Teaching Reform and Practice of the Course Environmental Protectionin Oil and Gas Fields for Undergraduate Students Majoring in Applied Chemistry: A Case Study of the College of Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, Yangtze University

Abstract

Environmental Protection in Oil and Gas Fields is a key elective course for undergraduate students majoring in Applied Chemistry at the School of Chemical Engineering, Yangtze University. The course integrates theoretical foundations, industry orientation, and practical applicability. Its teaching quality directly influences the cultivation of students’ environmental literacy and professional application competence, as well as their ability to meet the growing demand for interdisciplinary applied chemistry talents driven by the green development of the oil and gas industry. In alignment with the training objective of the Applied Chemistry program at Yangtze University—namely, “integrating chemical theory with practical application, with a focus on oilfield chemistry characteristics”—this study employs literature review, questionnaire surveys, and teaching practice evaluation to systematically analyze existing issues in the current course structure (32 contact hours of theory-based instruction). Key challenges are identified in teaching content, pedagogical approaches, and assessment systems. Considering recent environmental protection policies
and regulations in the oil and gas sector, emerging technological trends, and the cognitive characteristics of undergraduate students in applied chemistry, targeted teaching reform strategies are proposed. These strategies are further validated through instructional practice. The results demonstrate that optimizing course content, innovating theoretical teaching methodologies, improving assessment systems, and strengthening the integration between theory and application can significantly enhance teaching quality. These measures also promote students’ professional identity and practical competence, thereby laying a solid foundation for their future engagement in environmental protection within the oil and gas industry.