Academic Programs Catalog

The Bachelor of Science degree in Earth and Environmental Sciences prepares students to enter the work force after graduation in fields including geology, environmental science, and planetary science. Students can work in a multidisciplinary setting and have flexibility to focus in specific disciplines intersecting physics, chemistry, biology, data science, and geological and environmental sciences. The degree offers deep quantitative and scientific training needed for careers; relative to engineering, Earth and environmental sciences approach the natural world with an investigative perspective to explain mechanisms and predict phenomena.

Requirements for the Bachelor of Science Degree in Earth and Environmental Sciences

1. The University requirements for bachelor's degrees as described in the Undergraduate Education section of this catalog; 120 credits, including general elective credits, are required for the Bachelor of Science Degree in Earth and Environmental Sciences.
   
   The University's Tier II writing requirement for the Earth and Environmental Sciences major is met by completing three of the following courses: GLG 361, GLG 401, GLG 412, GLG 431, GLG 435, GLG 445, or GLG 491. Those courses are referenced in item 3. below.
   
   Students who are enrolled in the College of Natural Science may complete the alternative track to Integrative Studies in Biological and Physical Sciences that is described in item 1. under the heading Graduation Requirements in the College statement.  Certain courses referenced in requirement 3. below may be used to satisfy the alternative track.
2. The requirements of the College of Natural Science for the Bachelor of Science degree. 
   
   Certain courses referenced in requirement 3. below may be counted toward College requirements as appropriate.
3. The following requirements for the major:

