Earth and Environmental Science—Geoscience-Environmental Science, B.A.

This track offers a broad, interdisciplinary perspective on Earth Environments with strong emphasis on literary-social-historical perspectives. Completion of this major prepares one for a non-technical career in non-profit and/ or government service. Continued study may include a master’s degree in policy, business or a doctoral degree in law.

The requirements for admission to this degree track are a minimum cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 2.5 and a minimum GPA of 2.0 in the General Education Program.

Required Courses:
EESC 135Our Planet Earth: Introduction to Dynamic Earth Processes3
EESC 201Environmental Science for All: Introduction to Environmental Systems and Processes3
EESC 237Environmental Issues and Policy: Global and Urban Perspectives3
EESC 231Water Chronicles 13
or EESC 120 Water Explorer: Introduction to Water Science
EESC 235Global Climate Change3
EESC 252GIS I: Contemporary Applications of GIS3
EESC 340Hydrology I3
EESC 348Environmental Geology3
BIOL 130Principles Biology I4
CHEM 100Preparation for General Chemistry3
MATH 175Enhanced Precalculus4
or MATH 140 Statistics I
PHYS 101Basic Concepts of Physics 13
Environmental Science BA Electives:
Select a minimum of 12 credits from any 200 or higher level EESC from the following list. For students getting the GIS-certificate, only one GIS course will count towards the major elective. The following courses are especially recommended:
EESC 227Hands on Earth: Earth Lab3
EESC 236Our Sustainable World: Urban and Global Sustainability3
EESC 336Field Methods in Geoscience 24
EESC 349Introduction Hazmat Field Techniques4
EESC 350GIS II: Contemp Analysis w/GIS3
EESC 410Urban Soil Survey4
EESC 437Environmental Health3
EESC 446Introduction to Geochemistry3
EESC 447Introduction to Geophysics4
EESC 455GIS III: Modeling with GIS3
Recommended General Education Electives
EESC 121Mapping the City3
EESC 226Earth 360:Integrated Geography3
EESC 250Plunder: The Race for Natural Resources3
EESC 325GIS for the Urban Community3
ENGL 130Reading the Environment3
PHIL 113Environmental Ethics3
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Courses are part of the General Education program and may be used to simultaneously satisfy a General Education Program requirement.

Plan of Study Grid
Freshman
Semester 1Credits
ENGL 101
English Composition I
or English Composition I for English as a Second Language Students
4-6
EESC 121 Mapping the City (General Education Tier I Course) 3
EESC 201 Environmental Science for All: Introduction to Environmental Systems and Processes 3
CHEM 100 Preparation for General Chemistry 3
ENGL 130 Reading the Environment 3
 Credits16-18
Semester 2
EESC 135 Our Planet Earth: Introduction to Dynamic Earth Processes 3
ENGL 102
English Composition II
or English Composition 2 ESL
4-6
BIOL 130 Principles Biology I 4
MATH 175
Enhanced Precalculus
or Statistics I
4
 Credits15-17
Sophomore
Semester 1
EESC 226 Earth 360:Integrated Geography 3
EESC 252 GIS I: Contemporary Applications of GIS 3
PHIL 113 Environmental Ethics 3
PHYS 101 Basic Concepts of Physics 3
General Education Tier I Course 3
 Credits15
Semester 2
EESC 231
Water Chronicles
or Water Explorer: Introduction to Water Science
3
EESC 235 Global Climate Change 3
EESC 250 Plunder: The Race for Natural Resources 3
Environ Science Elective 3
General Education Tier II Course 3
 Credits15
Junior
Semester 1
EESC 237 Environmental Issues and Policy: Global and Urban Perspectives 3
Environ Science Elective 3
General Education Tier II Course 3
General Education Tier II Course 3
Minor or Elective Course 3
 Credits15
Semester 2
EESC 348 Environmental Geology 3
Environ Science Elective 3
Environ Science Elective 3
General Education Tier II Course 3
Minor or Elective Course 3
 Credits15
Senior
Semester 1
Gen Ed Tier III (EESC Elective Course 3XX or 4XX) 3
Minor or Elective Course 3
Minor or Elective Course 3
Minor or Elective Course 3
Minor or Elective Course 3
 Credits15
Semester 2
EESC 340 Hydrology I 3
Minor or Elective Course 3
Minor or Elective Course 3
Minor or Elective Course 3
Minor or Elective Course 2-3
 Credits14-15
 Total Credits120-125
1

 The department offers some upper level courses on an even/odd year schedule; therefore there may be variation in this degree map.  Please see departmental course sequence.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the Earth/Environmental Science-Environmental Science BA program, students will be able to:

  1. Demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of geoscience.
  2. Create and design effective professional oral, poster and written presentations.
  3. Use their quantitative reasoning and/or problem solving skills to interpret and evaluate geological and environmental processes.
  4. Arrange geological and/or environmental data in the field in order to formulate hypotheses and design further investigations.
  5. Produce and assess data using modern technology and instrumental analysis and be able to evaluate the results.