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Earth Science

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Earth Science

The Earth Science major is a program leading to the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) or Bachelor of Science (B.S.).

The B.A. emphasizes an interdisciplinary field and prepares the student primarily for a career in secondary education. The B.S. program provides a broad overview of geology and supporting sciences. This degree pathway is also suitable for students who may want to pursue a career in secondary education or continue on to graduate school. If a student chooses this option and is interested in secondary education, they should contact Dr. Cinzia Cervato for additional guidance. 

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon graduation, students should be able to:

  • Demonstrate the ability to think critically;
  • Exhibit a broad understanding of Earth systems and processes;
  • Demonstrate scientific literacy and its application to scientific inquiry and societal concerns;
  • Demonstrate proficiency in data collection, management, and analysis including understanding sources of error and/or uncertainty;
  • Demonstrate competency with geoscience-specific techniques and field methods.
  • Read and critically evaluate relevant literature and information;
  • Use appropriate tools from chemistry, physics, biology, mathematics, and data science to solve discipline-specific problems;
  • Present information effectively in written and oral forms;
  • Work in a team environment in alignment with the ISU principles of community;
  • Work independently;
  • Attain employment in the geosciences or related fields or pursue graduate studies.

EARTH SCIENCE

Students can pursue either the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) or the Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree with a major in Earth Science. They can also prepare to teach Earth Science.

Required courses for the B.A. include:

GEOL 1000How the Earth Works3
or GEOL 1010 Environmental Geology: Earth in Crisis
or GEOL 2010 Geology for Engineers and Environmental Scientists
GEOL 1000LHow the Earth Works: Laboratory1
GEOL 1020History of the Earth3
GEOL 1020LHistory of the Earth: Laboratory1
GEOL 3020Summer Field Studies6
GEOL 3150Mineralogy and Earth Materials3
GEOL 3150LLaboratory in Mineralogy and Earth Materials1
GEOL 3160Optical Mineralogy1
GEOL 3560Structural Geology and Tectonics4
GEOL 3570Geological Mapping and Field Methods1
GEOL 3650Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology3
GEOL 3680Sedimentary Geology4
MTEOR 2060Introduction to Weather and Climate3
ASTRO 1200The Sky and the Solar System3
ASTRO 1500Stars, Galaxies, and Cosmology3
And 3 credits of geology electives3
Total Credits43

 Required supporting courses for the B.A. include:

CHEM 1770General Chemistry I4
CHEM 1770LLaboratory in General Chemistry I1
CHEM 1780General Chemistry II3
CHEM 1780LLaboratory in College Chemistry II1
PHYS 1310General Physics I4
PHYS 1310LGeneral Physics I Laboratory1
PHYS 1320General Physics II4
PHYS 1320LGeneral Physics II Laboratory1
One of the following
MATH 1510Calculus for Business and Social Sciences3
or MATH 1600 Survey of Calculus
or MATH 1650 Calculus I
One of the following
STAT 1010Principles of Statistics4
or STAT 1040 Introduction to Statistics
And one course in Biology3
Total Credits29

Communication Proficiency requirement: According to the university-wide Communication Proficiency Grade Requirement, students must demonstrate their communication proficiency by earning a grade of C or better in ENGL 2500. The department requires a grade of C or better in ENGL 3090 or ENGL 3140.

ENGL 1500Critical Thinking and Communication3
ENGL 2500Written, Oral, Visual, and Electronic Composition3
or ENGL 2500H Written, Oral, Visual, and Electronic Composition: Honors
One of the following:
ENGL 3090Proposal and Report Writing3
or ENGL 3140 Technical Communication
Total Credits9

Required courses for the B.S. include:

GEOL 1000How the Earth Works3
or GEOL 1010 Environmental Geology: Earth in Crisis
or GEOL 2010 Geology for Engineers and Environmental Scientists
GEOL 1000LHow the Earth Works: Laboratory1
GEOL 1020History of the Earth3
GEOL 1020LHistory of the Earth: Laboratory1
GEOL 3020Summer Field Studies6
GEOL 3150Mineralogy and Earth Materials3
GEOL 3150LLaboratory in Mineralogy and Earth Materials1
GEOL 3160Optical Mineralogy1
GEOL 3560Structural Geology and Tectonics4
GEOL 3570Geological Mapping and Field Methods1
GEOL 3650Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology3
GEOL 3680Sedimentary Geology4
GEOL 4790Surficial Processes3
MTEOR 2060Introduction to Weather and Climate3
And 8 credits of electives in agronomy, astronomy, environmental science, or other approved areas.8
Total Credits45

