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 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

Any undergraduate student can declare this major.

Program Requirements

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

Required Core Courses

• GEL201 Introduction to Physical Geology
• ESC222 Introduction to Water Resources
• ESC211 Introduction to Meteorology
• BOTH of these courses are required; they should be taken in the junior year to ensure timely graduation:
  • ESC350 Computational Methods in the Field Sciences
  • ESC391 Writing in the Earth Sciences
• BOTH of these courses are required; they are typically taken in the senior year:
  • ESC492 Senior Capstone or
  • ESC494 Senior Research and
  • ESC495 Senior Seminar
• ONE of the following geology electives:
  • GEL302 Historical Geology
  • GEL310 Mineralogy Petrology 1
  • GEL363 Environmental Geology
• ONE of the following meteorology elective:
  • ESC313 Environmental Climatology
  • ESC420 Radar and Satellite Meteorology
  • ESC332 Air and Water Pollution
• ONE of the following water resources elective:
  • ESC318 Watershed Science
  • ESC412 Hydrology
  • GEL462 Groundwater
• Upper-division electives (to meet the minimum requirement of 48 total credits):
  • ESC311 Synoptic Meteorology I
  • ESC312 Synoptic Meteorology II
  • ESC313 Environmental Climatology
  • ESC314 Climatology Laboratory
  • ESC332 Air & Water Pollution Meteorology
  • ESC412 Hydrology
  • ESC420 Radar & Stellite Meteorology
  • ESC431 Environmental Applications of GIS
  • ESC455 Introduction to Soils Science
  • ESC457 Marine Geology - Bahamas
  • ESC499 Independent Study
  • ESC302 Historical Geology
  • ESC306 Introduction to Paleontology
  • GEL408 Structural Geology
  • GEL411 Stratigraphy & Sedimentology
  • GEL415 Geomorphology
  • GEL462 Groundwater
• One course from the following may be included as a designated elective:
  • CHM206 College Chemistry II or
  • PHS210 Introduction to Physics II or
  • PHS240 Physics II

Minimum Total Number of Core Credits: 36

Required Corequisite Courses

• MTH122 Precalculus or
• MTH201 Calculus I
• CHM205 Chemistry I
• ONE of the following physics sequences:
  • Sequence 1:
    • PHS205 Introduction to Physics I
  • Sequence 2:
    • PHS235 Physics I

Total Number of Corequisite Credits: 12

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 312.

Student Learning Outcomes

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.