Nov 21, 2024

2023-2024 Undergraduate Catalog

2023-2024 Undergraduate Catalog This is not the most recent catalog version; be sure you are viewing the appropriate catalog year.

Earth Science [BS]

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Revised Program [Fall 2023]

Earth Scientists integrate multiple fields of study to address the grand challenges our growing global population faces, such as climate change, coastal erosion, geological hazards, ocean acidification, sea level rise, and sustainable energy sources. As an Earth Scientist, you can explore a variety of questions. For example, why is the Earth’s climate warming, how do we know, and how will this affect the Earth System? How do ocean currents influence temperature? How will sea level rise impact coastal communities? How do rivers and glaciers shape the landscapes around us? Ultimately, this degree will prepare you to address the future challenges facing the Earth System.

Learn

As a student in this program, you will learn to apply the scientific method in Earth Science through classroom, field, and laboratory experiences. You will investigate processes occurring above and at Earth’s surface and the connections that exist among them to produce complex planetary-scale phenomena, such as climate change, landscape evolution, ocean circulation, and weather patterns. By carefully selecting elective courses in consultation with an Earth Science Program adviser, you will gain a deeper knowledge of a specific component of the Earth System. A student interested primarily in the Earth System’s solid-Earth component should consider a Geology major.

Opportunities

A degree in Earth Science could have you working in the environmental, natural resource, or construction fields. In these fields, you could be employed by consulting, government, industry, education, or research organizations. This degree will also prepare you for graduate studies in Earth Science or a related field. Students contemplating a professional career in Earth Science should know that training at the Master’s level or above is becoming increasingly necessary. Many graduate schools have minimum STEM requirements that may be beyond the minimum required by this program. Discuss your potential career path with an Earth Science Program adviser and how best to achieve it.

This is a STEM-designated program (see OPT Extension).

Department Information

Geography & Geology 140D Strong Hall, 734.487.0218

Christine Clark, PhD, Department Head

Advisor Information

Maria-Serena Poli, PhD, Professor, 140L Strong Hall, 734.487.8063

Eric Portenga, PhD, Professor, 140V Strong Hall, 734.487.0926

General Education Requirements:

For specific requirements, see General Education or view the General Education Worksheet [PDF] .

Major Requirements: 73-78 hours

Science Foundation Requirements: 16-18 hours

Chemistry: 8 hours
CHEM 121 General Chemistry I [GEKN] 3 hrs
CHEM 122 General Chemistry I Laboratory [GEKN] 1 hr
CHEM 123 General Chemistry II 3 hrs
CHEM 124 General Chemistry II Laboratory 1 hr
Physics: 4-5 hours

Choose one course from the following
PHY 221 Mechanics, Sound and Heat [GEKN] 4 hrs
PHY 223 Mechanics and Sound [GEKN] 5 hrs
Mathematics: 4-5 hours

Choose one course or course combination from the following
MATH 105 College Algebra [GEQR] 3 hrs
and MATH 107 Plane Trigonometry 2 hrs
MATH 112 Topics in Precalculus Mathematics [GEQR] 4 hrs
MATH 120 Calculus I [GEQR] 4 hrs

Required Courses: 45-48 hours

Basics: 17 hours
ESSC 110 The Dynamic Earth System [GEKN] 4 hrs
ESSC 111 The Earth System through Time 4 hrs
ESSC 212 Weather, Climate and the Earth System 3 hrs
ESSC 229 Rocks and Minerals 3 hrs
GEOG 276 Principles of Geographic Information Systems 3 hrs
Land, Ocean, Air: 26 hours
ESSC 300 Introduction to Hydrology 3 hrs
ESSC 320 Oceanography 3 hrs
ESSC 324 Weather 3 hrs
ESSC 325 Geomorphology 4 hrs
ESSC 370 Glacial and Quaternary Geology 4 hrs
ESSC 422 Environmental Geochemistry 3 hrs
ESSC 424W Climate Change [GEWI] 3 hrs
ESSC 450 Lake and Coastal Processes 3 hrs
Research/Internship: 2-5 hours

Choose one course from the following
ESSC 488L4 Internship [GELB] 2 hrs
ESSC 489L4 Internship [GELB] 5 hrs
ESSC 492 Undergraduate Research 2 hrs
ESSC 493 Undergraduate Research 3 hrs

Restricted Elective Courses: 12 hours

Choose twelve credit hours from the following. Students are limited to no more than one course at the 100-level.

