2020-2021 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]
Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences
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The Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences (EAS) includes the following programs: Applied Geology (GEL), Environmental Science (ENV), Geography (GEG), Geospatial Science (GIS), and Meteorology (MTR). The department offers degrees in the five disciplines, providing students with a strong background in the physical and quantitative aspects of the environment. Students receive a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree except when their focused area is Geography (Bachelor of Arts degree). The department has an embedded advisor to assist students in choosing courses to graduate as quickly as possible. Minor programs are also available in Geography, Geology, Meteorology, Environmental Sciences and Geographic Information Systems. Students working toward teacher licensure in either science or social studies take courses in Applied Geology, Geography, or Meteorology. Visit the department website, www.msudenver.edu/eas for additional information.
Applied Geology
The Applied Geology major (B.S.) prepares program graduates for entry into geoscience careers or graduate programs through access to critical content knowledge, applicable skills and modes of thought. The program integrates classroom geology instruction with hands-on training both in the laboratory and in the field, featuring interpretive data assessment. The Applied Geology degree requires coursework from several other sciences with a core of geology courses. This degree offers opportunities for national and international fieldwork, meaningful undergraduate research projects, and industry related internships.
Environmental Science
The Environmental Science major (B.S.) provides a foundation for understanding issues and solving problems involving the natural environment. Most Environmental Science courses use multidisciplinary course materials. Students are expected to choose one of the five concentrations (see above). All concentrations, except for Environmental Science for teacher licensure, require a unified core. If you are interested in majoring in Environmental Science, schedule an appoint with the departmental advisor. Students interested in teacher licensure in secondary science should consult the School of Education’s advisor, in addition to the EAS advisor. The Environmental Science major prepares students for careers in environmental and resource management, water quality analysis and treatment, habitat planning, environmental risk assessment, environmental modeling and sampling, site assessment and remediation, or environmental geology.
Geography
Geography is the study of both the Earth’s physical and human features, and their interactions, ranging in scale from local to global. Geography bridges the natural and physical sciences. To major in Geography (B.A.), you first have to choose a concentration, either Sustainability or Physical Geography. Physical geography students study the genesis, occurrence, distribution, and interrelationships of physical earth systems and their connection with human activities. The Sustainability concentration provides a multidisciplinary approach to understanding problems and implementing solutions to improve the quality of the built environment, including urban planning and meeting our present needs without jeopardizing the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. The Geography major prepares students for professional careers in both the private and public sectors, as well as for graduate studies.
Geospatial Sciences
The Geospatial Sciences major (B.S.) provides the theoretical knowledge and technical training to become proficient in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), remote sensing, Global Positioning Systems (GPS), mapmaking and data management in order to define and solve real-world problems. As a student of the Geospatial Sciences, you take classes in spatial modeling, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) applications, GIS programming, and web mapping, as well as cartography, visualization, and spatial databases. You will develop the skills to meet the ever-increasing demand for workers in this high-tech field. If you are interested, then contact the departmental advisor to see if a major, minor or certificate best fits your needs.
Meteorology
The Meteorology major (B.S.) combines the fields of physics, chemistry, mathematics, and computer science to understand the atmosphere. MSU Denver’s Meteorology program is unique in Colorado because it fulfills both the American Meteorological Society’s recommendations for undergraduate meteorology programs and all the U.S. federal government’s civil service requirements for classification as a meteorologist. You will graduate prepared for a career in a wide range of atmospheric science vocations as well as further studies in graduate school. If you are interested, then contact the departmental advisor.
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