   a.	The following courses outside the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences (23 to 31 credits):
   	(1)	One of the following Chemistry I courses (4 credits):
   		CEM	141	General Chemistry					4
   		CEM	151	General and Descriptive Chemistry					4
   		CEM	181H	Honors Chemistry I					4
   		LB	171	Principles of Chemistry I					4
   	(2)	One of the following Chemistry II courses (3 or 4 credits):
   		CEM	142	General and Inorganic Chemistry					4
   		CEM	152	Principles of Chemistry					4
   		CEM	182H	Honors Chemistry II					4
   		LB	172	Principles of Chemistry II					3
   		MSE	250	Materials Science and Engineering					3
   	(3)	One of the following Chemistry laboratory courses (1 or 2 credits):
   		CEM	161	Chemistry Laboratory I					1
   		CEM	185H	Honors Chemistry Laboratory I					2
   		LB	171L	Introductory Chemistry Laboratory I					1
   	(4)	One of the following Physics I courses (3 or 4 credits):
   		PHY	183	Physics for Scientists and Engineers I					4
   		PHY	193H	Honors Physics I – Mechanics					4
   		PHY	221	Studio Physics for Life Scientists I					4
   		PHY	231	Introductory Physics I					3
   		LB	273	Physics I					4
   	(5)	One of the following Physics II courses (3 to 5 credits):
   		PHY	174	Studio Physics for Scientists and Engineers II					5
   		PHY	184	Physics for Scientists and Engineers II					4
   		PHY	222	Studio Physics for Life Scientists II					4
   		PHY	232	Introductory Physics II					3
   		PHY	294H	Honors Physics II – Electromagnetism					4
   		LB	274	Physics II					4
   	(6)	One of the following Calculus I courses (3 or 4 credits):
   		MTH	124	Survey of Calculus I					3
   		MTH	132	Calculus I					3
   		MTH	152H	Honors Calculus I					3
   		LB	118	Calculus I					4
   	(7)	One of the following courses (3 or 4 credits):
   		MTH	126	Survey of Calculus II					3
   		MTH	133	Calculus II					4
   		MTH	153H	Honors Calculus II					4
   		LB	119	Calculus II					4
   		STT	231	Statistics for Scientists					3
   		STT	421	Statistics I					3
   	(8)	One of the following computational methods or geospatial course sequences (3 or 4 credits):
   		(a)	GEO	221	Introduction to Geographic Information				3
   			GEO	221L	Introduction to Geographic Information Laboratory				1
   		(b)	FOR	419	Applications of Geographic Information Systems to Natural Resources Management				4
   		(c)	CMSE	201	Introduction to Computational Modeling and Data Analysis I				4
   		(d)	GLG	307	Introduction to Computation in Earth and Environmental Sciences				3
   b.	One of the following courses/sequences (4 credits):
   	(1)	GLG	200	Introduction to Environmental Science and Global Change					4
   	(2)	GLG	201	Introduction to Earth and Planetary Sciences					4
   	(3)	GLG	203	Geology of the Great Lakes Region					3
   		GLG	203L	Geology of the Great Lakes Region Laboratory					1
   c.	Both of the following courses (8 credits):
   	GLG	304	Physical and Biological History of the Earth						4
   	GLG	321	Introduction to Geochemistry						4
   d.	Two of the following courses (8 credits):
   	GLG	361	Introduction to Volcanoes and Igneous Rocks (W)						4
   	GLG	421	Environmental Geochemistry						4
   	GLG	431	Sedimentology and Stratigraphy						4
   	GLG	471	Applied Geophysics						4
   e.	Three of the following writing-intensive courses, which can also satisfy requirement 3.d. or 3.f. (11 to 14 credits):
   	GLG	361	Introduction to Volcanoes and Igneous Rocks (W)						4
   	GLG	401	Structure and Mechanics of the Earth (W)						4
   	GLG	412	Glaciers, Ice, and Climate Change (W)						4
   	GLG	431	Sedimentology and Stratigraphy						4
   	GLG	435	Geomicrobiology (W)						4
   	GLG	445	Planetary Sciences						3
   	GLG	491	Field Geology – Summer Camp (W)						6
   f.	One of the following courses, which can also satisfy requirement 3.e. (3 to 6 credits):
   	GLG	422	Field Methods in Earth and Environmental Science						3
   	GLG	491	Field Geology – Summer Camp (W)						6
   	GLG	493	Field Studies in Geological Sciences						3
   g.	Additional courses in Earth and Environmental Sciences to reach a total  of 47 credits in GLG. This may be satisfied with any other GLG course not already counted towards other requirements, including but not limited to the list below:
   	GLG	200	Introduction to Environmental Science and Global Change						4
   	GLG	201	Introduction to Earth and Planetary Sciences						4
   	GLG	303	Oceanography						3
   	GLG	306	Environmental Geomorphology						3
   	GLG	307	Introduction to Computation in Earth and Environmental Sciences						3
   	GLG	330	Biogeochemistry						3
   	GLG	361	Introduction to Volcanoes and Igneous Rocks (W)						4
   	GLG	380	Natural Resources, the Energy Transition, and the Environment						3
   	GLG	401	Structure and Mechanics of the Earth (W)						4
   	GLG	411	Hydrogeology						3
   	GLG	412	Glaciers, Ice, and Climate Change (W)						4
   	GLG	421	Environmental Geochemistry						4
   	GLG	422	Field Methods in Earth and Environmental Science						3
   	GLG	431	Sedimentology and Stratigraphy						4
   	GLG	434	Evolutionary Paleobiology						4
   	GLG	435	Geomicrobiology (W)						4
   	GLG	444	Cosmochemistry						3
   	GLG	445	Planetary Sciences						3
   	GLG	446	Sustainable Food Systems						3
   	GLG	470	Solid Earth Geophysics and Geodynamics						3
   	GLG	471	Applied Geophysics						4
   	GLG	491	Field Geology - Summer Camp (W)						6
   	GLG	493	Field Studies in Geological Sciences						3

Requirements for the Bachelor of Science Degree in Environmental Geosciences

1. The University requirements for bachelor's degrees as described in the Undergraduate Education section of this catalog; 120 credits, including general elective credits, are required for the Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Geosciences.
   
   The University's Tier II writing requirement for the Environmental Geosciences major is met by completing Geological Sciences 401.  That course is referenced in item 3. b. below.
   
   Students who are enrolled in the College of Natural Science may complete the alternative track to Integrative Studies in Biological and Physical Sciences that is described in item 1. under the heading Graduation Requirements in the College statement.  Certain courses referenced in requirement 3. below may be used to satisfy the alternative track.
2. The requirements of the College of Natural Science for the Bachelor of Science degree.
   