 Required supporting courses for the B.S. include:

CHEM 1770General Chemistry I4
CHEM 1770LLaboratory in General Chemistry I1
CHEM 1780General Chemistry II3
CHEM 1780LLaboratory in College Chemistry II1
MATH 1650Calculus I4
MATH 1660Calculus II4
PHYS 1310General Physics I4
PHYS 1310LGeneral Physics I Laboratory1
PHYS 1320General Physics II4
PHYS 1320LGeneral Physics II Laboratory1
STAT 1010Principles of Statistics3-4
or STAT 1040 Introduction to Statistics
Total Credits30-31

Communication Proficiency requirement: According to the university-wide Communication Proficiency Grade Requirement, students must demonstrate their communication proficiency by earning a grade of C or better in ENGL 2500. The department requires a grade of C or better in the below communication courses.

ENGL 1500Critical Thinking and Communication3
ENGL 2500Written, Oral, Visual, and Electronic Composition3
or ENGL 2500H Written, Oral, Visual, and Electronic Composition: Honors
ENGL 3090Proposal and Report Writing3
or ENGL 3140 Technical Communication
or ENGL 3020 Business Communication
or JLMC 3470 Science Communication
Total Credits9

Required for B.A. and B.S.

As majors in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Earth Science students must meet College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and University-wide requirements for graduation in addition to those stated above for the major.

Students in all ISU majors must complete a three-credit course in U.S. cultures and communities (formerly U.S. diversity) and a three-credit course in international perspectives. Check (http://www.registrar.iastate.edu/courses/div-ip-guide.html) for a list of approved courses. 

LAS majors require a minimum of 120 credits, including a minimum of 45 credits at the 3000/4000 level in addition to the LAS world language and cultures and career preparation requirement (LAS 2030 Professional Career Preparation). At least 8 credits in the major from 3000+ courses must earn grade C or better. The average grade of all courses in the major must be 2.0 or higher.

Teacher Preparation Focus

Earth Science majors seeking certification to teach Earth Science in secondary schools can follow the requirements of either the B.A. or the B.S. degree in Earth Science. In addition, they must take the complementary coursework listed below and meet all of the requirements of the Secondary Major in Education.  Some of these courses, and some of the required coursework for the Secondary Major in Education, may also apply to LAS general education requirements.

Complementary Coursework
PSYCH 2300Developmental Psychology3
EDUC 4180Secondary Science Methods I3
EDUC 4190Secondary Science Methods II3
One course in American History or Government

Notes: Teacher license requirements are established by the Iowa Department of Education and the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners and are subject to change. Recent changes may not be reflected in this catalog, but advisers and faculty will be aware. Some students pursuing the Earth Science decide to complete the Earth Science major and continue their studies as graduate students in Iowa State’s Science Education, Masters of Teaching (M.A.T.) program.

Earth Science, B.A.

NOTE: Course plan, sequence and credit amounts will vary depending upon which endorsement area(s) a student chooses to pursue. In addition, this plan is solely an example of one possible academic layout. This plan can and likely will be modified based on transfer credit, advanced placement (AP) credit, dual enrollment credit, "test out" credit, course offerings, schedule conflicts and entry term. It is our expectation that students know the requirements of their academic program and develop and follow an academic plan based on their academic catalog and degree audit using their individual academic advisor as a resource in this process.

Potential pathway for the B.A. major in Earth Science with the Secondary Major in Education:

