Nov 21, 2024

2024-2025 UNDERGRADUATE CATALOG

Earth Sciences, (B.A.)

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Program objectives are: (a) be able to demonstrate an understanding of the fundamental principles, concepts and knowledge of the discipline Earth Sciences (b) have knowledge of the effects of natural processes and human activity on the environment; (c) be able to address, solve and communicate geographic problems using quantitative methods and geographic techniques; (d) be able to critically examine community problems and develop coherent solutions to urban and other land management issues; (e) demonstrate effective written, oral and visual communication skills.

University General Education Program (41 hours)

See Graduation from the University for the University General Education Program requirements.

College and Degree (B.A.) Requirements (6-9 hours)

The College and Bachelor of Arts requirements are in addition to the University General Education Program requirements.

Core Requirements (13 hours):

All students must take ESCI 4202 Geomorphology (4) , ESCI 4515 Geographic Info Science (3) , ESCI 4521 Quantitative Methods (3) , and ESCI 4531 Field Methods in Earth Sciences (3) .

In addition to above, all students must fulfill the requirements for one of the four concentrations offered in the department: (a) Geoarchaeology , (b) Geography , (c) Geology , and (d) Environmental Sciences

The Major (25-30 hours)

Concentration (25-42 hours):

The department offers four concentrations: (a) Geoarchaeology, (b) Geography, (c) Geology, and (d) Environmental Science.

Geoarchaeology (26 hours):

ESCI 1103 - The Human Planet Credit Hours: (4)
ESCI 2301 - Fundamentals of Archaeology Credit Hours: (4)
ESCI 4301 - Archaeology of the Americas Credit Hours: (3)
ESCI 4325 - Archaeol Fld/Lab Techn Credit Hours: (3)
ESCI 4350 - Archaeology of Collapse Credit Hours: (3)
ESCI 4352 - Archaeology/World Prehistory Credit Hours: (3)
and 6 additional upper division hours as approved by advisor.

Geography (25 hours):

ESCI 1010 - Weather and Climate Credit Hours: (4)
or
ESCI 1050 - The Earth Through Time Credit Hours: (4)
or
ESCI 1103 - The Human Planet Credit Hours: (4)
ESCI 1401 - Intro/Cultural Geography Credit Hours: (3)
or
ESCI 4430 - Social and Economic Geography with GIS Credit Hours: (3)
ESCI 1301 - Survey of World Regions Credit Hours: (3)
or
ESCI 4307 - Thematic Studies/China Credit Hours: (3)
and 15 additional upper division hours as approved by advisor.

Geology (29-30 hours):

ESCI 1040 - Physical Geology Credit Hours: (4)
ESCI 1050 - The Earth Through Time Credit Hours: (4)
ESCI 3311 - Mineralogy/Petrology Credit Hours: (4)
ESCI 3712 - Sedimentology/Stratighy Credit Hours: (4)
ESCI 4512 - Structural Geology Credit Hours: (4)
ESCI 4622 - Geology Field Camp Credit Hours: (6)
and 3-4 additional upper division hours approved by advisor.

Electives (18-23 hours)

Electives may be chosen to bring the total number of hours to 120.

Typical 4-Year Geoarchaeology Concentration Sequence

Freshman Year

Humanities/Fine Arts (3) *
MATH (3-4) *
ENGL 1010 - English Composition** Credit Hours: (3)
Elective (3)
Foreign Language/B.A. (3)
Elective (3)
Elective (3)
ENGL 1020 - English Comp/Analysis** Credit Hours: (3)
Social/Behavioral Science (3) *
Foreign Language/B.A. (3)

Semester Totals 30-31 hrs

Sophomore Year

ESCI 1020 - Landforms ** Credit Hours: (4)
ENGL 2201 - Literary Heritage ** Credit Hours: (3)
or
ENGL 2202 - Lit Heritage: African-American ** Credit Hours: (3)
Social/Behavioral Sciences (3) *
Fine Arts (3) *
Elective (3)
ESCI 1103 - The Human Planet Credit Hours: (4)
COMM 2381 - Oral Communication Credit Hours: (3)
UD elective (2)
History (3) *
Elective (3)

Semester Totals 31 hrs

Junior Year

ESCI 2301 - Fundamentals of Archaeology Credit Hours: (4)
ESCI 4515 - Geographic Info Science Credit Hours: (3)
UD elective (3)
UD elective (3)
Elective (3)
History (3) *
ESCI 4325 - Archaeol Fld/Lab Techn Credit Hours: (3)
UD ESCI (3)
UD Elective (3)
Elective (3)

Semester Totals 31 hrs

Senior Year

Elective (3)
ESCI 4301 - Archaeology of the Americas Credit Hours: (3)
ESCI 4202 - Geomorphology Credit Hours: (4)
UD ESCI (3)
UD Elective (3)
ESCI 4352 - Archaeology/World Prehistory Credit Hours: (3)
ESCI 4350 - Archaeology of Collapse Credit Hours: (3)
ESCI 4521 - Quantitative Methods Credit Hours: (3)
Elective (3)

