Training structure
Faculty of Science
Presentation
The Geosciences, Pollution Prevention and Treatment (GPTP) professionalization program is one of 3 programs in the Earth-Water-Environment bachelor's degree. Its aim is to provide general training in Earth Sciences, complemented by professional training in the prevention and treatment of pollution, particularly water pollution, with an internship of 4 to 6 months in a professional environment or laboratory .
Over 85% in L2 and L3
Success rates
Objectives
The Geosciences, Pollution Prevention and Treatment (GPTP) career path, created in 2004, is primarily a response to the demand for technicians in pollution prevention and treatment, as expressed through our contacts with the public and private sectors.
The aim of this program is to provide a generalist education in Earth Sciences, complemented by professional training , leading to a job at the end of the bachelor's degree (Bac + 3) at Technician/Assistant-Engineer level. In addition, this professionally-oriented Bachelor's degree also enables students to pursue a Master's degree.
The first 3 semesters are identical to those of the Earth-Water-Environment course. In the 4th semester(L2), a start is made on orientation, with specific courses such as Ocean-Atmosphere-Hydrosphere, Hydraulics and Environmental Chemistry. The final orientation of the course therefore takes place at the beginning of 3rd year (L3). The participation of lecturers from the Chemistry and Process Engineering departments, the Polytech engineering school and professionals enables specialization in the fields of :
- water microbiology
- water and waste chemistry
- water purification and treatment / hydrology / hydrogeology
- treatment and prevention of waste and pollution
- water and waste legislation
The third year(L3) is structured around a 4-6 month internship, which counts for 20 ECTS. Today, the training team relies on a network of local authorities and companies, particularly SMEs. Small classes of 15 to 20 students a year ensure that we are in tune with the regional and national job markets.
Know-how and skills
The skills and competencies of the GPTP pathway involve learning to apply a scientific approach, and are identical to those of the STEE pathway for the first 2 years.
The aim of the third year is to enable students to become autonomous in areas and measures relating to the various fields of pollution prevention and management:
- Mobilize fundamental concepts and technologies in analytical chemistry, chemical thermodynamics, solution chemistry, physical chemistry of materials and chemical and physical-chemical water purification techniques to tackle a problem in the field of water chemistry or analyze a research or presentation document on water chemistry.
- Propose wastewater treatment process solutions. Size physico-chemical and biological treatment processes, then propose a complete design for an "ERU" WWTP.
- Mobilize fundamental concepts and technologies for microbial identification and water analysis.
- Be familiar with the main water and waste-related legislation, the links between water stakeholders and how to explain waste management on a regional scale.
- Propose extensive treatment solutions for small wastewater treatment plants (lagooning, reed filters, vegetated discharge zones, etc.).
- Identify the waste concerned and then choose the most appropriate treatment method, taking into account all technical, ecological, economic and social constraints (methanization, composting, thermal treatment, sorting-recycling, landfill, radioactive waste).
- Master the different ways of recovering water treatment by-products, organic by-products from economic activities and gaseous by-products from industry.
- Acquire a knowledge base 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 different environments.
- Understand the physical processes behind the flows involved in the water cycle at watershed scale, determine a hydrological balance at different spatio-temporal scales (peak flow for hydraulic structure design, runoff coefficient, hydrological balance, river gauging techniques, etc.).
- Master how to find information for an internship or a job, how to write a CV and LM, and how to conduct a job interview.
Organization
Program
Theoretical and practical courses are divided into lectures, practical sessions and practical work, but the special feature of this specialization is the emphasis placed on training in the field. Specific field trips are dedicated to in situ experimental data acquisition and observation. Field placements (from 4 to 10 days, depending on the semester) are also a strong feature of our training, enabling total immersion and the application of knowledge acquired in various disciplines to characterize and understand the functioning of a natural object/complex geological sector.
This course comprises 6 semesters, each validated by 30 ECTS. The first two years (L1 and L2) are common to the Earth and Environmental Sciences (STEE) degree, with the start of specialization in semester 4(L2, hydraulics, ocean-atmosphere-hydrosphere, environmental chemistry).
L3 courses specific to the GPTP pathway are divided into CM, TD and TP, but the special feature of this pathway is the emphasis placed on practical, field-based teaching. The participation of lecturers from the Chemistry and Process Engineering departments and the Polytech engineering school, as well as professionals from design offices and public bodies, ensures professional specialization.
