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Special Note: The major offerings and requirements have changed. Therefore, some previously required courses may no longer be available. These courses are marked with alternatives in the major requirements below.
Undergraduate Program Description: Classes of 2014-2016
An undergraduate in the Department of Earth and Environmental Services will develop a major program in one of two majors: Geological Sciences or Environmental Geoscience. Within the constraints discussed below, programs can be individually designed to meet the interests and objectives of each student. Students may wish to major or to have a concentration in the earth sciences for a variety of reasons including: (1) a desire to work professionally in one of the earth sciences, (2) a desire to obtain an earth science foundation preparatory for post-graduate work in environmental studies, resource management, environmental law, or similar fields, (3) a desire to teach earth science in secondary schools, or (4) a general interest in the earth sciences. Geoscientists study the earth’s complex systems and the interrelations among the solid earth, hydrosphere, biosphere, and atmosphere. Students trained in the earth sciences can look forward to exciting and rewarding careers, as society continues to require ever greater amounts of energy and resources in the twenty-first century, and at the same time, will face increasing environmental problems and concerns. The department provides students with the skills and varied background needed to address these problems. Earth scientists are naturally interdisciplinary and use science to solve real-world problems. Today’s earth scientist can choose to work in the field in almost any area of the world, in ultramodern laboratories equipped with the latest scientific and computing equipment, or commonly in some combination of these. Whether understanding hazards and environmental challenges such as earthquakes, landslides, floods, sea level rise, and climate change, exploring for petroleum thousands of feet below the surface of the ocean, or working with governmental agencies or industry to analyze pollution problems, the earth sciences provide exciting possibilities for a rewarding career.
Major Requirements: Environmental Geoscience (Classes of 2014-2016)
The field of Environmental Geoscience is new, interdisciplinary, and evolving. 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 environmental law, environmental policy, or environmental studies. Students majoring in Environmental Geoscience should work out their programs closely with a departmental advisor to insure both breadth and depth in this subject area.
To provide students with training in the interdisciplinary nature of Environmental Geoscience, the major includes an introductory sequence in Environmental Systems (GE 201-208), consisting of eight 2-credit courses (plus associated labs, GE 211-208). These courses can be taken in any order and do not have prerequisites. They are recommended particularly for first-year students and sophomores. Students are required to take six of these eight courses. They are offered as two-course pairs, with one course meeting for the first half of the semester and another course (usually the next in the sequence) meeting for the second half of the semester, in the same time slot. Students are welcome to take one or both of the courses in each of these pairs in any given semester. In general, four Environmental Systems courses will be offered each fall semester, and two in the spring semester. Over any given two-year period, all eight courses will be offered at least once.
Students in this major must complete the following course requirements:
(A) 12 credits from GE 201-208 (2 credits each, plus laboratories GE 211-218)
- Environmental Systems: The Human Footprint (GE 201)
- Environmental Systems: Ecosystems (GE 202)
- Environmental Systems: Water Resources (GE 203)
- Environmental Systems: The Critical Zone (GE 204)
- Environmental Systems: Climate Change (GE 205)
- Environmental Systems: Oceans (GE 206)
- Environmental Systems: Earthquakes (GE 207)
- Environmental Systems: Quantitative Methods (GE 208)
Note: Some substitutions are possible, but each substituted course only counts as two credits toward this requirement, and remaining credits cannot count toward the elective requirement below. Approved substitutions include: GE 167 for GE 201, GE 170 for GE 203, GE 250 for GE 204, GE 174 for GE 205, and GE 157 for GE 206.
(B) GE 220 Earth Materials (+GE 221, 4 credits)
(C) At least 18 credits of elective courses. All GE courses count toward this requirement, with the following limitations:
- Up to three credits can be from 100-level courses.
- Up to six credits can be from 200-level courses.
- Up to six credits can be from approved non-GE courses.
(Approved courses: BI 401, BI 405, BI 407, BI 422, BI 436, BI 442, BI 456, BI 458, BI 486, BI 513, CH 231, CH 575, CS 127, EC 278, IN 260, MB145, MT 305, PH 301, PO 202, SC 348, SC 349, SC 350, SC 560, UN 256, or other courses, such as field camps, by permission of the Undergraduate Studies Committee.) - Up to three credits of independent study (GE 596-GE 598) can count toward this requirement.
