BSU Catalog Home | Earth Science Program

Earth Science Areas of Study

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Earth Science Minor

The Earth Science minor is designed to support other fields such as geography, biology, physics, and chemistry. The program will complement and enhance many majors, but does not in and by itself lead to a career choice.

Note: Asterisked (*) courses either have prerequisites not included in this minor or require consent of instructor.

I. Required Courses

BIOL 3630 Conservation Biology (3 credits)
GEOL 1110 Physical Geology (4 credits)
GEOL 1120 Historical Geology (4 credits)
*GEOL 3211 Hydrogeology I (3 credits)
SCI 2200 Meteorology (3 credits)

Subtotal 17 Credits

II. Required Electives

Select two of the following:

GEOL 2110 Mineralogy and Petrology (4 credits)
GEOL 2430 Introduction to Oceanography (3 credits)
GEOL 2730 Introduction to Planetary Science (4 credits)
*GEOL/BIOL 3120 Soils (4 credits)
*GEOL 3212 Hydrogeology II (3 credits)
GEOL 3400 Glacial and Pleistocene Geology (3 credits)
GEOL 3420 Geomorphology (3 credits)
GEOL 3500 Topics in Paleontology (3 credits)
GEOL 3600 Stratigraphy and Sedimentation (3 credits)
GEOL 3650 Structural Geology (3 credits)
GEOL 3700 Geophysical Field Methods (4 credits)

Subtotal 6-8 Credits

Total Semester Credits Required for Minor 23-25 Credits

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Earth and Space Science Specialty, Science Education Major, B.S. (Teacher Licensure)

This program is designed to meet the requirements for Science teacher licensure with a specialty in Earth and Space Science in the State of Minnesota. Students who complete this major will be eligible for teacher certification in Earth and Space Science in grades 9-12 and for teaching all sciences in grades 5-8. Students should consult their academic advisor in Earth Science prior to developing their program.

Students should complete the science core courses listed below prior to beginning the Earth and Space Science specialty. Consult with your academic adviser if you wish to have an alternative method of satisfying this requirement considered or wish to begin a specialty prior to completion of the science core courses.

Note: Asterisked (*) courses have prerequisites not included in this major.

I. Core Courses for Science Teaching in Grades 5-8

BIOL 1211 Introductory Biology I (4 credits)

BIOL 1212 Introductory Biology II (4 credits)

CHEM 1111 General Chemistry I

or CHEM 1211 Principles of Chemistry I (4 credits)

CHEM 1112 General Chemistry II

or CHEM 1212 Principles of Chemistry II (4 credits)

GEOL 1110 Physical Geology

or GEOL 1120 Historical Geology (4 credits)

PHYS 1101 General Physics I (4 credits)

or *PHYS 2101 Physics I (5 credits)

SCI 3100 Integrative Science for Teachers (4 credits)

SCI 3450 Science Methods for Grades 5-8 (4 credits)

Total Science Credits 32-33 Credits

II. Required Professional Education Core

33 Credits

III. Earth and Space Science Specialty

ENVR 2000 Introduction to Environmental Science (3 credits)

GEOL 2110 Mineralogy and Petrology (4 credits)
*GEOL 3211 Hydrogeology 1

or ENVR 4050 Geochemistry (3 credits)

GEOL 3500 Topics in Paleontology (3 credits)

GEOL 3600 Stratigraphy and Sedimentation (3 credits)

GEOL 4980 Research (research experience)

or GEOL 4970 Internship (research experience) (3 credits)

SCI 2100 Astronomy (3 credits)

Select the course not taken in the core:

GEOL 1110 Physical Geology

or GEOL 1120 Historical Geology (4 credits)

Total credits for Earth and Space Science Specialty 26 Credits

Total Semester Credits Required for Major 91-92 Credits

A Total of 128 Semester Credits is Required for a Bachelor’s Degree