UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS IN THE DEPARTMENT OF GEOSCIENCES
G
eoscience is the study of how the
Earth works—in the past, present,
and future. It is a far-reaching discipline with important relevance to humans.
Penn State’s undergraduate degree programs
in Geosciences are similarly broad in scope,
encompassing all of the major fields of study
within this science. Energy resources, mineral
resources, water resources, and soil resources
are all critical to maintaining our way of life;
the knowledge gathered by geoscientists is
needed to locate, understand, and manage
these resources. There are constant dangers
throughout the world in the form of geologic
hazards (earthquakes, volcanoes, landslides,
tsunamis, floods, etc.); geoscientists minimize
our exposure to these hazards. Climate change
is another important realm of study for geoscientists, who hope that by understanding the
past behavior of the climate system, we can
learn what is in store in the future.
Geoscientists are also engaged in solving
fundamental questions about the Earth. How
did the Earth and life begin, and then how did
they evolve? How did the early atmosphere
form and how did it change over time? What
causes mass extinctions? How are mountains
formed and how are they destroyed? What is
the role of microbes in modifying the surface
environment on Earth, and what can we learn
from terrestrial microbial systems about the
possibility of life on other planets? What are
the fundamental processes controlling geochemical cycles and the fate and transport of
pollutants? How do glaciers work? How do
streams work? The list of questions is long,
reflecting all of the exciting research that remains to be done in the geosciences.
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
SALARY RANGE
Career opportunities in the field of geosciences are broad, reflecting the wide range of
study within the field. People with degrees in
geosciences are employed by:
According to the National Association of
Colleges and Employers, beginning salary
offers in July 2005 for graduates with a bachelor’s degree in geology and related sciences
averaged $39,365 a year. Most professional
geoscientists have masters degrees. Their
starting salaries are considerably higher:
$50,000–$70,000. Median annual earnings of
geoscientists were $68,730.
— environmental consulting firms, studying
and finding solutions to environmental
problems that commonly involve pollutants moving through the soil and water;
— energy industries, exploring for and developing oil, gas, and coal resources;
— education at the K–12 level with a B.S. or
B.A. degree and at colleges and universities with a Ph.D. degree;
— geoscience research exploring fundamental problems in an academic setting, or for
government research entities such as the
U.S. Geological Survey, NASA, or the
Department of Energy;
— water resources monitoring and management, either in the private sector, with a
nongovernmental organization, or as part
of the local or federal government;
— environmental law; either in the private
sector, or in government (e.g., the Environmental Protection Agency);
— medicine; the bachelor of science in
Geobiology meets all the premed
requirements.
PROGRAM OBJECTIVES
Penn State’s Department of Geosciences offers four undergraduate degree programs: the
bachelor of science (B.S.) and bachelor of arts
(B.A.) in Geosciences, the bachelor of science
(B.S.) in Geobiology, and the bachelor of science (B.S.) in Earth Sciences.
Our degree programs integrate and apply
tools and concepts from biology, chemistry,
physics, and mathematics, providing a solid
foundation for understanding and solving
problems in the geosciences. All of our programs stress data collection, analysis, and
synthesis of information related to complex
natural problems and the development of a
wide range of skills ranging from the laboratory to speaking and writing.
These degrees could lead to different career
paths, but the reality is that you can pursue almost any geosciences-related career with any
of these degrees.
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN
GEOSCIENCES (GSCBS)
This major offers the most thorough coverage
of the geosciences, with a strong background
in supporting sciences, a mandatory summer
field camp, and a senior thesis. A formalized
hydrogeology option is available. You should
choose this program if you plan to pursue a
professional career in the geosciences, either
through immediate employment or following
graduate studies.
BACHELOR OF ARTS IN GEOSCIENCES
(GSCBA)
This program provides a basic coverage of
geosciences and includes a language requirement and additional courses in the arts,
humanities, and social sciences, but does not
require field camp or a senior thesis. This degree is suitable if you wish to pursue a career
in K-12 education, environmental law, or environmental resource policy and management.
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN
GEOBIOLOGY (GEOBI)
In this new, interdisciplinary major you will
get the basic scientific background to explore the connections between life and the
Earth’s surface in the past and the present.
Requirements include a senior thesis and
summer field camp. This program helps you
prepare for employment in environmental
consulting, the energy industries, for graduate studies leading to research and teaching
careers, or for medical school.
