Overview

Faculty

David Bailey, chair

Catherine Beck

Cynthia Domack

Todd Rayne

Barbara Tewksbury

A concentration in Geosciences consists of 10 units of credit in Geosciences, including one course in Principles of Geoscience (GEOSC-101 to GEOSC-115), GEOSC-209, GEOSC-211, GEOSC-220, GEOSC-230, GEOSC-290, GEOSC-510 - GEOSC-511 and two other courses in Geosciences numbered 200 or higher, and a two-course sequence in a supporting science. The sequence of two courses in one of the supporting sciences consists of CHEM-120 or CHEM-125 and a second chemistry course numbered 190 or above, PHYS-100 and PHYS-105 or PHYS-190 and PHYS-195, MATH-113 and MATH-116, CPSCI-110 and CPSCI-111, or any 100-level Biology course and a second Biology course numbered 200 or higher. The supporting science requirement must be discussed with the department chair at the time of declaration of concentration and should be completed before the start of senior year. All concentrators, especially those planning a career in the earth and environmental sciences, should take additional courses in chemistry, mathematics, physics, computer science and biology according to the student’s interests.

A Senior Project consisting of two full-credit courses (GEOSC-510 - GEOSC-511) is required for the concentration. The College’s Social, Structural, and Institutional Hierarchies (SSIH) requirement is integrated into the department’s Senior Project program.

Departmental honors will be awarded on the basis of excellence in coursework, a superior Senior Project, and completion of two additional courses in the supporting sciences as listed above.

A minor consists of a course in Principles of Geoscience and four units of credit in other Geoscience courses at the 200 level or above that are approved by the department.

Students interested in careers in oceanography should consider concentrations in chemistry or mathematics with supporting courses in Geoscience including GEOSC-112, GEOSC-210, GEOSC-211, GEOSC-220, and GEOSC-370, and BIO-213. Students interested in careers in meteorology should consider concentrations in physics or mathematics with supporting courses in Geoscience including GEOSC-112, GEOSC-210, GEOSC-240 and GEOSC-285, and CHEM-265.