Geology, Environmental Science, BA
Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Science (337004BA)
More on the Environmental Science major
Environmental Science Fundamentals
Environmental science is the study of society’s relationship with the physical and biological world. This knowledge may be applied to understanding natural hazards such as earthquakes, volcanoes and landslides; addressing problems associated with environmental contamination; and investigating earth’s history to understand the global climate change. Environmental scientists are employed by environmental consulting firms, government agencies, nonprofit organizations and universities.
Core courses provide the fundamentals in:
- physical geology
- biology
- chemistry
Degree program can be tailored to a major field of interest by taking additional courses in the supporting sciences and mathematics.
Requirements for Admission
The following information has official approval of The Department of Geosciences and The Buchtel College of Arts & Sciences, but is intended only as a supplemental guide. Official degree requirements are established at the time of transfer and admission to the degree-granting college. Students should refer to the Degree Progress Report (DPR) which is definitive for graduation requirements. Completion of this degree within the identified time frame below is contingent upon many factors, including but not limited to: class availability, total number of required credits, work schedule, finances, family, course drops/withdrawals, successfully passing courses, prerequisites, among others. The transfer process is completed through an appointment with your academic advisor.
Three year accelerated option: for first time students who have earned credits for at least the first year of courses. Credits can be earned through qualifying scores on appropriate Advanced Placement (AP) exams or through College Credit Plus Program (CCP) courses. Credits for qualifying AP scores or CCP courses are determined by the appropriate academic department. Departments may assign varied course credit, depending on the student’s score on an AP exam or grade in a CCP course. Students may also receive credit by examination or via placement tests, where appropriate.
Requirements
Summary
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Requirements * | 35-34 | |
| College of Arts and Sciences Requirements | 14 | |
| Core Geology-Environmental Science Requirements | 18 | |
| Environmental Science Field Study Requirement I | 3 | |
| Environmental Science Field Study Requirement II | 3 | |
| Environmental Science Electives | 22 | |
| Environmental Science Non-Geology Requirements I | 12 | |
| Environmental Science Non-Geology Requirements II | 7-8 | |
| Environmental Science Non-Geology Elective Requirements | 7 | |
| Total Hours | 121 | |
- *
Several courses required for the major also satisfy General Education requirements. The University minimum of 36 credits are required for General Education and credit for these courses will apply to multiple requirements.
Recommended General Education Courses
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Students pursuing a bachelor’s degree must complete the following General Education coursework. Diversity courses may also fulfill major or Breadth of Knowledge requirements. Integrated and Applied Learning courses may also fulfill requirements in the major. | ||
| Students are not required to enroll in the specific courses listed below. However, to facilitate successful degree completion, the academic department strongly encourages completion of the following recommendations. | ||
| Academic Foundations | 12 | |
Mathematics, Statistics and Logic: 3 credit hours | ||
| Precalculus Mathematics | ||
or MATH:221 | Analytic Geometry-Calculus I | |
| Analytic Geometry-Calculus II | ||
| Statistics for Everyday Life | ||
| Introductory Statistics I | ||
or STAT:262 | Introductory Statistics II | |
| Basic Statistics | ||
Speaking: 3 credit hours | ||
Writing: 6 credit hours | ||
| Breadth of Knowledge | 22 | |
Arts/Humanities: 9 credit hours | ||
Natural Sciences: 7 credit hours | ||
| Introductory Physical Geology | ||
| Introductory Historical Geology | ||
| Mineral Science | ||
| Principles of Chemistry I | ||
| Principles of Chemistry I Laboratory | ||
| Principles of Chemistry II | ||
| Principles of Biology I | ||
| Principles of Biology II | ||
| Physics for Life Sciences I | ||
| Physics for Life Sciences II | ||
Social Sciences: 6 credit hours | ||
| Diversity | ||
Domestic Diversity | ||
Global Diversity | ||
| Integrated and Applied Learning | 2 | |
Select one class from one of the following subcategories: | ||
Complex Issues Facing Society | ||
| Coastal Geology | ||
| Rivers | ||
| Geology and Environmental Science Service Learning | ||
| Environmental Ethics | ||
| Economics of Natural Resources & the Environment | ||
Capstone | ||
Review the General Education Requirements page for detailed course listings. | ||
| Total Hours | 36 | |
College of Arts & Sciences Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Degree requirements in Arts & Sciences include the demonstration of ability to use another language by completion of the second year of a foreign language. | ||
| 2 Year Language Proficiency | 14 | |
101 Beginning I | ||
102 Beginning II | ||
201 Intermediate I | ||
202 Intermediate II | ||
| Survey of Deaf Culture in America (American Sign Language option only) | ||
| Students must also complete a minimum of 40 credits (excluding workshops) consisting of either: | ||
Upper-level (300/400) courses both in and outside of the student’s major; | ||
or other courses outside the major department approved by the student’s major department chair (permission should be obtained prior to enrollment); these may not include workshops | ||
The following information has official approval of The Department of Geosciences and The Buchtel College of Arts & Sciences, but is intended only as a supplemental guide. Official degree requirements are established at the time of transfer and admission to the degree-granting college. Students should refer to the Degree Progress Report (DPR) which is definitive for graduation requirements. Completion of this degree within the identified time frame below is contingent upon many factors, including but not limited to: class availability, total number of required credits, work schedule, finances, family, course drops/withdrawals, successfully passing courses, prerequisites, among others. The transfer process is completed through an appointment with your academic advisor.Students are encouraged to visit The Department of Geosciences their freshman year to obtain preliminary information regarding the program requirements and to learn more about on-campus opportunities available to students.
