Earth and Environmental Sciences, BS

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Program Description:

EARTH SCIENCES:

The Earth Sciences Concentration focuses on physical aspects of earth. This includes the processes that shape its surface (both land and water) and interior. This field is also known as geology. It focuses on current and past processes. Many professional earth scientists work to protect natural resources, including water and environments. Professional earth scientists also explore for new resources such as oil, gas, or minerals.

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES:

The Environmental Sciences Concentration focuses on the interactions of physical and biological processes. Students become confident in using both laboratory and field techniques. They also develop the ability to discuss environmental issues and policies with scientific and lay audiences. Courses in the concentration address complex environmental issues, such as water quality and the effects of climate change.  Many professional environmental scientists work to protect natural resources, including water and environments.

PROGRAM LEARNING OUTCOMES:

The Earth & Environmental Sciences B.S. and B.A. degree programs develop many skills:

• solving problems using critical thinking
• combining a range of sciences (chemistry, physics, biology and mathematics) in creatively solving practical problems
• collaborating to complete projects with others
• interpreting various types of information, including numbers, graphs, and text
• presenting insights and information in writing and speaking

Career Opportunities:

The Earth & Environmental Sciences B.S. and B.A. degree programs are designed for students planning careers in fields such as environmental consulting or resource exploration. Other careers include public service within local, state, or federal regulatory agencies (EPA, Ohio EPA, county Departments of Health). They are also a choice for students planning graduate study in earth and environmental sciences.

For additional information:

• Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences
• College of Science and Mathematics

Earth Sciences Concentration

Program Requirements:

I. WRIGHT STATE CORE: 40 HOURS

ELEMENT 1: COMMUNICATION: 6 HOURS

ELEMENT 2: MATHEMATICS: 4 HOURS

Required

• MTH 2300 - Calculus I Credit Hour(s): 4

ELEMENT 3: GLOBAL TRADITIONS: 6 HOURS

ELEMENT 4: ARTS AND HUMANITIES: 3 HOURS

ELEMENT 5: SOCIAL SCIENCES: 6 HOURS

ELEMENT 6: NATURAL SCIENCES: 8 HOURS

Required

• EES 2510 - Earth Systems Credit Hour(s): 4
• EES 2550 - Earth History Credit Hour(s): 4

ADDITIONAL CORE COURSES

Required

• EES 2600 Credit Hour(s): 3

• MTH 2310 - Calculus II Credit Hour(s): 4

II. DEPARTMENTAL CORE REQUIREMENTS: 9 HOURS

• EES 3120 - Earth Materials Credit Hour(s): 4
• EES 4340 - Mapping Methods Credit Hour(s): 2
• EES 4350 - Field Mapping Credit Hour(s): 2
• EES 4280 - Earth and Environmental Sciences Colloquium Credit Hour(s): .5 (taken twice)

III. DEPARTMENTAL REQUIREMENTS AND ELECTIVES: 31 HOURS

Choose 31 hours from approved electives:

• EES 3160 - Stratigraphy and Sedimentology Credit Hour(s): 4
• EES 3250 - Climate Change Credit Hour(s): 3
• EES 4190 - Paleobiology Credit Hour(s): 4
• EES 4210 - Structural Geology and Tectonics Credit Hour(s): 4
• EES 4220 - Introduction to Geophysics Credit Hour(s): 4
• EES 4240 - Oceanography Credit Hour(s): 3
• EES 4270 - Process Geomorphology Credit Hour(s): 3
• EES 4290 - Remote Sensing of Earth Credit Hour(s): 3
• EES 4300 - Environmental Applications of Geographic Information Systems Credit Hour(s): 4
• EES 4330 - Global Biogeochemical Cycles Credit Hour(s): 3
• EES 4430 - Analysis and Prediction of Complex Natural and Human Systems Credit Hour(s): 3
• EES 4460 - Sequence Stratigraphy Credit Hour(s): 3
• EES 4540 - Subsurface Fluid Flow Credit Hour(s): 3
• EES 4560 - Groundwater Contamination Credit Hour(s): 3
• EES 4610 - Near-Surface Geophysics Credit Hour(s): 3
• EES 4960 - Senior Thesis Research Credit Hour(s): .5 to 5

IV. RELATED COURSE REQUIREMENTS: 36 HOURS

• CHM 1210 - General Chemistry I Credit Hour(s): 3
• CHM 1210L - General Chemistry Lab I Credit Hour(s): 2
• CHM 1220 - General Chemistry II Credit Hour(s): 3
• CHM 1220L - General Chemistry Lab II Credit Hour(s): 2
• CS 1160 - Introduction to Computer Programming Credit Hour(s): 4

•  

• MTH 2320 - Calculus III Credit Hour(s): 4

• or

• MTH 2350 - Differential Equations with Matrix Algebra Credit Hour(s): 4

• or

• STT 2640 - Elementary Statistics Credit Hour(s): 4

•  

• PHY 1110 - Principles of Physics I Credit Hour(s): 4
• PHY 1110L - Principles of Physics Lab I Credit Hour(s): 1
• PHY 1120 - Principles of Physics II Credit Hour(s): 4
• PHY 1120L - Principles of Physics Lab II Credit Hour(s): 1

• or

• PHY 2400 - General Physics I Credit Hour(s): 4
• PHY 2400L - General Physics I Laboratory Credit Hour(s): 1
• PHY 2410 - General Physics II Credit Hour(s): 4
• PHY 2410L - General Physics II Laboratory Credit Hour(s): 1

•  

• Approved Electives from COSM or CECS Credit Hour(s): 8

V. GENERAL ELECTIVES: 4 HOURS

TOTAL: 120 HOURS

Graduation Planning Strategy

The Graduation Planning Strategy (GPS) has been created to illustrate one option to complete degree requirements within a particular time frame. Students are encouraged to meet with their academic advisor to adjust this plan based on credit already earned, individual needs or curricular changes that may not be reflected in this year’s catalog.

