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Earth Science, Minor

Requirements

The Minor in Earth Science can be combined with other university-wide bachelor's degrees. The minor provides students with broad academic knowledge of foundational scientific principles in this field of study. In addition to taking introductory lecture and lab courses in geology (4 credits) students will complete at least two lower division earth science courses (7 credits) and three upper division earth science courses (10 credits). Students can choose to specialize their minor with up to three classes in weather and climate, or a series of classes in geology and geochemistry, or a series of courses that focus on earth surface processes and hazards geology, or they can choose to take a very broad range of courses spanning topics such as environmental science, meteorology, oceanography, paleontology and Earth history, tectonics and others.

Total Program Credits: 22

Discipline Core Requirements: 22 Credits
  GEO 1010 Introduction to Geology PP 3
or GEO 1030 Natural Disasters and the Environment PP  
or GEO 1040 The Dinosaurian World PP  
or GEO 1050 Geology of National Parks PP  
  GEO 1015 Introduction to Geology Laboratory 1
Complete seven credits lower division electives from the following 7
  ENVT 1110 Introduction to Environmental Management PP (3)
  ENVT 2710 Environmental Careers (1)
  ENVT 2730 Introduction to Soils (4)
  GEO 202R Science Excursion  (1)
  GEO 204R Natural History Excursion BB  (3)
  GEO 1020 Prehistoric Life BB (3.0)
  GEO 1080 Introduction to Oceanography PP (3.0)
  GEO 1220 Historical Geology  (3)
and GEO 1225 Historical Geology Laboratory  (1)
  GEO 2070 Desert Natural History  (3)
  GEO 2500 Introduction to Field Geology  (3)
  GEOG 1000 Introduction to Physical Geography PP  (3)
  GEOG 1800 Mapping the World with Geospatial Technology PP  (3)
  GEOG 2000 Sustainability and Environment SS  (3)
  METO 1010 Introduction to Meteorology PP (3.0)
  METO 1060 Fundamentals of Weather Forecasting PP  (3.0)
Complete eleven credits of upper division electives from the following: 11
  ENVT 3790 Applied Hydrology WE (4.0)
  ENVT 3800 Energy Use on Earth  (3)
  GEO 3000 Environmental Geochemistry  (3)
  GEO 3070 Advanced Desert Natural History  (3)
  GEO 3080 Earth Materials WE (3)
and GEO 3085 Earth Materials Laboratory (1)
  GEO 3100 Isotope Geochemistry  (3)
and GEO 3105 Isotope Geochemistry Laboratory  (1)
  GEO 3200 Geologic Hazards  (4.0)
and GEO 3205 Geologic Hazards Laboratory (1)
  GEO 3700 Structure and Tectonics  (4.0)
  GEO 4500 Sedimentary Geology WE (4.0)
  GEO 4510 Paleontology  (4.0)
  GEO 4080 Petrology  (4)
  GEO 4085 Petrology Laboratory (1)
  GEO 4790 Hydrogeology (4)
  GEO 480R Earth Science Seminar (0.5) (may be repeated once)
  GEO 490R Special Topics in Geology (1-4) (Special Topics, Research and Internships) (Up to four credits can count toward the minor)
or ENVT 495R Special Projects in Environmental Management
or ENVT 482R Geologic Environmental Internship
or GEOG 482R GIS Internship
or GEOG 489R Student Research in Geography
or GEOG 490R Special Topics in Geography
or GEO 482R Geologic Environmental Internship
or GEO 489R Student Research
or GEO 495R Independent Study
  GEO 495R Independent Study (1-4)
  GEOG 3000 Climate Change: Science and Society  (3)
  GEOG 3500 Geomorphology WE (4.0)
or GEO 3500 Geomorphology WE (4.0)
  GEOG 3600 Introduction to Geographic Information Systems  (4.0)
  GEOG 3700 Wetland Studies (3)
  GEOG 3705 Wetland Studies Laboratory (1)

 

Graduation Requirements

  1. Grade of C- or higher in all courses used to satisfy requirements of the minor. 

Graduation Plan

This graduation plan is a sample plan and is intended to be a guide. Your specific plan may differ based on your Math and English placement and/or transfer credits applied. You are encouraged to meet with an advisor and set up an individualized graduation plan in Wolverine Track

Semester 1 Course Title Credit Hours
Complete one of the introductory Geology classes (1010, 1030, 1040, or 1050) and the introductory lab (1015)  
GEO 1010 or 1030 or 1040 or 1050 Introduction to Geology PP or Natural Disasters and the Evnironment PP or The Dinosaurian World PP or Geology of National Parks PP 3
GEO 1015 Introduction to Geology Laboratory 1
  Semester total: 4
Semester 2 Course Title Credit Hours
Complete 4 credits of lower division electives, such as: 4
ENVT 1110 or 2710 or GEO 202R or 1020 or 1080 or 1220 & 1225 or GEOG 1000 or METO 1010 Introduction to Environmental Management PP or Environmental Careers or Science Excursion or Prehistoric Life BB or Introduction to Oceanography PP or Historical Geology and Historical Geology Laboratory or Introduction to Physical Geography PP or Introduction to Mereorology PP  
  Semester total: 4
Semester 3 Course Title Credit Hours
Complete 3 credits of lower division electives such as: 3
ENVT 2730 or GEO 2070 or 2500 or GEOG 2000 or METO 1060 Introduction to Soils or Desert Natural History or Introduction to Field Geology or Sustainability and Environment SS or Fundamentals of Weather Forecasting PP  
Upper Division Elective 3
  Semester total: 6
Semester 4 Course Title Credit Hours
Upper Division Elective 8
  Semester total: 8
  Degree total: 22

Department

Earth Science

The Earth Science department is in the College of Science. To find the most up-to-date information, including Program Learning Outcomes for degree programs offered by the Earth Science department, visit their website.

Earth Science

Program Details

Program Learning Outcomes
  1. Knowledge of at least two of the core fields of earth science, including petrology, mineralogy, sedimentology, paleontology, structural geology, engineering geology, hydrology, climatology, and meteorology.
  2. Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
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