B.S. - Environmental Geoscience
earth and environmental sciences
Classes of 2012-2013
This program serves as an excellent major for students who wish to concentrate in the sciences, but who may not be looking toward professional careers as scientists, as well as for students planning graduate work in environmentally related fields. Students concentrating in Environmental Geoscience should work out their programs closely with a departmental advisor to insure both breadth and depth in this subject area.
Students in this major must complete the following course requirements. A total of ten courses in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, no more than four of which may be at the 100-level. These courses must include:
(A) Each of the following four courses:
| Course # | Course Name | Co-requisites | Pre-requisites |
|---|---|---|---|
| GE 167 | Environmental Geosciences I Alternative: GE 201 and one of GE 202-208 |
||
| GE 132 | Exploring the Earth I | GE 133 |
|
| GE 220 | Earth Materials | GE 221 | GE 132 |
| GE 250 | Environmental Geology Alternative: GE 203 and GE 204 |
GE 251 | GE 132 |
Note: GE 180 plus laboratory may substitute for GE 132-133 upon approval by, the department Undergraduate Studies Committee.
(B) Four courses from among the following, with no more than two at the 100-level:
| Course # | Course Name | Co-requisites | Pre-requisites |
|---|---|---|---|
| GE 110 | Geology of National Parks | ||
| GE 134 | Exploring the Earth II | GE 135 | GE 132 |
| GE 157 | Oceanography | GE 158 | |
| GE 168 | Environmental Geosciences II | ||
| GE 170 | Rivers and the Environment | ||
| GE 172 | Weather, Climate and Environment | GE 173 | |
| GE 174 | Climate Change and Society | GE 175 | |
| GE 187 | Geoscience and Public Policy | ||
| GE 230* | Introduction to Geochemistry | GE 231 | CH 109-110 or permission of the instructor |
| GE 264* | Stratigraphy and Sedimentation | GE 265 | GE 132 |
| GE 285* | Introduction to Structural Geology | GE 286 | GE 134 |
| GE 288* | Geological Field Mapping and Methods | GE 220, GE 285 | |
| GE 297 | Environmental Hydrology | GE 132 | |
| GE 335* | Topics in Geobiology | Two years of college work or permission of instructor |
|
| GE 380* | Environmental Oceanography | GE 132 or GE 157 |
|
| GE 391* | Introduction to Geophysics | GE 132, MT 102-103, PH 209-210 |
|
| GE 398* | Statistical Analysis of Scientific Data | ||
| GE 400* | Watershed Geomorphology | GE 401 | GE 132, calculus and physics recommended |
| GE 405 | Fluid Flow and Sediment Transport | ||
| GE 410* | Site Characterization … Hazardous Waste Sites | GE 132, MT 102-103 |
|
| GE 440* | Global Biogeochemical Cycles | ||
| GE 457* | Watershed Science | CH 109-110, GE 250 |
|
| GE 480 | Applications of GIS | GE 481 | |
| GE 484* | Aqueous Geochemistry | CH 109-110, MT 102-103 |
|
| GE 512* | Isotopes in Earth Science | GE 513 | MT 102-103, CH 109-110 or GE 230 |
| GE 518* | Estuarine Studies | calculus and physics recommended |
|
| GE 530* | Marine Geology | GE 132, calculus and physics recommended |
|
| GE 535* | Coastal Processes | calculus and physics recommended |
|
| GE 543* | Plate Tectonics/Mountain Belts | GE 220, GE 285 | |
| GE 572* | Geophysical Data Processing | MT 202, PH 209-210 |
*Not offered every year
(C) Two additional electives
May include courses in the department numbered 300 or above, to be chosen by the student with their advisor, or courses from outside the department, approved by the departmental Undergraduate Program Committee, such as: Environmental Biology (BI 401), Plant Biology (BI 401), Principles of Ecology (BI 442), Environmental Economics (EC 278), Environmental Law and Policy (UN 256 or PO 270), and Environmental Sociology (SC 348). A geology or geophysics summer field course may be substituted for one of these elective courses. A file of summer field camp programs is kept in the department office.
(D) A full year (two semesters) of another laboratory science in chemistry, physics, or biology from among the following:
| Course # | Course Name | Co-requisites | Pre-requisites |
|---|---|---|---|
| CH 109-110 | General Chemistry I and II | CH 111-112 | |
| PH 209-210 | Introductory Physics I and II | PH 203-204 | |
| BI 200-201* | Molecules & Cells, and Ecology & Evolution | BI 204 | |
| *or BI 202 | Organisms & Populations |
Note: AP Credits cannot substitute for the laboratory science corequisite.
Other options
Students are encouraged to take additional courses in Mathematics (particularly Calculus), Chemistry, Physics and Biology. Therefore, one semester of a laboratory science, in addition to the above requirement, or Multivariable Calculus (MT 202) may be counted as an elective.
Other courses in the University pertinent to the Environmental Geosciences major may be substituted for the above requirements upon petition to, and approval by, the departmental Undergraduate Program Committee.
A geology or geophysics summer field course may be substituted for one of the courses above. A file of summer field course programs is kept in the department office.