B.S. Degree in Geosciences
Description
To receive the B.S. Degree in Geosciences, the student must meet the minimum university requirements and specific requirements for the program. Completion of 120 credits is required for this degree which includes the Liberal Arts and Sciences Curriculum.
Student Learning Outcomes
- Ability to apply concepts and principles of geosciences in understanding Earth processes or relationships of people to the Earth.
- Competency in laboratory and field skills and ability to conduct a scientific investigation.
- Ability to use and respond to literature and research in geosciences, including: use of library and research data, ability to interpret results of an investigation in science or social science research, comprehension of key ideas and evidence, understanding of arguments, and ability to communicate arguments and ideas in written and oral form.
Program Delivery Mode
Land plus: face-to-face where some online courses may be available or required
Core Requirements
Students in this major must complete a minimum of 120 credits for the B.S. degree and select coursework from one of the three emphases: Geology, Geographical Sciences, or Geoarchaeology.
Designated Writing Intensive Course for Major
Geographical Sciences emphasis:
GEOS 320 - Economic Geography
Geology and Geoarchaeology emphases:
GEOS 315 - Sedimentology and Stratigraphy
Emphasis in Geographical Sciences
Program Requirements
( 34 credits )
ANTH 307 Ecological Anthropology (3)
GEOS 205 Thinking Spatially (3)
GEOS 207 GPS Field Techniques (3)
GEOS 210 Cartography (3)
GEOS 305 Oceanography (3)
GEOS 307 Introduction to GIS (3)
GEOS 310 United States and Canada (3)
GEOS 320 Economic Geography (3)
GEOS 325 Reading Landscape: Ways of Seeing (3)
GEOS 330 Elementary Meteorology (3)
GEOS 335 Environmental Geography and Conservation (3)
GEOS 492 Senior Seminar (1)
Restricted Electives
( 15 credits )
Six to eight credits must be taken from GEOS 110, GEOS 111, GEOS 115 and GEOS 117. At least nine additional credits must be taken from the other listed courses in this area.
Students should consult with their advisor in the department to determine which elective courses are most appropriate for their interests and plans.
ANTH 202 American Indian Culture (3)
ANTH 309 Indians of the Great Plains (3)
ANTH 313 Understanding Contemporary Africa (3)
GEOS 110 Introductory Physical Geography (3)
GEOS 111 Cultures and Regions (3)
GEOS 115 Physical Geology (4)
GEOS 117 Water, Land, and People (3)
GEOS 117L Water, Land and People Lab (1)
GEOS 235 Geography of Minnesota and North Dakota (3)
GEOS 315 Sedimentology and Stratigraphy (3)
GEOS 340 Economic and Environmental Geology (3)
GEOS 350 Geoarchaeology (3)
GEOS 370 Structural Geology and Mapping (3)
GEOS 390 Topics in Geosciences (1-3)
GEOS 407 Spatial Analysis (4)
GEOS 410 Eastern Europe & Russia (3)
GEOS 415 Reading Geochemical Fingerprints (3)
ANTH 450 Field Work in Anthropology (6) or GEOS 455 Field Methods in Geoarchaeology (4)
Emphasis in Geology
Program Requirements
( 35 credits )
GEOS 115 Physical Geology (4)
GEOS 116 Historical Geology (3)
GEOS 301 Archaeological Prospection (3)
GEOS 302 Mineralogy (3)
GEOS 303 Petrology (3)
GEOS 315 Sedimentology and Stratigraphy (3)
GEOS 340 Economic and Environmental Geology (3)
GEOS 370 Structural Geology and Mapping (3)
GEOS 415 Reading Geochemical Fingerprints (3)
GEOS 416 Paleontology (3)
GEOS 492 Senior Seminar (1)
Related Requirements
( 19 credits )
BIOL 115 Organismal Biology (4) or BIOL 305 General Botany (4)
CHEM 150/CHEM 150L General Chemistry I and Lab (4)
MATH 234 Introduction to Probability and Statistics (3) or BIOL 275 Quantitative Biology (4)
MATH 261 Calculus I (4)
PHYS 160 Physics I with Algebra & Lab (4) or PHYS 200 Physics I with Calculus & Lab (4)
Restricted Electives
( 6 credits )
Students must complete at least six credits selected from the listed courses.
