B.S. in Geoscience - Earth Systems Concentration
College of the Sciences and Mathematics
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS | ||
| Academic Foundations | ||
| First Year Experience requirement | 4 | |
| English Composition requirement | 6-7 | |
| Mathematics requirement | 3-4 | |
| Interdisciplinary requirement | 3 | |
| Diverse Communities requirement | 3 | |
| Ethics requirement | 3 | |
| Distributed Disciplinary Foundations | ||
| Science requirement | 6-8 | |
| Behavioral & Social Science requirement | 6 | |
| Humanities requirement | 6 | |
| Arts requirement | 3 | |
| ADDITIONAL BACCALAUREATE REQUIREMENTS | ||
| University Requirements | ||
| Writing Emphasis requirement | 9 | |
| Speaking Emphasis requirement | 9 | |
| Degree Requirements | ||
| Capstone requirement | 1-15 | |
| MAJOR REQUIREMENTS | ||
| Major Core Courses | ||
| ESS 101 | Introduction to Geology | 3 |
| ESS 201 | Field Geology | 3 |
| ESS 204 | Historical Geology | 3 |
| ESS 301 | Environmental Geochemistry | 3 |
| ESS 302 | Mineralogy | 3 |
| ESS 331 | Introduction to Paleontology | 3 |
| ESS 343 | Geomorphology | 3 |
| ESS 405 | Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology | 3 |
| ESS 420 | Structural Geology | 3 |
| ESS 439 | Hydrogeology | 3 |
| ESS 450 | Sedimentation & Stratigraphy | 3 |
| Other Required Courses | ||
| BIO 110 | General Biology I | 4 |
| MAT 115 | Algebra, Functions, and Trigonometry | 3 |
| or MAT 131 | Precalculus | |
| or MAT 143 | Brief Calculus | |
| or MAT 145 | Calculus for the Life Sciences | |
| or MAT 161 | Calculus I | |
| MAT 121 | Introduction to Statistics I | 3 |
| CHE 103 | General Chemistry I | 3 |
| CRL 103 | General Chemistry I Lab | 1 |
| PHY 130 | General Physics I | 4 |
| or PHY 170 | Physics I | |
| ESS/SCB/ENV 102 | Humans and the Environment | 3 |
| or SCB 210 | The Origin of Life and the Universe | |
| ESS 311 | Introduction to Astronomy | 3 |
| ESS 330 | Introduction to Oceanography | 3 |
| ESS 370 | Introduction to Meteorology | 3 |
| ESS 347 | Earth & Space Science Seminar | 1 |
| ESS 447 | Earth and Space Science Seminar | 1 |
| Capstone Requirement | ||
| ESS 499 | The Professional Geoscientist 1 | 3 |
| Earth and Space Science Electives | ||
| Select any two ESS courses at the 300 or 400 level | 6 | |
| Select other 200-400 level ESS electives to reach 120 credits | ||
| A grade of C- or better must be achieved for all required courses within the department including the required electives, as well as those in biology, chemistry, math, and physics. | ||
| Total Minimum Credits Required | 120 | |
- 1
This course fulfills the Capstone requirement.
Accelerated B.S. in Geoscience - Earth Systems Concentration to M.S. in Geoscience Program
Any junior Geoscience-Earth Systems student with a 3.0 cumulative GPA or higher may substitute up to 9 graduate credits to satisfy the B.S. program.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Elective Courses | ||
| Select from the courses below: | 9 | |
| Geology of the Solar System | ||
| Advanced Oceanography | ||
| Remote Sensing | ||
| Geophysics | ||
| Geomorphology II | ||
| International Geology Field Studies | ||
| Advanced Hydrogeology | ||
| Intermediate Astronomy | ||
| History of Astronomy | ||
| Advanced Meteorology | ||
| Special Problems | ||
| Fundamentals of Soil | ||
| Independent Study | ||
| Geology of Northwestern National Parks | ||
To track their individual degree progress, students are advised to access their Degree Progress Report (DPR) via myWCU regularly. For more information, visit wcupa.edu/DegreeProgressReport.
The following is a sample suggested course sequence for this program; course offerings and availability are not guaranteed. Students should consult their academic advisor with any questions.
B.S. in Geoscience - Earth Systems Concentration
| Year One | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| ESS 101 | Introduction to Geology | 3 |
| ESS 102 or SCB 210 |
Humans and the Environment or The Origin of Life and the Universe |
3 |
| MAT 115 or MAT 121 |
Algebra, Functions, and Trigonometry or Introduction to Statistics I |
3 |
| WRT 120 | Effective Writing I | 3 |
| FYE 100X | First Year Experience | 4 |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| ESS 201 or ESS 204 |
Field Geology or Historical Geology |
3 |
| MAT 121 or MAT 115 |
Introduction to Statistics I or Algebra, Functions, and Trigonometry |
3 |
| BIO 110 | General Biology I | 4 |
| WRT 2XX | 200-level WRT Course | 3 |
| Behavioral & Social Science Gen Ed | 3 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Year Two | ||
| Fall | ||
| ESS 204 or ESS 201 |
Historical Geology or Field Geology |
3 |
| CHE 103 & CRL 103 |
General Chemistry I and General Chemistry I Lab |
4 |
| Humanities Gen Ed | 3 | |
| Diverse Communities Gen Ed | 3 | |
| Speaking Emphasis Gen Ed | 3 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| ESS 301 | Environmental Geochemistry | 3 |
| ESS 302 | Mineralogy | 3 |
| Behavioral & Social Science Gen Ed | 3 | |
| Humanities Gen Ed | 3 | |
| Elective (CHE/CRL 104 RECOMMENDED) | 4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Year Three | ||
| Fall | ||
| ESS 311 | Introduction to Astronomy | 3 |
| ESS 330 | Introduction to Oceanography | 3 |
| ESS 347 | Earth & Space Science Seminar | 1 |
| ESS 370 | Introduction to Meteorology | 3 |
| PHY 130 | General Physics I | 4 |
| Speaking Emphasis Gen Ed | 3 | |
| Credits | 17 | |
| Spring | ||
| ESS 331 | Introduction to Paleontology | 3 |
| ESS 343 | Geomorphology | 3 |
| ESS 405 | Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology | 3 |
| ESS 420 | Structural Geology | 3 |
| Ethics Gen Ed | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Year Four | ||
| Fall | ||
| ESS 447 | Earth and Space Science Seminar | 1 |
| ESS 450 | Sedimentation & Stratigraphy | 3 |
| ESS XXX | Upper-Level ESS Elective | 3 |
| Arts Gen Ed | 3 | |
| Speaking Emphasis Gen Ed | 3 | |
| Credits | 13 | |
| Spring | ||
| ESS XXX | Capstone Course | 3 |
| ESS XXX | Upper-Level ESS Elective | 3 |
| Elective (GEO 324 RECOMMENDED) | 3 | |
| Elective (PHY 140 RECOMMENDED) | 4 | |
| Gen Ed Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Total Credits | 125 | |
Accelerated B.S. in Geoscience - Earth Systems Concentration to the M.S. in Geoscience
| Year One | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| ESS 101 | Introduction to Geology | 3 |
| ESS 102 or SCB 210 |
Humans and the Environment or The Origin of Life and the Universe |
3 |
| MAT 115 or MAT 121 |
Algebra, Functions, and Trigonometry or Introduction to Statistics I |
3 |
| WRT 120 | Effective Writing I | 3 |
| FYE 100X | First Year Experience | 4 |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| ESS 201 or ESS 204 |
Field Geology or Historical Geology |
3 |
| MAT 121 or MAT 115 |
Introduction to Statistics I or Algebra, Functions, and Trigonometry |
3 |
| BIO 110 | General Biology I | 4 |
| WRT 2XX | 200-level WRT Course | 3 |
| Behavioral & Social Science Gen Ed | 3 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Year Two | ||
| Fall | ||
| ESS 204 or ESS 201 |
Historical Geology or Field Geology |
3 |
| CHE 103 & CRL 103 |
General Chemistry I and General Chemistry I Lab |
4 |
| Humanities Gen Ed | 3 | |
| Diverse Communities Gen Ed | 3 | |
| Speaking Emphasis Gen Ed | 3 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| ESS 301 | Environmental Geochemistry | 3 |
| ESS 302 | Mineralogy | 3 |
| Behavioral & Social Science Gen Ed | 3 | |
| Humanities Gen Ed | 3 | |
| Elective (CHE/CRL 104 RECOMMENDED) | 4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Year Three | ||
| Fall | ||
| ESS 311 | Introduction to Astronomy | 3 |
| ESS 330 | Introduction to Oceanography | 3 |
| ESS 347 | Earth & Space Science Seminar | 1 |
| ESS 370 | Introduction to Meteorology | 3 |
| PHY 130 | General Physics I | 4 |
| Speaking Emphasis Gen Ed | 3 | |
| Credits | 17 | |
| Spring | ||
| ESS 331 | Introduction to Paleontology | 3 |
| ESS 343 | Geomorphology | 3 |
| ESS 405 | Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology | 3 |
| ESS 420 | Structural Geology | 3 |
| Ethics Gen Ed | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Year Four | ||
| Fall | ||
| ESS 447 | Earth and Space Science Seminar | 1 |
| ESS 450 | Sedimentation & Stratigraphy | 3 |
| ESS XXX | Graduation Substitution | 3 |
| Arts Gen Ed | 3 | |
| Speaking Emphasis Gen Ed | 3 | |
| Credits | 13 | |
| Spring | ||
| ESS XXX | Capstone Course | 3 |
| ESS XXX | Graduate Substitution | 3 |
| ESS XXX | Graduate Substitution | 3 |
| Elective (GEO 324 RECOMMENDED) | 3 | |
| Gen Ed Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Summer | ||
| ESS 523 | Field Geology of Southeastern Pennsylvania | 3 |
| ESS 596 | Earth Systems Science | 3 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Year Five | ||
| Fall | ||
| ESS 521 | Geometrics | 3 |
| ESS 547 | Earth and Space Science Seminar | 1 |
| ESS 549 or ESS 570 |
Advanced Hydrogeology or Principles of Meteorology |
3 |
| ESS 5XX | Elective | 3 |
| Credits | 10 | |
| Spring | ||
| ESS 536 or ESS 530 |
Environmental Geology or Principles of Oceanography |
3 |
| ESS 602 | Directed Research | 3 |
| ESS 5XX | Elective | 3 |
| ESS 5XX | Elective | 3 |
| Credits | 12 | |
| Total Credits | 152 | |
