Program Overview

---

Environmental Geoscience Major

The Environmental Geoscience Major at SUNY Plattsburgh is designed to prepare students for a career in geologic and environmental consulting. This program is ideal for students who want to gain expertise in processes occurring at the Earth's surface, including environmental geology, geomorphology, and hydrology.

What Will I Learn?

Students in the Environmental Geoscience Major will gain expertise in the areas of environmental geology, geomorphology, and hydrology. The program focuses on surficial geologic processes and provides students with a comprehensive understanding of the Earth's surface processes.

What is Unique About Our Program?

The Environmental Geoscience Major is embedded in an environmental science program, providing students with easy access to classes that are important in consulting geology but are typically not taught in geology programs. These classes include soils, environmental chemistry, water quality modeling, and ecology.

State-of-the-Art Facilities

Students in the Environmental Geoscience Major will have access to state-of-the-art laboratory and field facilities, including:

• Rock preparation laboratory
• Sedimentology and geo-engineering labs
• Suite of geophysical instruments for well logging
• Experimental well field with over 25 wells
• Remote Sensing and GIS laboratories
• Ecosystem Studies Field laboratory
• Lake Champlain Research Institute with limnological research vessels
• Environmental Chemistry laboratories

Career Opportunities

The Environmental Geoscience Major will prepare students for a career in geologic and environmental consulting. Graduates can work at state and federal agencies, such as the United States Geological Survey, state geological surveys, state Department of Transportation, state Department of Environmental Conservation, and the U.S. Forest Service.

Job Market Outlook

The job market outlook for environmental geoscience is strong, with a growing demand for professionals with expertise in environmental geology, geomorphology, and hydrology.

Program Requirements

The Environmental Geoscience Major requires a minimum of 120 credits, including:

• Major Departmental Requirements (49 credits)
• Cognate Requirements (25-31 credits)
• Additional Degree Requirements

Major Departmental Requirements

The Major Departmental Requirements include:

• ENV 350 - Introduction to Geographic Information Systems and Mapping (3 cr.)
• GEL 101 - Physical Geology (4 cr.)
• GEL 102 - Evolution of the Earth (4 cr.)
• GEL 273 - HAZWOPER: Hazardous Waste Operations & Emergency Response (3 cr.)
• GEL 310 - Mineralogy/Optical Mineralogy (4 cr.)
• GEL 323 - Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology (4 cr.)
• GEL 324 - Sedimentology (4 cr.)
• GEL 341 - Geomorphic Processes (4 cr.)
• GEL 343 - Hydrology (4 cr.)
• GEL 440 - Geology Seminar (3 cr.)
• GEL 451 - Field Geology and Structures (4 cr.)

Environmental Geoscience Electives

Students must select 9 credits from the following electives:

• CHE 240 - Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry (4 cr.)
• ENV 206 - Environmental Technology I (3 cr.)
• ENV 355 - Principles of Remote Sensing (3 cr.)
• ENV 411 - Water Quality (4 cr.)
• ENV 419 - Advanced Geographic Information Systems and Spatial Analysis (3 cr.)
• GEL 306 - Atmospheric Processes (3 cr.)
• GEL 307 - Geochemistry (3 cr.)
• GEL 346 - Environmental Geotechnology (4 cr.)
• GEL 391 - Physical Oceanography and Limnology (3 cr.)
• GEL 441 - Hydrogeology (3 cr.)
• GEL 495 - Research (Undergraduate) (1 to 6 cr.)
• GEL 498 - Internship (1 to 15 cr.)
• GEL 499 - Independent Study (1 to 15 cr.)

Cognate Requirements

The Cognate Requirements include:

• CHE 111 - Fundamental Principles of Chemistry I (4 cr.)
• CHE 112 - Fundamental Principles of Chemistry II (4 cr.)
• MAT 104 - Trigonometry (1 cr.)
• MAT 224 - Calculus I (4 cr.)
• MAT 225 - Calculus II (4 cr.)
• PHY 111 - General Physics I (4 cr.)
• PHY 112 - General Physics II (4 cr.)

Additional Degree Requirements

Students must complete all Undergraduate Degree Requirements, including General Education: The Cardinal Core Curriculum, elective courses if applicable, and a total of 120 credits minimum. A minimum GPA of 2.0 in Major Departmental Requirements is required.

Internships

Students in the Environmental Geoscience Major can receive college credit for working with companies and governmental agencies working in areas related to geology. These internships can be either paid positions or done on a volunteer basis, providing students with real-world job skills and valuable experience in their field of interest.

Professional Licensure Disclosure

The Environmental Geoscience, B.S. program at SUNY Plattsburgh is registered by the New York State Education Department and thus meets the educational requirements for licensure/certification for New York state. However, it is essential to note that SUNY Plattsburgh is not the licensure/certification authority in these U.S. states, and it is incumbent on each individual candidate to contact the licensure/certification authority in the applicable U.S. state for any further guidance on the requirements for licensure/certification requirements and application processes.

Additional Degrees in Earth & Environmental Science

SUNY Plattsburgh offers several other degrees in Earth and Environmental Science, including:

• Earth Science Major
• Ecology Major
• Environmental Science Major
• Environmental Planning & Management Major
• Environmental Studies Major
• Earth Science Adolescence Education
• Geology Major

Minors are also available in:

• Applied Environmental Science Program at Miner Institute
• Applied GIS Minor
• Ecology Minor
• Environmental Science Minor
• Geography Minor
• Geology Minor
• Hydrogeology Minor
• Perspectives on the Environment Minor
• Planning Minor