Fundamentals of Environment

By Prof. Orus Ilyas | Aligarh Muslim University

Learners enrolled: 3482 | Exam registration: 216

ABOUT THE COURSE:

On the direction of Honorable supreme court of India, the University Grand Commission (UGC) has introduced “Environmental Studies” as essential subject to be taught at UG level a CBCS system. However, under New Education Policy the course has been splitted into two papers of 2 credits each. (1). Fundamentals of Environment, (2). Environmental Education and Conservation, since July 2024.

The present proposal is for the Fundamental of Environment course (2 credits) which is being taught in V^th semester of undergraduate students. The prime objective of this proposed online course is to provide participants complete understanding of Environment. The course aims to enable students acquire practical and technical skills required for identifying and solving societal problems related to environment.

INTENDED AUDIENCE: Under graduate students of all the discipline. (B.A/B.Sc./B.Com/B.Tech)

PREREQUISITES: This course is being taught to Undergraduate students, hence 12^th is compulsory to pass/clear

INDUSTRY SUPPORT:

The present course may help professionals in development of an industry environmental management and education protocol for the purpose of training.
This course will also develop strong aptitudes among industry managers to understand economic development and challenges posed to environment due to establishment of industries.

Summary

Course Status :	Ongoing
Course Type :	Core
Language for course content :	English
Duration :	8 weeks
Category :	Environmental Sciences
Credit Points :	2
Level :	Undergraduate
Start Date :	18 Aug 2025
End Date :	10 Oct 2025
Enrollment Ends :	18 Aug 2025
Exam Registration Ends :	29 Aug 2025
Exam Date :	24 Oct 2025 IST
NCrF Level	6.0

Note: This exam date is subject to change based on seat availability. You can check final exam date on your hall ticket.

Page Visits

Course layout

Week 1: Definition, Scope and importance of Environment & Concept of Ecosystem

1. Environment and its multidimensional Nature: Definition Scope and importance, Part I

2. Environment and its multidimensional Nature: Definition Scope and importance, Part II

3. Environment and its multidimensional Nature: Definition Scope and importance, Part III
4. Concept of Ecosystem and its characteristics
5. Component of ecosystem- Abiotic
6. Component of ecosystem- Biotic

Week 2: Concept of Ecosystem, Types of Ecosystem such as forest, grassland, wetland; functions of ecosystem

7. Types of Ecosystem

8. Grassland Ecosystem

9. Mountain and Desert Ecosystem

10. Aquatic Ecosystem

11. Function of Ecosystem

Week 3: Concept of Producers, consumers, decomposers, concept of food chain, food web, trophic level and ecological pyramids

12. Concept of Producers, consumers, decomposers

13. Concept of food chain, food web, trophic level and ecological pyramids, Part I

14. Concept of food chain, food web, trophic level and ecological pyramids, Part II

15. Renewable and nonrenewable resources: Food and food resources Part I
16. Renewable and nonrenewable resources: Food and food resources Part II

Week 4: Definition of Renewable and non-Renewable resources, types of different natural resources such as Forest resources, Water resources, Energy resources Food resources, Land resources and Mineral resources.

17. Renewable and non-Renewable Energy resources, Part I

18. Renewable and non-Renewable Energy resources, Part II

19. Forest resources, Part I

20. Forest resources, Part II

21. Forest resources, Part III

Week 5: Renewable and non-Renewable natural resources (Land resources, Mineral resources and Water resources)

22. Land resources

23. Mineral resources Part I

24. Mineral resources Part II

25. Water resources

Week 6: Concept of genus species and habitat , Part I

27. Concept of genus species and habitat, Biodiversity and its types;

28. Genetic and Species Diversity

29. Ecosystem diversity

30. India as Mega Biodiversity Nation

Week 7: Concept of genus species and habitat Part II

30. Biodiversity Hot spots, Part I

31. Biodiversity Hot spots, Part II

32. Biodiversity Hot spots, Part III

33. Biodiversity Hot spots, Part IV

34. Threats to biodiversity.

Week 8: Protected Area network in India and concept of in-situ, and ex -situ conservation.

35. Introduction to Protected Area network in India (in-situ conservation).

36. Protected Area network- Centrally sponsored schemes

37. Ex -situ conservation: Strategies, success: An integrated approach to biodiversity conservation.

38. Man-animal conflict around protected areas

39. Biodiversity conservation and food security
40. Endangered species management
41. Conclusion of Fundamentals of Environment

