Mar 28, 2024  
2023 Undergraduate Catalog 1.1 (WINTER-SPRING) 
    
2023 Undergraduate Catalog 1.1 (WINTER-SPRING) [ARCHIVED CATALOG - Consult with Your Academic Advisor for Your Catalog Year]

Geoscience (B.S.) - Hegis Code 1917.00


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(Bachelor of Science Degree)

The mission of the Department of Geology is to provide knowledge and understanding of the earth and its hazards and resources as well as an understanding of the interactions of the earth with other natural environments and with society to students in Geoscience, the other natural sciences, liberal arts, and pre-professional programs who choose such courses as part of their majors, minors and general education electives.

Utica University offers both B.S. and B.A. degrees in Geoscience. The B.S. affords greater depth in geoscience and the other physical sciences and is designed to prepare students to work in applied earth and environmental science or pursue graduate studies in geoscience or related disciplines. Students interested in teaching should see also the Programs in Education.

Total credit hours required for degree: 120

Learning Objectives

Students who complete the BS degree will:

  • Explain the fundamentals of the Theory of Plate Tectonics, including its causes and its effects, and the evidence that supports its occurrence;
  • Describe aspects of Plate Tectonic Theory about which there is uncertainty and/or disagreement;
  • Explain and provide illustrative examples of how earth processes and materials impact human society and how activities of human society impact the earth and environment;  describe and explain in detail several examples of each with emphasis on interactions with the geology in addition to the broader environment;
  • Explain the limitations of several different methods used to perform historical science, and justify how and why multiple approaches are used simultaneously;
  • Explain how modern-day processes can be used to reconstruct the processes and events of Earths’ deep past and its evolution over periods of time

Academic Requirements


Core/General Education: 34 - 55 Credit Hours


Effective for the 2022-2023 academic year, Utica University has implemented a new general education program that replaces Core. Students who are admitted, or readmitted, for the 2022- 2023 academic year or later must follow the requirements of the General Education program. Students admitted prior to the 2022-2023 academic year must follow the requirements of the Core program. For full details of program requirements, see the catalog pages for the Core program and the General Education program. Students with specific questions should consult with their academic adviser or success coach.

Major Course Requirements: 29 Credit Hours


40 Credit Hours


Additional Course Requirements


B.S. in Geoscience: 27-29 Credit Hours

Capstone Experience in Geoscience - select one of the following:


Note:


*Some students may develop an interest in geoscience while taking GOL 105  for Core. In such instances, students may substitute GOL 105  for GOL 225  by also successfully completing GOL 225  Lab while registered for 1 credit of GOL 390 .

**For students interested in continuing on to graduate studies in earth and environmental science, the calculus based physics courses PHY 261  and PHY 262  are highly recommended. These require MAT 201  - Calculus I (3) and MAT 202  - Calculus II (3).

Program Credits


Core/General Education 34-55 Credits
Major Course Requirements 29 Credits
Major Related Course Requirements 38-40 Credits
College Electives 0-19 Credits
   
Total Credit Hours Required For Degree 120 Credits

 

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