Program
Degree Options
The Earth System Science (ESS) program is an Area of Concentration, which means you earn a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree without having to pursue a minor. All ESS students take the core courses listed below but choose one of three options to complete the program requirements. In effect, these options are areas of specialization. The Geology Option is like BS geology degrees elsewhere in the United States. The Environmental Dynamics Option is an environmental science degree that emphasizes the physical environment. The Earth and Space Science Teaching Option certifies graduates to teach in grades 8-12. We also offer a minor in ESS for students pursuing majors in other fields. Go to the alphabetical list in the back of MSU's Undergraduate Catalog for course descriptions.
Core for All Options (30 or 33 Credit Hours)
ESS 108 - Physical Geology (4 cr)
SCI 110 - Introduction to Scientific Computing (3 cr)
MATH 141* - Plane Trigonometry (3 cr)
MATH 152* - College Algebra (3 cr)
BIOL 155 - Intro to Environmental Sci (3 cr)
ESS 201 - Historical Geology (3 cr)
PHYS 201 - Elementary Physics I (3 cr)
PHYS 201A - Elementary Physics I Lab (1 cr)
ESS 325 - Earth Structure and Tectonics (4 cr)
ESS 350 - Geomorphology (3 cr)
SCI 498** - Senior Thesis I (2 cr)
SCI 499C** - Senior Thesis II (1 cr)
*MATH 174 Pre-Calculus Mathematics may be substituted for MATH 141 and MATH 152.
** For the Geology Option, ESS 499D (Geology Field Camp) may be substituted for SCI 498 and SCI 499. Students in the Earth & Space Teaching Option take EDSE 416 and SCI 497C instead of SCI 498 and SCI 499.
Geology Option (24-29 Credit Hours)
ESS 262 - Mineralogy (3 cr)
ESS 263 - Advanced Mineralogy Lab (1 cr)
ESS 300 - Petrology (3 cr)
ESS 301 - Advanced Petrology Lab (1 cr)
ESS 315 - Sedimentation and Stratigraphy (4 cr)
GEO 351 - Geographic Information Systems (3 cr)
3 electives from the following (9-14 Credit Hours)
ESS 276 - Geologic Methods (3 cr)
ESS 303 - Planetary Geology (3 cr)
CHEM 332 - Environmental Chemistry (3 cr)
ESS 340 - Oceans & Atmosphere (3 cr)
ESS 376 - Environmental Geology (3 cr)
ESS 379 - Invertebrate Paleontology (4 cr)
ESS 425 - Hydrogeology (3 cr)
ESS 499D*** - Geology Field Camp (6 cr)
*** Field camp must be taken off-campus at an accredited university. An official transcript from that university must be sent to MSU upon completion of the course.
Supplemental Requirements (15-16 credit hours)
CHEM 111 - Principles of Chemistry I (4 cr)
CHEM 112 - Principles of Chemistry II (4 cr)
PHYS 202 - Elementary Physics II (3 cr)
PHYS 202A - Elementary Physics II Lab (1 cr)
MATH# – One course from the following (3-4 cr)
MATH 174 - Pre-Calculus Mathematics
MATH 175 - Analytic Geom & Calc I
MATH 275 - Analytic Geom & Calc II
# Students who plan to attend graduate school in geology are strongly encouraged to take MATH 275 and ESS 499D.
Environmental Dynamics Option (21-23 Credit Hours)
ESS 262 - Mineralogy (3 cr)
ESS 300 - Petrology (3 cr)
ESS 340 - Oceans & Atmosphere (3 cr)
ESS 376 - Environmental Geology (3 cr)
ESS 440 - Biogeochemical Cycles (3 cr)
Two electives from the following (6-8 credit hours)
ESS 276 - Geologic Field Methods (3 cr)
ESS 315 - Sedimentation and Stratigraphy (4 cr)
CHEM 332 - Environmental Chemistry (3 cr)
PHYS 350 - Nuclear Science (4 cr)
CHEM 360 - Analytical Chemistry (3 cr)
GEO 345 - Environmental Geography (3 cr)
GEO 351 - Geographic Information Systems (3 cr)
GEO 355 - Remote Sensing of the Environment (3 cr)
ECON 401 - Environmental Economics (3 cr)
ESS 425 - Hydrogeology (3 cr)
Supplemental Requirements (12 credit hours)
CHEM 111 - Principles of Chemistry I (4 cr)
CHEM 112 - Principles of Chemistry II (4 cr)
PHYS 202 - Elementary Physics II (3 cr)
PHYS 202A - Elementary Physics II Lab (1 cr)
Earth & Space Science Teaching Option## (21-23 Credit Hours)
ESS 340 - Oceans & Atmosphere (3 cr)
ESS 303 - Planetary Geology (3 cr)
ESS 440 - Biogeochemical Cycles (3 cr)
SCI 402 - Integrated Teaching Methods (3 cr)
SCI 403 - Integrated Field Experience (3 cr)
Two electives from the following (6-8 credit hours)
ESS 315 - Sedimentation and Stratigraphy (4 cr)
ESS 376 - Environmental Geology (3 cr)
ESS 379 - Invertebrate Paleontology (4 cr)
ESS 410 - Geologic History of Plants & Animals (3 cr)
ASTR 311 - Astrophysics I: Stars & Stellar Evolution (3 cr)
ASTR 312 - Astrophysics II: Galaxies & Cosmology (3 cr)
Supplemental Requirements (10-14 credit hours)
ASTR 111 -Concepts I: Planetary (3 cr)
ASTR 112 - Concepts II: Cosmology (3 cr)
CHEM 111 - Principles of Chemistry I (4 cr)
or
CHEM 101 - Survey of Chemistry (4 cr)
and
CHEM 201 - Survey of Organic Chemistry (4 cr)
##Acceptance to the Teacher Education Program (TEP) is required for students pursuing the Earth & Space Science Teaching Option (see the College of Education section of the Undergraduate Catalog for details). In addition to the courses listed above, the following are required by the TEP:
EDF 207 - Foundations of Education (3 cr)
EDF 211 - Human Growth and Development (3 cr)
EDF 311 - Learning Theories & Assessment in Education (3 cr)
EDSE 312 - Educational Methods and Technology (3 cr)
EDSE 483 - Classroom Organization & Management for Secondary Teachers (3 cr)
EDSP 230 - Education of Exceptional Teachers (3 cr)
EDSE 416 - Clinical Practice (12 cr)
Minor (21 credit hours)
ESS 108 - Physical Geology (4 cr)
ESS 201 - Historical Geology (3 cr)
ESS - Electives (14 cr)
Curriculum Maps
In order to graduate, you must complete all courses in the ESS core and your option as well as other university requirements. To earn a BS, the university requires that you complete 128 credit hours, which includes 43 credit hours at or above 300-level and 48 credit hours of general education (see the Undergraduate Catalog for more details regarding BS degrees). We have developed suggested sequences of study, called curriculum maps, to help you meet these requirements and schedule your courses.
If you strictly follow the curriculum maps below, you will graduate in four years. Some of our courses are offered once every two years, however, so you may need to take some courses out of sequence. Alternative sequences still work as long as you have the prerequisites. Note that there are three types of electives in all options: general education area studies electives, ESS electives, and unrestricted electives. Your academic advisor can help you decide which electives to take.
ESS Geology Option Curriculum Map
ESS Environmental Dynamics Option Curriculum Map
ESS Earth & Space Science Teaching Option Curriculum Map
|
