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Texas A&M University
1
Environmental Geosciences - BS
The increasing demands that population growth and affluence put
on the natural resources and the Earth’s environment require greater
numbers of trained professionals and informed citizens. The BS degree in
Environmental Geosciences embraces all the disciplines of geosciences
to give the student a rigorous interdisciplinary education including issues
associated with environmental policy. The degree trains students for
employment by industry, environmental and engineering consulting
firms, non-governmental organizations, and governmental regulatory
agencies, among other entities. Students focus coursework in a particular
environmental theme: coastal and marine environments, water, human
impact on the environment, climate change, or biosphere.
Program Requirements
First Year
Fall
Semester
Credit
Hours
OCNG 251
& OCNG 252
Oceanography
and Oceanography Laboratory
CHEM 102
& CHEM 112
Fundamentals of Chemistry II
and Fundamentals of Chemistry Laboratory
II
4
POLS 207
State and Local Government
3
Communication elective
Term Semester Credit Hours
Fall
GEOG 330
Resources and the Environment
PHYS 201 or
PHYS 218
College Physics or Mechanics
STAT 303 or
STAT 211
Statistical Methods or Principles of Statistics
5
I
Environmental theme elective
4
Technical elective
ENGL 104
Composition and Rhetoric
3
Select one of the following:
GEOS 101
Introduction to the Geosciences
GEOS 105
Introduction to Environmental Geoscience
MATH 151
Engineering Mathematics I
Term Semester Credit Hours
MATH 152
POLS 206
Introductory Biology II
Engineering Mathematics II
American National Government
Creative arts elective
2
Term Semester Credit Hours
Computer Applications in the Atmospheric
Sciences
4
ATMO 441
Satellite Meteorology and Remote Sensing
ATMO 464
Laboratory Methods in Atmospheric
Sciences
4
GEOG 312
Data Analysis in Geography
4
GEOG 361
Remote Sensing in Geosciences
3
GEOG 380
Workshop in Environmental Studies
3
GEOG 450
Field Geography
14
GEOG 462/
ESSM 462
Advanced GIS Analysis for Natural
Resources Management
GEOG 467
Dynamic Modeling of Earth and
Environmental Systems
GEOG 475
Advanced Topics in GIS (Geographic
Information Systems)
GEOG 476
GIS Practicum
GEOL 306
Sedimentology and Stratigraphy
GEOL 309
Introduction to Geological Field Methods
GEOL 330
Geologic Field Trips
GEOL 352/
GEOG 352
GNSS in the Geosciences
GEOP 413
Near-surface Geophysics
OCNG 451
Mathematical Modeling of Ocean Climate
Fall
Select one of the following:
4
ATMO 201
& ATMO 202
Weather and Climate
and Weather and Climate Laboratory
GEOG 203
& GEOG 213
Planet Earth
and Planet Earth Lab
GEOL 101
Principles of Geology
OCNG 251
& OCNG 252
Oceanography
and Oceanography Laboratory
CHEM 101
& CHEM 111
GEOG 201
Fundamentals of Chemistry I
and Fundamentals of Chemistry Laboratory
I
4
Introduction to Human Geography
3
Language, philosophy and culture elective
2
Term Semester Credit Hours
3
Term Semester Credit Hours
3
4
3
3
16
Spring
14
GEOG 390
Principles of Geographic Information
8
Systems
4
4
GEOL 420
Environmental Geology
3
Spring
Select one of the following:
3
3
15
Second Year
3
6
ATMO 321
3
Spring
BIOL 112
4
7
Introductory Biology I
1
14
Third Year
BIOL 111
1
3
ATMO 201
& ATMO 202
Weather and Climate
and Weather and Climate Laboratory
American history elective
GEOG 203
& GEOG 213
Planet Earth
and Planet Earth Lab
Select one of the following:
GEOL 101
Principles of Geology
Environmental policy elective
AGEC 350
3
9
Environmental and Natural Resource
Economics
3
2
Environmental Geosciences - BS
BESC 367
U.S. Environmental Regulations
ECON 202
Principles of Economics
OCNG 451
Mathematical Modeling of Ocean Climate
ECON 203
Principles of Economics
Spring
ECON 323
Microeconomic Theory
GEOS 405
ECON 435
Economics of Resource Scarcity
Environmental policy elective
GEOG 304
Economic Geography
Select one of the following:
GEOG 306
Introduction to Urban Geography
GEOG 309
Geography of Energy
GEOG 401
GEOG 406
Term Semester Credit Hours
16
Environmental Geosciences
3
9
AGEC 350
Environmental and Natural Resource
Economics
Political Geography
BESC 367
U.S. Environmental Regulations
Geographic Perspectives on Contemporary
Urban Issues
ECON 202
Principles of Economics
ECON 203
Principles of Economics
GEOG 430
Environmental Justice
ECON 323
Microeconomic Theory
PHIL 314
Environmental Ethics
ECON 435
Economics of Resource Scarcity
POLS 347
Politics of Energy and the Environment
GEOG 304
Economic Geography
