Earth Science, B.S. - Natural Hazards

The graduation requirements are listed below. In addition, students select free electives to reach 120 credits overall required for the degree.  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 (45 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 (T2LE)
ESC 201 – History of Earth and Life (T2LE)
ESC 205 – Principles of Meteorology (T2PR)
ESC 210 – Principles of Astronomy (T2TP)
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

7 Additional credits in ESC at the 200-level or above

Select one option from the three listed below:
ESC 492 – Undergraduate Thesis Proposal and ESC 493 – Undergraduate Thesis
ESC 492 – Undergraduate Thesis Proposal and ESC 497 – Internship
Two additional ESC courses at the 200-level or above

COGNATE REQUIREMENTS (34 Credits)

BIO 102 – Biology I
BIO 120 – Microbiology (T2LE) or BIO 233 – Introductory Microbiology 
CHE 120 – General Chemistry I (T2PR)
CSC 152 or MAT 107 or MAT 221  – Computer Science/Mathematics
MAT 120 or MAT 122 or MAT 150 – Mathematics (T1QR)
PHY 200 – General Physics I (T2PR)

Select 3 courses:
ANT 252 – Introduction to Forensic Science
ANT 322 – Forensic Anthropology 
ANT 352 – Crime Scene Investigation 
ANT 442 – Advanced Forensic Anthropology
PCH 202 – Introduction to Public Health 
PCH 259 – Environmental Health 
PCH 265 – Illness and Disease 
PCH 342 – Introduction to Epidemiology 
PCH 358 – Health Policy 
PCH 362 – Public Health Management 
PCH 370 – Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Training
PCH 441 – Water Supply and Waste-Water Treatment 
PCH 446 – Environmental Hazards 
SOC 362 – Criminology 

Select one course :
ANT 311 – Applied Anthropology  
ESC 332 – Invertebrate Paleontology (‘C-’ or better)
ESC 461 – Glacial Geology  (‘C-’ or better)
IDS 320 – Human Flourishing in the 21st Century
IDS 405 - In a World: Capstone Experience
PCH 353 – Global Health
MAT 342 – Statistical Decision Making

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

ACCELERATED PATHWAY OPTION (9 Credits)

Students with an overall 3.0 GPA may be approved to complete an accelerated pathway. Graduate courses may be completed during their senior year when a student has earned at least 90 credits. Courses successfully completed with a grade of 'C' or higher will earn dual credit to be applied to both the undergraduate and graduate transcript. Approval to start graduate coursework does not guarantee admission to the graduate program.

Accelerated Pathway to Graduate Program
In consultation with their advisor, students may select up to 9 credits of graduate level coursework (500-level or higher) appropriate to their intended graduate program of study.