(D) Senior research experience (at least four credits)
- GE 582 and GE 583 Senior Capstone course (2 credits each), or
- GE 595 Senior Thesis (at least six credits)
(E) Three co-requisite courses in Natural Sciences and Mathematics (12 credits)
- Calculus II (MT 101, MT 103 or MT 105) and
- Two semesters of Physics (PH 209-210 or PH 211-212 with labs PH 203-204), or
- Two semesters of Chemistry (CH 109-110 with labs CH 111-112 or CH 117-118 with labs CH 119-120), or
- Two semesters of Biology (BI 200 and BI 201 or BI 202 with lab BI 204)
AP credits cannot substitute for the Physics, Chemistry or Biology corequisite (E) above.
Information for First-Year Environmental Geoscience Majors (Classes of 2014-2016)
For those students who would like to explore the major in Environmental Geoscience, it is suggested that students take two to four of the Environmental Systems courses (GE 201-208, with laboratories GE 211-218) during their first year. The laboratory science requirement (E above) should be taken during the first or second year.
Major Requirements: Geological Sciences (Classes of 2014-2016)
This major combines elements of the traditional Earth and Environmental Sciences programs and is considered excellent preparation for those working toward graduate school in the geosciences or employment in industry following graduation with a B.S. degree.
(A) Three required courses (12 credits)
- Exploring the Earth (GE 132) with laboratory GE 133, 4 credits
- Earth Materials (GE 220) with laboratory GE 221, 4 credits
- Geological Field Methods and Mapping (GE 288), 4 credits (or an approved field camp)
(B) At least 11 credits from the following courses
- Stratigraphy and Sedimentation (GE 264) with laboratory GE 265, 4 credits
- Introduction to Structural Geology (GE 285) with laboratory GE 286, 4 credits
- Introduction to Geophysics (GE 391), 3 credits
- Optical Mineralogy (GE 370) with laboratory GE 371, 2 credits
- Igneous Petrology (GE 372) with laboratory GE 373, 2 credits
- Sedimentary Petrology (GE 374) with laboratory GE 375, 2 credits
- Metamorphic Petrology (GE 376) with laboratory GE 377, 2 credits
(C) At least 15 credits of elective courses, with the following requirements:
- Electives include all GE courses and approved interdisciplinary options (below).
- Up to three credits toward this requirement may be from a 100-level course
- At least seven credits must be from GE courses numbered 300 or above.
- Up to six credits from approved non-GE courses can count toward this requirement (approved courses: MT 305, PH 301, CH 231, CH 575, or others by permission of the Undergraduate Studies Committee).
- Up to six credits from independent study or senior thesis (GE 595-GE 599) can count toward this requirement.
(D) Five corequisite courses in Natural Sciences and Mathematics (20 credits)
- Calculus II (MT 103 or MT 105)
- Two semesters of Physics (PH 209-210 with labs PH 203-204)
- Two semesters of Chemistry (CH 109-110 with labs CH 111-112 or CH 117-118 with labs CH 119-120)
AP credits cannot substitute for the Physics and Chemistry corequisite (D) above.
Information for First-Year Geological Sciences Majors (Classes of 2014-2016)
The following courses are recommended for first-year Geological Sciences majors, if their schedules permit:
- Exploring the Earth I (GE 132) with laboratory (GE 133)
- Earth Materials (GE 220) with laboratory (GE 221)
- Two semesters of Calculus (MT 102-103)
- Two semesters of Chemistry (CH 109-110) with laboratories (CH 111-112)
Minor in Geological Sciences (Classes of 2014-2016)
In addition to the two major programs, a student may choose to minor in Geological Sciences. The minor is designed to be flexible and to allow the interested student to explore an area of interest in the earth sciences without the formal commitment of a major. Students interested in declaring a minor in the department should contact the Director of Undergraduate Studies (Prof. Alan Kafka) to ensure they receive advising about course selections.
A minor in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences consists of a minimum of six courses in the department structured as follows:
(A) Two required courses (8 credits):
- Exploring the Earth I (GE 132) with laboratory (GE 133)
- Earth Materials (GE 220) with laboratory (GE 221)
(B) At least seven additional credits from departmental courses numbered 100 or higher
(C) At least three additional credits from a departmental course numbered 200 or higher
(D) At least three additional credits from a departmental course numbered 300 or higher
Each student's minor program must be approved in advance by a faculty advisor in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences. Students should be aware that many upper-level courses have prerequisites in geology, mathematics, physics, or chemistry. Consult this catalog or a departmental advisor, and keep in mind that these prerequisites must be considered in designing a specific minor program. The minor program allows students flexibility in their choice of courses. Minor programs can be designed to emphasize specific areas of concentration within the broad range of subjects in Earth and Environmental Sciences.
Undergraduate Program Description: Class of 2013
An undergraduate in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences will develop a major program in one of four majors: Geology, Geophysics, a combination of Geology and Geophysics, or Environmental Geosciences. Within the constraints discussed below, programs can be individually designed to meet the interests and objectives of each student. Students may wish to major or to have a concentration in the earth sciences for a variety of reasons including: (1) a desire to work professionally in one of the earth sciences, (2) a desire to obtain an earth science foundation preparatory for post-graduate work in environmental studies, resource management, environmental law, or similar fields, (3) a desire to teach earth science in secondary schools, or (4) a general interest in the earth sciences. Geologists, geophysicists, and environmental scientists study the earth’s complex systems and the interrelations among the solid earth, the hydrosphere, the biosphere, and the atmosphere. Students trained in the earth sciences can look forward to exciting and rewarding careers, as society will require ever greater amounts of energy and resources in the twenty-first century, and will face increasing environmental problems and concerns. The Department provides students with the skills and varied background needed to address these problems. Earth scientists are naturally interdisciplinary and use science to solve real-world problems. Today’s earth scientist can choose to work in the field in almost any area of the world, in ultra-modern laboratories equipped with the latest scientific and computing equipment, or commonly in some combination of these. Whether exploring for petroleum thousands of feet below the surface of the ocean, using geophysics to better understand earthquakes for improved city or emergency planning, or working with governmental agencies or industry to analyze pollution, the earth sciences provide exciting possibilities for a rewarding career.
Major Requirements: Environmental Geoscience (Class of 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:
- Environmental Geosciences I (GE 167)
- Exploring the Earth I (GE 132) with laboratory (GE 133)
- Earth Materials (GE 220) with laboratory (GE 221)
- Environmental Geology (GE 250) with laboratory (GE 251) Alternative: GE 203 and GE 204
- GE 180 plus laboratory (GE 136) 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:
- Geology of National Parks (GE 110)
- Exploring the Earth II (GE 134) with laboratory (GE 135)
- Oceanography (GE 157) with laboratory (GE 158)
- Environmental Geosciences II (GE 168)
- Rivers and the Environment (GE 170)
- Weather, Climate, and Environment (GE 172) with laboratory (GE 173)
- Climate Change and Society (GE 174) with laboratory (GE 175)
- Geoscience and Public Policy (GE 187)
- Introduction to Geochemistry (GE 230) with laboratory (GE 231)
- Stratigraphy and Sedimentation (GE 264) with laboratory (GE 265)
- Structural Geology (GE 285) with laboratory (GE 286)
- Geological Field Mapping and Methods (GE 288)
- Environmental Hydrology (GE 297)
- Topics in Geobiology (GE 335)
- Environmental Oceanography (GE 380)
- Introduction to Geophysics (GE 391)
- Statistical Analysis of Scientific Data (GE 398)
- Watershed Geomorphology (GE 400) with laboratory (GE 401)
- Fluid Flow and Sediment Transport (GE 405)
- Site Characterization, Remediation, and Long Term Monitoring for Hazardous Waste Sites (GE 410)
- Global Biochemical Cycles (GE 440)
- Watershed Science (GE 457)
- Geographical Information Systems (GIS) (GE 480) with laboratory (GE 481)
- Isotopes in Earth Science (GE 512) with laboratory (GE 513)
- Estuarine Studies (GE 518)
- Coastal Processes (GE 535)
- Plate Tectonics/Mountain Belts (GE 543)
- Geophysical Data Processing (GE 572)
(C) Two additional electives may include courses in the department numbered 300 or above to be chosen by the student with his or her advisor, or courses from outside the department, approved by the departmental Undergraduate Studies Committee, such as: Environmental Biology (BI 401), Principles of Ecology (BI 442), Environmental Economics (EC 278), Environmental Policy (PO 202), 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:
- Chemistry (CH 109-110 with labs CH 111-112 or CH 117-118 with labs CH 119-120)
- Physics (PH 209-210) with laboratories (PH 203-204)
- Biology (BI 200 and BI 201 or BI 202) with laboratories (BI 204 or BI 210-211)
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 (D) above or Multivariable Calculus (MT 202), may be counted as one of the elective in (C) above. Other courses in the university pertinent to the Environmental Geoscience major may be substituted for the above requirements upon approval by the department Undergraduate Studies Committee. AP credits cannot substitute for the laboratory science corequisite (D) above.
