Geosciences, B.S.

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Requirements for the Major:

A minimum of eleven courses in the department including:

Choose one from the following:
ENS 100 - Introduction to Environmental Studies
GEO 106 - Introduction to Oceanography
GEO 109 - Geologic Perspectives on Global Warming
GEO 110 - Physical Geology
GEO 112 - Environmental Geology
GEO 117 - Natural Disasters
Take the following courses:
GEO 120 - The Story of Earth and Life
GEO 201 - Stratigraphy and Depositional Environments of New York
GEO 202 - Geomorphology
GEO 220 - Mineral Science
GEO 307 - Structural Geology
GEO 320 - Petrology of Igneous and Metamorphic Rocks
GEO 405 - Geosciences Senior Seminar
Senior Writing (WS) Requirement: (Choose one option below)
One-Term Option:
GEO 498 - Geosciences Research and Writing
Two-Term Option:
GEO 495 - Geosciences Thesis Research 1
GEO 496 - Geosciences Thesis Research 2

Students in the Traditional Geosciences Track must choose two courses from the following:

Students in the Environmental Geosciences Track must choose two courses from the following:

All students must complete two courses from the following list:

Any elective courses from the geosciences curriculum
or
ENS 204 - Geographic Information Systems
or
ENS 215 - Exploring Environmental Data
BIO 320 - Ecology
or
BIO 350T - Terrestrial Ecology of Australia
Or
AST 150 - (105) Introduction to Planetary Science
CHM 231 - Organic Chemistry 1
or
CHM 240 - Analytical Chemistry
Of these, no more than one may be at the 100-level.

Also required are two terms each of the following:

Mathematics

Any two courses numbered 100 or higher, or equivalent such as:

MTH 113 - Accelerated Single-Variable Calculus

Chemistry

The following is required, and any CHM course numbered 102 or higher.

CHM 101 - Introductory Chemistry 1

Biology or Physics

(any two courses numbered 100 or higher).

Note: Advanced work or a minor is encouraged in chemistry, physics, biology, mathematics, economics, or engineering.

All Geosciences courses at the 100 level are introductory and have no prerequisites. All serve as an entry point to the major. Preference will be given to first and second year students

Additional Requirements

Senior Geosciences majors may not take any introductory course for major credit. A senior thesis is required, and theses may either be 1 term (GEO 498 ) or 2-3 terms (GEO 495 , GEO 496 , GEO 497 ). Completion of a two-term senior thesis (GEO 495 and GEO 496) is required for honors, and only one senior level research credit may count toward the two geosciences electives. Students who intend on going to graduate school are strongly encouraged to do a research thesis and to take two courses in physics rather than biology, unless specifically interested in paleontology or geobiology, because most graduate programs require physics. A summer field course in the junior year is strongly recommended, particularly for those going on to graduate school or geological consulting work.

Requirements for Honors in Geosciences:

The major requirements as specified above are required, as are the GPA requirements of Union College described elsewhere in this catalog. A senior research thesis is required, consisting of at least two terms of GEO 495 , GEO 496 or GEO 497 (independent research with a faculty member). Theses involving GEO 497 must be completed by the end of the 6th week of the Spring term. An oral public presentation and defense in the spring term is also required. Successful defense of the thesis is determined by a vote of the geosciences faculty. An oral public presentation and defense in the spring term is also required. Successful defense of the thesis is determined by a vote of the geosciences faculty.