B.S. in Geoscience - Geology Concentration

College of the Sciences and Mathematics
GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS
Academic Foundations
First Year Experience requirement4
English Composition requirement6-7
Mathematics requirement 3-4
Interdisciplinary requirement3
Diverse Communities requirement3
Ethics requirement3
Distributed Disciplinary Foundations
Science requirement6-8
Behavioral & Social Science requirement6
Humanities requirement6
Arts requirement3
ADDITIONAL BACCALAUREATE REQUIREMENTS
University Requirements
Writing Emphasis requirement9
Speaking Emphasis requirement9
Degree Requirements
Capstone requirement1-15
MAJOR REQUIREMENTS
Major Core Courses
ESS 101Introduction to Geology3
ESS 201Field Geology3
ESS 204Historical Geology3
ESS 301Environmental Geochemistry3
ESS 302Mineralogy3
ESS 331Introduction to Paleontology3
ESS 343Geomorphology3
ESS 405Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology3
ESS 420Structural Geology3
ESS 439Hydrogeology3
ESS 450Sedimentation & Stratigraphy3
Other Required Courses
MAT 115Algebra, Functions, and Trigonometry3
or MAT 131 Precalculus
or MAT 143 Brief Calculus
or MAT 145 Calculus for the Life Sciences
or MAT 161 Calculus I
MAT 121Introduction to Statistics I3
CHE 103General Chemistry I3
CRL 103General Chemistry I Lab1
PHY 130General Physics I4
or PHY 170 Physics I
ESS/SCB/ENV 102Humans and the Environment3
ESS 347Earth & Space Science Seminar1
ESS 447Earth and Space Science Seminar1
Select one of the following:3
Geometrics
Intro to Geographic Information Systems
Intro Business GIS
Introduction to Computer Programming
Capstone Requirement
ESS 499The Professional Geoscientist 13
Earth and Space Science Electives
Select any three ESS courses at the 300 or 400 level9
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 Required120
1

This course fulfills the Capstone requirement.

Accelerated B.S. in Geoscience - Geology Concentration to M.S. in Geoscience Program

Any junior Geoscience - Geology student with a 3.0 cumulative GPA or higher may substitute up to 9 graduate credits to satisfy the B.S. in Geoscience - Geology Concentration.

Elective Courses
Choose from the following:9
Geology of the Solar System
Advanced Oceanography
Remote Sensing
Geophysics
Geomorphology II
International Geology Field Studies
Advanced Hydrogeology
Sedimentation & Stratigraphy
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 - Geology Concentration

Plan of Study Grid
Year One
FallCredits
ESS 101 Introduction to Geology 3
ESS 102
Humans and the Environment
or The Origin of Life and the Universe
3
WRT 120 Effective Writing I 3
FYE 100XFirst Year Experience 4
Behavioral & Social Science Gen Ed 3
 Credits16
Spring
ESS 201
Field Geology
or Historical Geology
3
MAT 121 Introduction to Statistics I 3
WRT 2XX200-level WRT Course 3
Humanities Gen Ed 3
Gen Ed Elective 3
 Credits15
Year Two
Fall
ESS 204
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
Elective (BIO 110 RECOMMENDED) 3
 Credits16
Spring
ESS 301 Environmental Geochemistry 3
ESS 302 Mineralogy 3
MAT 143
Brief Calculus
or Calculus I
3-4
Behavioral & Social Science Gen Ed 3
Elective (CHE/CRL 104 RECOMMENDED) 4
 Credits16-17
Year Three
Fall
ESS 343 Geomorphology 3
ESS 347 Earth & Space Science Seminar 1
PHY 130 General Physics I 4
Speaking Emphasis Gen Ed 3
Arts Gen Ed 3
 Credits14
Spring
ESS 331 Introduction to Paleontology 3
ESS 405 Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology 3
ESS 420 Structural Geology 3
ESS 439 Hydrogeology 3
Ethics Gen Ed 3
 Credits15
Year Four
Fall
ESS 447 Earth and Space Science Seminar 1
ESS 450 Sedimentation & Stratigraphy 3
ESS XXXUpper-Level ESS Elective 3
ESS XXXUpper-Level ESS Elective 3
Speaking Emphasis Gen Ed 3
 Credits13
Spring
GEO 324 Intro to Geographic Information Systems 3
ESS XXXCapstone Course 3
ESS XXXUpper-Level ESS Elective 3
Speaking Emphasis Gen Ed 3
Elective (PHY 140 RECOMMENDED) 4
 Credits16
 Total Credits121-122

Accelerated B.S. in Geoscience - Geology Concentration to the M.S. in Geoscience

Plan of Study Grid
Year One
FallCredits
ESS 101 Introduction to Geology 3
ESS 102
Humans and the Environment
or The Origin of Life and the Universe
3
WRT 120 Effective Writing I 3
FYE 100XFirst Year Experience 4
Behavioral & Social Science Gen Ed 3
 Credits16
Spring
ESS 201
Field Geology
or Historical Geology
3
MAT 121 Introduction to Statistics I 3
WRT 2XX200-level WRT Course 3
Humanities Gen Ed 3
Gen Ed Elective 3
 Credits15
Year Two
Fall
ESS 204
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
Elective (BIO 110 RECOMMENDED) 3
 Credits16
Spring
ESS 301 Environmental Geochemistry 3
ESS 302 Mineralogy 3
MAT 143
Brief Calculus
or Calculus I
3-4
Behavioral & Social Science Gen Ed 3
Elective (CHE/CRL 104 RECOMMENDED) 4
 Credits16-17
Year Three
Fall
ESS 343 Geomorphology 3
ESS 347 Earth & Space Science Seminar 1
PHY 130 General Physics I 4
Speaking Emphasis Gen Ed 3
Arts Gen Ed 3
 Credits14
Spring
ESS 331 Introduction to Paleontology 3
ESS 405 Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology 3
ESS 420 Structural Geology 3
ESS 439 Hydrogeology 3
Ethics Gen Ed 3
 Credits15
Year Four
Fall
ESS 447 Earth and Space Science Seminar 1
ESS 450 Sedimentation & Stratigraphy 3
ESS XXXUpper-Level ESS Elective 3
ESS XXXGraduate Substitution 3
Speaking Emphasis Gen Ed 3
 Credits13
Spring
GEO 324 Intro to Geographic Information Systems 3
ESS XXXCapstone Course 3
ESS XXXGraduate Substitution 3
ESS XXXGraduate Substitution  
Speaking Emphasis Gen Ed 3
 Credits12
Summer
ESS 523 Field Geology of Southeastern Pennsylvania 3
ESS 596 Earth Systems Science 3
 Credits6
Year Five
Fall
ESS 521 Geometrics 3
ESS 547 Earth and Space Science Seminar 1
ESS 549
Advanced Hydrogeology
or Principles of Meteorology
3
ESS 5XXElective 3
 Credits10
Spring
ESS 536
Environmental Geology
or Principles of Oceanography
3
ESS 602 Directed Research 3
ESS 5XXElective 3
ESS 5XXElective 3
 Credits12
 Total Credits145-146