Earth Science, B.S. - Natural Hazards

The program course outline and graduation requirements for this catalog year are listed below. To graduate, a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 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 (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 (T2PR)
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 (35 Credits)

Up to 3 credits may be waived based on mathematics placement.*

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

Select three from:
ANT 252 – Introduction to Forensic Science
ANT 322 – Forensic Anthropology 
ANT 352 – Crime Scene Investigation 
ANT 442 – Advanced Forensic Anthropology
GEO 360 – Introduction to GIS
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 

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

ACCELERATED PATHWAY OPTION (9 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.