Minor Requirement:

This major does not require a minor.

Program Total:

Students must earn a minimum total of 120 credits at the 100-level or above.

Critical Graduation Information

Each undergraduate student will be responsible for fulfilling the requirements (or their equivalents) of the Eastern Michigan University catalog in force at the time of their initial registration at a college or university or a subsequent catalog, including the one in effect at the time of their graduation.

In the event an undergraduate student does not complete the degree requirements within seven years of the date of their original registration at a college or university, the student may be required to have their credits re-evaluated by the academic department(s) of their major/minor in keeping with catalog requirements in force during the year of their graduation.

Minimum requirements for all bachelor’s degrees awarded by Eastern Michigan University

Some majors and minors require more than the minimum in one or more of the areas below; students are urged to consult this catalog for the requirements of their particular programs.

Earn a minimum total of 120 credit hours at the 100-level and above.
- Courses numbered below 100 are not counted toward this degree requirement.
- At most, eight credit hours of physical education (PEGN) activity courses are counted toward this requirement.
Meet the requirements of the General Education program (see information below), including completing a Writing Intensive (GEWI) course in the student’s major.
Earn a minimum of 60 credits from a four-year college or university; courses taken at community colleges cannot be used to meet this requirement (Some formal program-to-program articulation agreements modify this requirement. See specific agreements for details).
Earn a minimum of 30 credits from courses taken at EMU.
Complete 10 of the last 30 hours for the degree from courses taken at EMU.
Have a minimum of 30 unique credit hours in their major and 20 unique credit hours in their minor for a total of at least 50 unique credit hours between them. Some majors that require 50 or more hours themselves do not require a minor. A double major automatically satisfies the need for a minor unless one of the two majors requires a specific minor. Students should check the requirements of the selected major in the undergraduate catalog to see if a minor is required.
Earn no more than 60 credit hours in one subject area (prefix). Credits over the 60 maximum will not be counted toward the minimum of 120 credits required for a bachelor’s degree.
Earn the minimum number of credits in 300-level and above courses in each major and minor as specified below - these credits must be earned in distinct courses; that is, no course can be used to fulfill this requirement in more than one major or minor.
- Earn a minimum of 6 credits in 300-level or higher courses at EMU in each minor
- Earn a minimum of 9 credits in 300-level or higher courses at EMU in each major that requires a minor.
- Earn a minimum of 15 credits in 300-level or higher courses at EMU in each major that does not require a minor
Transfer credit will be awarded for courses taken at colleges and universities that are accredited by one of the recognized regional accrediting bodies only if the courses are college-level (equated to 100-level or above at EMU) and the student earned a “C” (or 2.0 on a 4 point scale) or better. Transfer credit may be awarded on a case-by-case basis for college-level courses in which a “C” (2.0) or better was earned at institutions outside the U.S. or at non-accredited U.S. institutions; individual departments/schools conduct the internal review of such courses within EMU, and additional documentation may be required. Please note: EMU awards only credit for transferred courses; grades are not used to calculate an EMU GPA.
Earn a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 in courses taken at EMU to graduate. In addition, a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 must be reached in each major and minor. Only courses a student takes at EMU and those applied to their major or minor are used to calculate their major and minor cumulative GPAs. (Note: some programs may require a higher GPA - check with your program advisor.)

General Education Requirements - EMU’s General Education Program requires students to choose from a menu of approved courses in several different areas; do not assume that other courses in the same department or similar names will fulfill these requirements. A detailed description of General Education requirements is available in the General Education section of the catalog.

Students who transferred to EMU may have modified general education requirements based on Michigan Transfer Agreement (MTA) or articulation agreements; consult your academic advisor for additional information.