Suggested courses for Interdisciplinary student-initiated Earth Science BS major
This degree is designed for students intending to enter Earth Science High School teaching in New York.

Geological Sciences Undergraduate Program general information page
For certification in New York State, this degree must be followed by completion of an MS degree in Secondary Education;
 at Albany, this MS degree is in the School of Education

Suggested courses [Major combined with minor]  Total credits  = 64
(This course listing is only a guide; an individual student-initiated major proposal developed with the advisor may substitute other courses, depending on the availability of certain courses, or the interest of the student)

General science & math courses [18]
(3) CHM 120 Chemistry I
(3) CHM 121 Chemistry II
(1,1) CHM 124, 125 Chemistry Laboratory I, II
(3) PHY 105 Physics I
(3) PHY 108 Physics II
(4) MAT 112 Calculus I#

Courses in Geological Sciences [27]
(3) GEO/ENV 105 Introduction to Environmental Science
(4) GEO 221 Minerals, Rocks, and Geological Time
(1) GEO 223 or 223Z Introductory Field Geology
(3) GEO 250 Sustainable Development: Energy and Resources
(5) GEO 330, 331, 332 Structural Geology, Field Excursions, Lab
(3) GEO 435 Geohydrology, or (4) GEO 350 Environmental Geochemistry
(4) GEO 450 Climate Change
(4) GEO 470 Tectonics

Courses in Atmospheric Science [15]
(3) ATM 100 The Atmosphere
(3) ATM 107 The Oceans
(3) ATM 210 Atmospheric Structure & Circulation
(3) ATM 306 Climate Variability and Change,  or ATM 304 Air Quality
(3) ATM 301 Surface Hydrology and Hydrometeorology, or  ATM 307 Intro to Atmospheric Chemistry

Course in Astronomy [3]
(3) PHY 100N Contemporary Astronomy, or
(3) PHY 112 Star Systems 

Earth Science Classroom Internship [1]
(1) GEO 497 Independent Study - Earth Science Classroom Internship

# (3,4) MAT 101, 111 Algebra & Calculus I, II may be substituted for Mat 112.
@ Note that the School of Education at the University at Albany currently requires completion of Calculus II as a prerequisite for completion of their MS degree in Secondary Education.
*Students intending to qualify for Middle-level General Science teaching certification should take at least two Biology courses. New York State Earth Science teacher certification now requires 2 semesters of study of language(s) other than English (or satisfactory performance on CLPE in Spanish, French, or German).

 Strongly Recommended Elective Courses
*(4) BIO 120 General Biology I
*(4) BIO 121 General Biology II
(*or at least (3) BIO 102N General Biological Sciences, and another BIO course)
@(4) MAT 113 Calculus II
(1,1) GEO 497 Earth Science Classroom Internship (additional)

Other Recommended Elective Courses
(3) ATM 101N The Upper Atmosphere
(3) BIO 316 Biogeography
(3) BIO 319Z Field Biology
(3) BIO 320 Ecology
(1,1) PHY 106, PHY 109 General Physics Laboratory I, II
(4) GOG 385 Introduction to Remote Sensing of Environment
(3) GOG 496 Geographic Information Systems

Undergraduate Bulletin Course listings - Geology - Atmospheric Science - Biology - Chemistry - Environmental Science - Mathematics - Physics - Geography 


An example of a four-year course sequence for the B.S. Program in Earth Science
(Required courses shown in bold)
 
 
Semester 1 Semester 2
GEOENV 105  Intro Envir. Sci. 3 CHM 121, 125 Chemistry II/Lab 4
CHM 120/124 Chemistry I/Lab 4  MAT 111 or 112 or 118 Calculus I 4
ATM 107N The Oceans 3 PHY 100N Contemporary Astronomy 3
2 electives/Gen. Ed. ATM 100 The Atmosphere 3
  (MAT 101 if MAT 111 planned in spring)  1  elective/Gen. Ed.
Semester 3 Semester 4
PHY 105N Physics I 3 PHY 108 Physics II 3
GEO 221 Min., Rocks, Geol. Time 4
GEO 223 Intro Field Geol. 1
GEO 497 Earth Sci. Classroom Internship 1
3  electives/Gen. Ed. 4 electives/Gen. Ed.
Semester 5 Semester 6
 ATM 210 Atmospheric Structure & Circ. 4 GEO 330, 332 Structural Geology 3,1
GEO 331 Field Excurs. for Structure 1
4 electives/Gen. Ed. GEO 250 Sustain. Devel. /Energy 3

2 electives/Gen. Ed.
Semester 7 Semester 8
ATM 306 Climate Var. 3
or ATM 304 Air Quality 3
GEO 350 Geochemistry 4
 or GEO 435 Geohydrology 3
GEO 470 Tectonics 4 ATM 307 Atmospheric Chemistry 3
GEO 450 Climate Change 4
3  electives
2 electives

GEO 395Z – Writing in the Geological Sciences, (1 credit) may be taken with any GEO course at the 300 or 400 level to fulfill a writing intensive version of that course.

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Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences