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Program Overview
Earth and Space Sciences, BA
Department of Geosciences, College of Arts and Sciences
Degree Awarded: Bachelor of Arts in Earth and Space Sciences
Chair: Brian Phillips
Director of Undergraduate Studies and Major Advisor: Hanna Nekvasil
Office: 255 Earth and Space Sciences
Phone:
Department Website:
Minors of particular interest to students majoring in Geology and Earth and Space Sciences: Environmental Studies (ENS), Marine Sciences (MAR), Engineering minors
Earth and Space Sciences is a broadly based multidisciplinary field combining geology, astronomy, atmospheric science, and marine science administered by the Department of Geosciences (see Geology major for departmental information). The major in Earth and Space Sciences is a diversified program in the natural sciences and mathematics aimed at fostering a basic understanding of the earth and space sciences; it also includes concentrated study in any one of the natural sciences or mathematics or interdisciplinary studies in environmental geoscience. Intended for those seeking a science-related career, the program is flexible in that it is designed to meet the needs of students who desire a more diverse liberal arts and sciences background. The various programs prepare students to choose careers in teaching, law, environmental science, secondary education, or research in private industry and government.
Requirements for the Major in Earth and Space Sciences (ESS)
The major in Earth and Space Sciences leads to the Bachelor of Arts degree. All courses offered for the major must be passed with a letter grade of C or higher. Completion of the major requires approximately 61-73 credits.
Requirements for the Earth and Space Sciences Track
Introductory earth and space sciences courses
- GEO 103 - The Earth Through Time (3 credits) AND
- GEO 113 - Historical Geology Laboratory (1 credit)
- GEO 122 - Physical Geology (4 credits)
- OR
- GEO 102 - The Earth (3 credits) AND
- GEO 112 - Physical Geology Laboratory (1 credit)
- AST 101 - Introduction to Astronomy (3 credits)
- AST 112 - Astronomy Laboratory (1 credit)
- ATM 205 - Introduction to Atmospheric Sciences (3 credits)
Upper-division earth and space sciences courses
At least four 300-400 level GEO, AST, or ATM courses (minimum of 3 credits each); at least one must include a laboratory. Courses with STAS designation are excluded.
Introductory related science courses
- MAT 131 - Calculus I (4 credits)
- MAT 132 - Calculus II (4 credits) If student does not place into MAT 125 or MAT 131 on the basis of the math placement examination, MAT 123 becomes an required course for the major. The following alternate beginning calculus sequences may be substituted for MAT 131 and MAT 132 in major requirements or prerequisites: MAT 125 and MAT 126 and MAT 127; or MAT 141 and MAT 142; or AMS 151 and AMS 161; or MAT 171. Equivalency for MAT courses achieved by earning the appropriate score on a University mathematics placement examination will be accepted as fulfillment of the requirement without the necessity of substituting other credits.
- PHY 121 - Physics for the Life Sciences I (4 credits)
- OR
- PHY 131 - Classical Physics I (3 credits)
- PHY 133 - Classical Physics Laboratory I (1 credit)
- OR
- PHY 141 - Classical Physics I: Honors (3 credits)
- PHY 133 - Classical Physics Laboratory I (Credits: 1 credit)
- OR
- PHY 125 - Classical Physics A (3 credits)
- PHY 126 - Classical Physics B (3 credits)
- PHY 133 - Classical Physics Laboratory I (Credits: 1 credit)(Note: PHY 121 is not accepted for the physics, atmospheric science, mathematics, or astronomy concentrations.)
