Geosciences Major, Bachelor of Science (BS)
There are three concentrations in the Geosciences BS: 1) Professional Geology concentration prepares students for the WA State Geology License exams as well as graduate school level research. 2) Climate Change and Environmental Justice prepares students to help study and support society in an ever changing world. 3) Geosciences is an option that allows students to best fit their interest by building a degree with a Geosciences advisor.
Geoscientists study the Earth and our relationship to it by providing opportunities to observe natural processes in action. By applying knowledge of the forces that are constantly reshaping our planet, one can seek to reconstruct the past and anticipate the future. You can benefit society by understanding our planet and the life it sustains. Employed in a wide spectrum of academic, industrial, and government positions, geoscientists can be found collecting samples from the moon, the ocean floor, and active lava flows. They discover and manage resources, consult on engineering and environmental issues, conduct research, teach, write, and use Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to make positive change.
Career Opportunities can include: Geotechnical and environmental fields, Hydrology, economic geology, GIS, energy companies, Governmental regulation and natural resource departments, and public health.
| Required Science Core: | 15 | |
| PRECALCULUS MATH II | ||
| AND Choose any two of the following (CHEM 171 and CHEM 171L are required for the Professional Geology Concentration) | ||
| BIOLOGY I | ||
| GENERAL CHEMISTRY I and GENERAL CHEMISTRY LABORATORY I | ||
| GENERAL CHEMISTRY II and GENERAL CHEMISTRY LABORATORY II | ||
| PROGRAMMING PRINCIPLES I | ||
| CALCULUS I | ||
or HONS 161 | CALCULUS I | |
| GENERAL PHYSICS I and MECHANICS LABORATORY | ||
or PHYS 131 | INTRODUCTORY PHYSICS I | |
| Required Core | 30 | |
| DISCOVERING GEOLOGY | ||
| THE EARTH'S CLIMATE AND WEATHER | ||
| GLOBALIZATION AND THE ENVIRONMENT | ||
| GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS I: SPATIAL ANALYSIS FOR SOCIAL SCIENCES | ||
or GEOS 323 | GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS I: SPATIAL ANALYSIS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES | |
| GEOSTATISTICS | ||
| WORKSHOP, SHORT COURSE, CONFERENCE, SEMINAR (variable title and credits) | ||
| Choose one of the following Concentrations and Capstone | 45 | |
Please note that 60 credits of 300- or 400-level courses are required for graduation. | ||
| Geosciences—45 credits | ||
In consultation of faculty advisor, take at least 45 credits (at least 35 must be taken at the 300- or 400-level, including capstone) of GEOS credit electives. | ||
All GEOS courses are possible electives to satisfy this concentration | ||
| Professional Geology - 45 Credits | ||
| THE EARTH THROUGH TIME | ||
| EARTH MATERIALS | ||
| IGNEOUS AND METAMORPHIC PETROLOGY | ||
| SEDIMENTOLOGY AND STRATIGRAPHY | ||
| STRUCTURAL GEOLOGY | ||
| FIELD METHODS AND REGIONAL GEOLOGY | ||
Electives–choose at least three of the following courses | ||
| INVERTEBRATE PALEONTOLOGY | ||
| ADVANCED & APPLIED OPTICAL MINERALOGY | ||
| PRINCIPLES OF GEOCHEMISTRY | ||
| GROUNDWATER HYDROLOGY | ||
| ENGINEERING GEOLOGY OF SOILS: INTRODUCTION TO GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING | ||
Capstone | ||
| SENIOR CAPSTONE: GEOLOGY FIELD CAMP | ||
| Climate Change and Environmental Justice—45 credits | ||
| HOT EARTH: PEOPLE AND CLIMATE CHANGE | ||
| WORLD GEOGRAPHY | ||
| RESOURCES AND CONSERVATION | ||
| ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE | ||
| RESOURCES AND MANAGEMENT | ||
All GEOS courses are possible electives to satisfy this concentration–check with your advisor. | ||
Capstone | ||
| THE GEOSCIENTIST'S CAPSTONE | ||
| Total Credits | 90 | |
Plan of Study
The following plan of study is for a student with zero credits. Individual students may have different factors such as: credit through transfer work, Advanced Placement, Running Start, or any other type of college-level coursework that requires an individual plan.
Courses may be offered in different terms and not all courses are offered every term, checking the academic schedule is paramount in keeping an individual plan current. There may be some courses that have required prerequisites not listed in the plan, review the course descriptions for information. Students should connect with an advisor to ensure they are on track to graduate.