   The credits earned in certain courses referenced in requirement 3. below may be counted toward College requirements as appropriate.
3. The following requirements for the major:

   a.	The following courses outside the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences (35 to 38 credits):
   	(1)	All of the following courses (8 credits):
   		CEM	161	Chemistry Laboratory I			1
   		MTH	132	Calculus I			3
   		MTH	133	Calculus II			4
   	(2)	One of the following groups of courses (7 credits):
   		(a)	CEM	141	General Chemistry I		4
   			CEM	142	General and Inorganic Chemistry		3
   		(b)	CEM	151	General and Descriptive Chemistry		4
   			CEM	152	Principles of Chemistry		3
   	(3)	One of the following courses (3 or 4 credits):
   		MTH	234	Multivariable Calculus			4
   		STT	200	Statistical Methods			3
   		STT	201	Statistical Methods			4
   		STT	231	Statistics for Scientists			3
   		STT	421	Statistics I			3
   	(4)	One of the following groups of courses (8 credits):
   		(a)	PHY	231	Introductory Physics I		3
   			PHY	232	Introductory Physics II		3
   			PHY	251	Introductory Physics Laboratory I		1
   			PHY	252	Introductory Physics Laboratory II		1
   		(b)	PHY	183	Physics for Scientists and Engineers I		4
   			PHY	184	Physics for Scientists and Engineers II		4
   	(5)	One of the following courses (3 or 4 credits):
   		FW	472	Limnology			3
   		GEO	203	Introduction to Meteorology			3
   		IBIO	303	Oceanography			4
   	(6)	One of the following courses (3 or 4 credits):
   		GEO	324	Remote Sensing of the Environment			4
   		GEO	325	Geographic Information Systems			3
   		STT	464	Statistics for Biologists			3
   	(7)	One of the following courses (3 credits):
   		GEO	435	Geography of Health and Disease			3
   		IBIO	355	Ecology			3
   b.	The following courses in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences (31 credits):
   	GLG	201	The Dynamic Earth				4
   	GLG	304	Physical and Biological History of the Earth				4
   	GLG	321	Mineralogy and Geochemistry				4
   	GLG	401	Global Tectonics and Earth Structure (W)				4
   	GLG	411	Hydrogeology				3
   	GLG	412	Glacial Geology and the Record of Climate Change				4
   	GLG	421	Environmental Geochemistry				4
   	GLG	431	Sedimentology and Stratigraphy (W)				4
   	The completion of GLG 401 satisfies the department’s capstone course requirement.
   c.	One course from each of the following areas (9 or 10 credits):
   	Hydrogeology Component
   	CE	421	Engineering Hydrology				3
   	FW	454	Environmental Hydrology for Watershed Management				3
   	GEO	306	Environmental Geomorphology				3
   	GLG	481	Reservoirs and Aquifers				3
   	Geochemical Component
   	CEM	251	Organic Chemistry I				3
   	CEM	311	Inorganic Chemistry				3
   	CEM	383	Introductory Physical Chemistry I				3
   	CSS	455	Pollutants in the Soil Environment				3
   	ENE	481	Environmental Chemistry - Equalibrium Concepts				3
   	GLG	361	Igneous and Metamorphic Geochemistry and Petrology				4
   	Geobiological Component
   	ENE	487	Microbiology for Environmental Science and Engineering				3
   	FW	420	Stream Ecology				3
   	GLG	433	Vertebrate Paleontology				4
   	GLG	434	Evolutionary Paleontology				4
   	GLG	435	Geomicrobiology				4
   	IBIO	355	Ecology				3
   	MMG	425	Microbial Ecology				3
   	Students may not use IBIO 355 to count towards this requirement if used to fulfill requirement 3. a. (7).
   d.	Additional credits in Geological Science courses at the 300-400 level to total 40 credits.  The credits that are used to satisfy this requirement may be used to satisfy either the requirements for the geological sciences major or the requirements for the environmental geosciences major, but not both of these requirements.
   	Plant Biology 335 and Microbiology and Molecular Genetics 426 may be used to satisfy either the requirements for the major or the requirements referenced under the heading Graduation Requirements in the College statement, but not both of those requirements.

Concentration in Geophysics

A concentration in geophysics is also available. Students must complete all of the following courses. Courses that are used to satisfy the requirements for the concentration may also be used to satisfy the requirements for the Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Geosciences. The concentration will be noted on the student’s transcript. 

Requirements for the Bachelor of Science Degree in Geological Sciences

1. The University requirements for bachelor's degrees as described in the Undergraduate Education section of this catalog; 120 credits, including general elective credits, are required for the Bachelor of Science degree in Geological Sciences.
   
   The University's Tier II writing requirement for the Geological Sciences major is met by completing Geological Sciences 401.  That courses is referenced in item 3. b. below.
   
