Earth Science - B.A. - Kent State Univ

The Bachelor of Arts in Earth Science at Kent State University equips students with an interdisciplinary understanding of earth processes and the skills needed for a variety of careers in the geosciences. The program combines foundational coursework in Earth Science with extensive field experiences and offers flexibility through a broad range of elective courses in Earth Science and Geography. This program provides a strong background for advanced study or careers in environmental or earth system fields, as well as various other disciplines where an understanding of natural science is valuable.

Program Outline

With a focus on interdisciplinary learning and hands-on experiences, you will be prepared for a variety of careers in the geosciences. The Bachelor of Arts degree in Earth Science is ideal for students interested in broad interdisciplinary study of the key natural and physical processes that shape the planet, leading to potential careers in environmental or earth system fields. The program requires courses in physical geology, minerals and rocks and geographic information science. Most geology courses have extensive (one-to-three-day) excursions that allow students to obtain valuable field experience. Graduates have opportunities for employment in a wide variety of careers where an understanding of natural science is useful or critical in success. Earth science can be a strong background for advanced study or career development in areas such as business, city management, regional development, planning, law, journalism and science writing.

Outline:

Major Requirements:

CHEM 10060 GENERAL CHEMISTRY I (KBS) 4
CHEM 10062 GENERAL CHEMISTRY I LABORATORY (KBS) (KLAB) 1
ESCI 11040 HOW THE EARTH WORKS (KBS) 3
ESCI 11041 HOW THE EARTH WORKS LABORATORY (KBS) (KLAB) 1
ESCI 11042 EARTH AND LIFE THROUGH TIME (KBS) 3 or ESCI 21062 ENVIRONMENTAL EARTH SCIENCE (KBS) or ESCI 21080 ALL ABOUT THE OCEANS (KBS)
ESCI 22000 DEGREE AND CAREER PATHS IN EARTH SCIENCES (ELR) 1
ESCI 23063 EARTH MATERIALS I 4
ESCI 31070 EARTH MATERIALS II (WIC) 4
GEOG 49070 GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SCIENCE 4
MATH 11010 ALGEBRA FOR CALCULUS (KMCR) 3
Earth Science (ESCI) Upper-Division Electives (30000 or 40000 level) 29
Geography (GEOG) Upper-Division Electives (30000 or 40000 level), choose from the following: 26
GEOG 31062 FUNDAMENTALS OF METEOROLOGY
GEOG 31064 CLIMATE AND THE ENVIRONMENT
GEOG 41065 APPLIED CLIMATOLOGY
GEOG 41066 GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE
GEOG 49078 GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SCIENCE AND ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS

Additional Program Requirements (courses do not count in major GPA):

UC 10001 FLASHES 101 1
Foreign Language (see Foreign Language College Requirement below) 14-16
Kent Core Composition 6
Kent Core Humanities and Fine Arts (minimum one course from each) 9
Kent Core Social Sciences (must be from two disciplines) 6
General Electives (total credit hours depends on earning 120 credit hours, including 39 upper-division credit hours) 38

Graduation Requirements:

Minimum Major GPA 2.000
Minimum Overall GPA 2.000

Students pursuing the Bachelor of Arts degree in the College of Arts and Sciences must complete 14-16 credit hours of foreign language. To complete the requirement, students need the equivalent of Elementary I and II in any language, plus one of the following options:

Intermediate I and II of the same language
Elementary I and II of a second language
Any combination of two courses from the following list:
Intermediate I of the same language
ARAB 21401
ASL 19401
CHIN 25421
MCLS 10001
MCLS 20001
MCLS 20091
MCLS 21417
MCLS 21420
MCLS 22217
MCLS 28403
MCLS 28404

Roadmap:

This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this major. However, courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.

Plan of Study Grid:

Semester One:
ESCI 11040 HOW THE EARTH WORKS (KBS) 3
ESCI 11041 HOW THE EARTH WORKS LABORATORY (KBS) (KLAB) 1
MATH 11010 ALGEBRA FOR CALCULUS (KMCR) 3
UC 10001 FLASHES 101 1
Foreign Language 4
Kent Core Requirement 3
Total Credit Hours 15
Semester Two:
ESCI 11042 EARTH AND LIFE THROUGH TIME (KBS) 3
ESCI 22000 DEGREE AND CAREER PATHS IN EARTH SCIENCES (ELR) 1
Foreign Language 4
Kent Core Requirement 3
Total Credit Hours 14
Semester Three:
CHEM 10060 GENERAL CHEMISTRY I (KBS) 4
CHEM 10062 GENERAL CHEMISTRY I LABORATORY (KBS) (KLAB) 1
ESCI 23063 EARTH MATERIALS I 4
Foreign Language 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
Total Credit Hours 18
Semester Four:
ESCI 31070 EARTH MATERIALS II (WIC) 4
GEOG 49070 GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SCIENCE 4
Foreign Language 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
Total Credit Hours 14
Semester Five:
Earth Science (ESCI) Upper-Division Elective (30000 or 40000 level) 3
Geography (GEOG) Upper-Division Elective (30000 or 40000 level) 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
General Elective 3
Total Credit Hours 15
Semester Six:
Earth Science (ESCI) Upper-Division Elective (30000 or 40000 level) 3
Geography (GEOG) Upper-Division Elective (30000 or 40000 level) 3
General Electives 9
Total Credit Hours 15
Semester Seven:
Earth Science (ESCI) Upper-Division Elective (30000 or 40000 level) 3
General Electives 12
Total Credit Hours 15
Semester Eight:
General Electives 14
Total Credit Hours 14

Minimum Total Credit Hours: 120

University Requirements:

All students in a bachelor's degree program at Kent State University must complete the following university requirements for graduation. NOTE: University requirements may be fulfilled in this program by specific course requirements.

Bachelor's Requirements:

Flashes 101 (UC 10001) 1 credit hour
Course is not required for students with 30+ transfer credits (excluding College Credit Plus) or age 21+ at time of admission.
Diversity Domestic/Global (DIVD/DIVG) 2 courses
Students must successfully complete one domestic and one global course, of which one must be from the Kent Core.
Experiential Learning Requirement (ELR) varies
Students must successfully complete one course or approved experience.
Kent Core (see table below) 36-37 credit hours
Writing-Intensive Course (WIC) 1 course
Students must earn a minimum C grade in the course.
Upper-Division Requirement 39 credit hours
Students must successfully complete 39 upper-division (numbered 30000 to 49999) credit hours to graduate.
Total Credit Hour Requirement 120 credit hours

Kent Core Requirements:

Kent Core Composition (KCMP) 6
Kent Core Mathematics and Critical Reasoning (KMCR) 3
Kent Core Humanities and Fine Arts (KHUM/KFA) (min one course each) 9
Kent Core Social Sciences (KSS) (must be from two disciplines) 6
Kent Core Basic Sciences (KBS/KLAB) (must include one laboratory) 6-7
Kent Core Additional (KADL) 6
Total Credit Hours: 36-37

Careers:

Graduates have opportunities for employment in a wide variety of careers where an understanding of natural science is useful or critical in success. Earth science can be a strong background for advanced study or career development in areas such as business, city management, regional development, planning, law, journalism and science writing.

Other:

Most geology courses have extensive (one-to-three-day) excursions that allow students to obtain valuable field experience.
A minimum C grade must be earned to fulfill the writing-intensive requirement.
Other relevant courses may be substituted in consultation with an advisor.
All students with prior foreign language experience should take the foreign language placement test to determine the appropriate level at which to start.
Certain majors, concentrations and minors may require specific languages, limit the languages from which a student may choose or require coursework through Intermediate II.