Geoscience - Earth Science (B.S)
Administered by Department of Geography and Geosciences
Effective Fall, 2009
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.
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 come from electives.
Required courses are:
51.120 Physical Geology
51.130 Historical Geology
54.110 Introduction to Astronomy
51.121 Physical Geology Laboratory
51.131 Historical Geology Laboratory
51.255 Meteorology
51.259 Oceanography
51.260 Earth Materials
- Choose four from the following 13 courses:
- 51.261 Mineralogy
- 51.262 Petrology
- 51.265 Geomorphology
- 51.320 Remote Sensing of the Earth
- 51.355 Synoptic Meteorology
- 51.360 Introduction to Paleontology
- 51.368 Stratigraphy and Sedimentation
- 51.369 Structural Geology
- 51.370 Hydrology
- 51.460 Aqueous Geochemistry
- 51.470 Groundwater Hydrology
- 51.475 Independent Study
- 51.480 Geophysics
- 51.493 Bibliography and Research
- 51.496 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:
- 53.113 Pre-Calculus
- 53.123 Essentials of Calculus
- 53.124 Essentials of Calculus II
- 53.125 Analysis I
- 53.126 Analysis II
- 53.141 Introduction to Statistics
Required Chemistry courses:
Choose one of the following two combinations:
- 54.111 Introductory Physics I and
- 54.112 Introductory Physics II or
- 54.211 General Physics I and
- 54.212 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:
51.100 Environmental Geology
51.120 Physical Geology
51.121 Physical Geology Lab
51.255 Meteorology
51.259 Oceanography
41.105 Environmental Issues and Choices
Choose at least 15 credits from the following:
- 51.260 Earth Materials
- 51.265 Geomorphology
- 51.320 Remote Sensing of the Earth
- 51.360 Paleontology
- 51.368 Stratification and Sedimentation
- 51.369 Structural Geology
- 51.370 Surface Hydrology
- 51.460 Aqueous Geochemistry
- 51.470 Groundwater Hydrology
- 51.480 Applied Geophysics
- 51.496 Internship in Earth Science
- or up to nine credits from approved Marine Science courses
Choose two courses from the following:
- 41.242 Map Skills
- 41.258 Environmental Conservation
- 41.301 Water Resources Management
- 41.302 Land Resources Management
- 41.304 Environmental Valuation
- 41.342 Geographical Information Systems
- 41.462 Techniques of Geographic Measurement
Required Biology courses:
Choose one course from the following
Choose two from the following three courses:
- 52.115 Chemistry for Sciences I
- 52.116 Chemical for Sciences II
- 52.231 Organic Chemistry I
- Required Physics course:
- 54.111 Introductory Physics I or 54.211 General Physics I
Choose two math courses: A maximum of one of the following two courses:
Choose a minimum of one course from (both may be chosen from this group):