RENR 470
Environmental Impact Assessment
GEOG 306
Introduction to Urban Geography
SOCI 328
Environmental Sociology
GEOG 309
Geography of Energy
URPN 202
Building Better Cities
GEOG 401
Political Geography
URPN 360
Issues in Environmental Quality
GEOG 406
URPN 361
Urban Issues
Geographic Perspectives on Contemporary
Urban Issues
URPN 371
Environmental Health Planning and Policy
GEOS 430
Global Science and Policy Making
URPN 460
Sustainable Communities
PHIL 314
Environmental Ethics
3
POLS 347
Politics of Energy and the Environment
16
RENR 470
Environmental Impact Assessment
Fourth Year
SOCI 328
Environmental Sociology
Fall
URPN 202
Building Better Cities
GEOS 470
3
URPN 360
Issues in Environmental Quality
3
URPN 361
Urban Issues
6
URPN 371
Environmental Health Planning and Policy
4
URPN 460
Sustainable Communities
Environmental theme elective
6
Term Semester Credit Hours
Data Analysis Methods in Geosciences
American history elective
Environmental theme elective
Technical elective
6
7
Select one of the following:
Environmental theme elective
Technical elective
6
7
ATMO 321
Computer Applications in the Atmospheric
Sciences
ATMO 441
Satellite Meteorology and Remote Sensing
ATMO 321
ATMO 464
Laboratory Methods in Atmospheric
Sciences
Computer Applications in the Atmospheric
Sciences
ATMO 441
Satellite Meteorology and Remote Sensing
GEOG 312
Data Analysis in Geography
ATMO 464
GEOG 361
Remote Sensing in Geosciences
Laboratory Methods in Atmospheric
Sciences
GEOG 380
Workshop in Environmental Studies
GEOG 312
Data Analysis in Geography
GEOG 450
Field Geography
GEOG 361
Remote Sensing in Geosciences
GEOG 462/
ESSM 462
Advanced GIS Analysis for Natural
Resources Management
GEOG 380
Workshop in Environmental Studies
GEOG 450
Field Geography
GEOG 467
Dynamic Modeling of Earth and
Environmental Systems
GEOG 462/
ESSM 462
Advanced GIS Analysis for Natural
Resources Management
GEOG 475
Advanced Topics in GIS (Geographic
Information Systems)
GEOG 467
Dynamic Modeling of Earth and
Environmental Systems
GEOG 476
GIS Practicum
GEOG 475
GEOL 306
Sedimentology and Stratigraphy
Advanced Topics in GIS (Geographic
Information Systems)
GEOL 309
Introduction to Geological Field Methods
GEOG 476
GIS Practicum
GEOL 330
Geologic Field Trips
GEOL 306
Sedimentology and Stratigraphy
GEOL 352/
GEOG 352
GNSS in the Geosciences
GEOL 309
Introduction to Geological Field Methods
GEOL 330
Geologic Field Trips
GEOP 413
Near-surface Geophysics
GEOL 352/
GEOG 352
GNSS in the Geosciences
Select one of the following:
3
6
3
Texas A&M University
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
3
GEOP 413
Near-surface Geophysics
GEOL 451
Introduction to Geochemistry
3
OCNG 451
Mathematical Modeling of Ocean Climate
GEOS 401
Polar Regions of the Earth: Science, Society and
Discovery
3
GEOS 410
Global Change
3
GEOS 442/
GEOG 442
Past Climates
3
GEOS 484
Internship
OCNG 401
Interdisciplinary Oceanography
OCNG 410
Physical Oceanography
3
OCNG 440
Chemical Oceanography
3
Term Semester Credit Hours
15
Total Semester Credit Hours:
120
Freshmen entering the program take a first year seminar, GEOS 101.
The choice is not restricted. Students transferring or changing
majors into the program, who have not taken GEOS 101, are required
to take GEOS 481 in their junior or senior year.
It is recommended to select a course that also fulfills an International
and Cultural Diversity requirement.
6
1
3
Coastal and Marine Environments
Choose one introductory College of Geosciences course in the
first semester and an additional one in the second semester of the
sophomore year. Seek guidance from the academic advisor for
Environmental Programs in Geosciences (ENVP) or your faculty
mentor.
GEOG 370/
MARS 370
Coastal Processes
OCNG 401
Interdisciplinary Oceanography
3
1
3
Select the remaining courses from the following:
PHYS 218 is recommended for the Coastal and Marine Environment
Theme.
GEOG 331
Geomorphology
3
GEOG 360
Natural Hazards
3
STAT 211 is recommended for the Coastal and Marine Environment
Theme.
GEOL 306
Sedimentology and Stratigraphy
4
GEOL 440
Engineering Geology
3
Choose 18 hours of theme courses in your junior and senior years in
consultation with your academic advisor or faculty mentor from the list
below.
GEOS 484 can be taken for up to 6 credits and will normally be used
as an adjustment to theme electives, but depending on the content
of the internship credit, it can be applied as an adjustment to your
technical electives or policy electives. Seek guidance from the ENVP
academic advisor.
