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Earth Science Major
Field work and research are important components of our curriculum for all students. Teacher preparation includes numerous opportunities to get hands-on experience in the classroom.
The interdisciplinary academic major in Earth Sciences at The College at Brockport provides options for study in the atmospheric, hydrologic, and geologic sciences. This major provides a well rounded background in all three areas.
Graduates of this program go on to careers in education, public planning and policy, law or continued study in graduate school. For students planning a career in secondary, middle, or elementary school teaching, the curriculum’s designed flexibility allows for preparation to complete certification requirements. Majors supplement the required core of geology, meteorology, and oceanography courses with electives related to interests and to career goals, (including non-science careers such as law, journalism, business, or national/state park service).
Curriculum Overview
Students with a more focused interest in the physical sciences should look into the Geology or Water Resources majors, both of which have many environmental applications.
Course Listing
Earth science majors must earn a minimum of 51 credit hours (cr.) within the department, supplementing the required core (17 cr.) with elective courses related to interests and to career goals (15 cr.), and completing the required science co-requisites (19 cr.)
Required core (17 hours):
| ESC 200 | Oceanography | (3 cr.) |
| ESC 211 | Introduction to Meteorology | (4 cr.) |
| GEL 201 | Introduction to Physical Geology | (4 cr.) |
| ESC 350 | Computational Methods in the Field Sciences | (3 cr.) |
| ESC 391 | Writing in the Earth Sciences | (1 cr.) |
| ESC 493 | Seminar on Earth Sciences Problems | (2 cr.) |
To make normal progress toward the degree, students should take ESC 391 and ESC 350 in the sophomore year (or junior year at the latest) and ESC 493 in the senior year. In planning your program of study, please note that a number of required courses are offered every other year.
Geology elective (select one)*:
| GEL 302 | Historical Geology | (4 cr.) |
| GEL 312 | Mineral Science | (4 cr.) |
| GEL 363 | Environmental Geology | (3 cr.) |
Meteorology elective (select one)*:
| ESC 313 | Environmental Climatology | (3 cr.) |
| ESC 420 | Atmospheric Sensing Methods | (3 cr.) |
| ESC 421 | Air Pollution Meteorology | (3 cr.) |
Water resources elective (select one)*:
| ESC 325 | Wetlands Systems | (3 cr.) |
| ESC 412 | Hydrology | (4 cr.) |
| GEL 462 | Groundwater | (4 cr.) |
Upper-division electives:
ESC/GEL credits by advisement (3-6 cr.)
ESC/GEL total of 32 hours
Science co-requisites (19 hours):
CHM 205-206 College Chemistry I & II (8 cr.)
PHS 115-116 General Physics OR
PHS 201-202 College Physics I & II (8 cr.)
MTH 201 Calculus I (4 cr.)
*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, 312, or 363.
Additional electives for the earth science major may be selected from:
| ESC 311 | Synoptic Meteorology | (4 cr.) |
| ESC 312 | Weather Forecasting | (4 cr.) |
| ESC 313 | Environmental Climatology | (3 cr.) |
| ESC 314 | Climatology Laboratory | (1 cr.) |
| ESC 325 | Wetlands Systems | (3 cr.) |
| ESC 430 | Geo Information Systems | (4 cr.) |
| ESC 412 | Hydrology | (4 cr.) |
| ESC 418 | Watershed Sciences | (3 cr.) |
| ESC 420 | Atmosphere Sensing Methods | (3 cr.) |
| ESC 421 | Air Pollution Meteorology | (3 cr.) |
| ESC 455 | Introduction to Soils Science | (3 cr.) |
| ESC 457 | Marine Geology - Bahamas | (3 cr.) |
| GEL 302 | Historical Geology | (4 cr.) |
| GEL 306 | Introduction to Paleontology | (4 cr.) |
| GEL 312 | Mineral Science | (4 cr.) |
| GEL 363 | Environmental Geology | (3 cr.) |
| GEL 411 | Stratigraphy & Sedimentology | (4 cr.) |
| GEL 415 | Geomorphology | (4 cr.) |
| GEL 462 | Groundwater | (3 cr.) |
| ESC 102 Elements of Geography may NOT be applied toward the ESC major. | ||
*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, 312, or 363.
