Geosciences B.S.
Bachelor of Science - Geosciences
College Humanities & Sciences
Catalog Year: 2014-2015
Degree Specific Credits: 32
Required Cumulative GPA: 2.0
Note: This option is designed for students who seek post-graduate employment as a professional geoscientist or preparation for graduate study in geosciences.
Lower Division Core
Rule: Must complete all of the following courses
Note: .
| Show All Course Descriptions | Course | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Show Description |
GEO 101N - Intro to Physical Geology
Offered autumn and spring. General geology including the work of wind, flowing water, glacial ice, gravity, earthquakes, volcanoes and plate tectonics in shaping the earth.
|
3 Credits |
| Show Description |
GEO 102N - Intro to Physical Geology Lab
Offered autumn and spring. Prereq. or coreq., GEO 101N (preferred) or 105N or 108N. A series of laboratory and field experiences designed around basic geologic processes and materials. Familiarization with common minerals, rocks, land forms, and structures. Intended to provide laboratory experience primarily with GEO 101N, but can be taken with or following any of the other freshman GEO courses listed above.
|
1 Credits |
| Show Description |
GEO 200 - Historical Geology
Offered autumn. Traces the history of the earth since its inception 4.5 billion years ago. Presents scientific theories for the origin of the earth and the nature of important earth shaping events of the past, including the development of the oceans, atmosphere and climate.
|
2 Credits |
| Show Description |
GEO 225 - Earth Materials
Offered spring. Prereq., any geoscience 100 level lecture course, GEO 102N, CHMY 121N or 141N. Study of minerals and rocks utilizing an Earth Systems approach; mineral identification and paragenesis; survey of the distribution of minerals from the interior to the surfaces of planets and the processes that led to their formation.
|
4 Credits |
| Show Description |
GEO 228 - Earth Surface Processes
Spring semester. Prereq. GEO 101N-102N, M 121 and 122 or M 151. Introduction to the physical processes that affect the surface of the Earth, including global-scale energy distribution and balance, the hydrologic cycle, climate, weathering, transport mechanisms, and geomorphic processes.
|
2 Credits |
| Show Description |
GEO 231 - Geosciences Field Methods
Offered autumn and spring. Prereq. GEO 101N-102N. This course introduces students to a variety of field methodologies routinely used in the collection, processing, and interpretation of geoscientific field data.
|
2 Credits |
| Minimum Required Grade: C- | 14 Total Credits Required | |
Degree Electives
Rule: Must complete 6 geosciences courses numbered 300 and above for a minimum of 18 credits
Minimum Required Grade: C-
18 Total Credits Required
Cognate Sciences
Rule: In addition to completing course work in Geosciences, a minimum of 30 credits in cognate science classes must be completed.
Note: More advanced courses in Chemistry, Computer Science, Math, and Physics may be used to meet the 30 credit minimum total in cognate sciences. Course substitutions for the 30 credit minimum in cognate sciences must be approved by a departmental advisor.
Physics
Rule: Must complete 1 of the following sequences
10 Total Credits Required
Physics
Rule: May complete the following sequence
| Show All Course Descriptions | Course | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Show Description |
PHSX 205N - College Physics I
Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., M 122 or 151 or equivalent, and prereq. or coreq. PHSX 206N. Mechanics, sound, and heat. For non-physical science majors. This course satisfies the lecture portion of medical school requirements in general physics. Credit not allowed for both PHSX 205N-207N and 215N-217N.
|
4 Credits |
| Show Description |
PHSX 206N - College Physics I Laboratory
Offered autumn and spring. Prereq. or coreq., PHSX 205N. Mechanics, sound, and heat. For non-physical science majors. This course satisfies the laboratory portion of medical school requirements in general physics. Credit not allowed for both PHSX 206N-208N and 216N-218N.
|
1 Credits |
| Show Description |
PHSX 207N - College Physics II
Offered autumn and spring. Prereq. PHSX 205N and prereq. or coreq., PHSX 208N. Electricity, magnetism, light, and modern physics. For non-physical science majors. This course satisfies the lecture portion of medical school requirements in general physics. Credit not allowed for both PHSX 205N-207N and 215N-217N.
