Program Learning Goals:
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Students will be able to identify and classify rocks and minerals and interpret the processes responsible for their formation
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Students will understand the theory of plate tectonics and its relationship to the rock cycle
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Students will be able to apply the concepts of time and space in interpreting Earth history
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Students will apply the scientific method, using field observations, computational, and quantitative techniques to differentiate the geologic origins of rocks, structures, hazards, and landforms
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Students will communicate geoscience to a K-12 audience
Program Requirements
Students interested in pursuing this comprehensive program should consult with the Teacher Education Program advisor in addition to the advisor in their major as soon as possible. The Secondary Licensure in Earth-Space Science Emphasis requires a minimum of 64 credits, and the requirements of the Secondary Licensure Program (see description under Education).
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Geology Requirements | ||
| GEOL 101 | Physical Geology (GT-SC2) | 3 |
| or GEOL 103 | Earth and Energy Systems | |
| GEOL 105 | Physical Geology Laboratory (GT-SC1) | 1 |
| GEOL 201 | Historical Geology (with laboratory) | 4 |
| GEOL 302 | Geoscience Writing | 2 |
| GEOL 310 | Stratigraphy and Sedimentation (with laboratory) | 4 |
| GEOL 315 | Earth Materials (with laboratory) | 4 |
| GEOL 320 | Geomorphology (with laboratory) | 4 |
| GEOL 345 | Structural Geology (with laboratory) | 4 |
| GEOL 450 | Field Geology | 4 |
| Required Supporting Courses | ||
| BIOL 150 | Biological Principles (with laboratory) (GT-SC1) | 4 |
| BIOL 151 | Diversity and Patterns of Life (with laboratory) | 4 |
| CHEM 111 | General Chemistry I (GT-SC2) | 3 |
| CHEM 112 | General Chemistry Laboratory I (GT-SC1) | 1 |
| CHEM 113 | General Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHEM 114 | General Chemistry Laboratory II | 1 |
| MATH 141 | Precalculus (GT-MA1) | 4 |
| or MATH 151 | Calculus I (GT-MA1) | |
| PHYS 110 | Introductory Astronomy (GT-SC2) | 3 |
| PHYS 120 | Meteorology (GT-SC2) | 3 |
| Select one of the following pairs of courses: | 8 | |
| Principles of Physics I (GT-SC2) and Laboratory Physics I (GT-SC1) | ||
AND | ||
| Principles of Physics II (GT-SC2) and Laboratory Physics II (GT-SC1) | ||
| OR | ||
| General Physics I (GT-SC2) and Laboratory Physics I (GT-SC1) | ||
AND | ||
| General Physics II (GT-SC2) and Laboratory Physics II (GT-SC1) | ||
| Total Credits | 64 | |
Western Watershed General Education Requirements
Students must complete all Western Watershed General Education requirements to graduate.
Graduation Requirements
Undergraduate programs require a minimum of 120 semester credits for graduation. Of those 120 credits, 40 credits must be in upper-division courses (those marked 300 and above). Fifteen of these 40 upper-division credits must be earned in courses that are part of the standard or comprehensive major program being pursued.
Students are expected to review all graduation requirements, which can be found in the Western Undergraduate Catalog: Graduation Requirements.
Sample Plan
Degree Plans are for planning purposes. They reflect a suggested plan to complete the degree in a projected timeframe per program of study.
"Western Watershed Course(s)” refers to a course from the Tributaries area of the Western Watershed program. These courses should be chosen in consultation with the student’s advisor.
| Year One | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| EDUC 000 | Education Gateway Course | 0 |
| ENG 102 | Writing and Rhetoric I (GT-CO1) | 3 |
| GEOL 101 | Physical Geology (GT-SC2) | 3 |
| GEOL 105 | Physical Geology Laboratory (GT-SC1) | 1 |
| MATH 141 or MATH 151 |
Precalculus (GT-MA1) or Calculus I (GT-MA1) |
4 |
| WWGE 101/102/103/104 | Headwaters (select one) | 2 |
| Western Watershed | Western Watershed course | 3 |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| GEOL 201 | Historical Geology (with laboratory) | 4 |
| BIOL 150 | Biological Principles (with laboratory) (GT-SC1) | 4 |
| ENG 103 | Writing and Rhetoric II (GT-CO2) | 3 |
| Western Watershed | Western Watershed Humanistic Inquiry | 3 |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Year Two | ||
| Fall | ||
| GEOL 310 | Stratigraphy and Sedimentation (with laboratory) | 4 |
| BIOL 151 | Diversity and Patterns of Life (with laboratory) | 4 |
| CHEM 111 | General Chemistry I (GT-SC2) | 3 |
| CHEM 112 | General Chemistry Laboratory I (GT-SC1) | 1 |
| PHYS 110 | Introductory Astronomy (GT-SC2) | 3 |
| WWGE Life Skills | ||
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| GEOL 315 | Earth Materials (with laboratory) | 4 |
| GEOL 302 | Geoscience Writing | 2 |
| CHEM 113 | General Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHEM 114 | General Chemistry Laboratory II | 1 |
| Western Watershed | Western Watershed Historical Inquiry | 3 |
| PHYS 120 | Meteorology (GT-SC2) | 3 |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Year Three | ||
| Fall | ||
| GEOL 345 | Structural Geology (with laboratory) | 4 |
| GEOL 320 | Geomorphology (with laboratory) | 4 |
| PHYS 170 & PHYS 185 |
Principles of Physics I (GT-SC2) and Laboratory Physics I (GT-SC1) |
4 |
| OR | ||
| General Physics I (GT-SC2) and Laboratory Physics I (GT-SC1) |
||
| Western Watershed | Western Watershed Social Inquiry | 3 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| EDUC 340 | Application of Pedagogy and Practice | 3 |
| PHYS 171 & PHYS 186 |
Principles of Physics II (GT-SC2) and Laboratory Physics II (GT-SC1) |
4 |
| OR | ||
| General Physics II (GT-SC2) and Laboratory Physics II (GT-SC1) |
||
| Western Watershed | Western Watershed Further Inquiry, Creative Expression | 6 |
| WWGE 301/302/303/304 | Delta (select one) | 1 |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Summer | ||
| GEOL 450 | Field Geology | 4 |
| **Summer courses count towards a student’s GPA, Academic Standing, and follow summer tuition fee structure. | ||
| Credits | 4 | |
| Year Four | ||
| Fall | ||
| EDUC 403 | Instruction & Assessment in Content Area | 3 |
| EDUC 404 | Creating Positive Learning Environments | 3 |
| EDUC 405 | Data-driven Instructional Practices | 3 |
| EDUC 409 | Secondary Student Teaching | 3 |
| EDUC 424 | Differentiation: Applying Learner-Centered Instruction | 3 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| EDUC 406 | Content Area Literacy | 3 |
| EDUC 407 | Maximizing Learning through 21st Century Skills | 3 |
| EDUC 409 | Secondary Student Teaching | 3 |
| EDUC 429 | Teaching English Learners for Secondary and K-12 Teachers | 3 |
| Credits | 12 | |
| Total Credits | 121 | |
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Geology requires completion of mathematics through Calculus II. Additional mathematics courses may be required and would fill Elective courses as needed.
Western is committed to doing our part to provide each student a clear path to graduation. This four‐year degree plan is a sample map for fulfilling requirements in the major and General Education. The pathway that you take to your degree may differ somewhat from this illustration, depending on where you start and the detours and side trips you may take along the way. You are responsible for ensuring your overall, upper division, and major‐specific credits as well as GPA requirements are fulfilled for graduation.