Brockport / Catalogs / 2013-14 / Programs / Earth Science Major (BA/BS)

Earth Science Major

Earth Science Major

Description

Earth science majors must earn a minimum of 32 core and elective credits and an additional 19 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 school teaching (elementary or secondary) or planning 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.

What can I do with an earth science major?

Admission to the Program

Anyone can declare this major.

Program Requirements

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

In addition to the course requirements below, students must meet the following requirements:

  1. ESC350 and ESC391 should be taken by the end of the sophomore year. ESC494 and ESC495 should be taken in the senior year.

Core Courses

  • GEL201 Introduction to Physical Geology
  • ESC222 Introduction to Water Resources
  • ESC211 Introduction to Meteorology
  • ESC350 Computational Methods in the Field Sciences
  • ESC391 Writing in the Earth Sciences
  • ESC494 Senior Research
  • ESC495 Senior Seminar
  • Choose one of the following for the geology elective:
    • GEL302 Historical Geology
    • GEL312 Mineral Science
    • GEL363 Environmental Geology
  • Choose one of the following for the meteorology elective:
    • ESC313 Environmental Climatology
    • ESC420 Radar and Satellite Meteorology
    • ESC332 Air and Water Pollution
  • Choose one of the following for the water resources elective:
    • ESC300 Physical Oceanography
    • ESC318 Watershed Science
    • ESC412 Hydrology
    • GEL462 Groundwater
  • 3-6 credits in ESC/GEL courses by advisement

Minimum Total Number of Credits: 32

Corequisite Courses

  • MTH201Calculus I
  • CHM205Chemistry I
  • CHM206Chemistry II
  • Choose one of the following physics sequences:
    1. PHS205Introduction to Physics I
    2. PHS210Introduction to Physics II
    1. PHS235Physics I
    2. PHS240Physics II

Total Number of Credits: 20

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, i.e., another course required for the geology major may be used in place of GEL 302, 363, or 312.

Course Descriptions

Department of Earth Sciences

Department Chair: Scott Rochette
Location: Lennon 317
Visit Website
Email: earthsci@esc.brockport.edu
Phone: (585) 395-2636
Fax: (585) 395-2416

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Faculty & Staff

    


Whitney J Autin Ph.D
 (Louisiana State University + Agricultural + Mechan)  
Professor
Dave  Boehm MS
 (SUNY At Buffalo)  
Lecturer
Christine  Crafts BS
 (SUNY College At Brockport)  
Lecturer
Jutta S Dudley Ph.D
 (SUNY College At Buffalo)  
Lecturer
Lauri A Kifer AAS
 (Monroe Community College)  
Secretary 1
David  Lerach Ph.D
 (Colorado State University)  
Visiting Assistant Professor
Leigh J Little Ph.D
 (Arizona State University At The Tempe Campus)  
Associate Professor + Interim Chair
Judy  Massare Ph.D
 (Johns Hopkins University)  
Professor
Thomas M McDermott BS
 (SUNY College At Brockport)  
Systems Administrator
Mark R Noll Ph.D
 (University Of Delaware)  
Professor
Paul  Richards Ph.D
 (Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus)  
On Leave
Emily E Robinson MED
 (Texas A+M University)  
Adjunct Lecturer
Scott M Rochette Ph.D
 (Saint Louis University-Main Campus)  
Associate Professor
Robert S Weinbeck Ph.D
 (Iowa State University)  
Assoc Prof
Carol G Zollweg MS
 (Syracuse University)  
Adjunct Lecturer
James A Zollweg Ph.D
 (Cornell University)  
Associate Professor and Chair