Geology and Environmental Studies Major, BS - Planetary Geoscience Concentration

A concentration in Planetary Geoscience is for undergraduate students who want to pursue a career in applying geoscience skills to extraterrestrial bodies. Students will gain a strong geoscience background with the flexibility to supplement with additional courses tailored to their specific interest in the planetary field (i.e., remote sensing, astrobiology, etc.). Students in this concentration will develop analytical, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills they can put to work in careers in scientific research, planetary mission development and support, teaching, and related fields.

Prerequisites:

A. Select one sequence:

CHEM 122 - General Chemistry I 3 Credit Hours *
CHEM 123 - General Chemistry I Laboratory 1 Credit Hours *
CHEM 132 - General Chemistry II 3 Credit Hours *
CHEM 133 - General Chemistry II Laboratory 1 Credit Hours *
or
CHEM 128 - Honors: General Chemistry I 4 Credit Hours *
CHEM 138 - Honors: General Chemistry II 4 Credit Hours *
Note: CHEM 132 * or CHEM 138 * may be taken concurrently with 300-level geology courses.

B. Take the following introductory courses:

EEPS 101 - The Dynamic Earth 4 Credit Hours *
EEPS 104 - Exploring the Planets 4 Credit Hours *

Corequisites:

A. Select one mathematics sequence:

Select at least one additional physics, statistics, math or biology course:

EF 152 - Physics for Engineers II 4 Credit Hours *
EF 158 - Honors: Physics for Engineers II 4 Credit Hours *
PHYS 136 - Introduction to Physics for Physical Science and Mathematics Majors II 4 Credit Hours *
PHYS 138 - Honors: Fundamentals of Physics for Physics Majors II 5 Credit Hours *
PHYS 222 - Elements of Physics II 4 Credit Hours *
STAT 201 - Introduction to Statistics 3 Credit Hours *
STAT 251 - Probability and Statistics for Scientists and Engineers 3 Credit Hours
MATH 231 - Differential Equations I 3 Credit Hours
MATH 237 - Honors: Differential Equations I 3 Credit Hours
MATH 241 - Calculus III 4 Credit Hours
MATH 247 - Honors: Calculus III 4 Credit Hours
MATH 251 - Matrix Algebra I 3 Credit Hours
BIOL 113 - Introductory Plant Biology I 3 Credit Hours *
BIOL 115 - Introductory Plant Biology Laboratory 2 Credit Hours
BIOL 150 - Organismal and Ecological Biology 3 Credit Hours *
BIOL 158 - Honors: Organismal and Ecological Biology 3 Credit Hours
BIOL 159 - Skills of Biological Investigation 2 Credit Hours *
BIOL 167 - Honors: Skills of Biological Investigation 2 Credit Hours *

Concentration Requirements:

A. Complete:

EEPS 310 - Mineralogy 4 Credit Hours *
EEPS 330 - Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology 4 Credit Hours
EEPS 340 - Earth Sedimentary Processes 4 Credit Hours
EEPS 370 - Earth Structure and Geophysics 4 Credit Hours
EEPS 380 - Planetary Geoscience 4 Credit Hours

B. Complete at least 5 hours:

You may use a combination of courses to reach 5 credit hours to include:

1) Take an external field geology course for at least 5 credits and transfer those credit hours as EEPS 440 .

2) EEPS 301 ** (3 credits) + EEPS 440 (3 credits)

3) EEPS 440 (3 credits) + EEPS 440 (3 credits). Note: these two courses must involve different field destinations.

4) External research internships with NASA or similar organizations, or other significant summer research experiences (e.g., extended field work) may satisfy the field training requirement. Students who engage in such activities are encouraged to consult with their advisor to determine whether it may qualify.

**EEPS 301 may not be used to satisfy credit hour requirements in B and C.

C. Select 12 hours (6 or more at the 400 level or above):

ASTR 151 - A Journey through the Solar System Lecture 3 Credit Hours *
ASTR 152 - Stars, Galaxies, and Cosmology Lecture 3 Credit Hours *
ASTR 217 - Honors: Introductory Astronomy 4 Credit Hours *
ASTR 218 - Honors: Introductory Astronomy 4 Credit Hours *
EEPS 210 - Astrobiology: Life, the Universe, and Everything 3 Credit Hours
EEPS 301 - Introduction to Scientific Field Methods and Analysis 3 Credit Hours
EEPS 424 - GIS for Geoscientists 3 Credit Hours
EEPS 432 - Geochemical Modeling 3 Credit Hours
EEPS 450 - Landscapes: Earth and Elsewhere 3 Credit Hours
EEPS 459 - Introduction to Oceanography 3 Credit Hours
EEPS 465 - Geomicrobiology 3 Credit Hours
EEPS 471 - Applied Geophysics 3 Credit Hours
EEPS 484 - Planetary Geodynamics 3 Credit Hours
EEPS 490 - Special Problems in Geology 1-3 Credit Hours
EEPS 493 - Independent Study 1-12 Credit Hours
MICR 475 - Reproducible Data Analysis 3 Credit Hours
Advanced undergraduates are encouraged to inquire with instructors of 500- and 600-level EEPS courses about the possibility of enrollment. Such courses are normally closed to undergraduates, but may be opened on a case-by-case basis. Enrollment in any 500- or 600-level EEPS course counts toward the 12-credit concentration requirement in C.

* Meets Volunteer Core Requirements .

Honors Concentration – Planetary Geoscience

Requirements for the honors option are:

Fulfill all requirements for a Geology and Environmental Studies Planetary Geoscience Concentration degree
Maintain an overall GPA of at least 3.25
Maintain a concentration GPA of at least 3.5
9 hours of honors-by-contract coursework chosen from: approved 300- and 400-level EEPS courses, EEPS 491 Foreign Study, EEPS 492 Off Campus Study, and EEPS 493 Independent Study.
3 hours of EEPS 497 Honors Senior Thesis (with a written and oral presentation of thesis)

Undergraduates

Graduate Students