| GEOSCIENCE PROGRAMS The Department of Geosciences offers two baccalaureate degrees and three minors. The baccalaureate degrees are for students who seek to be employed as a professional geologist or an earth science teacher, or those who want to go on to graduate school. The minors are primarily for students majoring in other disciplines but who want a strong geology background. Majors The Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in Geology is designed for students who desire to work as a geologist in industry or government agencies, or who want to go on to a graduate school program. The Bachelor of Science in Education (BSE) degree in Earth Science is designed for students who are interested in a career as a secondary earth science teacher in a junior or senior high school. Minors The Environmental Geology Minor is for students who want to work in a field dealing with environmental aspects of geology. It may be completed by geology majors or by students who are majoring in other fields. The Geology Minor is for students who want a background in geology in order to pursue an interdisciplinary career. The Earth Science Minor is for prospective teachers who major in another field but also want to be able to teach earth science. Catalog The learning outcomes and program requirements for the major programs are shown on the following pages, taken from the MSU catalog. The program requirements for the minors are also outlined. Note: The requirements listed for the Environmental Geology Minor in the MSU Catalog are not correct. The ones listed here are the correct requirements. Advising Tips The best advice relative to advising is to regularly meet with your advisor, particularly when planning your classes for the next semester. If you do not, you may not be able to complete your program in the most efficient manner. There are three more specific tips that should also be pointed out here. For Students Beginning a Major: You will not be able to take upper-level courses until you have completed GEOL 105 (Physical Geology) and GEOL 210 (Minerals and Rocks). Also, specifically for getting into GEOL 311 (Paleontology), you will need to have completed GEOL 106 (Historical Geology). In general, to put yourself in a position to start taking upper-level courses your second year, during your first year you should take GEOL 105 during the fall semester, and GEOL 106 and GEOL 210 during the spring semester. For Students Starting Upper-Level Courses: In general, you should take the upper-level classes when they are available. These courses are offered on an alternate-year basis (i.e., once every two years). Long-Range Course Schedule: The Department has prepared a long-range schedule showing when particular courses will be offered. Be sure to make use of this when planning your program of study. A copy of this schedule can be found HERE. Bachelor of Arts with a Major in Geology Program Learning Outcomes Upon completion of this program, students will: - Understand the central concepts in geology, - Be able to collect field data needed to solve geologic problems, - Be able to collect, properly manipulate, and present laboratory data needed to solve geologic problems, - Be able to locate geologic literature relevant to solving various geologic problems, - Be able to apply concepts, data, and relevant literature to solving geologic problems, and - Be able to effectively communicate the results of geologic studies. Program Requirements General Education (39 cr) Geology majors are required to take the following courses which may be used to help satisfy General Education requirements: CHEM 121/121L General Chemistry I (5) MATH 107 Precalculus (4) Required Geology Courses (41 cr) GEOL 105 Physical Geology (4) GEOL 106 Historical Geology (4) GEOL 210 Minerals and Rocks (3) GEOL 305 Methods in Mineralogy and Petrology (2) GEOL 310 Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology (3) GEOL 311 Paleontology (4) GEOL 321 Hydrogeology (3) GEOL 322 Geomorphology (4) GEOL 361 Structural Geology (4) GEOL 411 Field Geology (6) GEOL 471 Sedimentation and Stratigraphy (4) Required Support Course (4 cr) SCI 240 Research Methods (2) SCI 480 Seminar (2) Bachelor of Science in Education with a Major in Earth Science Program Learning Outcomes Upon completion of this program, students will: - Understand the central concepts in geology, - Understand central concepts in other earth science disciplines, - Understand the relationships among the earth sciences and between earth sciences and society, - Develop the background and general skills necessary for teaching science in a secondary school setting, and - Develop dispositions necessary for success in teaching. Program Requirements General Education (39 cr) Required Geology Courses (34 cr) GEOL 105 Physical Geology (4) GEOL 106 Historical Geology (4) GEOL 210 Minerals and Rocks (3) GEOL 305 Methods in Mineralogy and Petrology (2) GEOL 310 Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology (3) GEOL 311 Paleontology 4) GEOL 321 Hydrogeology (3) GEOL 322 Geomorphology (4) GEOL 323 Global Climate Change (3) GEOL Electives (4) (may include GEOG 333) Required Support Courses (37 cr) CHEM 121/121L General Chemistry I (5) CHEM 122/122L General Chemistry II (5) CSCI 101 Introduction to Computer Science (3) MATH 107 Precalculus (4) PHYS 110 Astronomy (4) MATH 240 Applied Statistics (4) SCI 240 Research Methods (2) SCI 480 Seminar (2) Elect one BIOL (4 cr), and one PHYS (4 cr) course (may not include PHYS 110) (8) Professional Education Sequence (37 cr) ED 250 Foundations of Education (2) ED 260 Educational Psychology (2) ED 320 Curriculum, Planning, and Assessment (3)* ED 380 Technology in Teaching (2)* ED 460 Managing the Learning Environment (2)* ED 470 Teaching Diverse Learners (2)* ED 493 Student Teaching (12)* SCI 391 Teaching Science in the Sec. School (3)* SPED 110 Introduction to Exceptional Children (3) SS 283 Ethnic and Cultural Diversity in America (3) Elect one of the following (3 cr) PSY 255 Child and Adolescent Psychology (3) PSY 352 Adolescent Psychology (3) * Requires admittance to Teacher Education Environmental Geology Minor Geology Minor (Non -Teaching) Earth Science Minor (Teaching) Geology Concentration |
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