Earth Sciences Minors

The Department of Earth Sciences offers a minor in Geology, minor in Earth Science, minor in Environmental Geology, and minor in Paleontology. Download our Earth Sciences Minors Brochure here.

Earth Sciences Minors Image

 

Please contact an undergraduate advisor in Earth Sciences for assistance customizing an earth sciences minor to complement your academic interests.

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Prerequisites and/or Corequisites

Most upper-division earth sciences classes have prerequisites, many of which will be satisfied by majors in other sciences. Please consult the current version of the undergraduate course catalog for details on each minor degree: 

General Requirements

  • Course graded on an S/U basis may not be applied to the minor.
  • No more than three hours of ESCI 40096, Individual Investigation, may be applied to the minor.
  • Students must meet prerequisites for courses chosen as geology (ESCI) electives.
  • 2.0 GPA Admission requirement minimum.
  • 2.0 GPA Graduation requirement minimum

Minor in Geology

The minor in geology is designed specifically for those who have a primary interest in a field that can be complemented by a basic knowledge of geological concepts. The minor can be of particular benefit to students majoring in anthropology, environmental law, architecture, leisure studies, business, political science, geography, journalism, and other liberal arts or science fields. 

Required Courses

Course Number Course Title Credits

Choose one from:
ESCI 11040
ESCI 11042
ESCI 21062
ESCI 21080

 
How the Earth Works
Earth and Life through Time
Environmental Earth Sciences
All About the Oceans

3

Plus

12 elective ESCI credits chosen from courses not listed above.         

12

Total

 

15

Please see the Courses Offered page for the planned course schedule.

Minor in Earth Science 

The Earth science minor prepares students to integrate concepts and knowledge of Earth's surface, its interior, and its interactions with life and water. Scientific knowledge about Earth's processes and earth-life-water interactions is critical for making informed decisions in science education, public policy, public health, conservation, resource management and environmental consulting. Students will gain essential knowledge of Earth systems science, including the interactions of Earth's atmosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, and lithosphere over both shorter (millennium) and longer (mega-annum) time periods. 

Required Courses

Course Number Course Title Credits

ESCI 11040
ESCI 33025
GEOG 41066

How the Earth Works                                                                        
Water and the Environment
Global Climate Change

3
3
3

Choose two from:
GEOG 31062
GEOG 41073
GEOG 49070
ESCI 42030
ESCI 44025
ESCI 44074
 

Fundamentals of Meteorology
Conservation of Natural Resources
GIS
Remote Sensing
Geologic Hazards
Paleoceanography                                                                                          

3
3
4
3
3
3

Total

 

15-16

Please see the Courses Offered page for the planned course schedule.

Minor in Environmental Geology 

The environmental geology minor prepares students to integrate concepts and knowledge of environmental geology and to communicate these issues to a variety of audiences, including policymakers and the public. Scientific knowledge about environmental geology processes is used to inform different areas of formal study such as anthropology, architecture, geography, political science, environmental law, environmental studies, and recreation and park management. Students will gain broad knowledge of geology, and the environmental impacts of anthropogenic-induced change on the Earth in the immediate short-term and over longer periods. Competencies focus on human-water-rock interactions at Earth's surface (the critical zone).

Required Courses

Course Number Course Title Credits

ESCI 21062

ESCI 11040 or
ESCI 21080

ESCI 33025

Environmental Earth Science                                                             

How the Earth Works or
All About the Oceans

Water and the Environment

3

3
3

3

Choose two from:
ESCI 32066
ESCI 40380
ESCI 41085
ESCI 42030
ESCI 42035
ESCI 44025
ESCI 44072
ESCI 44074
 

Geomorphology
Biogeochemistry
Mass Extinctions
Remote Sensing
Scientific Methods in Geology
Geologic Hazards
Marine Processes
Paleoceanography                                                                                             

4
3
3
3
3
3
3
3

Total

 

15-16

Please see the Courses Offered page for the planned course schedule.

Minor in Paleontology 

The paleontology minor prepares students to integrate concepts in geology and biology to address issues in conservation paleobiology, historical and current causes of extinctions, and evolutionary patterns on geological scales. Scientific knowledge about paleontology is used to inform different areas of formal study such as biological sciences, conservation biology, anthropology, environmental studies, geography, and museum and natural history education. Students will gain broad knowledge of paleobiology and the interplay between the geosphere and the biosphere over geologic time applied to interpretation of modern and historic floras and faunas and communication about these issues to policymakers and the public. 

Required Courses

Course Number Course Title Credits

ESCI 11042
ESCI 11043
ESCI 34061

Earth and Life Through Time
Earth and Life Through Time lab 
Principles of Paleontology

3
3
4

Choose two from the following, one of which must be ESCI:
ANTH 18630
ANTH 48810
BSCI 30560
BSCI 30275
BSCI 40163
BSCI 40556
ESCI 44070
ESCI 41085
ESCI 44072
ESCI 41079
ESCI 44074


Human Evolution
Human Paleontology
Invertebrate Zoology
Local Flora
Evolution
Vertebrate Zoology
Sedimentology & Stratigraphy
Mass Extinctions
Marine Processes
All About Dinosaurs
Paleoceanography


3
3
4
3
3
4
4
3
3
3
3

Total

 

16-18

Please see the Courses Offered page for the planned course schedule.

Minor in Computers and Geosciences 

The Computers and Geosciences minor provides a foundation in computer science and computational data processing for students in any field of Geosciences, allowing students to work with substantial computing and data science oriented cyber systems. The minor enables students to competitively manage the computing and cyber aspects of their professions.

Students in Computers and Geosciences minor will use Python programming language to import, clean, analyze, visualize and learn data from their real-world applications.

Required Courses

Course Number Course Title Credits

Minor Prerequisites:

MATH 11010
 

 

Algebra for Calculus (KMCR)
 

 

Minor Requirements:
CS 10051
CS 10062
CS 20062
CS 30062
GEOG 49070
ESCI 42030/GEOG 49230
 


Introduction to Computer Science (KMCR) 
Programming for Problem Solving in Sciences
Advanced Programming with Python
Python for Data Science
Geographic Information Science
Remote Sensing
 


4
4
4
3
4
3
 

Total

 

22

Please see the Courses Offered page for the planned course schedule.