2024-2025 Undergraduate/Graduate Catalog

Earth Science B.S.: Environmental Earth Science Specialization

The Environmental Earth Science Specialization is designed for students who want to study geological sciences with an environmental focus but who are not intending to work as professional geologists. This Specialization is appropriate for students planning a career in public policy relating to environmental issues, environmental education, resource management, business (environmental consulting), environmental hazards, environmental law, or environmental medicine.

A minor is not required.

Major Requirements

36 credits in Earth Science and related courses, and 22-24 credits of related requirements.

Earth Sciences Core (19 credits)

GSCI 121The Dynamic Earth

3

or

GSCI 131Environmental Geoscience

3

 

GSCI 125The Dynamic Earth Laboratory

1

or

GSCI 135Environmental Geoscience Laboratory

1

 

GSCI 141Earth and Life History

3

GSCI 145Earth and Life History Laboratory

1

GSCI 221Mineralogy

4

GSCI 223Stratigraphy and Sedimentology

4

GSCI 260Communicating the Geological Sciences

1

GSCI 290Field Methods in Geology

2

Environmental Earth Science Specialization (17 credits)

Required Courses (4 credits):

GSCI 129Introduction to Meteorology

4

Electives (13 credits)

selected from the following:

GSCI 350Computer Methods in the Geological Sciences

3

GSCI 424Geomorphology

4

GSCI 425Glacial and Quaternary Geology

3

GSCI 431Introduction to Hydrogeology

4

GSCI 441Environmental Geochemistry

3

GSCI 442Introduction to the Principles of Soil Science

4

GSCI 455Energy Science and Technology

3

GSCI 490Topics in Geological Sciences

3-4

BIO 132Introductory Ecology

3

BIO 434Ecology of Inland Waters

4

BIO 436Environmental Resources and Management

3

BIO 438/BIO 538Aquatic Pollution

4

CHEM 406Environmental Chemistry

3

CHEM 456Toxicology

3

or additional courses as approved by the student's advisor.

Related Requirements (22-24 credits)

CHEM 161General Chemistry

3

CHEM 162General Chemistry Laboratory

1

CHEM 201Foundations of Analytical Chemistry Laboratory

1

and

CHEM 260Foundations of Inorganic Chemistry

3

or

BIO 121General Biology I

4

MATH 152Calculus I

4

or

MATH 124Applied Calculus with Trigonometry

4

or

MATH 119Pre-Calculus with Trigonometry

4

or

MATH 115Trigonometry

3

MATH 221Calculus II

4

or

MATH 125Applied Calculus

3

or

MATH 116Pre-Calculus Mathematics

3

or

STAT 104Elementary Statistics

3

PHYS 125University Physics I

4

or

PHYS 121General Physics I

4

PHYS 126University Physics II

4

or

PHYS 122General Physics II

4