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- Environmental Geology Major
This information is part of the .
Advisers听Adams, Harnik, Harpp, Leventer, Levy
The Environmental Geology concentration focuses on the intersection between the Earth's environment and human activity. The program combines scientific study of Earth's environmental systems with consideration of the human relationship with the planet in terms of both humanistic values and social issues. Environmental Geology majors explore terrestrial and aquatic systems, Earth surface processes, and the fundamental geological mechanisms that drive the long-term evolution of Earth's interior and climate system.
Major Requirements
The following courses are required for the major:
Environmental Studies Courses (four)
- ENST 202/PHIL 202听-听Environmental Ethics 听
- ENST 232听-听Environmental Justice or听 ENST 321听-听Global Environmental Justice 听听
-
ENST 450听-听Community-based Study of Environmental Issues
and ENST 450L
One of the following courses on environmental economics and policy:ECON 228听-听Environmental Economics ENST 250听-听Environmental Policy Analysis ENST/POSC 335听-听U.S. Environmental Politics 听
Geology Courses (seven)
All of the following:
- GEOL 190听-听Evolution of Planet Earth
- Two full-credit courses numbered 200 or higher听and not counted towards other major requirements, excluding independent study courses
- Capstone seminar: Any full-credit 400-level geology course, excluding GEOL 491.
200-level Courses
Any three of the following:
- GEOL 201听-听Mineralogy and Geochemistry and GEOL 201L听
- GEOL 215听-听Paleontology of Marine Life and GEOL 215L听
- GEOL 225听-听Sedimentology and Surficial Processes and GEOL 225L听
- GEOL 235听-听Tectonics and Earth Structure and GEOL 235L
Cognate Science Courses (two)
- Any two full-credit courses in biology, chemistry, mathematics or physics. GEOG 245听may be taken in place of one of these courses.
GPA Requirement
A GPA of 2.00 in the environmental geology major is necessary for graduation. A passing grade must be received in all courses counted toward the major.
Honors and High Honors
To be eligible for honors in environmental geology, students must complete the following requirements in addition to the environmental geology major: (1) Complete GEOL 441 - Senior Research Seminar, (2) take four full-credit courses in mathematics, chemistry, physics, or biology, (3) complete a year-long senior thesis as described in the honors section of the geology major, and (4) achieve a minimum average GPA of 3.0 in the three 200-level core courses and 400-level capstone course. If additional courses are taken in these categories, the highest grades will be used to compute this GPA.
Additional Information
Students majoring in environmental geology are strongly encouraged to take the summer field course GEOL 320听-听Techniques of Field Geology . Students who wish to pursue graduate study or a career in environmental geology are strongly encouraged to supplement the major requirements with at least one year of chemistry, mathematics, and physics or biology.
Environmental Studies Program
For more information about the department, including Faculty,听transfer credit, awards, etc.,听please visit the听Environmental Studies program听catalog听page.