Earth Science

College of Natural Science and Mathematics
Department of Geology and Geophysics
907-474-7565
www.uaf.edu/geology/

BA Degree

Downloadable PDF

Minimum Requirements for Degree: 120–130 credits

This program provides broad training in various aspects of earth systems science. Three concentrations are available: earth systems science, geological hazards and mitigation, and secondary education. The concentrations allow students to focus on different interests and career paths during their junior and senior years but offer considerable flexibility during the freshman and sophomore years.

The earth science concentration offers students a sound background in a broad spectrum of geoscience disciplines, with an emphasis on the interaction between earth systems. The geological hazards and mitigation concentration is designed for students who wish to pursue careers in communicating science, hazards analysis or emergency management-related natural disasters. The secondary education concentration is designed for students who plant to teach earth science in secondary school in Alaska. Requirements for certified teachers have been built in to this concentration in consultation with the School of Education. Students choosing this concentration should consult with both the Department of Geology and Geophysics and the School of Education for advising.

Major -- BA Degree

  1. Complete the general university requirements. (As part of the core curriculum requirements, complete: NRM F303X*, CHEM F103X and CHEM F104X or CHEM F105X and CHEM F106X or PHYS F103X and PHYS F104X).
  2. Complete the BA degree requirements. (Note that social science (s) courses are included in each of the concentrations. These courses may also be applied to the BA degree requirements).
  3. Complete the following foundation courses:*
    GEOS F101X--The Dynamic Earth (4)
         or GEOS F120X--Glaciers, Earthquakes and Volcanoes (4)--4 credits
    GEOS F112X--The History of Earth and Life (4)
         or GEOS F106X--Life in the Age of Dinosaurs(4)--4 credits
  4. Complete one of the following concentrations:

Earth Systems Science

  1. Complete the following:*
    GEOS F304--Geomorphology--3 credits
    GEOS F315W--Paleobiology and Paleontology--4 credits
  2. Complete one course from each of the following areas:*
    Earth Systems
    GEOG F101--Expedition Earth: Introduction to Geography--3 credits
    MSL F111X--The Oceans--4 credits
    NRM F101--Natural Resource Conservation Policy--3 credits
    PHYS F175X--Introduction to Astronomy--4 credits
    Earth Materials
    GEOS F213--Mineralogy--4 credits
    GEOS F262--Rocks and Minerals--3 credits
    Geospatial Sciences
    GEOG F338--Introduction to Geographic Information Systems--3 credits
    GEOS F222--Fundamentals of Geospatial Sciences--3 credits
    GEOS F225--Field and Computer Methods in Geology (2)
         and GEOS F408--Photogeology (2)--4 credits
  3. Complete one course from any two of the following areas:*
    Weather and Climate
    ATM F101X--Weather and Climate of Alaska--4 credits
    GEOG F307--Weather and Climate--3 credits
    Natural Resources
    GEOG F302--Geography of Alaska--3 credits
    GEOG F402--Resources and Environment--3 credits
    Geoscience
    GEOS F309--Tectonics--3 credits
    GEOS F322--Stratigraphy and Sedimentation--4 credits
    Geobiology
    GEOS F485--Mass Extinctions, Neocatasrophism, and the History of Life--3 credits
    GEOS F486--Vertebrate Paleontology--3 credits
  4. Complete 9 additional credits at the F300 level or above with an emphasis in geology, geography, biology, natural resources management or other earth science-related field as approved by the undergraduate advisor, including one W (writing-intensive) course and one O (oral-intensive) course.--9 credits
  5. Complete any UAF minor. Courses used to satisfy the upper-division emphasis may also be applied towards the requirements for a minor.
  6. Minimum credits required--120 credits

Geological Hazards and Mitigation

  1. As part of the core curriculum requirements, complete SOC F100X and COMM F300X.
  2. Complete the following:*
    ED F486O/2--Media Literacy--3 credits
    ENGL F314W,O/2–Technical Writing--3 credits
    GEOS F304--Geomorphology--3 credits
    GEOS F380--Geological Hazards--3 credits
    GEOS F406--Volcanology--3 credits
    HSEM F301--Principles of Emergency Management and Homeland Security--3 credits
    PHYS F175X--Introduction to Astronomy--4 credits
    STAT F200X--Elementary Probability and Statistics--3 credits
  3. Complete one course from each of the following areas:*
    Earth Materials
    GEOS F213--Mineralogy--4 credits
    GEOS F262--Rocks and Minerals--3 credits
    Geospatial Sciences
    GEOS F222--Fundamentals of Geospatial Sciences--3 credits
    GEOS F225--Field and Computer Methods in Geology (2)
         and GEOS F408--Photogeology (2)--4 credits
    Weather and Climate
    ATM F101X--Weather and Climate of Alaska--4 credits
    GEOG F307--Weather and Climate--3 credits
  4. Complete a minimum of two courses from one of the following specialized areas:*
    Mitigation
    HSEM F412--Emergency Planning and Preparedness--3 credits
    HSEM F423--Disaster Response Operations and Management--3 credits
    HSEM F434--All Hazards Risk Analysis--3 credits
    Communications
    COMM F335O--Organizational Communications--3 credits
    COMM F353--Conflict, Mediation, and Communication--3 credits
    COMM F441--Persuasion--3 credits
  5. Complete any the requirements for a minor in geology, paleontology, geospatial sciences, geography, communications, journalism, sociology or other field related to communicating and mitigating natural hazards, as approved by the undergraduate advisor.
  6. Minimum credits required--120 credits

Secondary Education

  1. Complete the following:*
    GEOG F101--Expedition Earth: Introduction to Geography--3 credits
    GEOS F262--Rocks and Minerals--3 credits
    GEOS F315W--Paleobiology and Paleontology--4 credits
    GEOS F475--Presentation Techniques in the Geosciences--2 credits
    MSL F111X--The Oceans--4 credits
    PHYS F175X--Introduction to Astronomy--4 credits
    PSY F101--Introduction to Psychology--3 credits
  2. Complete one course from each of the following areas:*
    Landform Analysis
    GEOG F111X--Earth and Environment: Elements of Physical Geography--4 credits
    GEOS F304--Geomorphology--3 credits
    Geospatial Sciences
    GEOS F222--Fundamentals of Geospatial Sciences--3 credits
    GEOS F225--Field and Computer Methods in Geology--2 credits
    GEOS F338--Introduction to Geographic Information Systems--3 credits
    Weather and Climate
    ATM F101X--Weather and Climate of Alaska--4 credits
    GEOG F307--Weather and Climate--3 credits
    Natural Resources
    GEOG F302--Geography of Alaska--3 credits
    GEOG F402--Resources and Environment--3 credits
    Evolutionary Processes
    GEOS F309--Tectonics--3 credits
    GEOG F485--Mass Extinctions, Neocatastrophism, and the History of Life--3 credits
    GEOS F486--Vertebrate Paleontology--3 credits
  3. Complete the requirements for a minor in secondary education--16 credits
  4. Complete the additional requirements of the secondary education licensure program**--19 credits
  5. Minimum credits required--130 credits

* Students must earn a C- grade or better in each course.

**Note: We strongly recommend that prospective secondary science teachers seek advising from the UAF School of Education early in your undergraduate degree program, so that you can be appropriately advised of the state of Alaska requirements for teacher licensure.