ARDHI | Department of Environmental Science and Management

Department of Environmental Science and Management

According to the National Environmental Policy (1997), Tanzania strives to achieve sustainable development through rational use of endowed natural resources and right for a clean and safe environment. However, utilisation of resources have socio-economic, environmental and technical implications. The department of Environmental Science and Management was established in 2007 following the transformation of UCLAS into Ardhi University. After establishment, the department formulated the courses to respond to the six major environmental problems experienced in Tanzania as stipulated in the environmental policy, namely; land degradation, lack of accessible good quality water for urban and rural inhabitants; environmental pollution; loss of wildlife habitats and biodiversity; deterioration of aquatic ecosystems and deforestations. The current socio-economic development, including rapid urbanization, expansion of agricultural activities, and demand for energy in many parts of Tanzania are increasing pressure on natural resources and utilities such as water. The identified challenges have resulted into intensified environmental and socio-economic problems in many parts of Tanzania.The department as well as the pertinent courses focus on adequate mitigation and reduction of the environmental and socio-economic problems to ensure sustainable development in the country. The department offers two undergraduate programmes and five postgraduate programmes.

The undergraduate programme offered include;

Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science and Management (B.Sc. ESM)
Bachelor of Sciencein Environmental Laboratory Science and Technology (BSc.ELST)

Postgraduate Programmes

Master of Disaster Risk Management (M. DRM) - (By Coursework and Dissertation)
Master of Disaster Risk Management (M. DRM) - (By Thesis)
Doctor of philosophy in Environmental Science and Management (PhD ESM)- (By Thesis)
Doctor of philosophy in Disaster Management (PhD DM)- (By Thesis)
Doctor of philosophy in Laboratory Science and Management (PhD LSM) - (By Thesis

The training philosophy is also in line with the current thinking that focuses on moving away from the end-of-pipe solutions, to enhancing waste minimization and pollution prevention as well as sustainable environmental management and development.

Teaching is organized in themes. Each semester has a main theme and the subjects taught are related to that theme. In each semester except the eighth semester, students are required to do a project related to the theme. In the first three semesters, more time is devoted to theory, but as students proceed to succeeding semesters, the amount of time devoted to Fieldwork increases accordingly. The eighth semester is totally devoted to the final year dissertation

Description of the academic Programmes

BSc.in Environmental Science and Management (BSc. ESM)

Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science and Management was established to address the socio-economic and environmental challenges. The Problems resulting from utilisation of resources have socio-economic, environmental and technical implications. More specifically, resources utilisation contributes to environmental degradation including deforestation and erosion, pollution of water as well as loss of soil fertility and biodiversity. Furthermore, there issues of wastes management including hazardous wastes, which poses great environmental and health risks.Moreover, worldwide contemporary environmental issues like global warming, increased natural disasters (like epidemics, floods, droughts, earthquakes, landslide etc), e-waste management, invasive species, biofuels, and contaminants of emerging concern (CEC) do have great social and environmental implications to Tanzania. The above outlined situation therefore calls for expertise and services inherent in environmental science and management.The experts from Environmental Science and Management have sound knowledge and competences in environmental science and management field. The environmental science and management course has been designed with a focus on local, regional (particularly EAC and SADC) and global environmental management needs, in particular the built environment. Graduates from the programme are expected to work for among others, the central government ministries, local government, national and international organisations, public agencies, consulting and contracting firms, and training and research institutions. The graduates are also intended to be capable of self-employment as practitioners in any aspect of environmental science and management.

Entry qualification

Direct Entry qualification

Passes in FOUR approved subjects at C.S.E.E obtained prior to to sitting for the A.S.C.E.E; AND Principal level passes in any two of the following subjects; Physics, Advanced Mathematics, Chemistry, Biology and Geography. One of the two principal level passes must be in Physics or Chemistry or Biology. In addition an applicant must have at least a Subsidiary pass in Advanced Mathematics/Basic Applied Mathematics at A.C.S.E.E.

Equivalent Qualifications

Diploma in water supply and sanitation Engineering, Environmental Health Science, Hydrology and well drilling, Hydrology and Meteology, Water laboratory Technology, Irrigation Engineering, Civil Engineering or water resource Engineering with an average of “B” or GPA of 3.0 or FTC in the related field with an average of “B”

Duration and Components of the Course

This is a four-year full-timecourse that leads to the BSc. degree inEnvironmental Science and Management. The course is structured on a semester system, with a total of eight semesters. The curriculum is project oriented with emphasis on learning by doing. During each semester, 15 weeks are allocated for the theoretical learning, while 8 weeks are allocated for Industrial Training.