Books and references

Arumugam, N. and Kumaresan, V. (2019). Environmental Studies. Pub. Saras Publication, Periavilai, Nagercoil, Tamilnadu, India. Pp. 448.
Asthana, D.K. and Asthana, M. (2007). A Textbook of Environmental Studies. Pub. S. Chand & Company, New Delhi. Pp. 397.
Berg, L. R., Hager, M.C. and Hassenzahl, D.M. (2013). Visualizing Environmental Science. Wiley. ISBN 1118176863. 528pp.
Bharucha, E. (2021). Text book for Environmental Studies for undergraduate courses of all branches of Higher Education. UGC (e-Book). ISBN 9789389211788, 288pp.
Bourse, D.F. and Wright, R.T. (2016). Environmental Science: Toward A Sustainable Future. Pearson Education. 672pp.
Cunningham, W.P. and Cunningham, M.A. (2011). Environmental Science: A Global Concern. McGraw Hill Education. (12th ed.). ISBN 0073383252. 640pp.
Cunningham, W.P. and Cunningham, M.A. (2016). Principles of Environmental Science. McGraw Hill. ISBN 0078036070. 464pp.
Keen, M., Brown, V.A. and Dyball, A. (2005). Social Learning in Environmental Management: Towards a Sustainable Future. (1st ed.). Routledge, Taylor & Francis. 288pp.
Kumar, A. (2014). Textbook of Environmental Science. Medtech. ISBN 9789381714546. 151pp.
Majid Husain. (2022). Environment and Ecology. Pub. GK Publications, Badarpur, New Delhi. Pp. 652.
McKinney, M.L., Schoch, R.M., Yonavjack, L. and Mincy, G.A. (2017). Environmental Science: Systems and Solutions. (6th ed.). Jones & Bartlett Pub. ISBN 9781284091700. 576pp.
Mishra, D.D. (2010). Fundamental Concepts in Environmental Studies. S. Chand & Company. ISBN 8121929377. 271pp.
Rajagopalan, R. (2015). Environmental Studies: From Crisis to Cure. (3rd ed.). Oxford University Press. ISBN-10: 0199459754. 424pp.
Reena Mathur. (2018). Wildlife Conservation and Management. Pub. Rastogi Publications, Meerut, New Delhi. Pp. 456.
Saha, G.K. and Mazumdar, S. (2017). Wildlife Conservation and Management. Pub. PHI Learning Pvt. Ltd. Delhi. Pp. 328.

Instructor bio

Prof. Orus Ilyas

Aligarh Muslim University

Prof. Orus Ilyas is working as Professor in Biodiversity & Environmental study, at the Dept of Wildlife Sciences, A.M.U, Aligarh. She worked in the high-altitude Himalayas for more than 20 years. She did her Ph.D. on Ungulates of the Himalayas. She has also worked as a young scientist under the Fast Track Program of DST, and worked for the conservation of Musk deer in Uttrakhand Himalayas. She has served four terms as "Asia Coordinator" of the Deer Specialist group or SSC/IUCN. Prior to joining as faculty in Dept of Wildlife Sciences in 2009, she worked on various projects ranging from community participation to species conservation and ecology, funded by many organizations i.e. WSI, WWF-India, CAPART, DANIDA, UGC, UPFD-TERI. She has published two technical Reports, two books (One from Tailor and Francis, Routledge), and more than 50 scientific papers in National and International Peer review high-impact factor journals, she has contributed more than 20 chapters in reputed edited books. She has received many Extra Mural grants from UGC, SERB, and CSIR to work on ungulates of high-altitude Himalayas and the Tiger reserves in central India. Recently on 29th March 2023, she has been awarded "recognition for her excellent academic achievements in STEM disciplines by the APJ Abdul Kalam Center for STEM Education & Research and the International Society of Muslim Women in science (ISMWS)". At present she is working on ANRF-SERB funded Major Research Project on Ecology of Tahr and she got the funding of around Rs. 70 lakhs. She taught this course for more than 10 years and taking exams, evaluation etc.

Course certificate

The course is free to enroll and learn from. But if you want a certificate, you have to register and write the proctored exam conducted by us in person at any of the designated exam centres.

The exam is optional for a fee of Rs 1000/- (Rupees one thousand only).

Date and Time of Exams: 24 October 2025 Morning session 9am to 12 noon; Afternoon Session 2pm to 5pm.

Registration url: Announcements will be made when the registration form is open for registrations.

The online registration form has to be filled and the certification exam fee needs to be paid. More details will be made available when the exam registration form is published. If there are any changes, it will be mentioned then.

Please check the form for more details on the cities where the exams will be held, the conditions you agree to when you fill the form etc.

CRITERIA TO GET A CERTIFICATE

Average assignment score = 25% of average of best 6 assignments out of the total 8 assignments given in the course.

Exam score = 75% of the proctored certification exam score out of 100

Final score = Average assignment score + Exam score

Please note that assignments encompass all types (including quizzes, programming tasks, and essay submissions) available in the specific week.

YOU WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR A CERTIFICATE ONLY IF AVERAGE ASSIGNMENT SCORE >=10/25 AND EXAM SCORE >= 30/75. If one of the 2 criteria is not met, you will not get the certificate even if the Final score >= 40/100.

Certificate will have your name, photograph and the score in the final exam with the breakup. It will have the logos of INI and AMU.

Only the e-certificate will be made available. Hard copies will not be dispatched.

Once again, thanks for your interest in our online courses and certification. Happy learning.

- INI team