Earth Science Major

Description

Earth science majors must earn a minimum of 36 core and elective credits (in Earth Science and Geology) and an additional 12 credits in related lab sciences and mathematics. The core and elective courses that constitute the curriculum of this interdisciplinary major embody the knowledge base and methodologies of geology (solid earth and its resources), meteorology (the atmosphere and its movement), and hydrology (water and its cycling through the environment). As such, this major offers a flexible and broadly based program of study that is well suited for students who are preparing for a career in environmental regulation, resource management or park service. By supplementing the major-related course work with additional electives, or an appropriate minor, a student may structure her/his study toward a special interest area, such as journalism, technical writing, business, or graduate study in geography, resource management, urban planning, or museum science.

Admission to the Program

Any undergraduate student can declare this major.

General Education Requirements (34-39 credits)*

Major Departmental Requirements (36 credits)

Students in the earth science major pursue a Bachelor of Science degree, and must complete the corresponding degree's requirements.

Required Core Courses (26-30 credits)

• GEL 201 Introduction to Physical Geology*
• ESC 211 Introduction to Meteorology*
• ESC 222 Introduction to Water Resources*
• BOTH of these courses are required; they should be taken in the junior year to ensure timely graduation:
  • ESC 350 Computational Methods in the Field Sciences
  • ESC 391 Writing in the Earth Sciences
• ONE of the following is required; it/they are typically taken in the senior year:
  • ESC 492 Senior Capstone or
  • ESC 494 Senior Research* and
  • ESC 495 Senior Seminar*
• ONE of the following geology electives:
  • GEL 302 Historical Geology
  • GEL 310 Mineralogy Petrology 1
  • GEL 363 Environmental Geology
• ONE of the following meteorology electives:
  • ESC 313 Environmental Climatology
  • ESC 332 Air and Water Pollution
  • ESC 420 Radar and Satellite Meteorology
• ONE of the following water resources electives:
  • ESC 318 Watershed Science
  • ESC 412 Hydrology
  • GEL 460 Hydrogeology
• Upper-division electives (to meet the minimum requirement of 48 total credits):
  • ESC 311 Synoptic Meteorology I
  • ESC 312 Synoptic Meteorology II
  • ESC 313 Environmental Climatology
  • ESC 314 Climatology Laboratory
  • ESC 332 Air & Water Pollution Meteorology
  • ESC 412 Hydrology
  • ESC 420 Radar & Satellite Meteorology
  • ESC 431 Environmental Applications of GIS
  • ESC 455 Introduction to Soils Science
  • ESC 457 Marine Geology - Bahamas
  • ESC 499 Independent Study
  • GEL 302 Historical Geology
  • GEL 305 Paleontology and Paleoenvironments
  • GEL 409 Structural Geology
  • GEL 411 Stratigraphy & Sedimentology
  • GEL 418 Geomorphology and Surface Processes
  • GEL 460 Hydrogeology
• One course from the following may be included as a designated elective:
  • CHM 206 College Chemistry II or
  • PHS 210 Introduction to Physics II* or
  • PHS 240 Physics II

Minimum Total Number of Core Credits (36 credits)

Major Corequisite Requirements (12 credits)

• MTH 122 Precalculus* or
• MTH 201 Calculus I*
• CHM 205 Chemistry I*
• ONE of the following physics sequences:
  • Sequence 1:
    • PHS 205 Introduction to Physics I
  • Sequence 2:
    • PHS 235 Physics I

*Denotes courses that meet both major and general education requirements.

Some electives are offered only once every two years.

An upper-division course from the major requirements corresponding to that elective area may be substituted with written permission. (e.g., another course required for the geology major may be used in place of GEL 302 or 320).

Electives (35-38 credits)

Total Credits (120 credits)

Additional Degree Requirements

• Completion of all college-wide degree requirements

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the program, students will be able to:

1. Explain the manner with which variables and data, relevant for earth science, are properly collected using discipline appropriate methodology (fieldwork, instrumentation, remote sensing, or derived products from models).
2. Properly interpret earth science data using discipline-accepted qualitative analysis
3. Properly interpret earth science data using discipline-accepted quantitative analysis.
4. Define a scientific question and develop a methodology for answering it.
5. Locate, evaluate and interpret primary source scientific literature.
6. Effectively express earth science concepts and research results following the accepted written format for the discipline.
7. Explain earth science concepts and communicate research results following the accepted oral format for the discipline.