In this course, the basic principles of chromatographic instruments and methods are presented.  The types of chromatographic separations and the associated terminology are examined.  The applications of thin layer chromatography are addressed, along with the basic applications and types of column chromatography.  The information present in a typical chromatogram is described and some fundamental calculations performed.  After looking at basic concepts, a brief overview of two of the more commonly used instruments, HPLC and GC, is presented.  The basic components of both are described.  The use of chromatography as both a qualitative and quantitative instrument is addressed.  Chromatographic methods and method validation are described.  This course serves as a prerequisite to Chromatography II, in which more detail is presented regarding the instrumentation and applications of chromatographic methods.  The laboratory component of this course allows students to receive practical hands-on training on the HPLC, IC and GC and to apply the theory presented in lecture.

Students study, in detail, environmental enforcement in Ontario.  Abatement procedures, abatement tools and management strategies, including ISO 14000, are examined.  Spill cleanup regulations and legal defences against enforcement actions are studied from an industrial perspective.  Also, common law and its expanding role in environmental protection and actions are studied.  Trends in environmental policy are examined so that students can be more aware of probable developments in future environmental enforcement activities.

This combined lecture and lab course provides instruction about environmental sampling, analyses, and associated quality assurance and quality control practices.  Students practice sampling techniques in a range of field situations and develop an understanding of sample program design, sample management and QA/QC practices.

Placement is considered an important part as a technologist’s education, and student are required to obtain a minimum of 80 hours on the job placement in their chosen field and 5 hours of required workshops. There is no formal set of topics of instruction for placement but it must provide the student with practical experience in their chosen field. Each placement will be different as there will be a variety of organizations participating.

Students may achieve their placement requirement in various ways by completing one of the following:

1. A summer position after second year related to their field of study.
2. Working one day a week during the fall or winter academic school year.
3. Working during a block period of time such as the Christmas break, Reading week or in May after all courses work is completed.
4. Completing an internship for 4,8,12 or 16 months.
5. Applying for a prior work experience with proper approval and documentation.

Placement is approached as an actual job, with students attending interviews and being selected for positions by the employer. Students are to perform as technologists in training. A satisfactory completion is mandatory in order to graduate from Durham College.

Students study the key aspects of industrial waste management and pollution prevention programs. Topics include the definition of industrial waste; the sources and types and classification of industrial waste (Reg 347); the regulatory requirements for industrial and hazardous treatment and handling; waste minimization practices and a comprehensive coverage of the primary waste treatment and emission control technologies.  Applicable regulations relating to waste management are studied along with the introduction of the Waste Diversion Act.

This course introduces applied aspects of microbiology.  It includes a practical and theoretical introduction to microbial cell morphology and the structure and function of prokaryotes and eukaryotes.  The diversity of the microbial world is examined by comparing bacterial, fungal, protozoan and viral organisms. The growth, reproduction and enumeration of micro-organisms are studied as well as the effects of physical and chemical agents on microbial growth.  The laboratory component provides hands-on experience in the isolation, cultivation and enumeration of micro-organisms as well as in the preparation of microbiological media and maintenance of microbial cultures. 

This course focuses on the use of spectroscopic instruments in both qualitative and quantitative chemical analysis.  The emphasis in this course is on the use of spectroscopic instruments (AAS, FES, GFAA, ICP, UV/VIS, fluorometry, IR, NMR, MS, XRF, etc.) in the quantitative analysis of bio-molecules, organic compounds and inorganic chemicals.  These instruments will be addresses with regards to instrumentation, methods, sample preparation, applications and calculations.  The application of these instruments to common analytical procedures will be stressed.  Spectroscopy I consists of both a lecture and laboratory component.  In the lab, the students will be given extensive hands-on experience with a variety of spectroscopic instruments (AAS, FES, UV/VIS, fluorometry, IR, NIR).

