Earth, Energy, and Environmental Sciences - Geoscience Emphasis, B.S.

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Program Description

The Earth, Energy, and Environmental Sciences major is an interdisciplinary study of the relevant natural science disciplines, with emphases in either the Geosciences or the Environmental Sciences. This program provides knowledge and experience through lecture, laboratory, and field courses that immerse the students into the world around them. Students will analyze and solve problems associated with use of energy, water, and mineral resources; in protection of the environment; in planning for the impact of natural hazards; and in sustainable approaches to societal development. The region and ecosystems that surround Utah Tech University provide the ideal laboratory to apply concepts to the earth, energy, and environmental issues that impact the future of humanity. Emphases in the Geosciences and the Environmental Sciences are available depending on the student interests. 

Program Curriculum

120 credits

Utah Tech General Education Requirements

All Utah Tech General Education requirements must be fulfilled. A previously earned degree may fulfill those requirements, but courses must be equivalent to Utah Tech's minimum General Education standards in American Institutions, English, and Mathematics.

General Education Core Requirements
English3-7
Mathematics3-5
American Institutions3-6
Life Sciences 3-10
Physical Sciences3-5
Laboratory Science0-1
Fine Arts3
Literature/Humanities3
Social & Behavioral Sciences3
Exploration 3-5

Earth, Energy, & Environmental Science Core Requirements 

ENVS 1210
& ENVS 1215		Introduction to Environmental Science
and Introduction to Environmental Science Laboratory		4
ENVS 2210Environmental Pollution and Remediation Techniques3
ENVS 3280Environmental Policy, Regulations, Health, and Safety3
ENVS 3410Air Quality and Control Technologies3
ENER 2310Energy and the Environment3
ENER 4310Energy Technology and Sustainability3
GEO 1110
& GEO 1115		Physical Geology (PS)
and Physical Geology Lab (LAB)		4
GEO 2050Earth Materials4
GEO 3400Water Resources3
GEOG 2410Paleoclimatology3
GEOG 3600
& GEOG 3605		Introduction to Geographic Information Systems
and Introduction to Geographic Information Systems Laboratory		4
CHEM 1210
& CHEM 1215		Principles of Chemistry I (PS)
and Principles of Chemistry I Lab (LAB)		5
CHEM 1220
& CHEM 1225		Principles of Chemistry II
and Principles of Chemistry II Lab		5
BIOL 1610
& BIOL 1615		Principles of Biology I (LS)
and Principles of Biology I Lab (LAB)		5
MATH 1210Calculus I (MA) (Prerequisite: MATH 1010 and MATH 1050 and MATH 1060 or MATH 1080 or equivalent placement score)4
PHYS 2210
& PHYS 2215		Physics/Scientists Engineers I (PS)
and Physics/Scientists Engineers I Lab (LAB)		5
ENGL 2201Literature and the Land (HU, GC)3

Geoscience Emphasis Requirements 

GEO 1220
& GEO 1225		Historical Geology
and Historical Geology Lab		4
GEO 2700RField Methods in Geoscience Research1
GEO 2990RSeminar in Geology1
GEO 3060Environmental Geology3
GEO 3180Paleontology4
GEO 3550Sedimentology & Stratigraphy4
GEO 3700Structural Geology and Tectonics4
GEO 3710Hydrology3
GEO 4800RIndependent Research1-3
GEO 4910Senior Seminar1
Choose 1 of the following courses:
ENVS 3910Costa Rica Natural History3
ENVS 3920Peruvian Amazon Natural History3
ENVS 3930South Africa Natural History3
GEO 3000Advanced Geologic Investigation of Colorado Plateau Basin and Range provinces through national parks3
GEO 3910Applied Geologic Investigation of Iceland3
GEOG 3930Remote Sensing of Landscape: China3
GEO 3500Geomorphology4

Graduation Requirements

  1. Complete a minimum of 120 college-level credits (1000 and above).
  2. Complete at least 40 upper-division credits (3000 and above).
  3. Complete at least 30 upper-division credits at Utah Tech for institutional residency.
  4. Cumulative GPA 2.0 or higher.
  5. Grade C- or higher in all required courses.

Graduation Plan

1st Year
Fall SemesterHoursSpring SemesterHours
ENVS 1210
& ENVS 1215		4BIOL 1610
& BIOL 1615		5
GEO 1110
& GEO 1115		4ENGL 20103
ENGL 10103PHYS 2210
& PHYS 2215		5
MATH 1210 (Prerequisite: MATH 1010 and MATH 1050 and MATH 1060 or MATH 1080 or equivalent placement score)4GEO 1220
& GEO 1225		4
 15 17
2nd Year
Fall SemesterHoursSpring SemesterHours
ENER 23103ENVS 22103
GEOG 24103GEO 20504
CHEM 1210
& CHEM 1215		5CHEM 1220
& CHEM 1225		5
GEO 2700R1GEO 2990R1
GE Social & Behavioral Science3ENGL 22013
 15 16
3rd Year
Fall SemesterHoursSpring SemesterHours
ENVS 32803ENVS 34103
GEO 34003GEOG 3600
& GEOG 3605		4
GE Fine Arts3GE American Institutions3
GEO 30603GEO 37004
GEO 35504 
 16 14
4th Year
Fall SemesterHoursSpring SemesterHours
ENER 43103Upper Division Elective Credit4
Elective Credit3Elective Credit5
GEO 37103GEO 31804
GEO 4800R1GEO 49101
GEO 3000 (Fall Only Elective, or Study Abroad Course)3 
 13 14
Total Hours 120

Earth, Energy & Environmental Sciences - Geoscience Emphasis Program Learning Outcomes

At the successful conclusion of this program, students will be able to:

  1. Articulate the interdisciplinary nature of the issues related to geological, environmental, and energy sciences.
  2. Formulate sustainable approaches to energy and earth science issues that integrate environmental, economic, and sociopolitical perspectives. 
  3. Distinguish between Earth’s surface and deep energy sources and the processes they power and appraise how we depend on and harvest those energy resources to sustain our society. 
  4. Use appropriate methodological tools to analyze and address research questions in the earth, energy and environmental sciences. 
  5. Evaluate the effects of geologic time as they pertain to the interactive nature of and changes to Earth systems. (Geosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere)