BIRCHAM INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY

Faculty of Life & Earth Sciences

MODULE: Earth Science

Program delivered by distance learning higher education up to a maximum of 30 credits. This module may be combined or completed with other online university courses from this faculty.

DESCRIPTION:

This program offers an analysis of our physical environment through a review of earth sciences. Emphasis is placed in exploring the origin, structure and composition of the earth. Plate tectonics, volcanism, rock formation, earthquake activity, and mountain building are integrated to give an overview of the Earth’s dynamic internal processes. Natural processes operating on the Earth are also considered.

Courses list (each subject accounts for 3 credits):

1 BIU Earned Credit = 1 USA Semester Credit (15 hours of learning) = 2 ECTS Credit (30 hours of study).

Earth Science

Hydrology

Academic Supervisor: Mina Benjouali

More information about this supervisor and online university course instructors at BIU Human Network.

This module is applicable to Specialist, Expert, Bachelor's, Master's and Ph.D. (Doctor) Programs. This distance learning degree program is designed at the postgraduate level – Master’s or Doctoral. This module may be easily adapted to complete the Specialist, Expert or Bachelor’s adult degree program requirements. A further option is the enrollment into the online university courses listed in this module.

* University Course (3 credits): Select 1 subject from this module.

* Specialist Diploma (15 credits): First 5 subjects or select 5 subjects from this module.

* Expert Diploma (21 credits): First 7 subjects or select 7 subjects from this module.

* Bachelor's Degree (130 credits): The Admission certificate issued after submission of the application for admission will show the amount of credit transferred and validated from previous education and experience, and the amount of credits required to complete this undergraduate program's major. Additional courses from other modules of this faculty will be assigned in case that the credits displayed on this module are not enough to complete the bachelor's required credits.

* Master's Degree (35 credits): Select from 3 to 9 subjects from this module depending on the amount of credits transferred from previous education and experience. Add 13 credits corresponding to a final project to the selected subjects.

* Ph.D. (Doctor) (45 credits): Select from 3 to 9 subjects from this module depending on the amount of credits transferred from previous education and experience. Add 18 credits corresponding to a final thesis to the selected subjects.

BIU issues an admission certificate after receiving your complete application for admission. This document will show the amount of credits transferred and validated from previous education and experience, and the amount of credits required to complete the degree program's major. BIU can not perform this evaluation without the complete application for admission.

Courses Description (each subject accounts for 3 credits):

Earth Science

This course examines the structure of the Earth including plate tectonics, earthquakes, and volcanoes. It reviews the natural processes operating on the Earth, such erosion, mass wasting, glaciation permafrost, rivers, etc., Earth history; stratigraphic and paleontologic concepts; minerals and non-renewable earth resources and their exploitation. It also explores natural hazards and global change, and the primary considerations for survival; water, food and energy supplies, soil loss and waste disposal.

Instructor: Mina Benjouali

Hydrology

This course introduces the main components of the hydrologic cycle including precipitation processes, evapotranspiration, soil water and groundwater flow, and surface water features. Emphasis is placed on the atmospheric and geologic processes controlling water movement in the cycle at the global and local scales, considering the environmental impacts of urbanization and land-use management.

Instructor: Mina Benjouali

Stratigraphy & Earth History

This course studies earth materials, principles and approaches used in deciphering geological history. It examines the development of stratigraphic sequences as controlled by global and regional tectonics and sea level fluctuations.

Instructor: Mina Benjouali

Volcanism & Earthquakes

This course focuses on the processes surrounding and causing volcanoes and earthquakes as well as their impact on human culture, their prediction and mitigation.

Instructor: Mina Benjouali

Geomorphology

This course centers on the dynamic processes that sculpt the Earth’s surface. These processes include weathering and erosion, and sediment deposition by water, wind, ice, and mass-wasting. It considers the physical processes, environmental impact and remediation, and engineering capabilities of soils, fluvial processes, glacial deposits, landslides, and coastal processes.

Instructor: Mina Benjouali

Environmental Science

This course deals with relevant theories from physical sciences, ecology, economics, political science and other fields related to environmental studies. It presents an interdisciplinary approach to the interaction of humans and biological systems with the environment. It examines environmental problems, their prevention and possible solutions.

Instructor: Vicente Enrique Martín Olmos

Human Habitat

This course studies the concepts, methods, techniques and applications for the analysis of the human habitat, settlements, distribution, population and cultural environment. It explores the relation of human habitats with available land space, geography, overpopulation and ecological impact.

Instructor: Vicente Enrique Martín Olmos

Marine Science

This course emphasizes the principles that govern the oceans, the sea currents, the water composition and marine life. It deals with aspects of physical, geological, and chemical oceanography as well as their relation with the marine ecosystems and the organisms that inhabit them. It also explores how organisms interact within their individual marine ecosystems, including the human activity impact on oceans, pollution, oceanic dead zones, and coral reefs.

Instructor: María del Mar Sánchez Conde

Atmospheric Science

This course presents weather processes and climate, including discussions of fronts and cyclones, precipitation processes, the wind systems of the world, severe storms, and weather modification. It reviews the physical and chemical behavior of the atmosphere and the fundamental concepts used in weather analysis and forecasting.

Instructor: Mina Benjouali

Climatology

This course explores the global and surface energy balance, the hydrologic cycle, the influence on climate of the atmospheric and oceanic circulation, climate history, sensitivity, modeling, and natural and anthropogenic change. It also deals with the thermodynamics of cloud and precipitation: nucleation, drop growth by condensation, collection and coalescence processes, drop breakup, ice crystal growth accretion and aggregation.

Instructor: Mina Benjouali

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Professionally recognized and validated degrees.

Accredited (Non USA CHEA). International legalization available.

Non formal and independent education.