Earth, Energy, and Environmental Sciences - Geoscience Emphasis, B.S.
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
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| English | 3-7 | |
| Mathematics | 3-5 | |
| American Institutions | 3-6 | |
| Life Sciences | 3-10 | |
| Physical Sciences | 3-5 | |
| Fine Arts | 3 | |
| Literature/Humanities | 3 | |
| Social & Behavioral Sciences | 3 | |
| Exploration | 3-5 | |
Earth, Energy, & Environmental Science Core Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ENVS 1210 & ENVS 1215 | Introduction to Environmental Science and Introduction to Environmental Science Laboratory | 4 |
| ENVS 2210 | Environmental Pollution and Remediation Techniques | 3 |
| ENER 3310 | Energy and the Environment | 3 |
| ENER 4310 | Energy Technology and Sustainability | 3 |
| GEO 1110 & GEO 1115 | Physical Geology (PS) and Physical Geology Lab (LAB) | 4 |
| GEO 2050 | Earth Materials | 4 |
| GEO 3400 | Water Resources | 3 |
| 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 |
| PHYS 2010 | College Physics I (PS) | 4 |
| or PHYS 2210 | Physics/Scientists Engineers I (PS) | |
| MATH 1060 | Trigonometry (MA) | 3 |
| or MATH 1080 | Pre-Calculus with Trigonometry (MA) | |
| PHYS 2015 | College Physics I Lab (LAB) | 1 |
| or PHYS 2215 | Physics/Scientists Engineers I Lab (LAB) | |
Geoscience Emphasis Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| GEO 1220 & GEO 1225 | Historical Geology and Historical Geology Lab | 4 |
| GEO 2700R | Field Methods in Geoscience Research | 1 |
| GEO 2990R | Career Seminar in Geology | 1 |
| GEO 3700 | Structural Geology and Tectonics | 4 |
| GEO 4800R | Independent Research | 1-3 |
required place-based course
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Choose 1 of the following place-based courses: | ||
| ENVS 3910 | Costa Rica Natural History | 3 |
| ENVS 3920 | Peruvian Amazon Natural History | 3 |
| ENVS 3930 | South Africa Natural History | 3 |
| GEO 3000 | Advanced Geologic Investigation of Colorado Plateau Basin and Range provinces through national parks | 3 |
| GEO 3910 | Applied Geologic Investigation of Iceland | 3 |
| GEOG 3930 | Remote Sensing of Landscape: China | 3 |
elective requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Choose 22 elective credits from the following list: | ||
| GEO 3060 | Environmental Geology | 3 |
| GEO 3180 | Paleontology | 4 |
| GEO 3200 | Mineralogy | 4 |
| GEO 3500 | Geomorphology | 4 |
| GEO 3550 | Sedimentology & Stratigraphy | 4 |
| GEO 3600 | Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology | 4 |
| GEO 3710 | Hydrology | 3 |
| GEO 4000R | Selected Geology Field Excursions | 1 |
| GEO 4600 | Field Geology | 5 |
| GEO 4800R | Independent Research | 1-3 |
| ENVS 3280 | Environmental Law, Management and Policy | 3 |
| ENVS 3410 | Air Quality and Control Technologies | 3 |
| ENVS 3510 | Waste Management | 3 |
| ENVS 4080 | Environmental Monitoring and Characterization | 4 |
| ENVS 4085 | Environmental Monitoring and Characterization Laboratory | 1 |
| GEOG 4140 | Advanced GIS Analysis | 3 |
| GEOG 3410 | Paleoclimatology | 3 |
| GEOG 4180 | Geoprocessing with Python | 3 |
| ENVS 3910 | Costa Rica Natural History | 3 |
| ENVS 3920 | Peruvian Amazon Natural History | 3 |
| ENVS 3930 | South Africa Natural History | 3 |
| GEOG 3930 | Remote Sensing of Landscape: China | 3 |
| GEO 3000 | Advanced Geologic Investigation of Colorado Plateau Basin and Range provinces through national parks | 3 |
| GEO 3910 | Applied Geologic Investigation of Iceland | 3 |
| ENGL 2201 | Literature and the Land (HU, GC) | 3 |
| MATH 1210 | Calculus I (MA) | 4 |
Graduation Requirements
- Complete a minimum of 120 college-level credits (1000 and above).
- Complete at least 40 upper-division credits (3000 and above).
- Complete at least 30 upper-division credits at Utah Tech for institutional residency.
- Cumulative GPA 2.0 or higher.
- Grade C- or higher in all required courses.