|
4 Credits |
| Show Description |
PHSX 208N - College Physics II Laboratory
Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., PHSX 206N, prereq, or coreq., PHSX 207N. Electricity, magnetism, light and modern physics. For non-physical science majors. This course satisfies the laboratory portion of medical school requirements in general physics. Credit not allowed for both PHSX 206N-208N and 216N-218N.
|
1 Credits |
| Minimum Required Grade: C- | 10 Total Credits Required | |
Physics with Calculus
Rule: May complete the following sequence
| Show All Course Descriptions | Course | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Show Description |
PHSX 215N - Fund of Physics w/Calc I
Offered autumn. Prereq. or coreq., PHSX 216N and M 171 or equiv. This course satisfies the lecture portion of medical and technical school requirements in general physics. Mechanics, fluids, waves and sound. Credit not allowed for both PHSX 215N-216N-217N-218N and 205N-206N-207N-208N.
|
4 Credits |
| Show Description |
PHSX 216N - Physics Laboratory I w/Calc
Offered autumn. Coreq., PHSX 215N. This course satisfies the laboratory portion of medical and technical school requirements in general physics. Mechanics, fluids, waves, and sound. Credit not allowed for both PHSX 215N-216N-217N-218N and 205N-206N-207N-208N.
|
1 Credits |
| Show Description |
PHSX 217N - Fund of Physics w/Calc II
Offered spring. Prereq., PHSX 215N, and prereq. or coreq. PHSX 218, and prereq. or coreq., M 172 or equivalent. This course satisfies the lecture portion of medical and technical school requirements in general physics. Heat, electricity, magnetism, and light. Credit not allowed for both PHSX 215N-216N-217N-218N and 205N-206N-207N-208N.
|
4 Credits |
| Show Description |
PHSX 218N - Physics Laboratory II w/Calc
Offered spring. Prereq., PHSX 215N, coreq., PHSX 217N. This course satisfies the laboratory portion of medical and technical school requirements in general physics. Heat, electricity, magnetism, and light. Credit not allowed for both PHSX 215N-216N-217N-218N and 205N-206N-207N-208N.
|
1 Credits |
| Minimum Required Grade: C- | 10 Total Credits Required | |
Chemistry
Rule: Must complete the following courses
| Show All Course Descriptions | Course | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Show Description |
CHMY 141N - College Chemistry I
Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., high school algebra. For science majors and other students intending to take more than one year of chemistry. Properties of elements, inorganic compounds, liquid solutions, chemical equilibria and chemical kinetics. Includes laboratory.
|
5 Credits |
| Show Description |
CHMY 143N - College Chemistry II
Offered spring and summer. Prereq., "C-" or better in CHMY 141N or consent of instr. A continuation of CHMY 141N. Includes Laboratory.
|
5 Credits |
| Minimum Required Grade: C- | 10 Total Credits Required | |
Math
Rule: Must complete 1 of the following subcategories
7-8 Total Credits Required
Math Option 1
Rule: May complete the following 2 courses
| Show All Course Descriptions | Course | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Show Description |
M 162 - Applied Calculus
Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., ALEKS placement >= 5 or one of M 121, 122 or 151. Introductory course surveying the principal ideas of differential and integral calculus with emphasis on applications and computer software. Mathematical modeling in discrete and continuous settings. Intended primarily for students who do not plan to take higher calculus.
|
4 Credits |
| Show Description |
M 274 - Intro to Differential Equation
Offered spring. Prereq., one of M 162, 171 or 181 and knowledge of basic trigonometry. Solution of ordinary differential equations and systems with emphasis on applications, numerical methods and computer software.