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN EARTH
SCIENCES (EARTH)
This major is designed to offer more breadth
than the Geosciences majors, encompassing
fields of geography, meteorology, and soil science, with a solid foundation in the supporting sciences. It requires a minor and a field/
laboratory experience. You should pursue
this degree if you are interested in pursuing a
broad range of environment-related careers,
including graduate studies in earth and environmental sciences, or for K–12 education.
PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (B.S.) IN
GEOSCIENCES
For the bachelor of science in Geosciences, a
minimum of 121 credits is required.
Curriculum Plan
General Education (24 credits)
Requirements include Arts (GA), Humanities
(GH), and Social Sciences (GS) (6 cr. each),
U.S. Cultures and International Cultures
(US/IL 3 cr.) and Health and Physical Activity
(GHS: 3 cr.). Gen. Ed. courses in Writing and
Speaking (GWS 6 cr.), Natural Sciences (GN
9 cr.) and Quantification (GQ 6 cr.) are filled
in the major.
ENGL 15 Rhetoric and Composition or
ENGL 30 Honors Freshman Composition
ENGL 202C Technical Writing or CAS 100
Effective Speech
EMSC 100S EMS Freshman Seminar (students who transfer to EMS and have not taken
EMSC 100S, must complete both)
ENGL 202C and CAS 100) MATH 140, 141
Calculus with Analytical Geometry
CHEM 12, 13, 14, and 15 Chemical
Principles, with labs
(GH), and Social Sciences (GS) (6 cr. each),
U.S. Cultures and International Cultures
(US/IL 3 cr.) and Health and Physical Activity
(GHS 3 cr.). Gen. Ed. courses in Writing and
Speaking (GWS 6 cr.), Natural Sciences (GN
9 cr.) and Quantification (GQ 6 cr.) are filled
in the major.
University-wide requirements for the bachelor
of arts include one additional course in each
of the categories GA, GH, GS, and GI. The
degree program also includes proficiency (12
credits) in a foreign language. Students with
prior language experience may be exempt
from some or all of the language credits
(check with the appropriate department to
verify placement) but must still complete
the total number of credits required for
graduation.
Required Courses
English 15 Rhetoric and Composition or
English 30 Honors Freshman Composition
English 202C Technical Writing or Speech
Communications 100 Effective Speech
EMSC 100S EMS Freshman Seminar (students who transfer to EMS and have not taken
EMSC 100S must complete both English
202C and SpCom 100)
PHYS 211, 213 General Physics
Math 140 Calculus with Analytical Geometry
or Math 110 Techniques of Calculus
Required Courses
Physical Geology (001), Earth Materials
(201), Chemical Processes (202), Physical
Processes (203), Geobiology (204), Earth
History (310), Structural Geology (465), Field
Geology (472a/b), Thesis Research (496), and
Thesis Writing (494W)
Geosciences 001 Physical Geology
Advanced Geosciences Electives
Select 15 credits from 300- and 400-level
GEOSC courses
Supporting Courses
Select 3 credits in Computer Science,
Mathematics [above MATH 141], or Statistics
[200-level or above]
Select 9 credits supportive of the student’s
interests. Students may apply 6 credits in
ROTC.
BACHELOR OF ARTS (B.A.) IN
GEOSCIENCES
For the bachelor of arts in Geosciences, a
minimum of 120 credits is required.
Curriculum Plan
General Education (24 credits)
Requirements include Arts (GA), Humanities
Geosciences 201 Earth Materials
Supporting Sciences Select two of the following sequences for 8 credits, and the third
for 4 credits.
Biology: Basic Concepts and Biodiversity
(110), Populations and Communities (220W)
Chemistry: Chemical Principles (012, 013),
Experimental Chemistry (014, 015)
Physics: Introductory Physics (250,251)
(Physics 211, 212, 213, 214 are appropriate
for students with MATH 140, 141)
Advanced Geosciences Select 13-14 credits
in consultation with adviser
Select one of the following courses: Earth
History (310) or Geology of Climate Change
(320)
Select one of the following courses: Chemical
Processes (202), Physical Processes (203), or
Geobiology (204)
Select 6 additional credits among 300- and
400-level GEOSC courses
Mathematics/Statistics/Computer Sciences:
Select 2–4 credits in consultation with ad-
viser. (Students completing Math 110 are
encouraged to take Math 111 or a 200-level
statistics course. Students with Math 140 are
encouraged to take Math 141.)
