Geosciences Program > Program Overview
Program Overview
- Associate of Arts in GeoSciences
- Bachelor of Arts in GeoSciences
- Minor in Geography
- Minor in Geology
- Minor in Geosciences
Associate of Arts in Geosciences
The two-year program is designed to meet the needs of students who plan a career in the sciences or education or whose career area requires extensive first-hand knowledge of the geosciences. Together, the basic curriculum and electives afford the students considerable flexibility in planning a degree program to meet their career objectives. The program requires at least 60 credit hours.
Bachelor of Arts in Geosciences
The Geosciences program offers a Bachelor of Arts in Geosciences with five concentrations: Human Geography, Geographic Information Science, Environmental Geoscience, Physical Geography, and Geology. These disciplines prepare students for working in a broad range of Geoscience careers including the private sector, local, state and federal government, and as a preparation for graduate studies.
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Human Geography Concentration - The Human Geography Concentration focuses on an understanding of foreign cultures, language, and history in relation to urbanization, industrialization, environmental between population growth and finite resources. Both developed and developing countries are the subject of study.
Geographic Information Science Concentration - The GIS Concentration incorporates dynamic changes in current advances in spatial sciences and technology. The students that complete GIS concentration enhance significantly their employment opportunities especially in environmental consultation agencies, mapping technology industry and surveying. The GIS concentration pertains to all natural resource fields such as Geology and Biology as well as social studies and business. Students in this concentration develop skills in spatial analysis, environmental modeling, and computer programming. GIS is currently one of the most employable fields in the geosciences.
Environmental Geoscience Concentration - The Environmental Geoscience Concentration examines the causes and impacts of both natural and anthropogenic hazards. Prevention or avoidance, mitigation, public policy, and legislation are studied. Graduates of this concentration are well-prepared to work for local, state, and federal government agencies, as well as private environmental engineering firms.
Physical Geography Concentration - The Physical Geography Concentration prepares students for the efficient utilization and conservation of these precious resources. The hydrological cycle is examined in the atmosphere, surface, and groundwater systems. The study of landforms, climate, and natural resources are emphasized to offer the student a greater understanding the earth's processes and environment.
Geology Concentration - The Geology Concentration offers a true interdisciplinary approach to science. Geologists employ aspects of Biology, Chemistry, Geography, Mathematics, and Physics to more fully understand the earth´s history and processes. Geologists are broadly prepared in the natural sciences and have diverse field and laboratory experience with minerals, rocks, and fossils. The Geology Concentration is intended for students who intend to pursue a career in the private sector, local, state and federal government, and as a preparation for graduate studies.
Minor in Geography
The Geography Minor is useful to all students interested in broadening their knowledge of the natural and socio-economic systems of the World. The Geography Minor is an important addition to many majors, in particular Biology, Chemistry, Education, and Geology.
Minor in Geology
The Geology Minor augments those students majoring in Biology, Chemistry Education, and Computer Science who are focused on applying their disciplines to the earth and its environment. Direct applications include ground-water movement and contamination, solid waste remediation (chemistry), environmental modeling (Computer Science), solid earth geophysics (Physics) and the physical environmental context of plants and animals (Biology).
Minor in Geosciences
The Geoscience Minor was especially developed to support Education and General Studies majors the opportunity to obtain an academically focused minor. The Minor in Geosciences offers a broader scope but with less depth than either the Geography or Geology Minors. Students cannot earn a Minor in Geoscience in any combination with other Geoscience majors or minors.
