Academic courses
July 30, 2024 2025-07-30 21:22Academic courses
Academic courses – Plant Pathology and Chemistry department
Analytical Chemistry (Bachelor's Degree, Ecology and Environmental Protection)
The aim of the course of Analytical chemistry is teach a principles, methods and practice of identification of chemical compounds or their components. Topics included are related to qualitative and quantitave analysis, method of separation and concentrate. Students are taught of the processes, technological parameters and relationship between the analytical signal and the concentration of analyzed substances using modern instrumental analytical methods: potenciometry, UV/VIS and IR molecular spectrometry, atomic absorption and emission spectrometry and chromatography. During the experimental practice students obtain abilities to identify ions using analytical reactions and determine the amount of specific component of samples by chemical methods: gravimetry and titration (acid-base analyses, redoximetry, complexometry and sedimentation by titration).
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Biochemistry (Bachelor's Degree, Ecology and Environmental Protection)
The course of Biochemistry has the purpose to give basic knowledge of the concepts of biochemistry, of the complicated organism living matter, of its particular chemical processes. Biopolymers’ structure and biochemical functions are discussed, as well as the chemical nature of enzymes, specificity and mechanism of their action, kinetics of enzymatic reactions, and characteristics of energetic processes in living systems, biological oxidation and also the basic metabolic pathways of carbohydrates, lipids, proteins and nucleic acids.
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Chemistry (Bachelor's Degree, Agronomy and Plant Protection)
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Chemistry (Bachelor's Degree, Forest management)
In the teaching program of chemistry are included basic problems from different fields of chemistry like structure of the atom, and the nature of chemical bonds, structure and reactivity of chemical compounds, oxidation-reduction processes, and solid state of matter, adsorption, colloids, electrolytic dissociation, solutions and their properties. Four major classes of organic compounds are studied as well as some natural organic compounds such as lipids, carbohydrates, proteins.
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Chemistry of Polymeric Materials (Bachelor's Degree, Wood Technology)
The course of Chemistry of polymer materials is designed to give basic knowledge of modern concepts of structure and properties of the main components of wood: cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin and some of its minor constituents. Most of the adhesives and plastics film-forming compounds which are used in woodworking and furniture industry are studied. Synthesis of the main types of oligomers and polymers used as polymeric materials and their properties; the ancillary materials used in the preparation of polymeric materials, methods for preparation of adhesives and paints and painting materials, application of adhesive compound, properties and applications of polymeric materials are also presented.
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Forest Entomology (Bachelor's Degree, Forestry)
Students in the Bachelor’s program in Forestry learn morphology, anatomy, biology, systematic of insects but also the influence of environment factors over insect number and development. The damages by insects, other animals and abiotic factors on the forest trees are covered. Students gain an understanding of post-fires changes of forest entomofauna and entomological problems in the contact area of forest fires. The measures of forest pest control are also covered.
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Forest Phytopathology (Bachelor's Degree, Forestry)
The course gives knowledge to the bachelors of Forestry of the main diseases on forest trees and the deterioration of wood. The emphasis is on the principles of plant pathology, disease symptoms and pathogen signs, disease-causing agents, disease cycle, mechanisms of pathogenesis, and disease management. Considered is the influence of abiotic, biotic and anthropogenic factors on tree and forest health. Principles and methods for implementing of integrated (complex) preventive and protective measures in forests are presented.
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Forest Protection (Master's Degree, Business Management)
The course provides knowledge to masters of “Business management” of the damages caused to forests by diseases, insects and abiotic factors, the management of damaged forest stands, methods for monitoring and control of disease and insect pests, and the organization of forest protection measures.
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Forest Protection (Master's Degree, Forestry)
The students in the Master’s degree in “Forest management” are introduced to the forest protection legislation, the aims and organization of forest protection in Bulgaria. Considered are the current methods for forest pathology investigation, prognosis, signalization and planning of the forest pest and diseases management activities. The students are acquainted with the dendrochronological analysis for development of forest decline and determining of the main causes of deterioration of forest health. Attention is drawn also to the basics of phytoimmunology and the methods for implementation of integrated preventive and protective measures in various forest types.
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Inorganic and Organic Chemistry (Bachelor's Degree, Ecology and Environmental Protection)
Basic theoretical topics of general chemistry are studied on the course in Inorganic and Organic chemistry like structure of the atom, and the nature of chemical bonds, theory of acids, bases and salts, oxidation-reduction processes, solid state of matter, adsorption, colloids and thermodynamics, also the structure and properties of s-, p-, d-, f-elements, the biological role, significance, application and toxic action of some elements and their compounds. In section of Organic chemistry are included some problems of the modern theoretical basis of Organic chemistry. The most important classes of organic compounds are viewed: hydrocarbons and their functional derivatives like alcohols and phenols, aldehydes and ketones, carboxylic acids and their derivatives, amines and amino acids. The most important natural compounds are also studied: lipids, carbohydrates, polypeptides and proteins, nucleic acids, terpenes, as well as the most important types of heterocyclic compounds which are related to the structure and properties of biologically active molecules. Biologically active compounds – alkaloids, growth regulators, hormones and etc. are viewed as well.