Freshman
FallCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
ENGL 15003EDUC 20403PSYCH 2300 (social science)3
LIB 16001GEOL 10203Social Science Option13
GEOL 10003GEOL 1020L1 
GEOL 1000L1GEOL 11301 
CHEM 17704CHEM 17803 
CHEM 1770L1CHEM 1780L1 
MATH 1510, 1600, or 16503-4ASTRO 12003 
GEOL 11201MTEOR 20603 
 17-18 18 6
Sophomore
FallCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
ENGL 25003GEOL 36503Humanities Option13
PHYS 13104PHYS 13204 
PHYS 1310L1PHYS 1320L1 
GEOL 31503PSYCH 3330 (social science)3 
GEOL 3150L1Humanities Option 13 
GEOL 31601ASTRO 15003 
LAS 20301  
EDUC 20203  
EDUC 2800L0.5  
EDUC 21901  
Apply/Accepted to Educator Preparation Program   
 18.5 17 3
Junior
FallCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
EDUC 34703ENGL 3020, 3090, 3140, or JLMC 34703GEOL 30206
EDUC 41803EDUC 41903 
EDUC 2800A1-2EDUC 4800J2 
GEOL 35701COMST 2110, SPCM 2120, or THTRE 35803 
GEOL 36804STAT 1010 or 10403-4 
HIST 2800 or 2810 (humanities)3GEOL 35604 
 15-16 18-19 6
Senior
FallCreditsSpringCredits 
Geology Option13EDUC 4170J16 
Humanities Option13PPAT  
SPED 40103  
EDUC 40603  
Social Science Option13  
Biology Option13  
Apply to student teach   
Apply for graduation   
 18 16
 

Students must take an American History (counts as humanities) or American Government (counts as social science).

1

Choose from list of approved courses available from an advisor.

EARTH SCIENCE, B.S.

Potential pathway for the B.S. in Earth Science degree:

Freshman
FallCreditsSpringCredits 
ENGL 15003GEOL 10203 
GEOL 1000 or 10103GEOL 1020L1 
GEOL 1000L1CHEM 17803 
CHEM 17704CHEM 1780L1 
CHEM 1770L1MATH 16604 
MATH 16504Arts-and-Humanities Choice3 
LIB 16001  
 17 15
Sophomore
FallCreditsSpringCredits 
ENGL 25003GEOL 36503 
GEOL 31503Arts-and-Humanities Choice3 
GEOL 3150L1PHYS 13204 
GEOL 31601PHYS 1320L1 
PHYS 13104STAT 1010 or 10403-4 
PHYS 1310L1MTEOR 20603 
LAS 20301  
 14 17-18
Junior
FallCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
GEOL 47903GEOL 35604GEOL 30206
GEOL 36804World Language3-4 
Agron/Astronomy/EnSci Choice13Agron/Astronomy/EnSci Choice13 
World Language3-4Social-Science Choice3 
GEOL 35701  
 14-15 13-14 6
Senior
FallCreditsSpringCredits 
Agron/Astronomy/EnSci Choice12Electives9 
Arts-and-Humanities Choice3Arts-and-Humanities Choice3 
Social Science Choice3Social-Science Choice3 
ENGL 3090, 3020, 3140, or JLMC 34703  
Elective3-4  
 14-15 15
1

Choose from list of approved courses available from an advisor or departmental office.

Graduate Programs 

The department offers programs leading to the Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy with majors in Geology, Earth Science, and Meteorology. Students desiring a major in the above fields normally will have a strong undergraduate background in the physical and mathematical sciences. Individuals desiring to enter a graduate program are evaluated by considering their undergraduate preparation and performance along with their expressed goals in the statement of purpose. All prospective students should reach out to individual faculty members who they wish to work with prior to applying.

Programs of study are designed on an individual basis in accordance with requirements of the Graduate College and established requirements for each departmental major. Additional coursework is normally taken in complementary areas such as aerospace engineering, agronomy (soil science), chemistry, civil and construction engineering, computer engineering, computer science, engineering mechanics, environmental science, materials engineering, mathematics, mechanical engineering, microbiology, physics, or statistics. Departmental requirements provide a strong, broad background in the major and allow considerable flexibility in the program of each individual.

A dissertation is required of all Ph.D. candidates.

M.S. students in Geology are required to complete a thesis. The M.S. in Earth Science is available to students electing the non-thesis (Creative Component) option in Geology or Meteorology.

Graduates in Geology specialize in a sub-discipline, but they comprehend and can communicate the basic principles of geology and supporting sciences. They possess the capacity for critical and independent thinking. They are able to write a fundable research proposal, evaluate current relevant literature, carry out the proposed research, and communicate the results of their research to peers at national meetings and to the general public. They work as consultants on engineering and environmental problems, explorers for new minerals and hydrocarbon resources, researchers, teachers, writers, editors, and museum curators.