Major Requirements: Geology (Class of 2013)
Students majoring in Geology need to take the following courses, and complete a total of ten courses in the department:
(A) Students majoring in Geology must take the following seven courses:
- Exploring the Earth I (GE 132) with laboratory (GE 133)
- Exploring the Earth II (GE 134) with laboratory (GE 135) Alternative: At least 3 credits from GE courses numbered above 200
- Earth Materials (GE 220) with laboratory (GE 221)
- Stratigraphy and Sedimentation (GE 264) with laboratory (GE 265)
- Petrology I and II (GE 372-374) with laboratories (GE 373-375) Alternative: GE 370-377
- Structural Geology (GE 285) with laboratory (GE 286)
(B) At least three additional electives (with a minimum of two numbered 300 or above) in the Department to bring the total number of GE courses to ten. A geology or geophysics summer field camp may be substituted for one of these electives. A file of summer field camp programs is kept in the Department office.
(C) Also required is a minimum of:
- Two semesters of Calculus (MT 102-103)
- Two semesters of Chemistry (CH 109-110 with labs CH 111-112 or CH 117-118 with labs CH 119-120)
- Two semesters of Physics (PH 209-210 with labs PH 203-204)
(D) The Department strongly advises that mathematics courses beyond MT 103 be taken (such as those required for the Geology-Geophysics major listed below). Also recommended for anyone planning a professional career in geology is a geology summer field course. Credit from a summer field course may be used for one of the 300-level Department electives upon written approval of the departmental Undergraduate Studies Committee prior to taking the field course. Elective courses (both inside and outside the Department) should be determined by the student and his or her advisor. Alternatives to this program may be substituted upon approval by the departmental Undergraduate Studies Committee.
topMajor Requirements: Geophysics (Class of 2013)
Students majoring in Geophysics need to fulfill the following course requirements:
(A) Students must take the following four courses:
- Exploring the Earth I (GE 132) with laboratory (GE 133)
- Exploring the Earth II (GE 134) with laboratory (GE 135) Alternative: At least three credits from GE courses numbered above 200
- Earth Materials (GE 220) with laboratory (GE 221)
- Structural Geology (GE 285) with laboratory (GE 286)
(B) Four courses from the following list, with at least two in Geophysics:
- Petrology I (GE 372) with laboratory (GE 373) Alternative: GE 370-373
- Petrology II (GE 374) with laboratory (GE 375) Alternative: GE 374-377
- Introduction to Geophysics (GE 391)
- Statistical Analysis of Scientific Data (GE 398)
- Watershed Geomorphology (GE 400) with laboratory (GE 401)
- Hydrogeology (GE 418)
- Environmental Geophysics (GE 424) with laboratory (GE 425)
- Exploration Seismology (GE 455) with laboratory (GE 456)
- Advanced Structural Geology (GE 485) with laboratory (GE 486)
- Marine Geology (GE 530)
- Costal Processes (GE 535)
- Plate Tectonics/Mountain Belts (GE 543)
- Geophysical Data Processing (GE 572)
- Introduction to Seismology (GE 660)
A geology or geophysics summer field camp may be substituted for one of the courses in (B) above. A file of summer field camp programs is kept in the department office.