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Integrated Methods of Plant Protection (Master's Degree, Ecology and Environmental Protection)
The masters of “Ecology and environmental protection” are introduced to the organization and legislation of the forest protection in Bulgaria. The current methods for forest pathology observation, investigation, prognosis and organization of forest pest and disease management are studied. The principles and methods of the applying of integrating forest protection management in different forests are treated as well.
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Introduction to Plant Protection (Bachelor's Degree, Ecology and Environmental Protection)
The course introduces the bachelors of “Ecology and environmental protection” to pest insects and plant disease agents and to the impact of abiotic, biotic and anthropogenic factors on the health condition of forest ecosystems. Considered are the methods for control of epiphytotics (mass spread of infectious diseases) and calamities (mass occurrence of pest insects).
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Medical Chemistry (Master's Degree, Veterinary medicine)
The Medicinal chemistry teaching course’s goal is to give basic knowledge to students of veterinary medicine from main selected fields of chemistry closely related to their qualification. It deals with basic problems in the field of inorganic chemistry such as nature of the chemical bond, electrolytes, theory of acids and bases, hydrolysis, adsorption, colloid solutions, coordination compounds, oxidation-reduction processes, quality reactions for identification of some cations and anions, respectively their biological role in living organisms, and as well quantitative analysis. Some basic theoretical problems from the field of organic chemistry and classification of organic compounds are explored in order to explain their reaction ability and the reactions they participate in. General classes of organic compounds are studied such as hydrocarbons, hydroxyl, carbonyl and carboxyl derivatives, heterocyclic compounds, natural organic compounds as carbohydrates, lipids and phospholipids, amino acids, polypeptides and protein compounds, nucleic acids and biologically important compounds; a connection between structure, reactivity and biological activity of compounds is made. The role and biological significance of the organic compounds is clarified, as well as the medical or toxic action of various compounds and the application of some of them as drugs.
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Medical Chemistry in English (Master's Degree, Veterinary medicine)
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Methods in Environmental Research (Dendroecology module) (Master's Degree, Ecology and Environmental Protection)
The Dendroecology module of the course introduces students to the methods of dendrochronology that have a broader research application in ecology. They include climate changes analyzes and mathematical models for the impact of other abiotic and anthropogenic factors on forest and urban tree communities. Dendroecological methods extend the possibilities for methodical use of tree species for the purposes of bio-indication and bio-monitoring. They are unique approaches for assessing changes in the state of the environment as a whole or in a specific ecotope, for the development of plant communities and ecosystems formed by them, as well as for the dating and forecasting of the evaluated indicators.
Modern environmental studies, analyzes and forecasts require detailed and accurate retrospective data on the status of tree species, climate change, air pollution and more. The information available is relatively limited in scope and time, and it is often necessary to obtain it indirectly. To provide such data, various characteristics of annual tree rings are used in modern science and practice that clearly reflect all changes in both ecosystems and external conditions. Various dendrochronological analyzes are used to retrieve the information recorded therein. Providing the necessary data is accomplished through precise methods for measuring the radial growth of trees. The in-depth analysis and processing of large data sets requires the use of modern statistical methods. In the course students are introduced to the more widely used methods in dendroecology and the specialized software products in this field. Along with the acquirement of methodological apparatus and the information technologies, international cooperation in this field of science is also considered.
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Organic Chemistry (Bachelor's Degree)
In the teaching program of Organic chemistry are included some problems of the modern theoretical basis of Organic chemistry. The most important classes of organic compounds are considered: hydrocarbons and their functional derivatives such as alcohols and phenols, aldehydes and ketones, carboxylic acids and their derivatives, amines and amino acids. The most important natural compounds are also studied: lipids, carbohydrates, polypeptides and proteins, nucleic acids, terpenes. Biologically active compounds – alkaloids, growth regulators, hormones and etc. are viewed as well.
Ornamental plant protection (Master's Degree, Landscape Architecture)
This course aims at familiarizing students with abiotic, anthropogenic and biotic factors, which have a detrimental influence on ornamental plants, as well as, with the contemporary methods and means of pest control. It is organized in two parts. The first covers common theoretical questions connected with the sophisticated dynamics of plant-pathogenic processes in urban environment. The economically important pathogens, such as viruses, bacteria and fungi, alongside with symptoms, spreading and biology of disease caused by them, are studied in detail.
The second part of the course deals with invertebrate species, chiefly insects, mite and nematodes, which cause damages on ornamental plants. The students take a close look into the morphology and bio-ecology of more common pests, size and type of the damages caused, and the methods for predicting calamities.
