Earth and Atmospheric Sciences

The Earth and Atmospheric Sciences Department (EAS) is composed of disciplines in: environmental science, geography, geology, meteorology, geographic information systems, and integrated natural science. The department offers degrees in environmental science, land use and meteorology, providing students with a strong background in the physical and quantitative aspects of the environment. Students will receive a bachelor of science degree except when their focused area of interest in land use is urban land use planning (bachelor of arts degree). Each student must have an EAS faculty advisor. Visit Quick Facts at the department Web site (www.mscd.edu/~eas). Minor programs are available in geography, geology, meteorology, environmental science, and geographic information systems. Students working toward teacher licensure in either science or social studies may take courses in geology, geography, or meteorology. Students working toward secondary science teacher licensure in environmental science must consult an EAS environmental science faculty advisor.

Environmental Science

The environmental science major is an extended major (no minor required) designed as an entry-level major for MSCD students as well as for students transferring at the junior level from the community colleges with a background in water quality. Students may choose from five options (concentrations) depending on their areas of interest. The multidisciplinary concentration provides students with a broad-based environmental science background, whereas the concentrations in ecological restoration, environmental chemistry, and water quality are more specialized. The environmental science option for secondary science teacher licensure is the remaining concentration available to students. All concentrations, except for environmental science for teacher licensure, require a unified core. (See Environmental Science ).

Land Use

The land use major is an extended major (no minor required) that combines general planning courses with a focused area of study, including environment and resources, geographic information systems, geology, or urban land use planning, linked by the vital thread of land use management. It also equips students with a dynamic foundation for understanding issues and solving problems that confront the community and environment. The program is broad in scope and can be applied to a number of career objectives and graduate school programs. Opportunities exist in such areas as cartography, environment and resource management, environmental science, geographic information systems, geology, mining and mineral resources, planning, population analysis, recreational land use, remote sensing, residential and industrial development, transportation, and a variety of other interrelated fields. (See Land Use .)

The land use major is a 65 hour extended major (no minor required) that combines general planning courses with a focused area of study (concentration), including environment and resources, geographic information systems, geology, or urban land use planning, linked by the vital thread of land use management. Students will receive a bachelor of science degree except when their concentration is urban land use planning in which case the student will receive a bachelor of arts degree. The major equips students with a dynamic foundation for understanding issues and solving problems that confront the community and environment, making them highly competitive in the job market. The program is broad in scope and can be applied to a number of career objectives and graduate school programs. Opportunities exist in such areas as cartography, environment and resource management, environmental science, geographic information systems, geology, mining and mineral resources, planning, population analysis, recreational land use, remote sensing, residential and industrial development, transportation, and a variety of other interrelated fields. Because the land use degree is an extended major, it does not require a minor. Each student must have a department advisor and consult with his/her advisor regarding course work to avoid prerequisite problems.

Meteorology

Meteorology is the science of the atmosphere. Meteorologists are employed in operational meteorology, meteorological research, applied meteorology, and the media. Meteorologists study global weather and climate, and investigate the influence that human beings exert on earth’s climate. The Meteorology Computer Laboratory provides access to real-time weather data and analysis software supported by the UNIDATA Program. The bachelor of science degree conforms to the American Meteorological Society and National Weather Service recommendations for an undergraduate meteorology degree. A mathematics minor is a requirement of the meteorology major. Students should contact a meteorology faculty member to discuss degree programs, career opportunities, and graduate school options. (See Meteorology .)

The environmental science major is an extended major (no minor required) designed as an entry-level major for MSCD students as well as for students transferring as juniors from the community colleges with backgrounds in water quality. In addition, students may choose from concentrations depending on their areas of interest. The multidisciplinary concentration provides students with a broad-based environmental science background, whereas the concentrations in water quality, environmental chemistry, and ecological restoration are more specialized. The environmental science option for secondary science teacher licensure is the remaining concentration available to students. All concentrations, except for environmental science for teacher licensure, require a unified core. Interested students should go to the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences (Science 231) to be assigned an advisor and to pick up advising and career option sheets. Students interested in teacher licensure in secondary science should consult an advisor in environmental science and teacher education (see teacher education ).