Undergraduate Programs

Spring 2024 Advising

Registration for Spring 2024 starts in November and we want you to be ready!  You can meet with your advisor for advising (you should be receiving an email from your advisor soon) and/or attend group advising. 

You can review what is offered for your major/minor ahead of these sessions here.

Note: all students have an advising hold this semester which you can clear by meeting with your advisor or going to group advising. 

There will be two group advising sessions:

1)TBD

 

2) TBD

The group advising sessions will be run by the directors of the undergraduate programs for environmental science and geological sciences, Christina Gallup and Will Daniels, respectively.  If you have questions about your degree, including petitions, this would be a good time and place to get those addressed.

Undergraduate Programs

B.S. in Earth & Environmental Science (coming Fall 2024)

Sub-plans (tracks):
Environmental Science
Geology
Hydrology
General


B.A. in Earth & Environmental Science (coming Fall 2024)

B.S. in Geological Sciences - View Sample Plan: Geological Sci B.S.

B.A. in Geological Sciences   - View Sample Plan: Geological Sci B.A.

B.S. in Environmental Science  (recommended advanced electives)  (Current)

Geological Sciences Minor

We also offer a master's program in Earth Sciences and a Ph.D. program in collaboration with the University of Minnesota Twin Cities Department of Earth Sciences.
 

Teaching Earth and Space Sciences B.A.Sc. - This degree is offered by our department in partnership with UMD’s Department of Education. It's intended for students who plan to teach all science areas in grades 5 through 8 and teach earth and space sciences in grades 9 through 12.

Students also have the option of completing the environmental education concentration with this major. This concentration enhances the students' major by integrating environmental education into formal (pre-K-12) as well as non-formal education settings such as parks and nature centers.

For a complete listing courses – visit the Public Course Catalog. Enter “Duluth” in the Institution and Campus fields; and enter either GEOL or ESCI for Subject Areas, then click “Search”.

Earth & Environmental Sciences Undergraduate Internships

EES 3296 Internship in Environmental Science

EES 3996 Internship in Geological Sciences

Details - These 2 credit courses are S/N and can be taken following an internship related to Environmental Science or Geological Sciences, paid or unpaid.  Both ESCI 3296 and GEOL 3996 are available Fall and Spring semesters.  Once a student has been offered an internship, they sign up for the internship credits in the following semester.  Students may receive credit for up to two internships for 2 credits each.

To sign up - To sign up for an internship, send a request with your student ID number to the Director of Undergraduate Studies for your program (Environmental Science: Dr. Christina Gallup; Geological Sciences: Dr. Fred Davis) with a description of your internship.

Requirements - To receive the credit at the end of your internship, you need to fill out an Internship Completion form after your Internship Completion Form (during the semester you are registered for credit).   

You will need to provide:

  • Your Supervisor’s name
  • Your Supervisor’s email address
  • Your Job Title
  • Organization/Sponsor
  • Dates of Internship 1-2 page description of what you did during your internship and what you learned

The Department will need a letter from your supervisor explaining your duties and providing an evaluation of your performance.  Please request the letter from your supervisor and ask them to send it to Dr. Christina Gallup for Environmental Science internships and to Dr. Fred Davis for Geological Science internships.

Graduating Seniors Exit Interviews

***The Exit Interviews are very brief and will only take a few minutes to complete***

Geology Majors Exit Form

Environmental Science Majors Exit Form

Learn more about Professional Licensure for Geologists  

Graduating seniors who intend to pursue a career as a geologist are strongly encouraged to take the Fundamentals of Geology (FG) exam shortly before or after completing their undergraduate Geological Sciences degree. The department is offers a study course for the FG exam each spring: GEOL 3900 - Professional Geoscience Preparation.

Students can find information about licensure on the ASBOG website here including a copy of the topics covered by the FG exam in the candidate handbook link.

Student Learning Outcomes

Full documentation of the specific Program Learning Outcomes for the Environmental Science B.S. can be found here; the Geological Sciences B.A. and B.S Program Learning Outcomes can be found here.

Our Department has established four broad program outcomes for our undergraduate earth and environmental science majors as part of the campus-wide assessment plan. These are:

  1. Comprehension - Students will know and be able to explain the basic definitions and core concepts in their respective field of study, either Environmental Science or Geological Science.
  2. Application - Students will be able to apply environmental science or geological knowledge and techniques towards solutions to problems.
  3. Analysis - Students will be able to determine an appropriate method for research, collect data and carry out the research using techniques and equipment specific to this field.
  4. Communication - Students will be able to write about scientific ideas and present their ideas and findings to technical and non-technical audiences.

Geological Sciences B.A. and B.S. Program Learning Outcomes:

  • Demonstrate in-depth knowledge of Earth's structure, composition, internal and external processes, and historical framework (aligns with UMD SLO #1: Demonstrate competence in a major field).
  • Apply geologic knowledge and skills, including spatial and temporal reasoning, to define and solve complex geological problems (aligns with UMD SLO #3: Think critically and creatively in seeking solutions to practical and theoretical problems).
  • Collect, analyze, and interpret geologic data using field, laboratory, and computer skills (aligns with UMD SLO #2: Construct, integrate, and apply knowledge from instruction and experience).
  • Communicate scientific ideas effectively in written form (aligns with UMD SLO #6a: Communicate effectively through writing, speaking, and interpersonal group interactions).
  • Demonstrate preparedness for professional careers in the geological sciences or further education through graduate studies (aligns with UMD SLO #9: Apply life skills to succeed in college and beyond).

Environmental Science B.S. Program Learning Outcomes:

  • Apply foundational knowledge from environmental science disciplines to address environmental resources and the impacts of human activities on resources (aligns with UMD SLO #2: Construct, integrate, and apply knowledge from instruction and experience).
  • Demonstrate knowledge of the policy framework underlying environmental monitoring, assessment, and remediation (aligns with UMD SLO #1: Demonstrate competence in a major field).
  • Define and solve complex environmental problems (aligns with UMD SLO #3: Think critically and creatively in seeking solutions to practical and theoretical problems).
  • Collect, analyze, and interpret environmental data (aligns with UMD SLO #2: Construct, integrate, and apply knowledge from instruction and experience).
  • Communicate scientific ideas effectively in written form (aligns with UMD SLO #6a: Communicate effectively through writing, speaking, and interpersonal group interactions).
  • Work effectively in multidisciplinary teams (aligns with UMD SLO #9: Apply life skills to succeed in college and beyond).
  • Demonstrate preparedness for professional careers in the geological sciences or further education through graduate studies (aligns with UMD SLO #9: Apply life skills to succeed in college and beyond).