Training Structure
College of Sciences
Overview
The Geosciences, Pollution Prevention and Treatment (GPTP)professional track isone of the three tracks in the Earth-Water-Environment bachelor’s degree program. It aims to provide a broad-based education in Earth Sciences, supplemented by professional training in the fields of pollution prevention and treatment— particularly water pollution—and includes a 4- to 6-month internship in a professional setting or laboratory .
More than 85% in the second and third years of college
Success Rate
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 course units in Hydrogeology, Hydraulics, Environmental Chemistry, and Ocean, Atmosphere, and Hydrosphere. The final specialization within the program is chosen at the beginning of the third year (L3). This program benefits from the participationof faculty members from the Department of Chemistry, the Department of Process Engineering, and the Polytech School of Engineering. The program team also draws on a network of local governments and companies—particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (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, created in 2004, was designed primarily to meet the demand fortechniciansin pollution prevention and treatment, a need we identified through our contacts with the public and private sectors. In addition, this career-oriented bachelor’s degree program allows students to continue on to a master’s degree.
Expertise and Skills
The knowledge and skills covered in the GPTP track focus on learning an applied and scientific approach, which are identical to those in the STEE track for the first two years.
The goal of the third year is to enable students to work independently on issues and measures related to the various areas of pollution prevention and management:
- Apply fundamental concepts and technologies in analytical chemistry, chemical thermodynamics, solution chemistry, the physicochemistry of materials, and chemical and physicochemical water treatment techniques to address a problem in the field of water chemistry or to analyze a research paper or presentation on water chemistry.
- Propose wastewater treatment system solutions. Determine the capacity requirements for physicochemical and biological treatment processes, and then propose a comprehensive design for an “ERU” wastewater treatment plant.
- Apply fundamental concepts and technologies for microbial identification and water analysis.
- Understand key laws related to water and waste, the relationships among water sector stakeholders, and be able to explain waste management at the regional level.
- Offer extensive treatment solutions for small wastewater treatment plants (lagooning, reed beds, vegetated discharge zones, etc.).
- Identify the relevant waste streams and then select the appropriate treatment method, taking into account all technical, environmental, economic, and social constraints (anaerobic digestion, composting, thermal treatment, sorting and recycling, landfilling, radioactive waste).
- Master the various methods for utilizing byproducts from wastewater treatment, organic byproducts from economic activities, and gaseous byproducts produced by industries.
- Acquire a foundation of knowledge in pedology and soil science to describe, classify, and characterize soils, their physical, chemical, and biological properties, as well as their formation and evolution in various environments.
- Understand the physical processes underlying the flows involved in the water cycle at the watershed scale; determine a hydrological balance at various spatial and temporal scales (peak discharge for sizing hydraulic structures, runoff coefficient, hydrological balance, river gauging techniques, etc.)
- Master the skills needed to search for information about an internship or job, write a resume and cover letter, and prepare for a job interview.
Organization
Open on an alternating basis
Contract Type | Professional Training Contract |
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Program
Theoretical and practical instruction is delivered through lectures, tutorials, and lab sessions, but what sets this track apart is the significant emphasis placed on fieldwork. Specific field trips are dedicated to collecting experimental data in situ or to observation. Field internships (lasting 4 to 10 days, depending on the semester) are also a key component of our program. They allow for full immersion and the application of knowledge acquired across various disciplines, enabling students to integrate this knowledge to characterize and understand the functioning of a natural feature or a complex geological area.
This program consists of 6 semesters, each worth 30 ECTS credits. Thefirst two years (L1 and L2) are shared with the Bachelor’s program in Earth and Environmental Sciences (STEE), with students beginning to specialize in the 4th semester (L2: hydraulics, hydrogeology, Ocean-Atmosphere-Hydrosphere, environmental chemistry).
The courses in the third year (L3) specific to the GPTP track are organized into lectures (CM), tutorials (TD), and lab sessions (TP), but what sets this track apart is the significant emphasis placed on practical and field-based instruction. The involvement of faculty from the Department of Chemistry and Process Engineering and the Polytech School of Engineering, as well as professionals from engineering firms and public agencies, enables students to pursue professional specialization.
