Bachelor of Arts in Geosciences

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About

In the Bachelor of Arts in Geosciences, you’ll study general chemistry, biology, and introductory physics. Pick your own degree by stacking certificates, or focus on a concentration in geology, or climate change and environmental justice. In addition, you’ll choose from a variety of geology electives that cover topics such as environmental geology, paleontology, hydrogeology and more.

Concentrations

  • Geosciences: build your own geoscience degree
  • Professional Geology: apply skills for professional geology licensing and research
  • Climate Change & Environmental Justice: decipher human-environmental interactions

Academic Plan

For more information, please contact geosciences@ewu.edu or Department Chair, Dr. Erin D. Dascher edascher@ewu.edu.

 

Curriculum & Requirements

Geosciences Major, Bachelor of Arts (BA)

The BA in Geosciences has two options: 1) Climate Change and Environmental Justice prepares to help study and support society in an ever-changing world and 2) Geosciences is an option that allows students to best fit their interest by building a degree with a Geosciences advisor.  

Geoscience combines social and natural science methods and knowledge to help us understand the complex problems facing businesses, government agencies, and community organizations. Geoscientists are uniquely qualified to investigate issues involving competing land use, complex land management problems, and integrated natural and cultural resource development. Students specializing in geoscience gain exposure to all aspects of the discipline from human and physical geography for their degree and specialize in sub-fields such as GIS, water resources, climate change, carbon budgeting, and other personalized experiences.

Careers options may include: GIS, Environmental fields, transportation, energy companies, Governmental regulation and natural resource departments, and public health. 

Note: two years of a single high school foreign language or one year of a single college-level foreign language is required.

Required Core
GEOS 100DISCOVERING GEOLOGY5
GEOS 113THE EARTH'S CLIMATE AND WEATHER5
GEOS 200GLOBALIZATION AND THE ENVIRONMENT5
GEOS 321GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS I: SPATIAL ANALYSIS FOR SOCIAL SCIENCES5
or GEOS 323 GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS I: SPATIAL ANALYSIS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
GEOS 460 GEOSTATISTICS4
GEOS 497WORKSHOP, SHORT COURSE, CONFERENCE, SEMINAR (variable title and credits)1
Choose one of the following Concentrations and Capstone45
Please note that 60 credits of 300 or 400-level courses are required for graduation.
Geosciences
In consultation of faculty advisor, take at least 45 credits (at least 35 must be taken at the 300- or 400 level, including capstone) of GEOS credit electives.
All GEOS courses are possible electives to satisfy this concentration
Capstone
SENIOR CAPSTONE: WATER AND THE WEST, WATER RESOURCES IN ARID LANDS
CAPSTONE: ENVIRONMENTAL GEOCHEMISTRY
Climate Change and Environmental Justice
HOT EARTH: PEOPLE AND CLIMATE CHANGE
WORLD GEOGRAPHY
RESOURCES AND CONSERVATION
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE
RESOURCES AND MANAGEMENT
Electives–choose at least 10 additional approved GEOS credits at 300–level or above, or PLAN 376, PLAN 430, or PLAN 442
All GEOS courses are possible electives to satisfy this concentration–check with your advisor.
Capstone
THE GEOSCIENTIST'S CAPSTONE
Total Credits70

Catalog Listing

General Education

University Competencies and Proficiencies

English 
Quantitative and Symbolic Reasoning
Placement and Clearance 
Prior Learning/Sources of Credit AP, CLEP, IB

General Education Requirements (GER)

  • Minimum Credits—180 cumulative credit hours 
    • 60 upper-division credits (300 level or above)
    • 45 credits in residence (attendance) at Eastern, with at least 15 upper-division credits in major in residence at Eastern
  • Minimum Cumulative GPA ≥2.0

Breadth Area Core Requirements (BACR)

Humanities and Arts 
Natural Sciences 
Social Sciences

University Graduation Requirements (UGR)

Diversity Course List
Foreign Language (for Bachelor of Arts)
Global Studies Course List
Minor or Certificate
Senior Capstone Course List

Application for Graduation (use EagleNET) must be made at least two terms in advance of the term you expect to graduate (undergraduate and post-baccalaureate).

Use the Catalog Archives to determine two important catalog years.

Degree Works calculates based on these two catalog years.

  1. The catalog in effect at the student's first term of current matriculation is used to determine BACR (Breadth Area Credit Requirements) and UGR (Undergraduate Graduation Requirements).
  2. The catalog in effect at the time the student declares a major or minor is used to determine the program requirements.

Program Learning Outcomes

Students who successfully earn a BA in Geosciences from EWU should be able to do the following:

  • demonstrate knowledge of human–environment interactions;
  • apply geoscience techniques to a complex problem;
  • produce a professionally formatted report that effectively communicates;
  • demonstrate advanced critical skills in the geosciences in preparation for the professional job market or graduate studies.