Internships and tutored projects :
The 3rd year (L3) is structured around a 4-month internship in a company or laboratory, providing direct exposure to the professional world. This internship counts for 20 ECTS.
A report and oral presentation round off the internship.
Select a program
Licence 3
Water purification and treatment
5 creditsWater and waste chemistry
5 creditsWater microbiology
5 creditsTools for professional integration
2 creditsSoil science
3 creditsInternship GPTP S5
10 credits
Extensive effluent treatment processes
3 creditsWaste treatment
5 creditsHydrology
4 creditsInternship GPTP S6
10 creditsBy-product recovery
5 creditsWater and waste legislation
3 credits
Admission
Access conditions
Access to L2 :
Access to the GPTP pathway is at L2 level, after a first year of scientific study.
The first year of the GPTP bachelor's degree provides a foundation of knowledge in fundamental scientific disciplines (mathematics, physics, chemistry) as well as in Life and Earth Sciences. The content of this first year is ideal for integration into the L2 GPTP program. However, students who have completed first-year courses in Life Sciences, Physics and Chemistry are eligible for the STEE program, by application only.
Students who have completed a first year in a Classe Préparatoire aux Grandes Ecoles, PASS or LAS can also be admitted to L2 STEE, but only on the basis of their applications.
Lastly, students holding a BTS whose content is similar to that of this degree course can also enter the L2 STEE, by application only.
Access to L3 :
Access to L3 GPTP is automatic for students who have completed L2 GPTP at the University of Montpellier.
Access is by application for external students:
- students with a second-year scientific degree or equivalent (CPGE, etc.)
- students with a DUT or BTS diploma.
The L3 is also available as a continuing education degree, subject to the submission of an application (work-study apprenticeship contract or professionalization contract, information and contacts at: https://sfc.edu. umontpellier.fr/).
Target audience
The GPTP course is aimed at students interested in environmental issues, particularly those associated with water, pollution and waste treatment, who wish either to enter the job market at Technician level, or pursue a Master's degree in these fields.
And then
Further studies
In the GPTP pathway, the learning of specific techniques is given priority over that of the disciplinary foundations taught mainly in the general STEE pathway.Entry to the Master's program is therefore reserved for motivated students with the best academic results in the year. As a result, every year, students from the GPTP course go on to do a Master's degree, mainly in Environment, Water or Pollution (Montpellier University or others). In addition to the University of Montpellier's Water Masters, Environment, Water, Pollution and QSE/HSE Masters, here are some examples of Masters programs taken by former GPTP students (this list is not exhaustive):
- Master's degree in Biology and the Environment, specializing in the Functioning and Restoration of Continental Aquatic Environments, Clermont-Ferrand
- Master's degree in Sustainable Development Engineering, specializing in Industrial Process Safety, Environment and Quality (SPIEQ), Nancy
- Master in Chemical Pollution and Environmental Management (PCGE), Université Paris-Saclay
- Ecole d'ingénieurs arts et métiers, Gestion et Prévention des Risques industriels (GPR), Bourget du Lac, France
- Master in Water, Soil and Waste Management and Treatment, Chimie ParisTech
- Master's degree in Water, Soil and Treatment Quality (QuEST), Besançon
- Master in Hydrogeology, Soil and Environment, Avignon
- Master's degree in Environmental Management, MAEVA -STE (Environmental Management, Valorization and Analysis - Environmental Sciences and Technologies), Marseille, France
- Master of Chemistry and Life Sciences (CSV), Pollution Assessment, Management and Treatment (EGTP), Pau
- Master's degree, Separative Chemistry of Materials and Processes (CSMP), Montpellier.
Professional integration
The graduating classes of the GPTP degree have been monitored since its creation in 2004. Our surveys show a very good level of professional integration in design offices and local authorities specializing in a wide range of fields:
- waste and wastewater prevention and treatment
- water resource management, water quality
- environmental protection, QSE, HSE
- soil decontamination
- sanitary or territorial technician (competitive examination)
- flood risks, ...
The follow-up also shows the career progression of some of our "alumni" who, hired at technician level, move on to engineer-level positions after a few years (e.g.: department/project manager on internal evolution). Small classes of 15 to 20 students per year ensure that we are well placed to meet the needs of the regional and national job markets.