Geoscience - Earth Science (B.S)
Administered by Department of Geography and Geosciences
Effective Fall, 2010
In addition to 53 semester hours of general education requirements, a total of 59 semester hours is required for a major in earth science. The balance of the university’s 120-semester hour requirement for a bachelor’s degree comes from electives.
Required courses are:
GEOSCI.120 Physical Geology
GEOSCI.121 Physical Geology Laboratory
GEOSCI.130 Historical Geology
GEOSCI.131 Historical Geology Laboratory
GEOSCI.255 Meteorology
GEOSCI.259 Oceanography
GEOSCI.260 Earth Materials
PHYSICS.110 Introduction to Astronomy
Choose four from the following 13 courses:
GEOSCI.261 Mineralogy
GEOSCI.262 Petrology
GEOSCI.265 Geomorphology
GEOSCI.320 Remote Sensing of the Earth
GEOSCI.355 Synoptic Meteorology
GEOSCI.360 Introduction to Paleontology
GEOSCI.368 Stratigraphy and Sedimentation
GEOSCI.369 Structural Geology
GEOSCI.370 Hydrology
GEOSCI.460 Aqueous Geochemistry
GEOSCI.470 Groundwater Hydrology
GEOSCI.475 Independent Study
GEOSCI.480 Geophysics
GEOSCI.493 Bibliography and Research
GEOSCI.496 Internship in Earth Science
Approved courses offered by the Marine Science Center, Wallops Island, Va. (Courses in marine science are offered during the summer by the Marine Science Consortium. The consortium is a joint program sponsored by several Pennsylvania state universities. A maximum of 9 semester hours from the Marine Science Consortium may be applied toward this bachelor's degree.)
Choose two from the following six courses:
MATH.113 Pre-Calculus
MATH.123 Essentials of Calculus
MATH.124 Essentials of Calculus II
MATH.125 Analysis I
MATH.126 Analysis II
MATH.141 Introduction to Statistics
Required Chemistry courses:
CHEM.115 Chemistry for Sciences I
CHEM.116 Chemistry for Sciences II
Choose one of the following two combinations:
PHYSICS.111 Introductory Physics I and
PHYSICS.112 Introductory Physics II or
PHYSICS.211 General Physics I and
PHYSICS.212 General Physics II
Geoscience - Environmental Science (B.S.) Option
The option in Environmental Science requires a total 66 to 68 credits in addition to General Education requirements, depending on choices of electives. Required courses include:
GEOG.105 Environmental Issues and Choices
GEOSCI.100 Environmental Geology
GEOSCI.120 Physical Geology
GEOSCI.121 Physical Geology Lab
GEOSCI.255 Meteorology
GEOSCI.259 Oceanography
Choose at least 15 credits from the following:
GEOSCI.260 Earth Materials
GEOSCI.265 Geomorphology
GEOSCI.320 Remote Sensing of the Earth
GEOSCI.360 Paleontology
GEOSCI.368 Stratification and Sedimentation
GEOSCI.369 Structural Geology
GEOSCI.370 Surface Hydrology
GEOSCI.460 Aqueous Geochemistry
GEOSCI.470 Groundwater Hydrology
GEOSCI.480 Applied Geophysics
GEOSCI.496 Internship in Earth Science
or up to nine credits from approved Marine Science courses
Choose two courses from the following:
GEOG.242 Map Skills
GEOG.301 Water Resources Management
GEOG.302 Land Resources Management
GEOG.304 Environmental Valuation
GEOG.342 Geographical Information Systems
GEOG.358 Environmental Conservation
GEOG.462 Techniques of Geographic Measurement
Required Biology courses:
BIOLOGY.114 Concepts in Biology I
BIOLOGY.115 Concepts in Biology II
Choose one course from the following
BIOLOGY.351 General Ecology
BIOLOGY.451 Conservation Biology
Choose two from the following three courses:
CHEM.115 Chemistry for Sciences I
CHEM.116 Chemical for Sciences II
CHEM.231 Organic Chemistry I
Required Physics course:
PHYSICS.111 Introductory Physics I or PHYSICS.211 General Physics I
Choose two math courses: A maximum of one of the following two courses:
MATH.112 Trigonometry
MATH.114 College Algebra
Choose a minimum of one course from (both may be chosen from this group):
MATH.113 Pre-Calculus
MATH.123 Essentials of Calculus
MATH.125 Analysis I
MATH.126 Analysis II
MATH.141 Introduction to Statistics
Students seeking Secondary Education Certification in Earth and Space Science must declare majors in both Geoscience (Earth Science) and Secondary Education (Earth and Space Science) and complete the full Geoscience (Earth Science) course sequence as well as the Secondary Education Professional Course and Certification requirements. Students must consult their advisers in both departments each semester regarding course selection and other certification requirements.