230W) or Function and Development of
Organisms (BIOL 240W) or Introductory
Microbiology (MICRB 201)
ENGL 15 Rhetoric and Composition or
ENGL 30 Honors Freshman Composition
Field/Laboratory Experience Select 3 credits in consultation with adviser.
Field Experience
Either Field Geology (GEOSC 472a) or
Field Ecology of the Central Appalachian
Highlands (BIOL 444)
EMSC 100S EMS Freshman Seminar (students who transfer to EMS and have not taken
EMSC 100S must complete both ENGL 202C
and CAS 100) MATH 140, 141 Calculus with
Analytical Geometry
Required Senior Thesis Work
GEOSC 496 (Thesis Research) and GEOSC
494W (Thesis Writing)
CHEM 12, 13, 14, and 15 Chemical
Principles, with labs
Writing Across the Curriculum Select 3
credits in EMS in consultation with adviser.
Supporting Courses Select 11-14 credits in
other approved courses; 6 credits in ROTC
may apply.
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (B.S.) IN
GEOBIOLOGY
For the bachelor of science in Geobiology, a
minimum of 121 credits is required.
CURRICULUM PLAN
General Education (24 credits)
Requirements include Arts (GA), Humanities
(GH), and Social Sciences (GS) (6 cr. each),
U.S. Cultures and International Cultures
(US/IL 3 cr.) and Health and Physical Activity
(GHS 3 cr.). Gen. Ed. courses in Writing and
Speaking (GWS 6 cr.), Natural Sciences (GN
9 cr.) and Quantification (GQ 6 cr.) are filled
in the major.
Required Courses
ENGL 15 Rhetoric and Composition or
ENGL 30 Honors Freshman Composition
ENGL 202C Technical Writing or CAS 100
Effective Speech
EMSC 100S EMS Freshman Seminar (students who transfer to EMS and have not
taken EMSC 100S, must complete both
ENGL 202C and CAS 100) MATH 140, 141
Calculus with Analytical Geometry
CHEM 12, 13, 14, and 15 Chemical
Principles, with labs.
PHYS 211, 213 General Physics
Required Biology Courses
Basic Concepts and Biodiversity (110),
Populations and Communities (220W)
Required Geosciences Courses
Physical Geology (001*), Earth Materials
(201), Geobiology (204), Earth History (310)
*GEOSC 20 may be substituted for GEOSC
001 for students who completed it prior to
joining the major.
Additional Core Course work—choose one
from each category
Geoscience: Chemical Processes (GEOSC
202) or Physical Processes(GEOSC 203)
Biosciences: Molecules and Cells (BIOL
ENGL 202C Technical Writing or CAS 100
Effective Speech
PHYS 211, 212 General Physics
Advanced Geobiology Electives (Select 12
cr. in the following two categories)
Evolution, Paleobiology, and Geology (min.
of 3 cr.); GEOSC 465 Structural Geology,
GEOSC 424 Paleontology, GEOSC 439
Stratigraphy, GEOSC 420 Paleobotany,
GEOSC 425 Micropaleontology, GEOSC 474
Astrobiology, ANTH 401 Human Evolution:
The Material Record, BIOL 428 Population
Genetics, BIOL 405 Molecular Evolution
Biogeochemistry (min. of 3 cr.): GEOSC
452 Hydrogeology, GEOSC 419 Organic
Geochemistry of Natural Waters and
Sediments, GEOSC 412 Water Resources,
GEOSC 413W Techniques in Geochemistry,
GEOSC 410 Marine Biogeochemistry,
GEOSC 475W Global Biogeochemical
Cycles, BIOL 435 Ecology of Lakes and
Streams, BIOL 406 Symbiosis, SOILS 412W
Soil Ecology, BIOL 419 Ecological and
Environmental Problem Solving
Supporting Courses
16 cr. supportive of student’s interests; may
include 6 credits in ROTC.
The following require a grade of C or better: BIOL 110, BIOL 220W, GEOSC 204,
GEOSC 310.