The course, organized in such a way, provides the necessary knowledge of phytopathogenic problems in park areas. The skills, acquired by the students upon completion of the course include: the ability to determine trees’ health condition, determine the nature of disease and the pathogens responsible, develop and apply a proper strategy for restriction of pathologic processes.
The final grade for the course is formed on the basis of a final exam, scores of tests conducted throughout the terms, and practical exams, weighted accordingly.
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Plant Protection in Greenhouses (Master's Degree, Landscape Architecture)
The offered course enriches the knowledge and skills of students studying Landscape architecture. It is a continuation of the Ornamental Plant Protection course, which covers the pathologic problems that arise from flowers and tropical plants grown up in greenhouses and interior environment. The course is organized in three main parts. The first one examines the bio-ecologies of pathogens that cause disease on seeds, roots, leaves and stems of indoor plants. The second part includes the study of nematodes, mites, aphides and scale insects, and other invertebrate species, found in greenhouses. The third part which deals with integrated pest management is the most meaningful. It includes monitoring, biological and chemical control and measures connected with the quarantine of pests.
The organized in this way course provides with both the necessary knowledge and skills of pests and disease on decorative plants grown up in greenhouses, which the students need in order to determine the nature of plant damages and the pests that caused them, develop a proper strategy for restriction of pathologic processes and attacks of insect and non-insect species, and properly apply pesticides.
The final grade for the course is formed on the basis of a final exam, scores of tests conducted throughout the terms, practical exams, and a research paper, weighted accordingly.
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Research Approaches and Practical Skills in Ecology (Master's Degree)
The course introduces the students to basic methodological approaches of analysis of the results, obtained by various environmental studies, and to some general directions for their application. The first direction is associated with a statistical analysis of experimental data. Often assumptions of independence and normal distribution of data, permanent sample dispersion and others are not checked or when they are noticed the researcher does not know how to proceed further. The considered graphical methods and data transformations, called descriptive analysis, aim to visualize the main characteristics of the samples and thereby facilitate the interpretation of parametric and non-parametric statistical tests and procedures. Students get acquainted also with methods for studies of biodiversity at different structural, functional and compositional hierarchical levels. Included are methods for assessing biodiversity within species (genetic within- and between-population variety), while proper consideration is given to also to the quantitative methods for its studying.
The second direction acquaints the students with basic methods of dendrochronology, which have wide application in scientific and applied studies. Ways of extracting data from various characteristics of annual tree rings are considered, as these rings clearly record changes occurring both within ecosystems and in external environmental conditions. Information obtained through dendrochronological analyzes is used to study the health condition of the tree species, climate change and development of mathematical models of the impact of abiotic, biotic and anthropogenic factors on the plant condition. Along with the acquirement of methodological apparatus and the specialized software, necessary for its implementation, attention is paid also to international cooperation in this field.
Sustainable Land Use (Master's Degree, Ecology and Environmental Protection)
The curriculum presents the advantages and disadvantages inherent in existing practices for joint cultivation of different plant species and animals on the same area (creation of mixed crops, relay and consecutive cultivation, agroforestry), as well as some of the opportunities to benefit from this type of land use, allowing utilization of degraded habitats; protection and enrichment of the local flora and fauna; minimization of the use of pesticides and fertilizers; organic production.
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Water Pollution and Effects on Ecosystems (Bachelor's Degree, Ecology and Environmental Protection)
The course “Water pollution and impact on ecosystems” has a goal to give the students some knowledge on factors affecting the water quality, behavior of pollutants in water and related national and global problems, as well as the main principles and methods for water quality management, modeling and control. The topics included chemical composition, properties and relationship of water with other environmental compounds, sources of water pollution, specific characteristics of waste water coming from different human activities, loads of organic pollutants, suspended particulate matter and toxic compounds for water ecosystems, self-remediation of surface and ground water, water quality management approach, hydro-chemical monitoring and water protection measures for improving of water quality. Students are taught the methods and parameters for complex assessment of the chemical and biological state of a given water body in the frame of a project development during the experimental work.
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Water Supply in Urban Areas (Master's Degree, Ecology and Environmental Protection)
The teaching course “Water supply in populated areas” has a goal to give to students some knowledge on the structure of water supply systems and requirements to the water quality for collected water from surface and ground water sources, as well as the main principles and methods for building the collector systems for waste water. There are topics on methods, processes and technological properties of water plants for water treatment in accordance with the requirements of electric power stations, atomic power stations, industry and agriculture. Special attention is paid to classification, using and accepting the waste water from the sea costal water. Students are given by information about the complex assessment of chemical and biological properties of surface water after receiving the waste water of the cities in accordance with the norms of the Water Framework Directive of the European Union.
