Bachelor of Science in Geosciences

Geosciences Major, Bachelor of Science (BS)

There are three concentrations in the Geosciences BS: 1) Professional Geology concentration prepares students for the WA State Geology License exams as well as graduate school level research. 2) Climate Change and Environmental Justice prepares students to help study and support society in an ever changing world.  3) Geosciences is an option that allows students to best fit their interest by building a degree with a Geosciences advisor.  

Geoscientists study the Earth and our relationship to it by providing opportunities to observe natural processes in action. By applying knowledge of the forces that are constantly reshaping our planet, one can seek to reconstruct the past and anticipate the future. You can benefit society by understanding our planet and the life it sustains.  Employed in a wide spectrum of academic, industrial, and government positions, geoscientists can be found collecting samples from the moon, the ocean floor, and active lava flows. They discover and manage resources, consult on engineering and environmental issues, conduct research, teach, write, and use Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to make positive change.

Career Opportunities can include:  Geotechnical and environmental fields, Hydrology, economic geology, GIS, energy companies, Governmental regulation and natural resource departments, and public health. 

The following plan of study is for a student with zero credits. Individual students may have different factors such as: credit through transfer work, Advanced Placement, Running Start, or any other type of college-level coursework that requires an individual plan.

Courses may be offered in different terms and not all courses are offered every term, checking the academic schedule is paramount in keeping an individual plan current. There may be some courses that have required prerequisites not listed in the plan, review the course descriptions for information. Students should connect with an advisor to ensure they are on track to graduate.

All Undergraduate students are required to meet the Undergraduate Degree Requirements.

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University Graduation Requirements (UGR) and Breadth Area Course Requirements (BACR) courses may be less than 5 credits and additional credits may be required to reach the required 180 total credits needed to graduate.  Students should connect with an advisor to ensure they are on track to graduate.

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Choose one of the Concentrations and Capstone. Please note that 60 credits of 300 or 400-level courses are required for graduation.
Geosciences–In consultation of faculty advisor, take at least 45 credits (at least 35 must be taken at the 300- or 400 level, including capstone) of GEOS credit electives. All GEOS courses are possible electives to satisfy this concentration.
Professional Geology–45 credits required.
Climate Change and Environmental Justice–Electives 45 credits required–complete 25 credits from the approved list and choose at least 10 additional approved GEOS credits at 300–level or above, or PLAN 376, PLAN 430, or PLAN 442. All GEOS courses are possible electives to satisfy this concentration–check with your advisor.

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Required Science Core–MATH 142 and choose two courses from the approved list (CHEM 171 and CHEM 171L are required for the Professional Geology Concentration).

University Competencies and Proficiencies

English 
Quantitative and Symbolic Reasoning
Placement and Clearance 
Prior Learning/Sources of Credit AP, CLEP, IB

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General Education Requirements (GER)

• Minimum Credits—180 cumulative credit hours 
  • 60 upper-division credits (300 level or above)
  • 45 credits in residence (attendance) at Eastern, with at least 15 upper-division credits in major in residence at Eastern
• Minimum Cumulative GPA ≥2.0

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Breadth Area Core Requirements (BACR)

Humanities and Arts 
Natural Sciences 
Social Sciences

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University Graduation Requirements (UGR)

Diversity Course List
World Language (for Bachelor of Arts)
Global Studies Course List
Minor or Certificate
Senior Capstone Course List

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Application for Graduation (use EagleNET) must be made at least two terms in advance of the term you expect to graduate (undergraduate and post-baccalaureate).

Use the Catalog Archives to determine two important catalog years.
Requirements in Degree Works are based on these two catalog years:

1. The catalog in effect at the student's first term of current matriculation is used to determine BACR (Breadth Area Credit Requirements) and UGR (Undergraduate Graduation Requirements).
2. The catalog in effect at the time the student declares a major or minor is used to determine the program requirements.

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Students who earn a BS in Geosciences from EWU should be able to:

• demonstrate knowledge of human–environment interactions;
• apply geoscience techniques to a complex problem;
• produce a professionally formatted report that effectively communicates;
• demonstrate advanced analytical skills in the geosciences in preparation for the professional job market or graduate studies.