Internships and Supervised Projects:
Thethird year (L3) centers on a 4- to 6-month internship at a company or in a laboratory, which provides direct exposure to the professional world. This internship is worth 20 ECTS credits.
This internship concludes with a report and an oral presentation.
Select a program
Junior Year
Water Purification and Treatment
5 creditsWater and Waste Chemistry
5 creditsWater Microbiology
5 creditsTools for Entering the Workforce
2 creditsPedology, Soil Science
3 creditsGPTP S5 Internship
10 credits
Extensive wastewater treatment processes
3 creditsWaste Management
5 creditsHydrology
4 creditsGPTP S6 Internship
10 creditsUtilization of Byproducts
5 creditsWater and Waste Legislation
3 credits
Admission
Admission Requirements
Admission to the second year:
Admission to the GPTP program is in the second year of undergraduate studies, following a first year of science coursework.
Thus, the first year of the GPTP bachelor’s degree program provides students with a foundation of knowledge in the fundamental scientific disciplines (mathematics, physics, chemistry) as well as in the Life and Earth Sciences. The curriculum for this first year is ideal for admission to the second year (L2) of the GPTP program. However, students who have completed a first-year bachelor’s program in Earth Sciences, Life Sciences, Physics, or Chemistry may be eligible for admission to the STEE track, based on their academic record only.
Students who have completed their first year in a preparatory class for the Grandes Écoles (CPGE), in the PASS or LAS tracks, may also be admitted to the L2 STEE program, based on their application materials only.
Finally, students who have earned a BTS degree with coursework similar to that of this bachelor’s program may also be admitted to the second year (L2) of the STEE program, based on their application materials only.
Admission to the third year (L3):
The L3 program is also available as a degree-granting continuing education program based on application review (work-study contract in the form of a professional training contract; for information and contact details, visit: https://sfc.edu.umontpellier.fr/ ).
Admission to the L3 GPTP program is automatic for students who have completed the L2 GPTP program at the University of Montpellier.
Admission for external students is based on application review:
- students who have completed their second year of a science bachelor's degree or its equivalent (CPGE, etc.)
- students who hold a BUT (formerly DUT) or BTS degree.
The L3 program is also available as a continuing education program leading to a degree, subject to admission based on application (apprenticeship contract, work-study program, or professional training contract; for information and contact details, see: ).
Applications can be submitted through the following platforms:
- French and European students: Follow the application process on the University of Montpellier's e-candidat portal: https://candidature.umontpellier.fr/candidature/
- International students from outside the EU: Follow the “Études en France” procedure:https://pastel.diplomatie.gouv.fr/etudesenfrance/dyn/public/authentification/login.html
Target Audience
The GPTP program is designed for any student interested in environmental issues—particularly those related towater resources, pollution, and the treatment of water, soil, and waste—who wishes either to enter the workforce as a technician or to pursue a master’s degree in these fields.
And then
Continuing Education
Within the GPTP track, the focus is on learning specific technical skills rather than the foundational knowledge of the discipline, which is primarily taught in the general STEE track. Each year, students in the GPTP track go on to pursue a master ’s degree, mainly in Environment, Water, or Pollution (at the University of Montpellier or other institutions). In addition to the Master’s programs in Water 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 that former GPTP bachelor’s students have entered (this list is not exhaustive):
- Master's Degree in Biology and Environment, with a specialization 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.
Employment Placement
We have been tracking the career paths of graduates of the GPTP bachelor’s degree program since its inception in 2004. Our surveys show a very high rate of employment in engineering firms and local governments specializing in a wide variety 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, water quality
- flood risks, environmental risks
- soil and waterway remediation
- QSE (Quality, Safety, Environment); HSE (Health, Safety, Environment)
The tracking data also shows the career progression of some students who, after being hired at the technician level, advance to engineering-level positions after a few years (e.g., department or project manager through internal promotion). Small graduating classes of 15 to 20 students per year ensure that we remain aligned with the regional and national job market.