Earth, Energy, and Environmental Sciences - Geoscience Emphasis, B.S. | Utah Tech University Catalog
Earth, Energy, and Environmental Sciences - Geoscience Emphasis, B.S.
Program Description
The Earth, Energy, and Environmental Sciences major is an interdisciplinary study of the relevant natural science disciplines, with emphases in either the Geosciences or the Environmental Sciences. This program provides knowledge and experience through lecture, laboratory, and field courses that immerse the students into the world around them. Students will analyze and solve problems associated with use of energy, water, and mineral resources; in protection of the environment; in planning for the impact of natural hazards; and in sustainable approaches to societal development. The region and ecosystems that surround Utah Tech University provide the ideal laboratory to apply concepts to the earth, energy, and environmental issues that impact the future of humanity. Emphases in the Geosciences and the Environmental Sciences are available depending on the student interests.
Program Curriculum
120 credits
Utah Tech General Education Requirements
All Utah Tech General Education requirements must be fulfilled. A previously earned degree may fulfill those requirements, but courses must be equivalent to Utah Tech's minimum General Education standards in American Institutions, English, and Mathematics.
General Education Core Requirements
Course List
Code
Title
Hours
3-7
Mathematics
3-5
American Institutions
3-6
Life Sciences
3-10
Physical Sciences
3-5
Fine Arts
Literature/Humanities
Social & Behavioral Sciences
Earth, Energy, & Environmental Science Core Requirements
Course List
Code
Title
Hours
ENVS 1210
ENVS 1215
Principles of Environmental Science
and Principles of Environmental Science Laboratory
ENVS 2210
Environmental Pollution and Remediation Techniques
ENER 3310
Energy and the Environment
ENER 4310
Energy Technology and Sustainability
GEO 1110
GEO 1115
Physical Geology (PS)
and Physical Geology Lab (LAB)
GEO 2050
Earth Materials
GEO 3400
Water Resources
GEOG 3600
GEOG 3605
Introduction to Geographic Information Systems
and Introduction to Geographic Information Systems Laboratory
CHEM 1210
CHEM 1215
Principles of Chemistry I (PS)
and Principles of Chemistry I Lab (LAB)
CHEM 1220
CHEM 1225
Principles of Chemistry II
and Principles of Chemistry II Lab
BIOL 1610
BIOL 1615
Principles of Biology I (LS)
and Principles of Biology I Lab (LAB)
BIOL 3110
Scientific Writing
MATH 1060
Trigonometry (MA)
PHYS 2010
PHYS 2015
College Physics I (PS)
and College Physics I Lab
Geoscience Emphasis Requirements
Course List
Code
Title
Hours
GEO 1220
GEO 1225
Historical Geology
and Historical Geology Lab
GEO 2700R
Field Methods in Geoscience Research
GEO 2990R
Career Seminar in Geology
GEO 3700
Structural Geology and Tectonics
GEO 4800R
Independent Research
1-3
Required Place-Based Course
Course List
Code
Title
Hours
Choose 1 of the following place-based courses:
ENVS 3910
Biodiversity and Conservation in Costa Rica
ENVS 3920
Biodiversity and Conservation in the Peruvian Amazon
ENVS 3930
Biodiversity and Conservation in South Africa
GEO 3000
Advanced Geologic Investigation of Colorado Plateau Basin and Range provinces through national parks
GEO 3910
Applied Geologic Investigation of Iceland
GEO 3920
Applied Geological Investigation of the Andes
GEOG 3930
Remote Sensing of Landscape: China
Elective Requirements
Course List
Code
Title
Hours
Choose 22 elective credits from the following list:
GEO 3060
Environmental Geology
GEO 3180
Paleontology
GEO 3200
Mineralogy
GEO 3500
Geomorphology
GEO 3550
Sedimentology & Stratigraphy
GEO 3600
Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology
GEO 3710
Hydrology
GEO 4000R
Selected Geology Field Excursions
GEO 4600
Field Geology
GEO 4800R
Independent Research
1-3
ENVS 3280
Environmental Law, Management and Policy
ENVS 3410
Air Quality and Control Technologies
ENVS 3510
Waste Management
ENVS 4080
Environmental Monitoring and Characterization
ENVS 4085
Environmental Monitoring and Characterization Laboratory
GEOG 4140
Advanced GIS Analysis
GEOG 3410
Paleoclimatology
GEOG 4180
Geoprocessing with Python
ENVS 3910
Biodiversity and Conservation in Costa Rica
ENVS 3920
Biodiversity and Conservation in the Peruvian Amazon
ENVS 3930
Biodiversity and Conservation in South Africa
GEOG 3930
Remote Sensing of Landscape: China
GEO 3000
Advanced Geologic Investigation of Colorado Plateau Basin and Range provinces through national parks
GEO 3910
Applied Geologic Investigation of Iceland
ENGL 2201
Literature and the Land (HU, GC)
MATH 1210
Calculus I (MA)
1. COURSE FEE REQUIRED. See course fee tab for details.
Graduation Requirements
Complete a minimum of 120 college-level credits (1000 and above).
Complete at least 40 upper-division credits (3000 and above).
Complete at least 30 upper-division credits at Utah Tech for institutional residency.
Cumulative GPA 2.0 or higher.
Grade C- or higher in all required courses.
Graduation Plan
1st Year
Fall Semester
Hours
Spring Semester
Hours
ENGL 1010
BIOL 1610
BIOL 1615
ENVS 1210
ENVS 1215
ENGL 2010
GEO 1110
GEO 1115
GEO 1220
GEO 1225
MATH 1080
or
1060
CHEM 1210
CHEM 1215
MATH 1060, MATH 1080, or Higher
16
17
2nd Year
Fall Semester
Hours
Spring Semester
Hours
GEO 2050
GEO 2700R
GEO 2990R
ENVS 2210
PHYS 2010
or
2210
CHEM 1220
CHEM 1225
PHYS 2015
or
2215
GE Fine Arts, American Institutions, or Social & Behavioral Sciences
GE Fine Arts, American Institutions, or Social & Behavioral Sciences
GE Fine Arts, American Insitutions, or Social & Behavioral Sciences
Required and open electives
16
15
3rd Year
Fall Semester
Hours
Spring Semester
Hours
GEO 3400
BIOL 3110
GEOG 3600
GEOG 3605
Place-based course (3rd year F or S)
ENER 3310
Required and open electives
Place-based course (3rd Year F or S)
GEO 3700
13
16
4th Year
Fall Semester
Hours
Spring Semester
Hours
ENER 4310
GEO 4800R
(F or S (or both))
1-3
GEO 4800R
(F or S (or both))
1-3
Required and open electives
12
Required and open electives
13-15
13-15
Total Hours 119-123
BS Earth, Energy & Environmental Sciences - Geoscience Emphasis Program Learning Outcomes
At the successful conclusion of this program, students will be able to:
Consider the interdisciplinary nature of geological, environmental, and energy sciences, as well as their interrelationships with human activity.
Analyze environmental science issues and propose ethical solutions that account for cross-cultural and historical context at local and global scales.
Correlate geologic processes with Earth's energy sources and appraise our dependence and exploitation of those sources to support society.
Critically assess datasets from qualitative and quantitative research methods that explore solutions to earth, energy and environmental science issues.
Evaluate the effects of geologic time as they pertain to the interactive nature of and changes to Earth systems (Geosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere).
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