Expected learning outcome

Comprehensive understanding and strong interdisciplinary foundations of environmental concepts needed for management and decision-making skills for the application of scientific knowledge to environmental problems including environmental policies andsocioeconomic context in which environmental issues are resolved.
Ability to conduct laboratory and field studies as well as other data gathering endeavors using appropriate scientific measurement techniques for analyzing a wide range of environmental problems in search for appropriate solutions;
Ability to formulate and implement mitigation and adaptation measures to enable the community to cope with climate change impacts;
Ability to work independently or with counterparts in other professions in assuming responsible administrative duties and other environmental science and management functions.
Ability to analyze and prepare environmental and social reports in line with requirements of safeguard policies of the international finance lending institutions like IFC, World Bank, etc.
Ability to manage environmental problems that affect the welfare of human beings and the environment using sound social, scientific and economic principles;
Ability to mitigate problems related to occupational health and create a conducive working environment for enhancing productivity of workers;
Ability to device strategies for reducing and managing disaster risks to the community;
Ability to manage natural resources in a sustainable manner by applying sound and pragmatic scientific principles

BSc.in Environmental Laboratory Science and Technology (BSc.ELST)

Rapid urbanization and industrialisation fostered by Economic development efforts in many parts of Tanzania have resulted in an increase in demand for exploitation of the natural resources and utilities such as water. The same have also resulted in an increase in quantities, types and sources of pollution. There are concrete evidences on the alarming level of pollution especially in urban areas of Tanzania. Sources of pollution include residential premises, agriculture and mining practices, industries, workshops, and construction sites. Other sources include existence of malfunctioning on-site sanitation systems, open defecation and untreated industrial wastewater discharge which pollute not only land but also groundwater and piped water supply. Pollutants from all various sources affect all the three compartments of environment namely soil, water and air with potential adverse effect to environment and public health. The Environmental Laboratory Science and Technology degree programme is concerned with protecting the environment from potentially detrimental effects of pollutions, protecting human populations from the effects of undesirable environmental factors, and improving environmental quality for human health and well-being through providing laboratory analytical expertise. The ELST programme is aimed at producing laboratory scientists and technologists who are well equipped with laboratory knowledge, skills, and professional competence to be able to solve current and future environmental, social and economic problems in the society.Specifically, the programme focuses on Laboratory Science, technologies and biotechnology related to: Soil, air and water quality analysis, monitoring and management; solid and liquid waste analysis; hazardous and non-hazardous waste analysis; oil and gas waste analysis; health, safety and environment and resource recycling and recovery. The Environmental Laboratory Science and Technology degree programme has been designed with more emphasis on both local and global environmental laboratory technological needs.

Entry qualification

Direct Entry qualification

Certificate of Secondary Education Examination (CSEE), with passes in FOUR approved subjects, obtained prior to sitting for the Advanced Certificate of Secondary Education Examination (ACSEE) AND Principal level passes in any two of the following subjects; Physics, Advanced Mathematics, Chemistry, Biology, Geography. One of the two principal level passes must be in Physics or Chemistry or Biology. In addition, an applicant must have at least a Subsidiary level pass in Advanced Mathematics/Basic Applied Mathematics and Physics at ACSEE.

Equivalent Qualifications

Duration and Components of the Course

This is a four-year full-time course that leads to the BSc. degree inin Environmental Laboratory Science and Technology (BSc. ELST). The course is structured on a semester system, with a total of eight semesters. The curriculum for this degree Programme is project oriented and it is structured to impart theory and its application through practical training. During each semester, the 15 weeks are allocated for the theoretical learning and project work, while 8 weeks after the end of year 1, 2 and 3 are allocated for Industrial Training.

Expected learning outcome

Identify, describe, and explain different theories and concepts on environmental laboratory sciences and technologies and be able to interplay between laboratory investigations and input for management of environmental problems that necessitate interdisciplinary actions.
Apply laboratory science and technology principles and techniques and also modern environmental laboratory tools and equipment applicable in the field of environmental laboratory science and technology
Ability to function effectively as a member of multidisciplinary teams and professional expert
Develop original research topic with specific knowledge in the field of Environmental Laboratory Science and Technology.
Collect and integrate several lines ofevidence, either to formulate and test hypothesis, or to use within other recognized research instruments.
Undertake field, laboratory and or other practical investigations in ethical, economical, legal and regulatory context pertinent to Environmental laboratory science and technology;
Use and operate analytical instrument, analysis, validation, and interpretation. Communicate laboratory findings effectively to all relevant stakeholders. Provide mitigation measures for various environmental problems based on laboratory findings.