Earth Science, B.A.

The program course outline and graduation requirements for this catalog year are listed below. To graduate, a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 must be achieved, and a total of 120 credits is required. This total includes both the required courses for the program and any free electives selected. The department website provides an overview of the program, admission requirements for the major (when applicable), faculty biographies, learning outcomes, and careers:  https://www.southernct.edu/academics/earth-science/programs. 

GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS (46 Credits)

All bachelor’s degree programs include liberal education (LEP) and writing (W) course requirements. To review more detailed information, please visit General Education (LEP) Degree Requirements.   

MAJOR REQUIREMENTS (49 Credits)

Up to three courses in the major/cognate may also satisfy LEP requirements and will be indicated below; no more than two courses in the same subject may be used towards LEP Explorations.  

‘C-’ or better required.

ESC 200 – Physical Geology (T2PR)
ESC 201 – History of Earth and Life (T2LE)
ESC 205 – Principles of Meteorology (T2PR)
ESC 220 – Physical and Chemical Oceanography (T2PR)
ESC 311 – Mineralogy
ESC 312 – Petrology OR ESC 325 – Sedimentology and Stratigraphy 
ESC 350 – Structural Geology and Tectonics
ESC 430 – Field Methods

Select 19 additional credits of ESC courses at the 200-level or above.

COGNATE REQUIREMENTS (14 Credits)

Up to 3 credits will be waived based on Math Placement*

CHE 120 – General Chemistry I (T2PR)
PHY 200 – General Physics I (T2PR)

Select one from:
MAT 111–Extended Algebra for Business and Science*
MAT 112–Algebra for Business and the Sciences*

Select one from (T1QR):
MAT 120 – College Algebra
MAT 122 – Precalculus
MAT 150 – Calculus I

Non-Course Requirements:
Pass Praxis® II with a score of 157 or higher

ACCELERATED PATHWAY OPTION (12 Credits)

Students with a 3.0 GPA and at least 90 credits may be eligible to complete an accelerated pathway during their senior year to earn dual credit towards both their current undergraduate program and future graduate program of interest. Approval to start graduate coursework does not guarantee admission to the graduate program.

Students will meet with their faculty advisor to prepare a Graduate Course Plan (500-level courses or higher), with a maximum of 6 credits per semester, based on their graduate program of interest. Approval from both the Program Department Chairperson and the Graduate Coordinator is required. Programs may have higher requirements, and seat availability in certain graduate programs may be limited.    

Courses completed with a grade of 'C' or higher will earn dual credit for both undergraduate and graduate transcripts. Graduate programs may have higher grade requirements in place for certain courses which may require the student to retake the course for a higher grade letter.