- CHE 131 - General Chemistry IB (4 credits)
- OR
- CHE 129 - General Chemistry IA (4 credits)
- CHE 133 - General Chemistry Laboratory I (1 credit)
Either A for students not choosing the physics concentration in Specific science concentration below or B for students choosing the physics concentration in Specific science concentration
- Any two of the following groups
- PHY 122 - Physics for the Life Sciences II (4 credits) (not accepted for atmospheric science, mathematics, or astronomy concentrations)
- OR
- PHY 132 - Classical Physics II (3 credits)
- PHY 134 - Classical Physics Laboratory II (1 credit)
- OR
- PHY 142 - Classical Physics II: Honors (3 credits)
- PHY 134 - Classical Physics Laboratory II (Credits: 1 credit)
- OR
- PHY 126 - Classical Physics B (3 credits)
- PHY 127 - Classical Physics C (3 credits)
- PHY 134 - Classical Physics Laboratory II (Credits: 1 credit)
- CHE 132 - General Chemistry II (4 credits) AND
- CHE 134 - General Chemistry Laboratory II (1 credit)
- BIO 201 - Fundamentals of Biology: Organisms to Ecosystems (3 credits) AND
- BIO 204 - Fundamentals of Scientific Inquiry in the Biological Sciences I (2 credits)
For students choosing the physics concentration
- PHY 132 - Classical Physics II (3 credits)
- PHY 134 - Classical Physics Laboratory II (1 credit)
- OR
- PHY 142 - Classical Physics II: Honors (3 credits)
- PHY 134 - Classical Physics Laboratory II (Credits: 1 credit)
- OR
- PHY 126 - Classical Physics B (3 credits)
- PHY 127 - Classical Physics C (3 credits)
- PHY 134 - Classical Physics Laboratory II (Credits: 1 credit)
One of
- MAT 205
- MAT 203 - Calculus III with Applications (4 credits)
- OR
- AMS 261 - Applied Calculus III (4 credits)
- MAT 305
- MAT 303 - Calculus IV with Applications (4 credits)
- OR
- AMS 361 - Applied Calculus IV: Differential Equations (4 credits)
Specific science concentration
At least 12 credits in courses acceptable for one of the following concentrations: astronomy, atmospheric sciences, biology, chemistry, geology, marine sciences, mathematics, or physics. Students must obtain departmental approval of courses chosen to satisfy the specific science concentration.
Upper-division writing and speaking requirement
Before graduation all students in the Earth and Space Sciences track must register for the 1-credit GEO 496 WRTD course along with a 300-400 level GEO course. Completion of the WRTD requirement requires that a 15 page paper written by the student receives a B or higher as determined by the instructor of the 300-400 level course. The SBC SPK requirement can be completed with GEO 497 with a grade of ‘S’.
Requirements for the Earth Science Education Track
Introductory science courses
- GEO 103 - The Earth Through Time (3 credits) AND
- GEO 113 - Historical Geology Laboratory (1 credit)
- GEO 122 - Physical Geology (4 credits)
- OR
- GEO 102 - The Earth (3 credits) AND
- GEO 112 - Physical Geology Laboratory (1 credit)
- AST 101 - Introduction to Astronomy (3 credits) AND
- AST 112 - Astronomy Laboratory (1 credit)
- ATM 205 - Introduction to Atmospheric Sciences (3 credits)
- BIO 201 - Fundamentals of Biology: Organisms to Ecosystems (3 credits)
- BIO 202 - Fundamentals of Biology: Molecular and Cellular Biology (3 credits)
- BIO 204 - Fundamentals of Scientific Inquiry in the Biological Sciences I (2 credits)
- CHE 131 - General Chemistry IB (4 credits)
- OR
- CHE 129 - General Chemistry IA (4 credits) AND
- CHE 132 - General Chemistry II (4 credits) (see note below)
- CHE 133 - General Chemistry Laboratory I (1 credit) AND
- CHE 134 - General Chemistry Laboratory II (1 credit)
- AMS 102 - Elements of Statistics (3 credits)
- MAT 125 - Calculus A (3 credits)
- PHY 119 - Physics for Environmental Studies (4 credits)
- OR
- PHY 125 - Classical Physics A (3 credits) AND
- PHY 126 - Classical Physics B (3 credits) AND
- PHY 133 - Classical Physics Laboratory I (1 credit)
- ATM 102 - Weather and Climate (3 credits)
Elective Courses
At least 24 credits chosen in consultation with the program director. At least two of the courses must include a laboratory.
Specific Science Concentration
At least 12 credits of the 24 elective credits must be chosen from one of the earth and space science disciplines: astronomy, atmospheric sciences or geosciences.