   Students who are enrolled in the College of Natural Science may complete the alternative track to Integrative Studies in Biological and Physical Sciences that is described in item 1. under the heading Graduation Requirements in the College statement.  Certain courses referenced in requirement 3. below may be used to satisfy the alternative track.
2. The requirements of the College of Natural Science for the Bachelor of Science degree.
   
   The credits earned in certain courses referenced in requirement 3. below may be counted toward College requirements as appropriate.
3. The following requirements for the major:

   a.	The following courses outside the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences (26 or 27 credits):
   	(1)	All of the following courses (8 credits):
   		CEM	161	Chemistry Laboratory I			1
   		MTH	132	Calculus I			3
   		MTH	133	Calculus II			4
   	(2)	One of the following pairs of courses (7 credits):
   		(a)	CEM	141	General Chemistry		4
   			CEM	142	General and Inorganic Chemistry		3
   		(b)	CEM	151	General and Descriptive Chemistry		4
   			CEM	152	Principles of Chemistry		3
   	(3)	One of the following options (3 or 4 credits):
   		(a)	MTH	234	Multivariable Calculus		4
   		(b)	One course of at least 3 credits in statistics and probability.
   	(4)	One of the following groups of courses (8 credits):
   		(a)	PHY	231	Introductory Physics I		3
   			PHY	232	Introductory Physics II		3
   			PHY	251	Introductory Physics Laboratory I		1
   			PHY	252	Introductory Physics Laboratory II		1
   		(b)	PHY	183	Physics for Scientists and Engineers I		4
   			PHY	184	Physics for Scientists and Engineers II		4
   b.	The following courses in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences (40 credits):
   	GLG	201	The Dynamic Earth				4
   	GLG	304	Physical and Biological History of the Earth				4
   	GLG	321	Mineralogy and Geochemistry				4
   	GLG	361	Petrology				4
   	GLG	401	Global Tectonics and Earth Structure (W)				4
   	GLG	431	Sedimentology and Stratigraphy				4
   	GLG	491	Field Geology – Summer Camp (W)				6
   	Ten additional credits in Geological Sciences courses at the 300–400 level. Plant Biology 335 and Microbiology and Molecular Genetics 426 may be used to satisfy either the requirements for the major or the requirements referenced under the heading Graduation Requirements in the College statement, but not both of those requirements. The credits that are used to satisfy this requirement may be used to satisfy either the requirements for the geological sciences major or the requirements for the environmental geosciences major, but not both of those requirements.
   	The completion of Geological Sciences 491 fulfills the department's capstone course requirement.

Concentration in Geophysics

A concentration in geophysics is also available. Students must complete all of the following courses. Courses that are used to satisfy the requirements for the concentration may also be used to satisfy the requirements for the Bachelor of Science degree in Geological Sciences. The concentration will be noted on the student’s transcript.

The Minor in Environmental Science, administered by the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, provides foundational training for students interested in environmental sciences. After a broad introductory course, it offers a menu of courses that focus on the biology/ecology, chemistry, and systems components of environmental science.

The Minor is available as an elective to students outside of the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences enrolled in bachelor’s degree programs at Michigan State University. With
the approval of the department and college that administer the student’s degree program, the courses that are used to satisfy the Minor may also be used to satisfy the requirements for the
bachelor’s degree. However, at least 6 credits counted towards the requirements for this Minor must be unique. Unique credits must not be used to fulfill another university, college, or major
requirement in the student’s program.

Students who plan to complete the requirements for the Minor should consult the undergraduate advisor in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences.

Requirements for the Minor in Environmental Science

Students must complete a minimum of 15 credits, with at least 10 credits in GLG:

The Minor in Geophysics, administered by the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, provides interdisciplinary training for students interested in applying physical properties of the Earth and Earth materials to planetary and environmental problems.

The minor is available as an elective to students enrolled in bachelor’s degree programs at Michigan State University. With the approval of the department and college that administer the student’s degree program, the courses that are used to satisfy the minor may also be used to satisfy the requirements for the bachelor’s degree. However, at least 6 credits counted towards the requirements for this minor must be unique. Unique credits must not be used to fulfill another university, college, or major requirement in the student’s program.

Students who plan to complete the requirements for the minor should consult the undergraduate advisor in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences.

Requirements for the Minor in Geophysics

Students must complete a minimum of 27 credits from the following: