Department of Earth, Water, and Environmental Sciences

Geosciences Course in Pollution Prevention and Treatment – GPTP

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Course Objectives

The Geosciences, Pollution Preventionand Treatment(GPTP) program is designed to provide a broad-based education in Earth Sciences, supplemented by professional training in the fields of pollution prevention and treatment—particularly water and soil pollution—and includes a 4- to 6-month internship in a professional setting or laboratory.

This program prepares students to enter the job market upon completion of their bachelor’s degree (Bac + 3) at the Technician/Assistant Engineer level (see “Career Opportunities” below) or to pursue a master’s degree ( see “Further Studies” below). Thus, the first two years are identical to those of the Earth Sciences track, with students beginning to specialize in the second year (L2) through the TU , Hydraulics, Environmental Chemistry, and Ocean, Atmosphere, Hydrosphere. The final specialization within the program is selected at the beginning of the third year (L3). This program benefits from the participationof faculty membersfrom the Department of Chemistry, Process Engineering, and the Polytech School of Engineering. The program team also draws on a network of local authorities and companies, particularly SMEs, enabling specialization in the following fields:

  • hydraulics/hydrogeology/hydrology
  • Waste and pollution treatment and prevention
  • water purification and treatment
  • water and waste legislation
  • water microbiology
  • water and waste chemistry

Thisthird year centers ona 4- to 6-month internship in a company or laboratory, which is worth 20 ECTS credits. This program, established in 2004, was created primarily to meet the demand fortechniciansin pollution prevention and treatment, a need identified through our interactions with the public and private sectors. In addition, this vocational bachelor’s degree allows students to continue on to a master’s program.

Conditions of access:

Admission to the second or third year is possible for students coming from other programs (other bachelor’s degrees, BUT, BTS, CPGE), based on a review of their application following the recommendation of the academic committee.

Professional integration

We have been tracking thecareerpathsof graduatesfrom the GPTP bachelor’s program since the 2004–2005 academic year, when the program was established. Our surveys show that graduates have achieved very strong employment outcomes in engineering firms and local governments specializing in a wide range of fields:

  • Waste and wastewater prevention and treatment
  • rural and urban water systems
  • Public Health or Local Government Technician (through competitive examination)
  • water resource management and water quality
  • flood risks, environmental risks
  • soil and water remediation
  • QSE (Quality, Safety, Environment), HSE (Health, Safety, Environment).

The tracking data also shows the career progression ofsome studentswho,having startedatthe technicianlevel, advance to engineering-level positions after a few years (e.g.,departmentor projectmanagerthrough internal promotion). Small graduating classes of 15 to 20 students per year ensure that we remain aligned with the regional and national job market.

Continuing education

:

In the GPTP program, the focus is on learning specific technical skills rather than the foundational disciplinary knowledge taught primarily in the general Earth Sciences track. Each year,studentsfrom the GPTP track go on to pursue master’s degrees, mainly in Environment, Water, or Pollution (at the University of Montpellier or other institutions). In addition to the Water master’s programs at the University of Montpellier, as well as master’s programs in Environment, Water, Pollution, or QSE/HSE, here are some examples of master’s programs pursued byformerGPTP bachelor’sstudents(this list is not exhaustive):

  • Master's Degree in Biology and Environment, specializing in the Functioning and Restoration of Continental Aquatic Environments, Clermont-Ferrand
  • Master's in Sustainable Development Engineering, specializing in Industrial Process Safety, Environment, and Quality (SPIEQ), Nancy
  • Master's in Chemical Pollution and Environmental Management (PCGE), Paris-Saclay University
  • Arts et Métiers Engineering School, Industrial Risk Management and Prevention (GPR), Bourget-du-Lac
  • Master's in Water, Soil, and Waste Management and Treatment, Chimie ParisTech
  • Master's in Water and Soil Quality and Treatment (QuEST), Besançon
  • Master's in Hydrogeology, Soil, and Environment, Avignon
  • Master’s in Environmental Management, MAEVA-STE Track (Environmental Management, Assessment, and Analysis – Environmental Sciences and Technologies), Marseille
  • Master's in Chemistry and Life Sciences (CSV), Specialization in Pollution Assessment, Management, and Treatment (EGTP), Pau
  • Master's Degree in Separative Chemistry, Materials, and Processes (CSMP), Montpellier.

Program

This program consists of six semesters, each worth 30 ECTS credits. Students begin to specialize in their second year (L2) with courses inhydrogeology, hydraulics, and environmental chemistry. The TU in the third year (L3) are specific to the GPTP track and involvefacultyfrom disciplines other than Geosciences, as well as external experts (engineering firms and public agencies). The third year (L3) centers on a 4-month internship that providesstudentswith direct exposure to the professional world. This internship is worth 20 ECTS credits. It concludes with a report and an oral defense.

Semester 3

  • Sedimentary geology, tectonics, and mapping (4 ECTS)
  • Minerals and Rocks (5 ECTS)
  • Structural Geology (2 ECTS)
  • Seismology and Data Processing (5 ECTS)
  • Hydrogeology (5 ECTS)
  • Mathematics for TEE Students (5 ECTS)
  • General Culture (2 ECTS)
  • English (2 ECTS)

Semester 4

  • Fieldwork (Alps) (5 ECTS)
  • Cartography (4 ECTS)
  • Geology of France (4 ECTS)
  • Environmental Chemistry (5 ECTS)
  • Ocean Atmosphere Hydrosphere (5 ECTS)
  • English
  • Hydraulics (5 ECTS)

Semester 5 (September–October)

  • Water Purification and Treatment (5 ECTS)
  • Water Microbiology (5 ECTS)
  • Water and Waste Chemistry (5 ECTS)
  • Soil Science (3 ECTS)
  • Tools for Career Integration (2 ECTS)
  • Internship from November to February (10 ECTS)

Semester 6 (March to April)

  • Waste Management (5 ECTS)
  • Utilization of Byproducts (5 ECTS)
  • Water and Waste Legislation (3 ECTS)
  • Extensive Effluent Treatment Processes (3 ECTS)
  • Hydrology (4 ECTS)
  • Internship from November to February (10 ECTS)