Earth Sciences, BS

Donald Siegel, Chair
204 Heroy Geology Laboratory,
315-443-2672.

Faculty

Suzanne L. Baldwin, Marion E. Bickford, Paul G. Fitzgerald, Gregory D. Hoke, Linda C. Ivany, Christopher Junium, Jeffrey A. Karson, Laura K. Lautz, Zunli Lu, Robert Moucha, Cathryn R. Newton, Scott D. Samson, Christopher A. Scholz, Donald I. Siegel, Bruce H. Wilkinson

The Earth Sciences provide insights into some of humanity’s deepest questions. How was the planet Earth, our lifeboat in space, formed? What are the processes that have shaped the Earth - its surface and internal structure? How has life, of which humanity is a part, evolved? Why are there earthquakes, volcanoes, mountain chains, continents, and oceans? How has the surface of the Earth changed through time? On a practical level, the study of Earth Sciences provides a basis for understanding natural hazards, assessing Earth’s climate variability and global change, predicting the migration of man-made pollutants, and exploring for the energy and mineral resources upon which society depends. The study of Earth Sciences also, uniquely, provides a perspective of time and an appreciation of the natural world that can enrich a lifetime.

The Department of Earth Sciences offers bachelor of science and bachelor of arts degrees. The bachelor of science degree is recommended for students intending to pursue a career in the Earth Sciences-either professionally or in academia. Most bachelor of science students continue on to graduate school to obtain a master’s degree, the standard entry-level professional degree in the Earth sciences, or a Ph.D. if they intend to pursue a career in academia. Two bachelor of science degree tracks are offered within the department, the B.S. in Earth Sciences, and the B.S. in Earth Sciences with focus in environmental science. The B.S. in Earth Sciences provides a strong background in basic science and geology, and through appropriate choice of electives can be tailored to meet a wide range of possible interests within the Earth Sciences. The B.S. in Earth Sciences with focus in environmental science is offered jointly with the biology department, and is recommended for those students specifically intending to pursue a career in the environmental arena.

The bachelor of arts degree in Earth Sciences is recommended for those students who enjoy and are intellectually intrigued by the Earth Sciences, but intend to pursue careers in other fields. The B.A. degree differs from the B.S. degree in that it requires fewer ancillary science courses and fewer electives from within the department. Along with intellectual enrichment, the B.A. degree provides a rounded science foundation and critical thinking skills that can be applied to numerous other fields. Graduates with B.A.s in Earth Sciences go on to be lawyers, teachers, business people, environmental planners, public policy makers, and politicians, as well as geologists.

Requirements for B.S. Degree in Earth Sciences

Introductory Courses (one of the following sequences)

Note:

EAR 104 is the laboratory for EAR 105 and may be taken concurrently with EAR 210 .

Core Courses in Earth Sciences (12 credits plus an approved field course)

Summer Field Experience

EAR 470 - Experience Credit (6 cr., by transfer)

The Geology Field Experience

This requirement consists of 6 or more credit hours of transfer credit brought in as EAR 470 . The requirement is satisfied by participation in an approved 6-week summer geological field camp, or through an alternative approved field program. The field experience is typically scheduled in the summer between junior and senior years, but completion of the requirement during the summer following graduation is also possible. For enrollment in a traditional Geological Field Camp, courses in Structural Geology and Sedimentary Geology may be required.

Required Ancillary Sciences and Mathematics

Any combination of Calculus I and Calculus II

Other Elective Courses

(24 credits of department or approved auxiliary science or math courses, at least 15 of which must be upper-division Earth Science credits).

Requirements for B.S. Degree in Earth Sciences with Focus in Environmental Science

Introductory Earth Science; Two of the Following Classes

One must be a lab class 7 credits

Note:

*Credit will not be given for both EAR 110 and EAR 105 , or both EAR 110 and EAR 203 , or both EAR 105 and EAR 203 .

Additional Course

AND you can pick one of the above courses with one of the courses below.

Introductory Biology 7 credits

Core Courses 8 credits

Upper Division Requirements

Select 21 credit hours from the following. At least 12 hours must be in Earth Science courses. Appropriate substitutions may be made by petition to the Earth Sciences advisor.

Required Senior Capstone Course 3 credits

EAR 428 - Capstone Seminar in Environmental Science

Additional Requirements in Cognate Sciences and Math 20 to 22 credit hours

Combination of Mathematics Courses

* EITHER Any combination of

* 1 year General Chemistry:

A year of General Physics

(PHY 211 /PHY 221 and PHY 212 /PHY 222 ) is also recommended for students interested in pursuing careers in hydrology.

Summer Field Experience

EAR 470 - Experience Credit (6 cr., by transfer)

The Geology Field Experience

Additional Available Courses

Several courses in the College of Environmental Science and Forestry also will be available for students in this program, as substitutes for Earth Science Upper Division Electives, pending permission of the Undergraduate Advisor. These courses include:

EFB 415 - Ecological Biogeochemistry
FCH 515 - Methods of Environmental Chemical Analysis
EFB 452 - Principles of Chemical Control
FCH 352 - Introduction to Remote Sensing
EFB 505 - Microbial Ecology
EFB 510 - Health and Our Chemical Environment
EFB 524 - Limnology
EFB 525 - Limnology laboratory

Requirements For Distinction In Earth Sciences

Minimum GPA Within Department 3.6

Cumulative GPA, by End of Senior Year 3.4

Other Criteria Required for the Degree with Distinction:

Students must complete a research-based senior thesis in conjunction with a faculty supervisor. The thesis must constitute independent, hypothesis-driven research involving investigative tools and techniques in the Earth Sciences. Students must submit the written thesis to the department and give a public seminar reporting their results. Students should register for EAR 409 - Senior Thesis in Earth Science in the semester in which they plan to submit the thesis. All else being satisfied, Distinction is conferred following a vote of approval from the Faculty of the Department of Earth Sciences.