GEOS 117/GEOS 117L Water, Land, and People and Lab (4)
GEOS 205 Thinking Spatially (3)
GEOS 207 GPS Field Techniques (3)
GEOS 210 Cartography (3)
GEOS 305 Oceanography (3)
GEOS 307 Introduction to GIS (3)
GEOS 320 Economic Geography (3)
GEOS 330 Elementary Meteorology (3)
GEOS 350 Geoarchaeology (3)
GEOS 360 Planetary Science (3)
GEOS 390 Topics in Geosciences (1-3)
GEOS 397 Research in Geosciences (1-3)
GEOS 407 Spatial Analysis (3)
These courses are not required, but are recommended. Students should consult with their advisor in the department concerning which courses are most appropriate for their interests and plans. It is further recommended that students obtain 3-4 credits of field experience in addition to GEOS 450.
BIOL 345 Principles of Ecology (4)
CHEM 210/CHEM 210L General Chemistry II and Lab (4)
MATH 262 Calculus II (4)
PHYS 201 Physics II with Calculus & Lab (4)
Emphasis in Geoarchaeology
Program Requirements
( 40 credits )
ANTH 115 Introduction to Archaeology (3)
ANTH 300 Archaeology (3)
GEOS 115/GEOS 115L Physical Geology and Lab (4)
GEOS 117/GEOS 117L Water, Land, and People and Lab (4)
GEOS 301 Archaeological Prospection (3)
GEOS 302 Mineralogy (3)
GEOS 303 Petrology (3)
GEOS 307 Introduction to GIS (3)
GEOS 315 Sedimentology and Stratigraphy (3)
GEOS 350 Geoarchaeology (3)
GEOS 415 Reading Geochemical Fingerprints (3)
GEOS 492 Senior Seminar (1)
GEOS 455 Field Methods in Geoarchaeology (4) or
ANTH 450 Field Work in Anthropology (6)
Related Requirements
( 12 credits )
Students must take 12 credits from those listed below. Students may select from SOIL 210 Intro Soil Science (NDSU) or SOIL 444 Soil Genesis/Survey (NDSU).
BIOL 115/BIOL 115L Organismal Biology (4)
BIOL 275 Quantitative Biology (4)
BIOL 305 General Botany (4)
BIOL 345 Principles of Ecology (4)
CHEM 150/CHEM 150L General Chemistry I and Lab (4)
CHEM 210/CHEM 210L General Chemistry II and Lab (4)
GEOS 207 GPS Field Techniques (3)
GEOS 407 Spatial Analysis (4)
MATH 234 Introduction to Probability and Statistics (3)
MATH 261 Calculus I (4)
MATH 262 Calculus II (4)
PHYS 160 Physics I with Algebra & Lab (4) or PHYS 200 Physics I with Calculus & Lab (4)
PHYS 161 Physics II with Algebra & Lab (4) or PHYS 201 Physics II with Calculus & Lab (4)
Restricted Electives
( 9 credits )
Students must select at least nine credits form the listed courses.
Students should consult with their advisor in the department to determine which elective courses are most appropriate for their interests and plans.
ANTH 120 Introduction to Physical Anthropology (3)
ANTH 217 The Rise of Civilization (3)
ANTH 315 North American Archaeology (3)
ANTH 390 Topics in Anthropology (1-3)
GEOS 116 Historical Geology (3)
GEOS 205 Thinking Spatially (3)
GEOS 210 Cartography
GEOS 325 Reading Landscape: Ways of Seeing (3)
GEOS 340 Economic and Environmental Geology (3)
GEOS 370 Structural Geology and Mapping (3)
GEOS 390 Topics in Geosciences (1-3)
GEOS 397 Research in Geosciences (1-3)
GEOS 416 Paleontology (3)