|
3 Credits |
| Minimum Required Grade: C- | 7 Total Credits Required | |
Math Option 2
Rule: May complete the following 2 courses
| Show All Course Descriptions | Course | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Show Description |
M 171 - Calculus I
Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., M 122 or 151 or ALEKS placement >= 5. Differential calculus, including limits, continuous functions, Intermediate Value Theorem, tangents, linear approximation, inverse functions, implicit differentiation, extreme values and the Mean Value Theorem. Integral Calculus including antiderivatives, definite integrals, and the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus.
|
4 Credits |
| Show Description |
M 172 - Calculus II
Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., M 171 or 181. Techniques of Integration. Area computations. Improper integrals. Infinite series and various convergence tests. Power series. Taylor's Formula. Polar coordinates. Parametric curves.
|
4 Credits |
| Minimum Required Grade: C- | 8 Total Credits Required | |
Computer Science
Rule: Must complete 1 course in Computer Science (Programming or Modeling)
Note: These courses are recommended to complete the Computer Science requirement. Credit may be received for only 1 of these 2 courses for the 30 credit minimum cognate science requirement.
| Show All Course Descriptions | Course | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Show Description |
CSCI 172 - Intro to Computer Modeling
Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., M 090 or higher; or ALEKS Math Placement Test Score >2. Problem solving and data modeling using computer productivity software. Emphasis using spreadsheets and database for data analysis. Credit not allowed for CSCI 172, CRT 172, and CS 172
|
3 Credits |
| Show Description |
CSCI 250 - Computer Mdlng/Science Majors
Offered autumn. Prereq., basic computer and spreadsheet literacy; coreq., M 162 or 171. An introduction to computer modeling in the sciences using spreadsheets and a programming language. Integrates principles of math, computer science and science. A student can take at most one of CSCI 172, CSCI 250, CRT 280, and CRT 281 for credit.
|
3 Credits |
| Minimum Required Grade: C- | 3 Total Credits Required | |
Upper Division Writing
Rule: Must complete 1 upper division writing course
Note: These courses are recommended to complete the upper division writing requirement in Geosciences but students may also select from the university-approved list of upper division writing courses to fulfill this requirement.
| Show All Course Descriptions | Course | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Show Description |
GEO 320 - Global Water
Offered spring. Prereq. one semester of college chemistry, WRIT 101 or equiv., and completion of one writing course. Students are encouraged to take the UDWPA prior to taking this course. Fulfills the Upper Division Writing Requirement. Water is necessary for life. Without it, life as we know it cannot exist. This course discusses the chemistry of water as it moves through the hydrological cycle. We discuss how water chemistry evolves through atmospheric water, rain water, ground water, surface water, and sea water. Students will have an understanding of the chemical attributes of water in major water reservoirs. Class discussions, formal and informal writing assignments, a short laboratory experiment, and a field trip highlight examples of water chemistry. Students will use excel to solve problems and will learn citation conventions relevant for scientific writing.
|
4 Credits |
| Show Description |
GEO 499 - senior thesis / capstone
(R–10) Offered every term. Prereq., 18 credits in geosciences. Independent research project in any geosciences topic supervised by faculty member, and leading to completion of baccalaureate degree.
|
3 To 10 Credits |
| Minimum Required Grade: C- | 3 Total Credits Required | |
Languages
Rule: Must complete 1 of the following courses
Note: Students graduating in Geosciences may substitute one of these courses in place of the Modern and Classical Language requirement.
| Show All Course Descriptions | Course | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Show Description |
M 162 - Applied Calculus
Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., ALEKS placement >= 5 or one of M 121, 122 or 151. Introductory course surveying the principal ideas of differential and integral calculus with emphasis on applications and computer software. Mathematical modeling in discrete and continuous settings. Intended primarily for students who do not plan to take higher calculus.
|
4 Credits |
| Show Description |
M 171 - Calculus I
Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., M 122 or 151 or ALEKS placement >= 5. Differential calculus, including limits, continuous functions, Intermediate Value Theorem, tangents, linear approximation, inverse functions, implicit differentiation, extreme values and the Mean Value Theorem. Integral Calculus including antiderivatives, definite integrals, and the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus.
|
4 Credits |
| Minimum Required Grade: C- | 3 Total Credits Required | |