All Undergraduate students are required to meet the Undergraduate Degree Requirements.
| First Year | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall Quarter | Credits | Winter Quarter | Credits | Spring Quarter | Credits |
| ENGL 101 | 5 | ENGL 201 | 5 | GEOS 113 (Natural Science BACR 2) | 5 |
| GEOS 100 (Natural Science BACR 1) | 5 | GEOS 200 (Social Science BACR 1) | 5 | MATH 142 | 5 |
| MATH 114 | 5 | MATH 141 | 5 | Diversity - graduation requirement1 | 5 |
| 15 | 15 | 15 | |||
| Second Year | |||||
| Fall Quarter | Credits | Winter Quarter | Credits | Spring Quarter | Credits |
| GEOS 321 | 5 | Geosciences Concentration Elective2 | 5 | Geosciences Concentration Elective2 | 5 |
| Global Studies - graduation requirement (GEOS 230 recommended)1 | 5 | Science Core3 | 5 | Humanities & Arts BACR 21 | 5 |
| Humanities & Arts BACR 11 | 5 | Social Science BACR 21 | 5 | Elective - certificate, minor, or general elective | 5 |
| 15 | 15 | 15 | |||
| Third Year | |||||
| Fall Quarter | Credits | Winter Quarter | Credits | Spring Quarter | Credits |
| GEOS 497 | 1 | GEOS 460 | 4 | Geosciences Concentration Elective | 5 |
| Geosciences Concentration Elective2 | 5 | Geosciences Concentration Elective2 | 5 | Elective - certificate, minor, or general elective | 5 |
| Elective - certificate, minor, or general elective | 5 | Science Core3 | 5 | Elective - certificate, minor, or general elective | 5 |
| Elective - certificate, minor, or general elective | 5 | ||||
| 16 | 14 | 15 | |||
| Fourth Year | |||||
| Fall Quarter | Credits | Winter Quarter | Credits | Spring Quarter | Credits |
| Geosciences Concentration Elective2 | 5 | Geosciences Concentration Elective2 | 5 | GEOS 490 or 490G (select capstone based on concentration (Senior Capstone - graduation requirement)) | 5 |
| Elective - certificate, minor, or general elective | 5 | Elective - certificate, minor, or general elective | 5 | Geosciences Concentration Elective2 | 5 |
| Elective - certificate, minor, or general elective | 5 | Elective - certificate, minor, or general elective | 5 | Elective - certificate, minor, or general elective | 5 |
| 15 | 15 | 15 | |||
| Total Credits 180 | |||||
- 1
University Graduation Requirements (UGR) and Breadth Area Course Requirements (BACR) courses may be less than 5 credits and additional credits may be required to reach the required 180 total credits needed to graduate. Students should connect with an advisor to ensure they are on track to graduate.
- 2
Choose one of the Concentrations and Capstone. Please note that 60 credits of 300 or 400-level courses are required for graduation.
Geosciences–In consultation of faculty advisor, take at least 45 credits (at least 35 must be taken at the 300- or 400 level, including capstone) of GEOS credit electives. All GEOS courses are possible electives to satisfy this concentration.
Professional Geology–45 credits required.
Climate Change and Environmental Justice–Electives 45 credits required–complete 25 credits from the approved list and choose at least 10 additional approved GEOS credits at 300–level or above, or PLAN 376, PLAN 430, or PLAN 442. All GEOS courses are possible electives to satisfy this concentration–check with your advisor.- 3
Required Science Core–MATH 142 and choose two courses from the approved list (CHEM 171 and CHEM 171L are required for the Professional Geology Concentration).
University Competencies and Proficiencies
English
Quantitative and Symbolic Reasoning
Placement and Clearance
Prior Learning/Sources of Credit AP, CLEP, IB
General Education Requirements (GER)
- Minimum Credits—180 cumulative credit hours
- 60 upper-division credits (300 level or above)
- 45 credits in residence (attendance) at Eastern, with at least 15 upper-division credits in major in residence at Eastern
- Minimum Cumulative GPA ≥2.0
Breadth Area Core Requirements (BACR)
Humanities and Arts
Natural Sciences
Social Sciences
University Graduation Requirements (UGR)
Diversity Course List
World Language (for Bachelor of Arts)
Global Studies Course List
Minor or Certificate
Senior Capstone Course List
Application for Graduation (use EagleNET) must be made at least two terms in advance of the term you expect to graduate (undergraduate and post-baccalaureate).
Use the Catalog Archives to determine two important catalog years.
Requirements in Degree Works are based on these two catalog years:
- The catalog in effect at the student's first term of current matriculation is used to determine BACR (Breadth Area Credit Requirements) and UGR (Undergraduate Graduation Requirements).
- The catalog in effect at the time the student declares a major or minor is used to determine the program requirements.
Students who earn a BS in Geosciences from EWU should be able to:
- demonstrate knowledge of human–environment interactions;
- apply geoscience techniques to a complex problem;
- produce a professionally formatted report that effectively communicates;
- demonstrate advanced analytical skills in the geosciences in preparation for the professional job market or graduate studies.