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Earth Science

This is an archived copy of the 2023-2024 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://catalog.iastate.edu.

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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 100How the Earth Works3
or GEOL 101 Environmental Geology: Earth in Crisis
or GEOL 201 Geology for Engineers and Environmental Scientists
GEOL 100LHow the Earth Works: Laboratory1
GEOL 102History of the Earth3
GEOL 102LHistory of the Earth: Laboratory1
GEOL 302Summer Field Studies6
GEOL 315Mineralogy and Earth Materials3
GEOL 315LLaboratory in Mineralogy and Earth Materials1
GEOL 316Optical Mineralogy1
GEOL 356Structural Geology and Tectonics4
GEOL 357Geological Mapping and Field Methods1
GEOL 365Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology3
GEOL 368Sedimentary Geology4
MTEOR 206Introduction to Weather and Climate3
ASTRO 120The Sky and the Solar System3
ASTRO 150Stars, Galaxies, and Cosmology3
And 3 credits of geology electives3
Total Credits43

 Required supporting courses for the B.A. include:

CHEM 177General Chemistry I4
CHEM 177LLaboratory in General Chemistry I1
CHEM 178General Chemistry II3
CHEM 178LLaboratory in College Chemistry II1
PHYS 131General Physics I4
PHYS 131LGeneral Physics I Laboratory1
PHYS 132General Physics II4
PHYS 132LGeneral Physics II Laboratory1
One of the following
MATH 151Calculus for Business and Social Sciences3
or MATH 160 Survey of Calculus
or MATH 165 Calculus I
One of the following
STAT 101Principles of Statistics4
or STAT 104 Introduction to Statistics
And one course in Biology3
Total Credits29

Communication Proficiency requirementAccording to the university-wide Communication Proficiency Grade Requirement, students must demonstrate their communication proficiency by earning a grade of C or better in ENGL 250. The department requires a grade of C or better in ENGL 309 or ENGL 314.

ENGL 150Critical Thinking and Communication3
ENGL 250Written, Oral, Visual, and Electronic Composition3
or ENGL 250H Written, Oral, Visual, and Electronic Composition: Honors
One of the following:
ENGL 309Proposal and Report Writing3
or ENGL 314 Technical Communication
Total Credits9

Required courses for the B.S. include:

GEOL 100How the Earth Works3
or GEOL 101 Environmental Geology: Earth in Crisis
or GEOL 201 Geology for Engineers and Environmental Scientists
GEOL 100LHow the Earth Works: Laboratory1
GEOL 102History of the Earth3
GEOL 102LHistory of the Earth: Laboratory1
GEOL 302Summer Field Studies6
GEOL 315Mineralogy and Earth Materials3
GEOL 315LLaboratory in Mineralogy and Earth Materials1
GEOL 316Optical Mineralogy1
GEOL 356Structural Geology and Tectonics4
GEOL 357Geological Mapping and Field Methods1
GEOL 365Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology3
GEOL 368Sedimentary Geology4
GEOL 479Surficial Processes3
MTEOR 206Introduction 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 177General Chemistry I4
CHEM 177LLaboratory in General Chemistry I1
CHEM 178General Chemistry II3
CHEM 178LLaboratory in College Chemistry II1
MATH 165Calculus I4
MATH 166Calculus II4
PHYS 131General Physics I4
PHYS 131LGeneral Physics I Laboratory1
PHYS 132General Physics II4
PHYS 132LGeneral Physics II Laboratory1
STAT 101Principles of Statistics3-4
or STAT 104 Introduction to Statistics
Total Credits30-31

Communication Proficiency requirementAccording to the university-wide Communication Proficiency Grade Requirement, students must demonstrate their communication proficiency by earning a grade of C or better in ENGL 250. The department requires a grade of C or better in the below communication courses.

ENGL 150Critical Thinking and Communication3
ENGL 250Written, Oral, Visual, and Electronic Composition3
or ENGL 250H Written, Oral, Visual, and Electronic Composition: Honors
ENGL 309Proposal and Report Writing3
or ENGL 314 Technical Communication
or ENGL 302 Business Communication
or JL MC 347 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. 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 300/400 level in addition to the LAS world language and cultures and career preparation requirement (LAS 203 Professional Career Preparation). At least 8 credits in the major from 300+ 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 230Developmental Psychology3
EDUC 418Secondary Science Methods I3
EDUC 419Secondary 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 1503EDUC 2043PSYCH 230 (social science)3
LIB 1601GEOL 1023Social Science Option13
GEOL 1003GEOL 102L1 
GEOL 100L1GEOL 1131 
CHEM 1774CHEM 1783 
CHEM 177L1CHEM 178L1 
MATH 151, 160, or 1653-4ASTRO 1203 
GEOL 1121MTEOR 2063 
 17-18 18 6
Sophomore
FallCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
ENGL 2503GEOL 3653Humanities Option13
PHYS 1314PHYS 1324 
PHYS 131L1PHYS 132L1 
GEOL 3153EDUC 333 (social science)3 
GEOL 315L1Humanities Option 13 
GEOL 3161ASTRO 1503 
LAS 2031  
EDUC 2023  
EDUC 280L0.5  
EDUC 2191  
Apply/Accepted to Educator Preparation Program   
 18.5 17 3
Junior
FallCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
EDUC 3473ENGL 302, 309, 314, or JL MC 3473GEOL 3026
EDUC 4183EDUC 4193 
EDUC 280A1-2EDUC 480J2 
GEOL 3571COMST 211, SP CM 212, or THTRE 3583 
GEOL 3684STAT 101 or 1043-4 
HIST 280 or 281 (humanities)3GEOL 3564 
 15-16 18-19 6
Senior
FallCreditsSpringCredits 
Geology Option13EDUC 417J16 
Humanities Option13PPAT  
SP ED 4013  
EDUC 4063  
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 1503GEOL 1023 
GEOL 100 or 1013GEOL 102L1 
GEOL 100L1CHEM 1783 
CHEM 1774CHEM 178L1 
CHEM 177L1MATH 1664 
MATH 1654Arts-and-Humanities Choice3 
LIB 1601  
 17 15
Sophomore
FallCreditsSpringCredits 
ENGL 2503GEOL 3653 
GEOL 3153Arts-and-Humanities Choice3 
GEOL 315L1PHYS 1324 
GEOL 3161PHYS 132L1 
PHYS 1314STAT 101 or 1043-4 
PHYS 131L1MTEOR 2063 
LAS 2031  
 14 17-18
Junior
FallCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
GEOL 4793GEOL 3564GEOL 3026
GEOL 3684World Language3-4 
Agron/Astronomy/EnSci Choice13Agron/Astronomy/EnSci Choice13 
World Language3-4Social-Science Choice3 
GEOL 3571  
 14-15 13-14 6
Senior
FallCreditsSpringCredits 
Agron/Astronomy/EnSci Choice12Electives9 
Arts-and-Humanities Choice3Arts-and-Humanities Choice3 
Social Science Choice3Social-Science Choice3 
ENGL 309, 302, 314, or JL MC 3473  
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.