Department of Geoscience

2006-07 Undergraduate Catalog
Indiana, Pennsylvania 15705

Department of Geoscience

Chairperson:	Steven A. Hovan
Faculty:	Cercone, Coles, Lewis, Poage, Richardson, Taylor
Professors emeriti:	Clark, Hall, Park, Sutton

Website: www.iup.edu/geoscience

Bachelor of Science–Geology
• Geology Track
• Environmental Track

Bachelor of Science in Education
• Earth and Space Science
• Environmental Track

Minor–Geology

Geology is a far-ranging science and encompasses various aspects of the Earth system, including the oceans, the atmosphere, and the solid Earth. Professional geologists are thus engaged in a wide range of activities, depending upon their interests. The problems with which geologists are faced include the evolution of life, the origin of volcanic activity, the assessment of volcanic and earthquake hazards, the evolution of our planetary neighbors, and perhaps most important, the human impact on our environment.

The department offers a B.S. degree with a major in Geology that is divided into two tracks: Geology and Environmental. Either track gives students the necessary foundation to pursue a wide variety of career goals. In addition, we offer degrees in secondary education for those students who are interested in teaching. The degrees and courses in our program emphasize hands-on learning, including outdoor instruction and student-oriented research. In addition to on-campus instruction and class-related field trips, the department offers several regional geology field courses, which take place in Newfoundland, the Yellowstone region, the Bahamas, and the American Southwest.

The B.S. degree with a major in Geology/Geology Track is designed for students who are interested in pursuing any of the various subdisciplines in Geology, including Oceanography/Marine Geology, Climate Change, Volcanology, Paleontology, Meteorology, and Geophysics. There is also considerable overlap between geology and astronomy; it is primarily geologists who explore the evolution of other planetary bodies, such as the Moon, Mars, and Venus. Our curriculum reflects various interdisciplinary links and provides the foundation needed to pursue a wide variety of career goals. Career options include teaching, graduate school/research, and employment as a professional geologist (associated with a private business or an environmental firm or as a consultant for a federal or state agency).

The B.S. degree with a major in Geology/Environmental Track is designed for students who wish to pursue a career in the environmental field. In spite of our brief residence time, our presence has had a significant, and in some cases negative, impact upon our environment. Geologists play a key role in dealing with environmental issues, and our Environmental Track prepares students to address various environmental problems. Graduates from this track will be prepared for direct entry into jobs with federal or state agencies and private environmental consulting firms, as well as postgraduate studies.

Minor in Geology
The Minor in Geology is designed for students who desire some background in Geology, in conjunction with a degree in business or one of the social or physical sciences. The department also serves public education by preparing qualified and certified teachers in the field of Earth and Space Sciences and General Science Education.

The minor in Geology consists of 17 credits. Required are GEOS 121-122 and GEOS 131-132. Three upper-level (300 or higher) courses in geology (total 9cr) make up the remaining requirements for the minor.

Bachelor of Science–Geology/Geology Track

Liberal Studies: As outlined in Liberal Studies section with the following specifications: Mathematics: MATH 121 or 123 Natural Science: CHEM 111-112 or 113-114 Liberal Studies Electives: 4cr, MATH 122 or 124, no courses with GEOS prefix			50

Major:			29
Geoscience Core:
GEOS 121	Physical Geology	3cr
GEOS 122	Physical Geology Laboratory	1cr
GEOS 131	Historical Geology	3cr
GEOS 132	Historical Geology Laboratory	1cr
GEOS 220	Mineralogy	3cr
GEOS 320	Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology	3cr
GEOS 325	Structural Geology	3cr
GEOS 326	Field Geology	3cr
GEOS 380	Research Methods in the Geosciences	2cr
GEOS 411	Sedimentary Petrology	3cr
GEOS 412	Stratigraphy	3cr
GEOS 480	Geoscience Seminar	1cr
Geology Track:			23-24
GEOS 330	Paleontology	3cr
GEOS 362	Plate Tectonics	3cr
PHYS 111	Physics I Lecture	3cr
PHYS 121	Physics I Laboratory	1cr
PHYS 112	Physics II Lecture	3cr
PHYS 122	Physics II Laboratory	1cr
Controlled Electives: Select three courses from the following:
GEOG 316, MATH 216, GEOS courses 300 or above (1)		9-10cr

Other Requirements:			0-6
Foreign Language Intermediate Level (2)		0-6cr

Free Electives:			11-18

Total Degree Requirements:			120

(1) Up to 3cr of a summer field camp, internship, or independent study, all of which must be approved by the department, may be applied to controlled electives. (2) 6cr of computer language may substitute for the foreign language requirement: COSC 110 and 310 (recommended), other higher-level COSC courses with department permission in consultation with the Computer Science Department.

Bachelor of Science–Geology/Environmental Track

Liberal Studies: As outlined in Liberal Studies section with the following specifications: Mathematics: MATH 121 or 123 Natural Science: CHEM 111-112 or CHEM 113-114 Liberal Studies Electives: 7cr, MATH 122 or 124, PHYS 111, no courses with GEOS prefix			53

Major:			29
Geoscience Core:
GEOS 121	Physical Geology	3cr
GEOS 122	Physical Geology Laboratory	1cr
GEOS 131	Historical Geology	3cr
GEOS 132	Historical Geology Laboratory	1cr
GEOS 220	Mineralogy	3cr
GEOS 320	Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology	3cr
GEOS 325	Structural Geology	3cr
GEOS 326	Field Geology	3cr
GEOS 380	Research Methods in the Geosciences	2cr
GEOS 411	Sedimentary Petrology	3cr
GEOS 412 or GEOS 327	Stratigraphy or Geomorphology	3cr
GEOS 480	Geoscience Seminar	1cr
Environmental Track:			22-23
BIOL 111	Principles of Biology I	4cr
GEOS 310	Environmental Geology	3cr
GEOS 331	Hydrogeology	3cr
GEOS 332	Geochemistry	3cr
PHYS 121	Physics I Lab	1cr
Controlled Electives: (1, 2)		8-9cr
Select three courses from the following: (3) Biology Electives: BIOL 112, 250, 321, 322, 362 Chemistry Electives: CHEM 231, 232, 322, 323, 341 Allied Fields: GEOS courses 300 or above (4), COSC 250, GEOG 316, 415, MATH 216, PHYS 112-122, SAFE 101