GEOS 401
Polar Regions of the Earth: Science, Society and
Discovery
3
GEOS 444
The Science and Politics of Global Climate Change
3
GEOS 484
Internship
6
OCNG 350
Marine Pollution
3
OCNG 410
Physical Oceanography
3
OCNG 420
Biological Oceanography
3
Other courses which match the Environmental Programs’ technical
electives definition will be allowed by adjustment. Guidance about
technical electives (including the definition used by the Environmental
Programs in Geosciences) can be found on the programs’ website.
Seek guidance about choices from the ENVP academic advisor or
faculty mentor.
OCNG 425
Microbial Oceanography
3
OCNG 430
Geological Oceanography
3
OCNG 440
Chemical Oceanography
3
WFSC 418
Ecology of the Coastal Zone
3
WFSC 425
Marine Fisheries
3
GEOG 390 is a required technical elective.
WFSC 428
Wetland Ecosystem Management
4
Seek guidance about choices from the ENVP academic advisor or
faculty mentor.
Human Impact on the Environment
Two courses in the degree plan must be writing intensive courses
designated by the Environmental Programs in the schedule of classes.
Also, international and cultural diversity electives (6 hours) must be
incorporated into the degree.
Climate Change
GEOS 210
Climate Change
3
GEOS 444
The Science and Politics of Global Climate Change
3
PHYS 202
College Physics
4
Select the remaining courses from the following:
or GEOG 324
Physical and Regional Climatology
Global Change
3
GEOG 430
Environmental Justice
3
Select the remaining courses from the following:
Environmental Theme Electives
ATMO 324
GEOS 410
3
or Global Climatic Regions
ATMO 363
Introduction to Atmospheric Chemistry and Air
Pollution
3
ATMO 463
Air Pollution Meteorology
3
GEOG 442/
GEOS 442
Past Climates
3
GEOL 305
Paleobiology
3
GEOL 306
Sedimentology and Stratigraphy
4
ATMO 326
Environmental Atmospheric Science
4
ATMO 363
Introduction to Atmospheric Chemistry and Air
Pollution
3
GEOG 309
Geography of Energy
3
GEOG 360
Natural Hazards
3
GEOG 401
Political Geography
3
GEOL 301
Mineral Resources
3
GEOL 410
Hydrogeology
3
GEOL 440
Engineering Geology
3
GEOL 451
Introduction to Geochemistry
3
GEOS 401
Polar Regions of the Earth: Science, Society and
Discovery
3
GEOS 430
Global Science and Policy Making
3
GEOS 444
The Science and Politics of Global Climate Change
3
GEOS 484
Internship
6
OCNG 350
Marine Pollution
3
SENG 321
Industrial Safety Engineering
3
4
Environmental Geosciences - BS
URPN 361
Urban Issues
3
WFSC 420
Ecology and Society
3
GEOG 434
Hydrology and Environment
4
GEOL 410
Hydrogeology
3
Water
Select the remaining courses from the following:
AGSM 335
Water and Soil Management
3
AGSM 337
Technology for Environmental and Natural
Resource Engineering
3
ATMO 251
Weather Observation and Analysis
3
ATMO 335
Atmospheric Thermodynamics
3
ATMO 352
Severe Weather and Mesoscale Forecasting
3
ATMO 443
Radar Meteorology
3
ATMO 324
Physical and Regional Climatology
3
or GEOG 324
or Global Climatic Regions
ESSM 301
Wildland Watershed Management
3
ESSM 306
Plant Functional Ecology and Adaptation
3
GEOG 331
Geomorphology
3
GEOG 360
Natural Hazards
3
GEOG 400
Arid Lands Geomorphology
3
GEOL 440
Engineering Geology
3
GEOL 451
Introduction to Geochemistry
3
GEOS 401
Polar Regions of the Earth: Science, Society and
Discovery
3
GEOS 484
Internship
6
OCNG 350
Marine Pollution
OCNG 401
Interdisciplinary Oceanography
OCNG 425
Microbial Oceanography
3
OCNG 440
Chemical Oceanography
3
SCSC 455
Environmental Soil and Water Science
3
SCSC 458
Watershed and Water Quality Management
3
GEOG 335
Pattern and Process in Biogeography
3
GEOL 305
Paleobiology
3
OCNG 420
Biological Oceanography
3
3
1
3
Biosphere
Select the remaining courses from the following:
BIOL 214
Genes, Ecology and Evolution
3
BIOL 357
& BIOL 358
Ecology
and Ecology Laboratory
4
GENE 302
Principles of Genetics
& GENE 312 and Comprehensive Genetics Laboratory
4
GENE 412
Population and Ecological Genetics
3
GEOG 435
Principles of Plant Geography
3
GEOG 442/
GEOS 442
Past Climates
3
GEOS 484
Internship
6
MEPS 316
Introduction to Theory and Practice of Plant
Physiology
3
OCNG 401
Interdisciplinary Oceanography
OCNG 425
Microbial Oceanography
3
SCSC 301
Soil Science
4
1
1
Students who have taken OCNG 251 cannot take OCNG 401.
3
Two courses in the degree plan must be writing intensive courses
designated by the Environmental Programs in the schedule of classes.
Also, international and cultural diversity electives (6 hours) must be
incorporated into the degree.