Academic Programs Catalog

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.