Earth and Environmental Sciences, B.S.

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The Earth and Environmental Sciences (EES) program and degree at UWG offers multiple concentrations for students to pursue education and career pathways focusing on the Earth’s physical composition, its surface and atmospheric systems, and how these interact and are impacted by human activities. This broad area of interest, furthermore, is understood and explored using an integrated systems approach, emphasizing the spatial and temporal relationships within and between relevant natural and human systems. All EES students are prepared for future careers by gaining a particular skillset that enables them to analyze and explain conditions and processes that fall within this earth and environmental sciences framework. The culmination of this learning is the formulation, execution, and presentation of a faculty mentored research project. Based on existing faculty expertise, students majoring with a BS in EES can pursue one of three concentrations, each with its own thematic focus and methodology: 1) environmental sustainability, 2) geographic information systems, and 3) professional geology.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Students will be able to demonstrate knowledge of disciplinary elements of Earth and Environmental Science by explaining phenomena studied, foundational concepts, and key theories and methods.

2. Students will be able to apply appropriate research methodology and techniques to analyze problems related to EES.

3. Students will be able to produce research/scientific findings through the design and implementation of a faculty-mentored research project.

4. Students will be able to communicate effectively knowledge about EES phenomena, concepts, and methods in both oral and written presentations.

Requirement

Core IMPACTS General Education Requirements: (42 Hours)

Core IMPACTS General Education Requirements

(Note: Core IMPACTS Area M must include the following course and Core IMPACTS Area T must follow Option II)

MATH 1113 - Precalculus 3.0 - 4.0 Credit Hours

Field of Study: 18 Hours

GEOL 1121 - Exploring Earth 3 Credit Hours
GEOL 1121L - Exploring Earth Laboratory 1 Credit Hours
GEOG 1112 - Weather and Climate 3 Credit Hours
GEOG 1112L - Weather and Climate Laboratory 1 Credit Hours
GEOG 2253 - Geographies of Economic Development 3 Credit Hours
Choose between GEOG or GEOL options
GEOG 1113 - Landform Geography 3 Credit Hours
GEOG 1113L - Landform Geography Laboratory 1 Credit Hours
(or)
GEOL 1122 - Earth and Life Through Time 3 Credit Hours
GEOL 1122L - Earth and Life Through Time Laboratory 1 Credit Hours
Choose either MATH
MATH 1401 - Elementary Statistics 3 Credit Hours
(or)
MATH 1634 - Calculus I 4 Credit Hours
If needed, MATH credit from Core IMPACTS Area M and Core IMPACTS Area T and/or 1000/2000 level academic elective in GEOG, GEOL, CHEM, BIOL, PHYS, CS

Environmental Sustainability Concentration

This is a flexible concentration aimed at providing students with multiple pathways to developing the knowledge and skills demanded in the burgeoning field of environmental assessment, management and planning.

Required lower level courses 2-6 Credit Hours
GEOG 1013 - World Geography 3 Credit Hours
GEOG 2202 - Environmental Science 3 Credit Hours
GEOG 2202L - Environmental Science Lab 1 Credit Hours
GEOG 2333 - An Introduction to Research in Earth and Environmental Sciences 2 Credit Hours
(or)
GEOL 2333 - An Introduction to Research in Earth and Environmental Sciences 2 Credit Hours
Required upper level courses 15-17 Credit Hours
GEOL 3603 - Environmental Geology 3 Credit Hours
GEOG 3333 - Faculty-Mentored Research in Earth and Environmental Sciences 1-3 Credit Hours
(or)
GEOL 3333 - Faculty-Mentored Research in Earth and Environmental Sciences 1-3 Credit Hours
GEOG 3405 - Geographies of Sustainability 3 Credit Hours
GEOL 4093 - Risk Assessment 3 Credit Hours
GEOG 4333 - Earth and Environmental Sciences Capstone 2 Credit Hours
(or)
GEOL 4333 - Earth and Environmental Sciences Capstone 2 Credit Hours
GEOG 4700 - Global Environmental Change 3 Credit Hours
Choose two foundational upper level courses 6-8 Credit Hours
GEOG 3713 - Meteorology 3 Credit Hours
GEOG 3800 - Biogeography 3 Credit Hours
GEOG 3900 - Ecological Climatology 3 Credit Hours
GEOL 4003 - Geomorphology 3 Credit Hours
GEOL 4084 - Hydrogeology 4 Credit Hours
GEOG 4103 - Soil Science 3 Credit Hours
GEOG 4600 - Applied Climatology 3 Credit Hours
GEOG 4900 - Dendrochronology 4 Credit Hours
Choose one techniques/skills upper level course 3-4 Credit Hours
GEOL 3004 - Field Geology and Geologic Mapping 4 Credit Hours
GEOG 3563 - Remote Sensing and GIS Integration 4 Credit Hours
GEOG 4553 - Geographic Information System 4 Credit Hours
GEOG 4086 - Internship 1-3 Credit Hours
Choose one transdisciplinary upper level course 3-4 Credit Hours
GEOL 3014 - Mineralogy and Crystallography 4 Credit Hours
GEOG 3020 - Political Geography 3 Credit Hours
GEOG 3253 - Economic Geography 3 Credit Hours
GEOG 3643 - Urban Geography 3 Credit Hours
GEOG 3644 - Atlanta’s Geographies 3 Credit Hours
GEOL 4024 - Paleontology 4 Credit Hours
GEOL 4083 - Environmental Geochemistry 3 Credit Hours
GEOL 4604 - Economic Geology 4 Credit Hours
Additional upper level electives 6-12 Credit Hours

