DEPARTMENT OF EARTH SCIENCES

The Department of Earth Sciences offers two degree programs at the Undergraduate level, each with several concentration tracks.

B.A. in Geography

B.S. in Earth Sciences

Our undergraduate programs provide the perfect spring board for job opportunities in education, government, earth and environmental professions, and earth science research, as well as preparing the student for graduate school.  Professional job positions in Geography and Earth Sciences generally require at least a Masters degree for full advancement opportunities. 

GEOGRAPHY

Geography Major (B.A.)
Program objectives are: (a) to acquire knowledge of geographical concepts and their applications; (b) to solve geographical problems; (c) to obtain preparation for entry level employment in the field or advanced study.

A. University General Education Program (41 hours)
 See Graduation from the University link for the University General Education Program requirements.

B. College and Degree (B.A.) Requirements (18-19 hours)
The College and Bachelor of Arts requirements are in addition to the University General Education Program requirements and are listed above.

C. The Major (35 hours)
1. Core Requirements (20 hours):
a. Environmental and Earth Science: ESCI 1010/1011, 1020/1021 (8)
b. Human: ESCI 1401 or 3430 (3)
c. Regional: ESCI 1301 or any 43_numbered course (3)
d. Geographic Techniques: ESCI 4502 (3)
e. ESCI 4801(3) [I, W]
2. Concentration (15-16 hours):
a. Geography: Choose 15 semester hours of geography with a minimum of 12 upper division hours.
b. Environmental and Earth Science: 15 semester hours, with a minimum of 12 hours selected from ESCI 3221, 4120, 4122, 4201, 4214, 4231, 4241, 4251.
c. Geographic Techniques: 15 semester hours, with a minimum of 12 hours selected from ESCI 4511 (4), 4515, 4521 [C], 4525, 4531.
d. Urban Planning: (1) Required core (9 semester hours): ESCI 3451, 4431, 4551; (2) Guided electives (6 semester hours): two of the following: ESCI 3430, 4201, 4231, 4443, 4531, 4700.

D. Electives
 Electives may be chosen to bring the total number of hours to 120.

Typical 4-Year Geography (B.A.) Sequence

Freshman Year

Sophomore Year

Junior Year

Senior Year

Geography Minor
Completion of 20 semester hours in geography courses, at least 9 of which must be upper division hours.

EARTH SCIENCES

Earth Sciences Major (B.S.)
Program objectives for a B.S. in Earth Sciences are: (a) to attain knowledge of earth science concepts and their applications; (b) to be capable of solving earth science problems involving observations and measurements; (c) to be well prepared for entry level employment or for entering a graduate program in fields related to Earth Science.

A. University General Education Program (41 hours)
 See Graduation from the University link for the University General Education Program requirements. Note that MATH 1830 or MATH 1910 is required for the B.S. degree.

B. College and Degree Requirements (15-16 hours)
The College and Bachelor of Science requirements are in addition to the University General Education Program requirements and are listed above.

C. The Major ( 40-52)* hours in addition to University General Education Program and B.S. degree requirements
*The Geophysics concentration requires an additional 11 hours of MATH.
1. Core Requirements (28 hours): Completion of ESCI 1020/1021 or 1040, 1010/1011 or 1050, MATH 1920* or COMP 1800, BIOL 1020/1021 or CHEM 1120/1121 or PHYS 2020/2021 (4 hours of these courses are included in the B.S. degree requirements); ESCI 2001 or 3311**, ESCI 4120 or 4202 or 4252; two courses from ESCI 4502, 4515, and 4521.
* Required for Geophysics concentration; ** Required for Geology concentration.
2. Concentrations:
a. Geoarchaeology (12 hours): ESCI 4301, 4325, 4352, and additional upper division hours approved by the advisor to total 42 semester hours in Earth Sciences.
b. Geography (15 hours): ESCI 3430, 4201, 4304, 4541, 4801, and additional upper division hours approved by the advisor to total 42 semester hours in Earth Sciences.
c. Geology (14 hours): ESCI 3512, 3712, 4622, and additional upper division hours as approved by the advisor to a total of 42 semester hours in Earth Sciences.
d. Geophysics (24 hours): ESCI 4101, 4201, 4401, and additional upper division hours approved by the advisor to total 42 semester hours in Earth Sciences; MATH 1920, 2110, 3120.

D. Electives
 Electives may be chosen to bring the total number of hours to 120.

Earth Sciences Minor
A minimum of 18 semester hours in geology courses, including ESCI 1050 or ESCI 1103. Six of these hours must be selected from upper division courses.

Typical 4-Year Geology Concentration Sequence

Freshman Year

Sophomore Year

Junior Year

Summer

Senior Year

Total Hours: 120
Total Hours Required for Graduation: 120
*Must satisfy University General Education Program Requirement
** Choose: PHYS 2010/2011 and 2020/2021 or 2110/2111 and 2120/2121