The Environmental Geosciences Track provides the essential skills for entry-level positions that require a basic understanding of geologic principles and a working knowledge of basic geologic concepts applied in the environmental industry. This track aims to produce scientists capable of tackling environmental problems in which earth materials and surficial geologic processes are most important. It also lays a strong foundation for graduate study in environmental geology, engineering geology, and natural hazards assessment. Students must complete at least 38 s.h. of Environmental Geosciences Track course work for the Bachelor of Science in Environmental Sciences degree.

Bachelor of Science students in the Geosciences track must complete the following coursework:

Coursework Requirements
Title Hours
Geosciences Track: General Sciences 8
Geosciences Track: Foundation 18
Geosciences Track: Field Study 3
Geosciences Track: Electives 6
Geosciences Track: Policy 3
Total Hours 38

For help planning your courses, please contact the Environmental Science Program's undergraduate academic advisor.
 

General Sciences (8 s.h.)

These two courses:

MATH:1860 Calculus II (Fall and Spring) 4 s.h.
PHYS:1400 Basic Physics (Fall and Spring) 4 s.h.

 

Environmental Geosciences Foundation (18 s.h.)

All three of these courses:

EES:2410 Mineralogy (Fall only) 4 s.h.
EES:3300 Sedimentary Geology (Fall only) 4 s.h.
EES:4630 Hydrogeology (Fall only) 4 s.h.

and at least 6 s.h. from the following list:

EES:2200 Historical Geology (Spring only) 3 s.h.
EES:3360 Soil Genesis and Geomorphology (Every other Spring) 3 s.h.
EES:3500 Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology (Spring only) 4 s.h.
EES:3840 Structural Geology (Spring only) 4 s.h.
EES:4790 Applied Environmental Geology (Fall only) 3 s.h.

 

Environmental Geosciences Field Study (3 s.h.)

At least 3 s.h. from the following list:

EES:2831 Geologic Field Methods (recommended) (Summer only) 3 s.h.
EES:4680 Field Methods in Hydrologic Science (Summer only) 3 s.h.
GEOG:4010 Field Methods in Physical Geography (Spring only) 3 s.h.
IALL:3175 Soil Formation and Landscape Relationships (Summer only) 2 s.h.
IALL:3176 Glacial Geomorphology (Summer only) 2 s.h.

 

Environmental Geosciences Electives (6 s.h.)

At least 6 s.h. from the following list. Additional field courses or foundation courses may also be used for elective credit:

CEE:4158 Solid and Hazardous Wastes (Fall only) 3 s.h.
ENVS:3110 Chemical Evolution of the Oceans (Every other Spring) 3 s.h.
EES:1290 Energy and the Environment (Fall only) 3 s.h.
EES:2020 Earth's Climate System (Fall only) 3 s.h.
EES:3070 Marine Ecosystems and Conservation (Spring only) 3 s.h.
EES:3080 Introduction to Oceanography (Every other Spring) 2 s.h.
EES:4640 Contaminant Hydrogeology (Spring only) 3 s.h.
GEOG:3500 Intro to Environmental Remote Sensing (Fall only) 3 s.h.
EES:3190 Directed Study (Fall and Spring) ARR
EES:3380 Fluvial Geomorphology (Every other Fall) 3 s.h.
EES:3390 Integrated Watershed Analysis (Every other Fall) 3 s.h.
EES:3770 Global Stratigraphy (Every other Spring) 3 s.h.
EES:4490 Elements of Geochemistry (Every other Fall) 3 s.h.
EES:4520 Isotope Geochemistry (Currently on hiatus) 3 s.h.
EES:4720 Paleoclimatology (Every other Spring) 3 s.h.
EES:4820 Tectonics and Basin Analysis (Every other Spring) 3 s.h.
ENVS:3230 Special Topics  1-4 s.h.
GEOG:2310 Introduction to Climatology (Fall only) 3 s.h.
GEOG:2950 Environmental Conservation (Spring only) 3 s.h.
GEOG:3570 LiDAR: Principles and Applications (Spring only) 3 s.h.
GEOG:4310 Climate Change (Spring only) 3 s.h.

NOTE: Students may petition their Environmental Science advisor to use other appropriate 2000-, 3000-, and 4000-level courses as electives.
 

Policy Course (3 s.h.)

At least 3 s.h. from the following list:

BIOL:1260 Plants and Human Affairs (Fall only) 3 s.h.
ECON:3625 Environmental and Nat Resource Economics (Fall only) 3 s.h.
EES:1115 The History and Science of Oil (Fall only) 3 s.h.
GEOG:1070 Contemporary Environmental Issues (Fall and Spring) 3 s.h.
GEOG:3340 Ecosystem Services: Human Dependence (Fall only) 3 s.h.
GEOG:3760 Hazards and Society (Spring only) 3 s.h.
GEOG:3780 U.S. Energy Policy in Global Context (Spring only) 3 s.h.
GEOG:4770 Environmental Justice (Fall only) 3 s.h.
PBAF:2020 Environmental and Society: Sustainability, Policy, and Politics (Fall only) 3 s.h.