomorphology, landform classification, and qualitative process explanations. SPME focuses on quantification, mapping, modeling, and critical evaluation of surface processes, not landform description. By integrating theory, quantitative methods, and Central Asian case studies, the course equips students to critically assess landscape evolution in tectonically active, climatically sensitive mountain regions. This course uses geological maps, structure, and lithology to constrain surface processes.

Course Learning Outcomes

Upon completion, students will be able to:

• Integrate geological mapping techniques with surface process analysis.
• Describe major scientific ideas and theories about the development of the landscape,
• Analyze landforms and processes of land formation using topographic maps, remote sensing techniques, digital elevation models (DEMs), and other quantitative techniques,
• Evaluate uncertainty and scale effects in geomorphic models.
• Synthesize quantitative results to assess landscape evolution and hazards in mountain
• Critically analyze geomorphological issues in a scientific context at local, regional, and global scales,
• Evaluate various solutions to a wide range of geomorphological problems in mountainous environments,
• Explain and apply geomorphological methods used in research today.

Course Assessments and Grading

Course # ECON 1002

Credits 6

Pre-requisites and Co-requisites: introduction to microeconomics and pre-calculus

Course Description

Introductory macroeconomics is one of the fundamental courses in economics program for freshman students at UCA. It provides students with key concepts and principles of contemporary macroeconomic theory. Topics covered in the course pertain to the analysis of national income, the real economy, fiscal and monetary policy in the long run. Open economy and short-run economic fluctuations are also explored in the course. Existing debates over macroeconomic policy faced by policy makers and government agencies both in developed and developing countries are discussed. 

Course Learning Outcomes

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

• Define key macroeconomic concepts and principles;
• Calculate basic macroeconomic indicators related to GDP and cost of living within a group of countries or individual states;
• Explain how the real economy operates in the long run from production and growth perspectives;
• Explain the role of monetary and fiscal policies to tackle inflation and unemployment;
• Discuss advantages and disadvantages of the open economy;
• Use the concept of aggregate demand and aggregate supply to explain the main facts about economic fluctuations;
• Explain both potential and limits of economic policy aimed at macroeconomic stabilization and long-term economic growth;

Course Assessments and Grading

Course # ECON 4246E

Credits 6

Pre-requisites and Co-requisites: An introductory course in statistics

Course Description

This course provides an overview of the issues and methods involved in measuring the impact of policies, programs, and interventions, with a focus on developing countries. Through lectures, case studies, and real-world examples, you learn how to quantify the causal effect of interventions by carefully understanding attribution and the practical applications of methodologies. The course explores the steps involved in designing an evaluation, including conceptualization, developing a theory of change, understanding the different methodologies for conducting impact evaluation and choosing the most appropriate methodology given the set of circumstances. You learn about four methods of impact evaluation (randomized controlled trials (RCTs), instrumental variables, regression discontinuity designs, and difference-in-differences), and the weaknesses and strengths, as well as their appropriateness to real life evaluation scenarios.  The goal of this course is to equip you with the skills to design and conduct rigorous evaluations and so that you can make a real positive impact in the world, whether it be in academia, non-profit work, social entrepreneurship, private philanthropy or government.

Course Learning Outcomes

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

• Explain the theory of change underlying the causal relationship between an intervention and its outcomes.
• Develop evaluation questions that effectively measure the impact of a program or policy.
• Evaluate and select appropriate comparison groups that approximate the counterfactual in various real-life scenarios.
• Apply experimental and quasi-experimental designs to evaluate the impact of interventions.
• Assess the strengths and weaknesses of different impact evaluation methodologies and make informed decisions on the most appropriate methodology for a given situation

Course Assessment and Grading

Course # EAES 3059E

Credits 3

Pre-requisites and Co-requisites: None

Course Description

This course introduces students to the fundamentals of sustainable energy systems and the global energy transition. Students learn how energy is produced, converted, and used; how major technologies compare on cost, performance, and environmental impacts; and how policy, markets, and social priorities shape energy choices. Emphasis is placed on interpreting real-world datasets and contemporary reports and news to evaluate energy options and trade-offs. Students develop practical energy literacy through a two-part Home Energy Survey (draft plus final submission with instructor feedback) and apply course concepts in a team-based transition brief and presentation. The course is designed as a review course with no prerequisites and builds skills in evidence-based reasoning, data interpretation, and clear communication about pathways toward affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy futures. The course runs over seven teaching weeks, with the final exam held during the exam week.

Course Learning Outcomes

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

• Explain core energy concepts (power vs. energy, units, efficiency, energy services) and interpret key energy indicators.
• Interpret and visualize basic energy and emissions data using public sources (e.g., electricity mix, consumption, emissions).
• Compare major energy technologies (fossil, renewable, nuclear, storage) using common metrics (cost, reliability, lifecycle impacts).
• Analyze system-level transition challenges (variability, grids, storage, demand growth, sector coupling) using evidence and transparent assumptions.
• Conduct a household-level energy assessment by compiling appliance-use data, estimating monthly kWh consumption, and comparing results with bills/tariffs for two households.

Course Assessments and Grading

Course # MDIA 3087

Credits 6

Pre-requisites and Co-requisites: None

Course Description

This course extends student knowledge and skills in communication studies into the field of science communication.  The course provides an introduction to forms of science communication intended for non-scientific audiences, such as writing for both online and print outlets, podcasting and short video production.  Students will develop a critical understanding of the wider societal context of both science and communication.  They will examine how communication practices can address contemporary science communication challenges and enhance public understanding of science.  Science communication is examined through both conceptual analysis and practical skill development and critical issues and themes in the field are explored.

Course Learning Outcomes:

Upon completion of this course students will be able to:

• Discuss the conceptual basis of science communication.
• Analyse contemporary global science communication issues and practices.
• Examine ways that communication practices can address contemporary science communication challenges and enhance public understanding of science.
• Use a variety of media to share science information in different formats and contexts.
• Discuss the relationship between non-western knowledge and science and the ways that non-western worldviews can shift our conception of science

Course Assessments and Grading

Course # COOP 3001

Credits 2