Department of Earth Sciences
Program Requirements

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Earth Sciences


Students seeking a BS in Geology can choose from two tracks. The Geology Track provides a broad-based, solid foundation in Geology, and the Environmental Geology Track has environmental applications of geology as its focus while maintaining a strong core of traditional geology courses. Both tracks require at least one year each of math (including calculus), chemistry, and physics. We also offer a BA in Geology.
The BS in Geochemistry combines extensive chemistry and geology course work to train students for a variety of careers.
The B.A. degree in Meteorology requires courses in meteorology, chemistry, physics, calculus, computer science and others. The requirements for the B.S. degree in Meteorology are quite similar but include more work in mathematics. The B.S. degree meets all recommendations of the American Meteorological Society and the National Weather Service. A meteorology honors degree is also available.

Geology Major - Arts and Sciences, B.A. Degree59-60cr

A. Core Requirements35-36 cr
  • Geo 100L - Physical Geology Laboratory
  • Geo 200/200L - Historical Geology
  • Geo 310 - Mineralogy
  • Geo 330 - Structural Geology
  • Geo 416 - Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology
  • Geo 481 - Field Geology
  • One of the following two courses
  • Two of the following four courses:
  • One of the following four courses under advisement of geology faculty
B. Electives0 cr
  • None
C. Cognate Requirements24 cr

Geology Major - Arts and Sciences, B.S. Degree - Track I - Geology

74cr

A. Core Requirements32 cr
  • One of the following two courses:
  • Three of the following four courses:
  • One of the following three courses:
  • B. Electives9 cr
    • Geology courses at 300-level or higher under advisement of geology faculty.
    C. Cognate Requirements27 cr
    • Mat 210 - Calculus I
    • Mat 220 - Calculus II
    • Phy 111 - College Physics I
    • Phy 212 - College Physics II
    • Che 111 - General Chemistry
    • Che 212 - General Chemistry
    • Computer Programming course under advisement of geology faculty

    Geology Major - Arts and Sciences, B.S. Degree - Track II - Environmental Geology

    74cr

    A. Core Requirements36 cr
    B. Electives6 cr
    • Upper division electives under advisement of geology faculty
    C. Cognate Requirements30 cr
    • Che 111 - General Chemistry
    • Che 212 - General Chemistry
    • Mat 210 - Calculus I
    • Mat 220 - Calculus II
    • Mat 318 - Statistics in the Sciences
    • Phy 111 - College Physics I
    • Phy 212 - College Physics II
    • Computer Programming course under advisement of geology faculty

    Meteorology Major - Arts and Sciences, B.S. Degree77cr

    A. Core Requirements31 cr
    • Met 210/210L *- Meteorology for Science Majors I
    • Met 220 - Meteorology for Science Majors II
    • Met 301 / Met 301L - Synoptic Meteorology I
    • Met 302 / Met 302L- Synoptic Meteorology II
    • Met 350/350L - Meteorological Experimentation
    • Met 411 - Dynamic Meteorology I
    • Met 412 - Dynamic Meteorology II
    • Met 497 - Seminar
    • One of the following two courses:
      • Met 401 - Atmospheric Physics: Radiation and Remote Sensing
      • Met 402 - Atmospheric Physics: Atmospheric Aerosol and Cloud Physics
    B. Electives9 cr
    • Electives in Meteorology numbered 305, or above Met 320, or Geo 335 under advisement of meteorology faculty
    C. Cognate Requirements37 cr
    • Phy 112 - General University Physics I
    • Phy 213 - General University Physics II
    • Che 111 - General Chemistry
    • Che 212 - General Chemistry
    • Mat 210 - Calculus I
    • Mat 220 - Calculus II
    • Mat 240 - Multivariable Calculus
    • Mat 348 - Ordinary Differential Equations
    • One of the following under advisement:
      • Mat 318 - Statistics in the Sciences
      • Mat 354 - Mathematical Statistics A
    • One of the following under advisement:
      • Csc 120 - Introduction to Programming and Programming Languages
      • Csc 212 - Principles of Programming
      • Met 310 - Computer Applications in Meteorology
    *Met 100 or equivalent may be substituted with permission of meteorology faculty.

    Earth Sciences Certification General Science Extension-Adolescence: 7-12

    66cr

    A. Core Requirements42 cr
    • Ast 100 - Astronomy
    • Met 210 - Meteorology for Science Majors I
    • Met 210L - Introductory Meteorology Lab
    • One of the following two courses:
    • Geo 100L - Physical Geology Laboratory
    • Geo 200 - Historical Geology
    • Geo 200L - Historical Geology Laboratory
    • Geo 310 - Mineralogy
    • Geo 330 - Structural Geology
    • Geo 416 - Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology
    • Two of the following five courses:
    • Esc 481 - Earth Science Field Camp
    • Any Earth Sciences Intellectual Issues Course
    B. Electives0 cr
    • None
    C. Cognate Requirements24 cr

    Astronomy Minor - Arts and Sciences31cr

    A. Core Requirements9 cr
    B. Electives6 cr
    • Select two from the following:
    C. Cognate Requirements16 cr

    Geology Minor - Arts and Sciences30-32cr

    A. Core Requirements8 cr
    B. Electives12 cr
    • Electives in Geology, under advisement of geology faculty
    C. Cognate Requirements10-12 cr
    • One of the following two courses
    • Minimum of six hours of mathematics or computer science, selected from:
     Last Updated: 9/4/07