(C) Two additional electives approved in advance by the student's advisor.
- These two courses may be in departmental courses numbered 400 or above or in advanced courses in physics or mathematics beyond those required below.
- This requirement may be fulfilled by a combination of courses, such as one advanced departmental course and one advanced physics course.
(D) In addition to the ten required courses listed above, the outside science requirements for the Geophysics major are as follows:
- Calculus through MT 305 (MT 102-103, 202, 305)
- Two semesters of Chemistry (CH 109-110 with labs CH 111-112 or CH 117-118 with labs CH 119-120)
- Two semesters of Physics (PH 209-210 with labs PH 203-204)
Courses in computer science and additional electives in geology are recommended in the elective program. Elective courses (both within and outside the department) should be determined by the student and his or her advisor. Alternatives to this program may be substituted upon approval by the departmental Undergraduate Program Committee.
Major Requirements: Geology-Geophysics (Class of 2013)
This major combines elements of both the Geology and the Geophysics programs and is considered excellent preparation for those working toward graduate school or employment in industry following graduation with a B.S. degree.
(A) Students majoring in Geology-Geophysics will meet the following course requirements:
- Exploring the Earth I (GE 132) with laboratory (GE 133)
- Exploring the Earth II (GE 134) with laboratory (GE 135) Alternative: At least three credits from GE courses numbered above 200
- Earth Materials (GE 220) with laboratory (GE 221)
- Stratigraphy and Sedimentation (GE 264) with laboratory (GE 265)
- Introduction Structural Geology I (GE 285) with laboratory (GE 286)
- Hydrogeology (GE 418) Alternative: GE 297, GE 400 or GE 535
- Environmental Geophysics (GE 424) with laboratory (GE 425) Alternative: GE 391, GE 455, GE 572, or GE 660
(B) Three courses from the following list, with at least one in geophysics, approved by the student's advisor:
- Petrology I (GE 372) with laboratory (GE 373) Alternative: GE 370-373
- Petrology II (GE 374) with laboratory (GE 375) Alternative: GE 374-377
- Introduction to Geophysics (GE 391)
- Statistical Analysis of Scientific Data (GE 398)
- Watershed Geomorphology (GE 400) with laboratory (GE 401)
- Exploration Seismology (GE 455) with laboratory (GE 456)
- Geographical Information Systems GIS (GE 480) with laboratory (GE 481)
- Advanced Structural Geology (GE 485) with laboratory (GE 486)
- Estuarine Studies (GE 518)
- Marine Geology (GE 530)
- Coastal Processes (GE 535)
- Plate Tectonics/Mountain Belts (GE 543)
- Geophysical Data Processing (GE 572)
- Introduction to Seismology (GE 660)
(C) Each of the following:
- Calculus through MT 305 (usually MT 102-103, 202, and 305)
- Two semesters of Chemistry (CH 109-110 with labs CH 111-112 or CH 117-118 with labs CH 119-120)
- Two semesters of Physics (PH 209-210 with labs PH 203-204)
Courses in computer science and a summer field geology course are highly recommended in the elective program, as is a senior year research project. Students should plan their program in consultation with their advisor. Alternatives to this program may be substituted upon approval by the departmental Undergraduate Program Committee.
Minor in Geology and Geophysics (Class of 2013)
In addition to the four major programs, a student may choose to minor in Geology and Geophysics. The minor is designed to be flexible and to allow the interested student to explore an area of interest in the earth sciences without the formal commitment of a major. Students interested in declaring a minor in the Department are urged to see Professor Alan Kafka, the department's Director of Undergraduate Studies, as early in their undergraduate careers as possible.
