The Environmental Geoscience Specialization is designed for students planning careers in environmental consulting and environmental geology. This Specialization provides a rigorous background of earth science courses appropriate for careers with government agencies (e.g. environmental protection), consulting, environmental issues, environmental education, resource management, business (environmental consulting), environmental hazards, environmental law, or environmental medicine.
Students who complete related courses in chemistry and calculus-based physics as part of this specialization will also be prepared for graduate-level studies in environmental geology or related fields.
Outcomes
Scientific literacy: Students will be able to identify, analyze, and apply earth science concepts, principles, laws, and theories.
Ability to do science: Students will be able to interpret, analyze, and apply the Scientific Method and other related inquiry related skills, as well as quantitative methods, in the earth science lab.
Communications: Students will be able to use oral and written communication to accurately and effectively convey earth science concepts.
Technology literacy: Students will be able to select and accurately use appropriate tools, equipment, and technologies in the earth science lab.
Research: Students will be able to locate, interpret, analyze, and/or conduct and present earth science research.
Major Requirements
44 credits in Environmental Geoscience courses and 22-24 credits of related requirements.
Earth & Space Sciences Core Curriculum (19 credits)
Environmental Geoscience Specialization (25 credits)
Geoscience Courses (8 cr)
Complete two of the three following courses:
Environmental Geoscience (3-4 cr)
Complete one of the following:
Spatial Analysis (3 cr)
Complete one of the following:
| ESCI 350 | Computer Methods in the Earth and Space Sciences | 3 |
| GEOG 378 | Geographic Information Systems | 3 |
| ESCI 478 | Image Analysis in the Earth and Space Sciences | 3 |
Additional Electives (7 credits)
Complete additional courses from the list below to reach 25 credits in the specialization.
Additional courses may be approved as electives after consultation with your faculty advisor and the department chair.
Capstone (3 credits)
| ESCI 360 | Research Methods in the Earth and Space Sciences | 1 |
| ESCI 460 | Senior Project | 1-3 |
Additional credits of ESCI 460 beyond the 2 required for the capstone may be counted as Additional Electives.
Related Requirements (22-24 credits)
2 semesters each of Chemistry, Physics, and Mathematics (a semester of General Biology may be counted towards the CHEM requirement).
Students who plan to apply to graduate school programs are strongly encouraged to complete CHEM 201 and 260, MATH 152 and 221, and PHYS 125 and 126.
This program does not require a minor.