Other Requirements:			0-6
Foreign Language Intermediate Level (5)		0-6cr

Free Electives:			9-16

Total Degree Requirements:			120

(1) Some courses have prerequisites that may be taken as free electives. (2) Students who plan to pursue graduate-level studies are encouraged to take PHYS 112-122. (3) Select one each from the Biology and Chemistry electives lists and a third from any of the three elective lists. (4) Up to 3cr of a summer field camp, internship, or independent study, all of which must be approved by the department, may be applied to controlled electives. (5) 6cr of computer language may substitute for the foreign language requirement: COSC 110 and 310 (recommended) or other higher-level COSC courses with department permission in consultation with the Computer Science Department.

Minor–Geology	17

Required Courses:
GEOS 121	Physical Geology	3cr
GEOS 122	Physical Geology Laboratory	1cr
GEOS 131	Historical Geology	3cr
GEOS 132	Historical Geology Laboratory	1cr
Three upper-level (300 or higher) courses in Geology		9cr

Bachelor of Science in Education–Earth and Space Science (*)

Liberal Studies: As outlined in Liberal Studies section with the following specifications: Mathematics: MATH 121 Natural Science: CHEM 111-112 Social Science: PSYC 101 Liberal Studies Electives: 6cr, MATH 217, PHYS 111, no courses with GEOS prefix			52

College:			29
Preprofessional Education Sequence:
COMM 103	Digital Instructional Technology	3cr
EDSP 102	Educational Psychology	3cr
Professional Education Sequence:
EDEX 301	Education of Students with Disabilities in Inclusive Secondary Settings	2cr
EDSP 477	Assessment of Student Learning: Design and Interpretation of Educational Measures	3cr
EDUC 242	Pre-student Teaching Clinical Experience I	1cr
EDUC 342	Pre-student Teaching Clinical Experience II	1cr
EDUC 441	Student Teaching	12cr
EDUC 442	School Law	1cr
EDUC 451	Teaching Science in the Secondary School	3cr

Major:			39
Required Courses:
BIOL 103	General Biology I	4cr
GEOS 121	Physical Geology	3cr
GEOS 122	Physical Geology Laboratory	1cr
GEOS 131	Historical Geology	3cr
GEOS 132	Historical Geology Laboratory	1cr
GEOS 341	Solar System	3cr
GEOS 342	Stellar Astronomy	3cr
GEOS 350	Operation of the Planetarium	1cr
GEOS 361	Physical Oceanography	3cr
GEOS 371	Meteorology I	3cr
PHYS 112	Physics II Lecture	3cr
PHYS 121	Physics I Lab	1cr
PHYS 122	Physics II Lab	1cr
Controlled Electives:
Geology electives (200 level or higher)		9cr

Total Degree Requirements:			120

(*) See requirements leading to teacher certification, titled “3-Step Process for Teacher Education,” in the College of Education and Educational Technology section of this catalog.

Bachelor of Science in Education–General Science Education (*)

Liberal Studies: As outlined in Liberal Studies section with the following specifications: Mathematics: MATH 121 (1) Natural Science: CHEM 111-112 Social Science: PSYC 101 Liberal Studies Electives: 6cr, MATH 217, PHYS 111, no courses with prefix of chosen track in major			52

College:			29
Preprofessional Education Sequence:
COMM 103	Digital Instructional Technology	3cr
EDSP 102	Educational Psychology	3cr
Professional Education Sequence:
EDEX 301	Education of Students with Disabilities in Inclusive Secondary Settings	2cr
EDSP 477	Assessment of Student Learning: Design and Interpretation of Educational Measures	3cr
EDUC 242	Pre-student Teaching Clinical Experience I	1cr
EDUC 342	Pre-student Teaching Clinical Experience II	1cr
EDUC 441	Student Teaching	12cr
EDUC 442	School Law	1cr
EDUC 451	Teaching Science in the Secondary School	3cr

Major:			36-38
Required Courses:
BIOL 103	General Biology I	4cr
BIOL 104	General Biology II	4cr
GEOS 111	Earth Science for Educators I	3cr
GEOS 112	Earth Science for Educators I Lab	1cr
GEOS 113	Earth Science for Educators II	3cr
GEOS 114	Earth Science for Educators II Lab	1cr
PHYS 112	Physics II Lecture	3cr
PHYS 121	Physics I Lab	1cr
PHYS 122	Physics II Lab	1cr
Controlled Electives:		15-17cr
Biology track: BIOL 210, 220, 250, 272, 480, BIOL elective Chemistry track: CHEM 231, 321, 351, 232 or 340 or 341 Geoscience track: GEOS 121, 122, 131, 132, 341 or 342, 361, 371 Physics track: PHYS 222, 231, 242, 331, 350 (1)

Free Electives:			1-3

Total Degree Requirements:			120

(*) See requirements leading to teacher certification, titled “3-Step Process for Teacher Education,” in the College of Education and Educational Technology section of this catalog. (1) Note: If Physics track is elected, MATH 123 and 124 are required in place of MATH 121 resulting in additional cr. (#) See advisory paragraph "Timely Completion of Degree Requirements" in the section on Requirements for Graduation.

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