A minor in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences consists of a minimum of six courses in the Department structured as follows:
(A) Two required courses:
- Exploring the Earth I (GE 132) with laboratory (GE 133)
- Earth Materials (GE 220) with laboratory (GE 221)
(B) Two additional departmental courses numbered 100 or higher
(C) One additional departmental course numbered 200 or higher
(D) One additional departmental course numbered 300 or higher
With the exception of GE 132 and GE 220, which are required for all minors, a higher-level course can be substituted for a lower-level course. Each student’s minor program must be approved in advance by a faculty advisor in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences. Students should be aware that many upper-level courses have prerequisites in geology, mathematics, physics, or chemistry. Consult this catalog or a departmental advisor, and keep in mind that these prerequisites must be considered in designing a specific minor program. The minor program allows students flexibility in their choice of courses. Minor programs can be designed to emphasize specific areas of concentration within the broad range of subjects in geology and geophysics.
Senior Thesis and the Department Honors Program (all classes)
Students are encouraged to conduct research with professors in the department. A senior thesis is normally a two-semester project, often also involving work during the summer after your junior year (or before). To do a thesis, students register for Senior Thesis (GE 595) each semester of the senior year. To achieve Department Honors, majors in the department need to meet the GPA criteria (3.3 in major, 3.2 overall) and provide a thesis proposal to the Undergraduate Studies Committee by the drop-add date in the fall semester. In the spring, the completed thesis, signed by the faculty research advisor, is due to the committee by April 20. Students can also write a senior thesis under the Arts and Sciences Honors and Scholar of the College programs. Theses that meet these requirements would normally meet the Department Honors requirements. Honors will be awarded upon successful completion of a thesis based on the proposed research project as evaluated by the faculty advisor and approval of the thesis and the candidate’s academic record by the Undergraduate Studies Committee. In general, all students in the department are urged to fulfill at least one of the elective courses in any major program with a project-oriented research course during their senior year. Students may propose substitutes for particular course requirements by a petition, in writing, to the department Undergraduate Studies Committee
Fulfilling the Core Requirements
Core courses in the department are designed to give non-science majors an introduction to various aspects of the earth’s history and dynamics. The course offerings include a wide variety of subjects and approaches that reflect the breadth of the earth sciences. This variety of courses provides maximum freedom of choice for introductory students. All of these courses presume no prior knowledge beyond high school science and all fulfill the Natural Science Core requirement. They are designed to acquaint students with some exciting aspect of the world we live in while providing a background in the methods of analysis and reasoning common to all science. GE 125, 132, 134, 163, 167, 168, and 180 are courses that provide insight into the wide scope of geoscience subjects. The other Core offerings, GE 110, 146, 150, 157, 170, 172, 174, 177, 187, and 192, cover more specific sub-fields, such as oceanography, planetary, geology, astronomy, evolution, etc. Students wishing to find out more about department Core courses should contact the department at 617-552-3640 (Devlin 213) or see the department Director of Undergraduate Studies (Prof. Alan Kafka) (kafka@bc.edu).
Information for Study Abroad
Our department strongly encourages students to take advantage of study abroad opportunities and programs. An Earth Scientist can never see too much of our planet. Because the department has more than one major, the prerequisites for study abroad vary with each individual major. Depending upon the student’s study plan and the courses available at the foreign school, the department can be quite flexible. Most importantly, students should work out their program well in advance (a year ahead is not too early) with a departmental advisor or the Undergraduate Studies Committee. There are no specific departmental prerequisites for studying abroad. However, students should try to complete the basic courses for their major before traveling abroad so that they may take full advantage of their foreign experience and be able to take courses abroad that they do not have the opportunity to take at Boston College. There is no limit on the number of courses that can be approved toward the major as long as the courses are approved in advance by the department Undergraduate Studies Committee, the Foreign Study Advisor (Professor Douglas Edmonds) or the Department Chair. Whether courses from foreign institutions will be counted toward the major depends entirely upon the school the student attends and the offerings at that particular university. Courses taken abroad are generally applied toward major elective credit. The department believes strongly that an abroad program is very worthwhile, exposing students not only to other cultures, but other physical environments and geological situations. The department will try to be as flexible as possible to allow students the opportunity to study abroad. Based upon prior student experience, the department particularly recommends programs in Ecuador and Australia. Students should contact Professor Edmonds to plan their semester or year abroad.