This combined theory and lab course provides instruction on the three stages of environmental site assessments, environmental audits, geographic information systems and assessing air quality.  This course provides a solid background and thorough understanding of the regulatory processes involved with environmental site assessments, brownfield redevelopment and record of site conditions associated with property transactions.

This course introduces students to the theory and application of environmental microbiology. In lectures and labs, students learn about aquatic, terrestrial and atmospheric ecosystems at the microbial level. Through practical applications, they learn to apply this information to water and wastewater treatment and testing. Other topics include biogeochemical cycles and energy flow within ecosystems, bioremediation, and biotechnology and its uses in the assessment and cleanup of environmental problems. Lab exercises reinforce the theoretical principles and introduce students to environmental laboratory methods that comply with current standards and practices.

This course continues and expands upon the concepts presented in Chromatography I.  A more detailed examination of the instrumentation and components used in HPLC, GC and IC is presented.  Sample preparation is examined along with the methods and applications of each instrument.  Troubleshooting strategies are presented and discussed for both HPLC and GC systems and chromatograms.  Other chromatographic systems (GC-MS, HPLC-MS, CE, SFC) will also be addressed.  Validation of chromatographic instruments is presented.  The laboratory component of this course allows the students to receive practical hands-on training on the HPLC, IC and GC and to apply the theory presented in lecture.

This lab will and lecture-based course expands students' knowledge of the processes, practices and equipment for dealing with environmental engineering problems. Students also learn about the challenges of water sewage treatment, hydrology, storm water management and noise pollution.

This course provides a thorough review of environmental protection legislation and regulations at the federal, provincial and municipal levels. It also covers public attitudes and a brief history of key environmental issues and incidents that helped shape current environmental legislation. The Canadian Environmental Protection Act, the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, the Fisheries Act, the Ontario Environmental Assessment Act, the Nutrient Management Act, the Ontario Water Resources Act, the Environmental Bill of Rights, the Safe Drinking Water Act, the Green Energy Act and the Water Opportunities Act, among others, are introduced along with some of the key regulations.  The important regulations are examined in greater depth in subsequent courses.

This course introduces students to the principles of environmental toxicology. Topics include an overview of the effects of toxic compounds on the human body, as well as living organisms in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Epidemiological studies and environmental risk assessments as they relate to environmental toxicology will also be examined.  

Placement is considered an important part as a technologist’s education, and student are required to obtain a minimum of 80 hours on the job placement in their chosen field and 5 hours of required workshops. There is no formal set of topics of instruction for placement but it must provide the student with practical experience in their chosen field. Each placement will be different as there will be a variety of organizations participating.

Students may achieve their placement requirement in various ways by completing one of the following:

1. A summer position after second year related to their field of study.
2. Working one day a week during the fall or winter academic school year.
3. Working during a block period of time such as the Christmas break, Reading week or in May after all courses work is completed.
4. Completing an internship for 4,8,12 or 16 months.
5. Applying for a prior work experience with proper approval and documentation.

Placement is approached as an actual job, with students attending interviews and being selected for positions by the employer. Students are to perform as technologists in training. A satisfactory completion is mandatory in order to graduate from Durham College.

This course addresses spectroscopic methods of analysis.  In particular, the application of these methods to the identification and structural analyses of organic compounds will be emphasized.  Infrared, ultraviolet, visible, nuclear magnetic resonance, and mass spectroscopy will be looked at in terms of basic theory, sampling, data collection, spectral evaluation and interpretation.  Correlation tables will be used to predict and identify the structure of a variety of organic compounds using spectra alone and in combination.  The laboratory component of this course provides hands-on experience using infrared, ultraviolet/visible, and atomic absorption, emission and fluorometry spectroscopies in addition to a number of other instrumental methods.

This course focuses on the finite assimilative and regenerative capacity of ecosystems, as they relate to urban environmental planning. Topics include watershed development, site-specific environmental impact assessment, environmental protection, environmental stability, and planning policy.