Professional Geology Concentration

This concentration focuses on giving students a well rounded understanding of geology and its relevance to humanity. The aim is to have students be able to pass the ASBOG exam required to becoming a licensed professional geologist.

Required lower level courses 2-10 Credit Hours
GEOL 1122 - Earth and Life Through Time 3 Credit Hours
GEOL 1122L - Earth and Life Through Time Laboratory 1 Credit Hours
CHEM 1211 - Principles of Chemistry I 3 Credit Hours
CHEM 1211L - Principles of Chemistry I Lab 1 Credit Hours
GEOG 2333 - An Introduction to Research in Earth and Environmental Sciences 2 Credit Hours
(or)
GEOL 2333 - An Introduction to Research in Earth and Environmental Sciences 2 Credit Hours
Required upper level courses 35-37 Credit Hours
GEOL 3004 - Field Geology and Geologic Mapping 4 Credit Hours
GEOL 3014 - Mineralogy and Crystallography 4 Credit Hours
GEOL 3024 - Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology 4 Credit Hours
GEOG 3333 - Faculty-Mentored Research in Earth and Environmental Sciences 1-3 Credit Hours
(or)
GEOL 3333 - Faculty-Mentored Research in Earth and Environmental Sciences 1-3 Credit Hours
GEOL 3034 - Structural Geology 4 Credit Hours
GEOL 4024 - Paleontology 4 Credit Hours
GEOL 4034 - Sedimentation and Stratigraphy 4 Credit Hours
GEOL 4084 - Hydrogeology 4 Credit Hours
GEOG 4333 - Earth and Environmental Sciences Capstone 2 Credit Hours
(or)
GEOL 4333 - Earth and Environmental Sciences Capstone 2 Credit Hours
GEOL 4604 - Economic Geology 4 Credit Hours
Additional upper level electives 2-4 Credit Hours

Geographic Information Science Concentration

This concentration is focused on having students become knowledgeable and skilled in the high-demand field of geospatial technologies, including GIS-based map making and the use/analysis of satellite and air-photo imagery.

Required lower level courses 2-6 Credit Hours
GEOG 1013 - World Geography 3 Credit Hours
GEOG 2202 - Environmental Science 3 Credit Hours
GEOG 2202L - Environmental Science Lab 1 Credit Hours
GEOG 2333 - An Introduction to Research in Earth and Environmental Sciences 2 Credit Hours
(or)
GEOL 2333 - An Introduction to Research in Earth and Environmental Sciences 2 Credit Hours
Required upper level courses 15-17 Credit Hours
GEOG 3333 - Faculty-Mentored Research in Earth and Environmental Sciences 1-3 Credit Hours
(or)
GEOL 3333 - Faculty-Mentored Research in Earth and Environmental Sciences 1-3 Credit Hours
GEOG 3563 - Remote Sensing and GIS Integration 4 Credit Hours
GEOG 4333 - Earth and Environmental Sciences Capstone 2 Credit Hours
(or)
GEOL 4333 - Earth and Environmental Sciences Capstone 2 Credit Hours
GEOG 4553 - Geographic Information System 4 Credit Hours
GEOG 4554 - Computer Cartography 4 Credit Hours
Choose two specialized upper level courses 12 Credit Hours
GEOG 4562 - Airphoto Interpretation and Photogrammetry 4 Credit Hours
GEOG 4564 - Contemporary Remote Sensing Applications 4 Credit Hours
GEOG 4753 - Contemporary GIS Applications 4 Credit Hours
GEOG 4755 - GIS Database Design 4 Credit Hours
GEOG 4757 - Programming and Customization in GIS 4 Credit Hours
GEOG 4893 - Practicum in GIS 4 Credit Hours
Additional upper level electives 10-12 Credit Hours

Note:

A maximum of six hours of independent research is allowed in the major. Must complete minimum of 6 hours 3000/4000 level DSW courses. Must complete minimum of 39 hours courses numbered 3000 or greater.