BIOL 110
Introductory Earth Science—Select 15
credits (cannot double count with minor requirements) Earth: Gaia—The Earth System
(002), Natural Disasters (101), Environments
of Africa (105) Geography: Geographic
Perspectives (030), Biogeography (105),
Climates of the World (110), Landforms of
the World (115), Mapping our Changing
World (121) Geoscience: Physical Geology
(001), Earth History (021) Meteorology:
Introductory Meteorology (003), The Oceans
(022) Soils: Introduction to Soils (101)
Advanced Earth Science—Select 15
credits (cannot double count with minor
requirements; min. grade C) Geography:
Human Use Of the Environment (406),
Human Dimensions of Potential Global
Warming (408W), Climate Change
and Variability (432W) Geoscience:
Geobiology (204), Geology of Climate
Change (320), Geomorphology (340),
Natural Hazards (402W), Isotopes in
Geology (416) Meteorology: Survey of
Atmospheric Sciences (300), Atmospheric
Thermodynamics (431), Global Biogeochemical Cycles (497)
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (B.S.) IN
EARTH SCIENCES
Advanced Math/Statistics/Computer
Science—3 credits in consultation with
adviser
For the bachelor of science in Earth Sciences,
a minimum of 123 credits is required.
Field/Laboratory Experience—3 credits in
consultation with adviser
CURRICULUM PLAN
Writing Across the Curriculum—3 credits
in EMS in consultation with adviser
Required Courses
General Education (24 credits)
Requirements include Arts (GA), Humanities
(GH), and Social Sciences (GS) (6 cr. each),
U.S. Cultures and International Cultures
(US/IL 3 cr.) and Health and Physical Activity
(GHS 3 cr.). Gen. Ed. courses in Writing and
Speaking (GWS 6 cr.), Natural Sciences (GN
9 cr.) and Quantification (GQ 6 cr.) are filled
in the major.
Choice of Minor Required—complete
one of the following minor programs:
Geosciences, Climatology, Marine Science,
Watersheds and Water Resources, Earth
Systems, Global Business Strategies,
Astrobiology, Physics, Chemistry,
Environments of Africa, Earth Science
Teaching Certificate Program
Supporting Courses—select 8–9 credits in approved courses; 6 cr. in ROTC may apply
UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH
SCHOLARSHIPS
Undergraduate research engaging students
in exciting, cutting-edge science, is an important part of the Geosciences program
at Penn State. All four of the Geosciences
majors require at least 3 credits in field/lab
experience. A senior thesis, based on original
research, is required for our Geosciences B.S.
and Geobiology B.S. majors. The thesis is a
yearlong research project in which students
acquire advanced field and lab skills, as well
as scientific writing skills, and often present
the results of their research at a professional
meeting or in scientific journals. There are
also numerous research experiences open to
students before their senior year that provide
involvement in research groups and advanced
understanding of a specialized field. Some
current topics of research include glacier hydrology, salt marsh geochemistry, and earthquakes of the East Africa Rift Valley.
Many departmental scholarship opportunities
are available for all Geosciences students.
Outstanding first-year students are eligible
for generous support from the college, department, and industry sources. The Department
of Geosciences has a number of endowed
scholarships that are awarded each semester
to students with strong academic performance
records. In addition, a large portion of the cost
of Field School is covered through departmental scholarships.
FIELDWORK
Fieldwork is also an essential component of
classes and research in the Geosciences. It is
where we make important observations, collect data and samples, and where we search
for clues to help answer questions about the
Earth. Many of the classes, from the introductory to the advanced level, involve field
trips to local and distant sites. Classes have
traveled to the Bahamas, New Zealand, Death
Valley, the Front Range of Colorado, and the
Smithsonian. There is also a six-week summer field camp (mandatory for some majors)
in the Rocky Mountains or Italy.
STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS
The Penn State Geological Sciences Club is
a group of undergraduate students interested
in geological and earth sciences. The group
meets bimonthly and club activities include
field trips, faculty speakers, career advice,
and group dinners. Visit the club Web site for
more information:
www.geosc.psu.edu/geoclub
FOR MORE INFORMATION
CONTACT
Dr. David Bice
Undergraduate Program Chair
Department of Geosciences
College of Earth and Mineral Sciences
The Pennsylvania State University
540 Deike Building
University Park, PA 16802-2713
Phone: 814-865-4477
Fax: 814-863-7823
E-mail: [email protected]
www.geosc.psu.edu
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Produced by the Penn State Department of University Publications
U.Ed. EMS 05-18