Students are encouraged to visit The Department of Geosciences their freshman year to obtain preliminary information regarding the program requirements and to learn more about on-campus opportunities available to students.
Three year accelerated option: for first time students who have earned credits for at least the first year of courses. Credits can be earned through qualifying scores on appropriate Advanced Placement (AP) exams or through College Credit Plus Program (CCP) courses. Credits for qualifying AP scores or CCP courses are determined by the appropriate academic department. Departments may assign varied course credit, depending on the student’s score on an AP exam or grade in a CCP course. Students may also receive credit by examination or via placement tests, where appropriate.
| 1st Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Hours | |
| GEOL:101 | Introductory Physical Geology 1 | 4 |
| English Composition I Requirement 2 | 3 | |
| Speech/Oral Communication Requirement | 3 | |
| Social Science Requirement 4 | 3 | |
| Select one of the following: | 3-4 | |
Beginning Language I | ||
| American Sign Language I 3 | ||
| Hours | 16-17 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| MATH:149 | Precalculus Mathematics 5 | 4 |
| English Composition II Requirement 2 | 3 | |
| Social Science Requirement 4 | 3 | |
| Select one of the following: | 3-4 | |
Beginning Language II | ||
| American Sign Language II | ||
| Hours | 13-14 | |
| 2nd Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| HIST:210 or HIST:221 | Humanities in the Western Tradition from Ancient Times to 1500 or Humanities in the World since 1300 | 3 |
| BIOL:111 | Principles of Biology I | 4 |
| CHEM:151 | Principles of Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM:152 | Principles of Chemistry I Laboratory | 1 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
Intermediate Language I | ||
| American Sign Language III | ||
| Hours | 14 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| GEOL:231 | Silicate Mineralogy and Petrology | 4 |
| BIOL:112 | Principles of Biology II | 4 |
| Humanities Elective Requirement | 3 | |
| Area Studies/Cultural Diversity Requirement | 2 | |
| Select one of the following: | 3-5 | |
Intermediate Language II | ||
| American Sign Language IV and Survey of Deaf Culture in America | ||
| Hours | 16-18 | |
| 3rd Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| GEOL:452 or GEOL:453 | Geology and Environmental Science Service Learning or Geology Field Camp I | 1-3 |
| Humanities Requirement | 3 | |
| GEOL 3/4xx | Upper level Geology electives 6 | 6 |
| GEOL 3/4xx | Upper level Science electives 7 | 2 |
| GEOL xxx | Geology elective 6 | 3 |
| Hours | 15-17 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| GEOL:310 | Geomorphology | 3 |
| xxxx:3/4xx | Upper level Science Elective 7 | 3 |
| GEOL 3/4xx | Upper level Geology electives 6 | 9 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Summer Semester | ||
| GEOL:453 or GEOL:452 | Geology Field Camp I or Geology and Environmental Science Service Learning | 1-3 |
| Hours | 1-3 | |
| 4th Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| Area Studies/Cultural Diversity Requirement | 2 | |
| xxxx:3/4xx | Upper level Science Elective 7 | 3 |
| xxxx:3/4xx | Upper level Electives 7, 8 | 3 |
| Electives 8 | 5 | |
| Hours | 13 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| GEOL 3/4xx | Upper level Geology electives 6 | 3 |
| Upper level Electives 7, 8 | 5 | |
| Electives 8 | 8-0 | |
| Hours | 16-8 | |
| Total Hours | 119 | |
| 1 | GEOL:101 Introductory Physical Geology Strongly Preferred, or GEOL:100 Earth Science, or GEOL:200 Environmental Geology or (by permission only) GEOL:211 Introduction to Environmental Science and GEOL:104 Exercises in Physical Geology. |
| 2 | For English Composition I, ENGL:111 English Composition I or ENGL:113 African American Language and Culture I: College Composition are the recommended classes to the meet the General Education English requirement. For English Composition II, ENGL:112 English Composition II or ENGL:114 African American Language and Culture II: College Composition are the recommended classes to meet the General Education English requirement. ENGL:222 Technical Report Writing fulfills the English Composition II requirement. |
| 3 | Demonstration of ability to use another language by completion of the second year of a foreign language or sign language is required. See your advisor for placement. Please note that all four semesters must be completed in the same language and it’s recommended you begin your first language class as soon as possible. |
| 4 | Introduction to Geography and ANTH:110 Introduction to Archaeology recommended. |
| 5 | All Geology majors should take the Math Placement Test. The B.A. requirement is MATH:149 Precalculus Mathematics. |
| 6 | Departmental electives: at least 18 credits with a minimum of 11 credits at the 300/400 level. Up to 8 credits may be selected from the Environmental Studies Certificate electives list. Please contact a Department of Geology & Environmental Science adviser to discuss alternatives. |
| 7 | B.A. degree requires completion of at least 8 credits from the following and these options can satisfy the upper level requirement for Arts & Sciences as well (300/400 level): BIOL:217 General Ecology, CHEM:153 Principles of Chemistry II, CHEM:154 Qualitative Analysis, PHYS:291 Elementary Classical Physics I/PHYS:292 Elementary Classical Physics II, MATH:221 Analytic Geometry-Calculus I, MATH:222 Analytic Geometry-Calculus II. |
| 8 | General electives can be any course not already required by your major and Upper Level (300/400) electives can be any course in or outside your major excluding workshops. |
Alert
- By the end of your first 48 credit hours attempted, you must have completed your General Education English, Math, and Communications (Speech) requirements;
- By the end of your first 48 credit hours attempted, you must have declared a major and transferred to (been accepted by) a degree granting college at The University of Akron.