Upper-division writing requirement
Before graduation all students in the Earth Science Education Track must register for the 1-credit GEO 496 WRTD course along with a 300-400 level GEO course. Completion of the WRTD requires that a 15 page paper written by the student receives a B or higher as determined by the instructor of the 300-400 level course. The SBC SPK requirement can be completed with GEO 497 with a grade of S.
Earth Science Secondary Teacher Education Program
See the Education and Teacher Certification entry in the alphabetical listings of Approved Majors, Minors, and Programs.
SBC Courses
This table illustrates major courses that can also be used to fulfill SBC requirements. (See Note 1 & Note 2)
| SBC Category | Required Major Courses | Optional Major Courses (see Note 3) |
|---|---|---|
| ARTS | ||
| GLO | ||
| HUM | ||
| LANG (see Note 4) | ||
| QPS | MAT 131, MAT 132 | AMS 102 |
| SBS | ||
| SNW | AST 101, GEO 103 | ATM 102, BIO 201, CHE 129, CHE 131, CHE 132, GEO 102, GEO 122, GEO 303, PHY 119, PHY 121, PHY 122, PHY 125, PHY 126, PHY 127, PHY 131, PHY 132, PHY 141, PHY 142 |
| TECH | GEO 366 | |
| USA | ||
| WRT | ||
| STAS | AST 389, GEO 304, GEO 307, GEO 311, GEO 313 | |
| EXP+ | AST 345, AST 444, AST 475, AST 487, ATM 387, ATM 444, ATM 488, GEO 305, GEO 444, GEO 475, GEO 476, GEO 487, GEO 488 | |
| HFA+ | ||
| SBS+ | ||
| STEM+ | ATM 205 | AMS 261, AMS 361, GEO 320, GEO 404, GEO 407, GEO 467, MAT 203, MAT 303 |
| CER | AST 389, ATM 397, GEO 497 | |
| DIV (see Note 5) | ||
| ESI | GEO 496 | AST 443, ATM 320, GEO 330, GEO 487 |
| SPK | AST 443, AST 458, GEO 497 | |
| WRTD | GEO 496 | AST 459 |
- Freshmen who matriculate in the Fall of 2019 or later
- Transfer students who matriculate in the Spring of 2020 or later
- Students who rematriculate in the Fall of 2019 or later
Sample Course Sequence
Sample Course Sequence for the Major in Earth and Space Sciences
- Freshman Year
- Fall
- GEO 103 - The Earth Through Time (3 credits)
- GEO 113 - Historical Geology Laboratory (1 credit)
- MAT 131 - Calculus I (4 credits)
- CHE 131 - General Chemistry IB (4 credits)
- Spring
- GEO 122 - Physical Geology (4 credits)
- MAT 132 - Calculus II (4 credits)
- CHE 132 - General Chemistry II (4 credits)
- Fall
- Sophomore Year
- Fall
- AST 101 - Introduction to Astronomy (3 credits)
- AST 112 - Astronomy Laboratory (1 credit)
- ATM 205 - Introduction to Atmospheric Sciences (3 credits)
- BIO 201 - Fundamentals of Biology: Organisms to Ecosystems (3 credits)
- Spring
- GEO 303 - Geomorphology (3 credits)
- GEO 304 - Structural Geology (3 credits)
- GEO 305 - Sedimentology and Stratigraphy (3 credits)
- Fall
- Junior Year
- Fall
- GEO 320 - Geochemistry (3 credits)
- GEO 404 - Geophysics (3 credits)
- GEO 407 - Hydrogeology (3 credits)
- Spring
- GEO 444 - Advanced Topics in Geology (3 credits)
- GEO 475 - Research in Geology (3 credits)
- GEO 487 - Seminar in Geology (3 credits)
- Fall
- Senior Year
- Fall
- GEO 496 - Writing in the Discipline (1 credit)
- GEO 497 - Speaking in the Discipline (1 credit)
- Spring
- GEO 488 - Advanced Research in Geology (3 credits)
- Fall