Semester Totals 28 hrs

Total Hours: 120-121

Total Hours Required for Graduation: 120

*Must satisfy University General Education Program Requirement

Typical 4-Year Geography Concentration Sequence

Freshman Year

ENGL 1010 - English Composition** Credit Hours: (3)
MATH (3-4) *
Humanities/Fine Arts (3) *
Foreign Language/B.A. (3)
Elective (3)
ENGL 1020 - English Comp/Analysis** Credit Hours: (3)
Elective (3)
Social/Behavioral Science (3) *
Foreign Language/B.A. (3)
Elective (3)

Semester Totals 30-31 hrs

Sophomore Year

Elective (3)
ENGL 2201 - Literary Heritage ** Credit Hours: (3)
or
ENGL 2202 - Lit Heritage: African-American ** Credit Hours: (3)
ESCI 1301 - Survey of World Regions Credit Hours: (3)
Fine Arts (3) *
ESCI 1010 - Weather and Climate Credit Hours: (4)
or
ESCI 1050 - The Earth Through Time Credit Hours: (4)
or
ESCI 1103 - The Human Planet Credit Hours: (4)
UD elective (3)
Elective (3)
ESCI 1020 - Landforms ** Credit Hours: (4)
History (3) *
COMM 2381 - Oral Communication Credit Hours: (3)

Semester Totals 32 hrs

Junior Year

ESCI 1401 - Intro/Cultural Geography Credit Hours: (3)
or
ESCI 4430 - Social and Economic Geography with GIS Credit Hours: (3)
ESCI 4515 - Geographic Info Science Credit Hours: (3)
UD ESCI (3)
UD elective (3)
Elective (3)
History (3) *
UD ESCI (3)
UD Elective (3)
Elective (3)
UD Elective (3)

Semester Totals 30 hrs

Senior Year

ESCI 4521 - Quantitative Methods Credit Hours: (3)
UD ESCI (3)
UD elective (3)
UD elective (3)
Elective (3)
UD ESCI (3)
UD ESCI (3)
UD elective (3)
Elective (4)

Semester Totals 28 hrs

Total Hours: 120-121

Total Hours Required for Graduation: 120

*Must satisfy University General Education Program Requirement

Typical 4-Year Geology Concentration Sequence

Freshman Year

First Semester
ENGL 1010 - English Composition** Credit Hours: (3)
ESCI 1040 - Physical Geology Credit Hours: (4)
COMM 2381 - Oral Communication Credit Hours: (3)
Elective (3)
Foreign Language/B.A. (3)
Semester Total: (16 hrs)
Second Semester
ENGL 1020 - English Comp/Analysis** Credit Hours: (3)
ESCI 1050 - The Earth Through Time Credit Hours: (4)
Foreign Language/B.A. (3)
Math (4)*
Semester Total: (14 hrs)

Semester Totals 30 hrs

Sophomore Year

First Semester
ESCI 3311 - Mineralogy/Petrology Credit Hours: (4)
ENGL 2201 - Literary Heritage ** Credit Hours: (3)
or
ENGL 2202 - Lit Heritage: African-American ** Credit Hours: (3)
Humanities/Fine Arts (3) *
Elective (3)
Elective (3)
Semester Total: (16 hrs)
Second Semester
ESCI 4515 - Geographic Info Science Credit Hours: (3)
ESCI 4***
or
ESCI 4531 - Field Methods in Earth Sciences Credit Hours: (3)
or
ESCI 4541 - Geography/Field Studies Credit Hours: (1-6)
Fine Arts (3) *
Elective (3)
Elective (3)
Semester Total: (15 hrs)

Semester Totals 31 hrs

Junior Year

History (3) *
PHYS 2010 - General Physics I Credit Hours: (3)
PHYS 2011 - General Physics Lab I Credit Hours: (1)
ESCI 3712 - Sedimentology/Stratighy Credit Hours: (4)
UD Elective (3)
History (3) *
PHYS 2020 - General Physics II Credit Hours: (3)
PHYS 2021 - General Physics Lab II Credit Hours: (1)
ESCI 4512 - Structural Geology Credit Hours: (4)
Social/Behavioral Sciences (3) *

Semester Totals 28 hrs

Summer of Third or Fourth Year

ESCI 4622 - Geology Field Camp Credit Hours: (6) Summer Field Camp

Senior Year

UD ESCI (4)
ESCI 4515 - Geographic Info Science Credit Hours: (3)
UD elective (3)
Social/Behavioral Sciences (3) *
Elective (3)
Elective (3)
UD elective (4)
UD elective (4)
UD elective (3)

Semester Totals 30 hrs

Total Hours: 120-121

Total Hours Required for Graduation: 120

*Must satisfy University General Education Program Requirement