• Earth Sciences (3-year) (GPS) 
• Earth Sciences (GPS)

Environmental Sciences Concentration

Program Requirements:

I. WRIGHT STATE CORE: 41 HOURS

ELEMENT 1: COMMUNICATION: 6 HOURS

ELEMENT 2: MATHEMATICS: 4 HOURS

Required

• MTH 2240 - Applied Calculus Credit Hour(s): 4 or
• MTH 2300 - Calculus I Credit Hour(s): 4

ELEMENT 3: GLOBAL TRADITIONS: 6 HOURS

ELEMENT 4: ARTS AND HUMANITIES: 3 HOURS

ELEMENT 5: SOCIAL SCIENCES: 6 HOURS

ELEMENT 6: NATURAL SCIENCES: 8 HOURS

Required

• BIO 1120 - Cells and Genes Credit Hour(s): 4
• BIO 1150 - Organisms and Ecosystems Credit Hour(s): 4

ADDITIONAL CORE COURSES: 8 HOURS

Required

• EES 2510 - Earth Systems Credit Hour(s): 4

•  

• MTH 2310 - Calculus II Credit Hour(s): 4 or
• STT 2640 - Elementary Statistics Credit Hour(s): 4

II. DEPARTMENTAL CORE REQUIREMENTS: 16 HOURS

• EES 3250 - Climate Change Credit Hour(s): 3
• EES 4280 - Earth and Environmental Sciences Colloquium Credit Hour(s): .5 (Taken twice)
• EES 4330 - Global Biogeochemical Cycles Credit Hour(s): 3
• EES 4510 - Effective Scientific Communication Credit Hour(s): 3
• EES 4680 - Environmental Law for Scientists Credit Hour(s): 3

III. DEPARTMENTAL REQUIREMENTS AND ELECTIVES: 34 HOURS

• Choose 6 hours from the following:

• EES 4290 - Remote Sensing of Earth Credit Hour(s): 3
• EES 4300 - Environmental Applications of Geographic Information Systems Credit Hour(s): 4
• EES 4310 - Quality Assurance of Environmental Analysis Credit Hour(s): .5
• EES 4340 - Mapping Methods Credit Hour(s): 2
• EES 4360 - Environmental Field Techniques Credit Hour(s): 2

•  

• Complete 28 hours of electives from the following or other courses by approval:

• BIO 4070 - Wetlands Biology Credit Hour(s): 5
• BIO 4110 - The Aquatic Environment Credit Hour(s): 5
• BIO 4730 - Marine Biology Credit Hour(s): 5
• CS 1160 - Introduction to Computer Programming Credit Hour(s): 4
• EES 3120 - Earth Materials Credit Hour(s): 4
• EES 4320 - Environmental Microbiology Credit Hour(s): 3
• EES 4430 - Analysis and Prediction of Complex Natural and Human Systems Credit Hour(s): 3
• EES 4560 - Groundwater Contamination Credit Hour(s): 3
• EES 4570 - Site Remediation and Management Credit Hour(s): 3
• EES 4590 - Advanced Aquatic Geochemistry Credit Hour(s): 3
• EES 4780 - Environmental Sciences Seminar Credit Hour(s): 1
• EES 4960 - Senior Thesis Research Credit Hour(s): .5 to 5

IV. RELATED COURSE REQUIREMENTS: 29 HOURS

• CHM 1210 - General Chemistry I Credit Hour(s): 3
• CHM 1210L - General Chemistry Lab I Credit Hour(s): 2
• CHM 1220 - General Chemistry II Credit Hour(s): 3
• CHM 1220L - General Chemistry Lab II Credit Hour(s): 2
• CHM 3120 - Quantitative Analysis Credit Hour(s): 2
• CHM 3120L - Quantitative Analysis Laboratory Credit Hour(s): 3
• BIO 2310 - Evolution and Ecology Credit Hour(s): 4
• BIO 2310L - Evolution and Ecology Laboratory Credit Hour(s): 0

•  

• PHY 1110 - Principles of Physics I Credit Hour(s): 4
• PHY 1110L - Principles of Physics Lab I Credit Hour(s): 1
• PHY 1120 - Principles of Physics II Credit Hour(s): 4
• PHY 1120L - Principles of Physics Lab II Credit Hour(s): 1

• OR

• PHY 2400 - General Physics I Credit Hour(s): 4
• PHY 2400L - General Physics I Laboratory Credit Hour(s): 1
• PHY 2410 - General Physics II Credit Hour(s): 4
• PHY 2410L - General Physics II Laboratory Credit Hour(s): 1

V. GENERAL ELECTIVES

Total: 120 Hours

Graduation Planning Strategy

The Graduation Planning Strategy (GPS) has been created to illustrate one option to complete degree requirements within a particular time frame. Students are encouraged to meet with their academic advisor to adjust this plan based on credit already earned, individual needs or curricular changes that may not be reflected in this year’s catalog.

• Environmental Sciences, (3-year) (GPS)
• Environmental Sciences GPS