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Bachelor of Arts in Earth Sciences

The Department of Earth Sciences offers a Bachelor of Arts program at the undergraduate level with several concentration tracks. Our undergraduate program provides 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 earth sciences generally require at least a master's degree for full advancement opportunities.

Program Objectives

Program objectives are:

  • to be able to demonstrate an understanding of the fundamental principles, concepts and knowledge of the discipline Earth Sciences
  • to have knowledge of the effects of natural processes and human activity on the environment
  • to be able to address, solve and communicate geographic problems using quantitative methods and geographic techniques
  • to be able to critically examine community problems and develop coherent solutions to urban and other land management issues
  • to demonstrate effective written, oral and visual communication skills

University General Education Requirements

See Graduation from the University for the University General Education Program requirements.

College & Degree Requirements

The College and Bachelor of Arts requirements are in addition to the University General Education Program requirements.

Earth Sciences Major (B.A.)

The Major

1. Core Requirements (13 hours):

  • ESCI 4202 - Geomorphology (4)
  • ESCI 4515 - Geographic Info Science (3)
  • ESCI 4521 - Quantitative Methods (3)
  • ESCI 4531 - Field Methods in Earth Sciences (3)

2. Concentration (25-30 hours):

  • Geoarchaeology (26 hours):
    • ESCI 1103 - The Human Planet (4)
    • ESCI 2301 - Fundamentals of Archaeology (4)
    • ESCI 4301 - Archaeology of the Americas (3)
    • ESCI 4325 - Archaeol Fld/Lab Techn (3)
    • ESCI 4350 - Archaeology of Collapse (3)
    • ESCI 4352 - Archaeology/World Prehistory (3)
    • Six upper division hours as approved by advisor
  • Geography (25 hours):
    • ESCI 1010 - Weather and Climate (4) or ESCI 1050 - The Earth Through Time (4) or ESCI 1103 - The Human Planet (4)
    • ESCI 1401 - Intro/Cultural Geography (3) or ESCI 4430 - Social and Economic Geography with GIS (3)
    • ESCI 1301 - Survey of World Regions (3) or ESCI 4307 - Thematic Studies/China (3)
    • 15 additional upper division hours as approved by advisor
  • Geology (29-30 hours):
    • ESCI 1040 - Physical Geology (4)
    • ESCI 1050 - The Earth Through Time (4)
    • ESCI 3311 - Mineralogy/Petrology (4)
    • ESCI 3712 - Sedimentology/Stratighy (4)
    • ESCI 4512 - Structural Geology (4)
    • ESCI 4622 - Geology Field Camp (6)
    • Three or four upper division hours approved by advisor
  • Environmental Science (22-26 hours):
    • ESCI 1103 - The Human Planet (4)
    • ESCI 4201 - Urbanization/Environment (3)
    • ESCI 4252 - Global Environmental Change (3)
    • Choose four courses below:
      • ESCI 1010 - Weather and Climate (4)
      • ESCI 1040 - Physical Geology (4)
      • ESCI 3131 - Severe Weather (3)
      • ESCI 4122 - Soils and Soil Processess (3)
      • ESCI 4211 - Physical Hydrology (4)
      • ESCI 4213 - Field Methods/Hydrology (3)
      • ESCI 4214 - Climatology (3)
      • ESCI 4231 - Watershed Science and Management (3)
      • ESCI 4241 - Biogeog/GIS Analyses/Ecology (3)
      • ESCI 4251 - Environmental Hazards (3)
      • ESCI 4261 - Plan Sustainable Cities/Region (3)
      • ESCI 4341 - Aqueous Geochemistry (3)
      • ESCI 4365 - Cultural Resource Mgmt (3)
      • ESCI 4511 - Remote Sensing/Environ (3)
      • ESCI 4700 - Earth Science Internship (1-9)
      • ANTH 4800 - Conservation, Culture, and Environmental Change (3)
      • BIOL 3050 - Ecology (4)
      • CHEM 4001 - Environmental Chemistry (3)
      • POLS 4200 - Envrnmntl Law/Policy/Regulatn (3)

Electives

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

Minor

Completion of 20 semester hours in earth sciences courses, at least 9 of which must be upper division hours.

Course Descriptions

Undergraduate Courses