BS - Geology, UVU Catalog

The Bachelor of Science in Geology is a well-rounded physical science degree that is similar to a traditional geology degree. The UVU Earth Science degree, however, emphasizes aspects of the earth sciences that are applicable to today´s job market. The curriculum is designed to prepare graduates for careers in water resources, engineering geology, cleanup of polluted soil and groundwater, and oil and mineral exploration. 

Learning Outcomes for Bachelors Degree in Geology

• Knowledge of the major fields of geology, including petrology, mineralogy, sedimentology, paleontology, structural geology, engineering geology, and hydrogeology.
• Knowledge of interactions between geology and society, including energy resources, sources of metals and industrial minerals, water resources, and geologic hazards.
• Ability to conduct geologic field work, including mapping rocks and soils using traditional and GPS-based methods, collecting samples of minerals, rocks, soil, and fossils for laboratory analysis, and conducting subsurface investigations using trenching and drilling.
• Ability to use laboratory methods to identify and analyze samples of minerals, rocks, soil, and fossils.
• Knowledge of career paths related to geology.
• Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.

BS - Environmental Science and Management, UVU Catalog

The Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science and Management includes courses in environmental law and policy, toxicology, and natural resources. This curriculum is designed to prepare students for careers helping private industries comply with environmental regulations, or careers working for the government agencies that enforce those regulations.

Learning Outcomes for Bachelors Degree in Environmental Science and Management

• Knowledge of the major environmental problems occurring in our society.
• Knowledge of the major laws and regulations which are important to environmental managers and their organizations.
• Knowledge of the role that environmental management plays in relation to government agencies, private industry, and public perception, in protecting the environment.
• Knowledge of, and ability to use, the technologies used to prevent pollution and disease.
• Knowledge of career paths related to environmental management.
• Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.

Will Environmental Science and Managemant meet the educational requirements for the professional credential in the state or US territory you might choose to live during or after completing your UVU degree? Visit the UVU Professional Licensure website to learn more!

The Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies is an interdisciplinary program that focuses on the complex relationships between humans and the natural world. The program equips students with the skills and perspectives necessary to solving some of the pressing environmental issues by combining a solid foundation of earth system science with social science and humanities courses. The program is flexible so that students can tailor the program to fit their interests and career goals. The program prepares students with a broad introduction to environmental issues so that they can further focus on specific areas and topics of their interest, such as sustainability, planning, policy, communication, business, ecology, geology, environmental science, geography, and more.

Learning Outcomes for Bachelors Degree in Environmental Studies

1. Analyze the scientific underpinnings, social context, political ramifications, and their unevenly distributed impacts of key environmental challenges to design sustainable solutions.
2. Evaluate the links between social and natural systems to identify appropriate areas of intervention.
3. Critically assess environmental and sustainability programs, organizations, and reporting mechanisms to create new and/or revised programs, organizations, and reports.
4. Influence policy outcomes using existing laws, regulations, stakeholders, and interesting groups relating to environmental issues.
5. Create compelling written, verbal, and graphic presentations of environment and sustainability issues.

BS - Earth Science Education, UVU Catalog

The Bachelor of Science degree in Earth Science Education prepares students to teach earth sciences at the secondary level (grades 7-12). The emphasis on hands-on and field-based learning at UVU gives our Earth Science Education students great personal experience to take to their own classrooms.

Learning Outcomes for Bachelors Degree in Earth Science Education

• Knowledge of the core fields of earth science, including petrology, mineralogy, sedimentology, structural geology, climatology, and meteorology.
• Knowledge of interactions between earth science and society, including energy resources, sources of metals and industrial minerals, weather, and climate.
• Knowledge of effective science teaching methods, ability to create lesson plans that utilize those methods, and ability to lead those lessons.
• Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.

Will Earth Science Education meet the educational requirements for the professional credential in the state or US territory you might choose to live during or after completing your UVU degree? Visit the  UVU Professional Licensure  website to learn more!

BS - Geography - UVU Catalog

The Bachelor of Science degree in Geography prepares students for a variety of interdisciplinary career fields. Geography is the study of the earth’s places, peoples, environments and their interrelationships from both the physical and social science perspectives. Geographers use many different scientific tools to study the relationships between earth’s systems including geospatial technology and are employed in public agencies, local governments, federal offices, technology sectors, business planning, and careers related to spatial planning. Our program provides students with a program of study in the fundamentals of geography and prepares them to succeed as geographers as well as in many other careers related to geography. Students learn theories and methods of analysis related to land use and land cover change, urbanization, sustainability, human-environment interactions, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology. Through elective courses, students can choose to further focus their studies on physical sciences, social sciences, and/or geospatial techniques to meet their career goals. 

Associate Degree in Physical Science

The Associates Degree in Physical Science provides a knowledge base for students considering going further in the sciences with a Bachelors degree in Geology, Chemistry, Physics, or Environmental Science and Management. It can also be achieved as a stepping stone on the way to completing a Bachelors Degree or in conjunction with a certificate program.

Certificate in Water and Wastewater Operations

Will Water and Wastewater Operations meet the educational requirements for the professional credential in the state or US territory you might choose to live during or after completing your UVU degree? Visit the UVU Professional Licensure website to learn more!

Certificate in GIS

The Certificate of Proficiency in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) provides students with a focused program of study in the fundamentals required to succeed in a wide range of careers in geospatial science. GIS includes the hardware, software, and data required to capture, store, display, and analyze geographically referenced information. Students in the certificate program learn the theory and methodology of geospatial data collection, storage and management, interpretation, and visualization through courses in cartography, remote sensing, GIS theory and applications, and geospatial field methods. In directed class projects students apply geospatial data techniques to real-world problems while gaining firsthand experience in project design and management.

Minor - Earth Science

The Minor in Earth Science can be combined with other college-wide Bachelor degrees. The minor provides students with a broad academic knowledge of foundational and scientific principles in this field of study.  Following are the key knowledge, skill, and ability goals of this degree program:

• 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.
• Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.

Minor in Geography

The Minor in Geography can be combined with other University-wide Bachelors degrees. The minor provides students with a broad introduction to physical, regional, and human geography. The minor may be used to develop interdisciplinary skills and applied skills such as geospatial analysis. The minor also overlaps with coursework required of students seeking a Utah State Teaching Endorsement in Geography. Here is the link: https://www.uvu.edu/catalog/current/departments/earth-science/geography-minor/