Curriculum
| 1st SEMESTER COURSES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Course | Instructor | Tutor | |
| 1 | Biology | Akriotis Triantaphyllos | Akriotis T. / Zafiriou E. / Georgi N. |
| 2 | Chemistry | Aloupi Maria | Aloupi M. |
| 3 | Physics | Matsoukas Christos | Matsoukas Ch. |
| 4 | Economics and the Environment I | Antonios Skouloudis | Skouloudis A. |
| 5 | Mathematics | Nikolaos Fyllas | Fyllas N. |
| 6 | Introduction to Environmental Science | Panagiotis Dimitrakopoulos | Karagianni H. |
| 7 | Introduction to Computer Science | Christos Matsoukas | Andreou A. |
| Courses offered throughout the duration of study | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Course | Responsible TRS Member | Instructor | |
| 1 | Summer Practical Training | Matsoukas Christos | Professors |
The syllabus of each course is determined by the lecturer. Depending on the course, the syllabus may include lectures, laboratories, applications and educational fieldtrips.
Each course is examined either at the end of the semester with written or oral examinations or with assigned projects during the semester, or with a combination of the two. In the case of failure, a second examining period exists in September of the same year.
In the case of failure in an obligatory course, the student must repeat the course in a following semester. In the case of failure in an elective course, the student must either repeat the course in a following semester or replace it with another elective course. Preparation for final examinations involves the study of the course textbook(s), lecture notes and readings provided by the lecturer.
The course timetable is drawn up at the beginning of each semester and is announced to the students by the Department Administration.
The academic year runs from September 1 to August 31. Each semester includes 14 complete weeks of class time. The winter semester begins mid September and the spring semester begins in the first fortnight of February. The precise dates are determined by the Senate each academic year.
The winter semester examining period is in January-February and spans three weeks. The spring semester examining period is in June over two weeks. The repeat examining period for the two semesters occurs in September for three weeks.
Students must register for courses at the beginning of the semester by the deadline set by the Department Administration. Students may not register for courses which require prerequisites before those prerequisites are completed. Students can take up to eight (8) courses per semester. It is recommended that students consult their Study Advisor when determining their program of study.
The General Assembly of the Department determines the prerequisite courses. For the courses taught by other departments, the determination of the prerequisites comes from the respective department.
To receive a degree from the Department of Environment, students must successfully complete at least 48 courses (27 compulsory and 21 electives) from the program of study as well as their undergraduate thesis, which is one of the compulsory courses. The students must also complete a total of at least 120 credits (240 ECTS credits). The duration of study cannot be smaller than eight semesters.
Students in the Department of Environment who successfully complete their program of study are granted a degree. The degree certifies the successful completion of studies of the student and it contains the grade up to two decimal points. The grades are as follows: excellent: 8.50 -10.00, very good: 6.5 – 8.49, and good: 5.00 – 6.49. The degree grade is calculated according to the existing regulations (following), with the condition that the student fulfills the minimal required number of courses and credits, as described above.
The calculation of the degree grade, as set by the Ministerial Decision Φ141/Β3/2166, (ΦΕΚ 308 τ.β. 18. 6.1987), is standard for all the Higher Education Institutions in Greece. The grade of each course is multiplied with the respective course weighing factor. The products of all courses with their respective weighing factors are summed up and then divided with the sum of the corresponding course weighing factors. This quotient is the final grade.
Each course is worth a certain number of credits. One credit corresponds to one lecture hour and one to three hours of laboratory time per week.
The weighing factors range from 1.0 to 2.0 and are calculated as follows:
A course that has one or two credits is assigned a weighing factor of one (1).
Courses that have three or four credits are assigned a weighing factor of one and a half (1.5).
Courses with more than four credits, including the bachelor’s thesis, are assigned a weighing factor of two (2).
If a student has completed more courses than the minimum course and credit requirements, the student may exclude any of the elective courses for the calculation of the degree grade as long as the minimum number of courses and credits is maintained.
The Study Advisor provides students with the necessary support for coping with the requirements of studying at the University. This support involves the monitoring of particular interests of students so that their scientific and professional specialisation is adapted gradually to their personalities and abilities. The Study Advisor also supports students with personal difficulties or problems that emerge during their studies.
Faculty members may be assigned as Study Advisors (for up to 15 students). For the students in the 1st and 2nd semester of their studies, the Study Advisor is assigned by the General Assembly of the Department. The remainder of the students is free to select their Advisor by submitting a relative statement along with their course registration at the beginning of the winter semester. The Study Advisor must have frequent contact with the students.
The Study Advisor must:
Monitor particular interests of students and guide them to suitable areas of studies
Assist students in composing their programs of study
Provide information and advice to students with professional orientations
Provide information and help with postgraduate studies, scholarships and study abroad
Provide information and advice regarding participation in seminars, conferences, research programs and off-campus courses
Facilitate contact between students and academic authorities when judged advisable
Alongside the main program of courses is a program of free seminars that aims to provide opportunities for students to deepen their knowledge in their subjects and to interact with a wider number of Greek and foreign scientists. These seminars are organised with the initiative and responsibility of the teaching staff and may include seminars which supplement course material, project presentations of teaching staff or students, and seminars given by professors of Greek and foreign universities, distinguished scientists and various executives whose experiences are deemed useful for the general education of students. The Seminar Program is announced in the beginning of each semester.
In accordance with the objectives of the University of the Aegean, the Department of Environment hosts conferences on subjects concerning modern methods and technologies for the analysis and management of the environment.
The Department of Environment of the University of the Aegean runs a Summer Practical Training (SPT)program for its students in collaboration with various institutions (private businesses, local government offices, institutes, research centres, environmental organisations etc.). The SP is an optional ninth course offered every summer semester in the undergraduate program of the Department. Professor C. Matsoukas is currently in charge of the program.
Depending on their placements, the students participate in activities such as recording the processes of production and decision-making, participating in analyses, measurements, recordings, data collection and analysis and in all actions involved in the collaboration of the University with the SPT program institution. At the end of the practicum, the students submit a report which includes:
- The type of activities of the institution
- The subject of the SPT and its general importance
- The methodology used
- The results
- The conclusions
- The bibliography used
The objective of the program is that all students of the Department of Environment participate in the SPT at least once during their studies. The participation of students in this program allows them to better comprehend the real working conditions of environmental organisations and to experience the professional aspect of environmental science. This professional contact gives the students self-confidence and teaches them to apply the scientific knowledge acquired in the University so that they can give realistic solutions to various environmental problems. The program also improves communication between the University and local enterprises and encourages collaboration on an educational and research level. Finally, the enterprises become familiar with the type and level of knowledge that is provided in the Department of Environment, so that they can offer employment to the graduates of the Department.
Each student is supervised by a faculty member and a professional from the practicum placement. The two supervisors cooperate in setting up the work project and provide the student with all the necessary information (bibliography etc.).
The professional from the practicum placement supervises the student during the SP and provides a performance evaluation. This evaluation concerns mainly the type and duration of employment of the student and is sent to the supervising faculty member. The faculty member assigns the final grade based on both the assessment of the placement supervisor and the student’s report.
SPT students receive a monthly stipend. Travel expenses to and from Mytilene (location of the Department) as well as accident insurance are covered.
From its foundation, the Department of Environment has developed long-lasting collaborations with universities of the European Union through the Erasmus+ program.
In order to achieve course objectives, various educational fieldtrips and visits are programmed to natural and manmade ecosystems, protected regions, environmental organisations, industries, small enterprises, public services and other institutions related to environmental management. The goal of these visits is the integration of theoretical knowledge and the particular practices and needs in the environment sector.
