The Geosciences Major provides students with an opportunity to understand the Earth, including processes that have shaped its past and those that will shape its future, and the relationships among place, landscape, climate, culture, economy, and people. Students can choose one of three emphases: Geology, Geoarchaeology, or Geographical Science.
Geology is for those students interested in
understanding how the Earth works presently and what has happened in Earth's
ancient past. Students
who choose this track will learn especially about our environment and its
processes, stories of Earth's past, and the formation and extraction of natural
resources of the Earth.
Geoarchaeology is for those students interested
in understanding what geological evidence and reasoning reveal about past human
cultures and activities on Earth. Students who choose this track will learn especially about the
geological, chemical, biological, and physical methods for interpreting
artifacts, sediments, and environments important in understanding our human
past.
Geographical Science is for those students
interested in understanding the relationships among place, people, and
environment. Students who choose
this track will learn especially about the distribution of climate, cultures,
and landscapes on Earth, the reason for those distributions, and the way that
these interact and effect humans and our economies.
The
Earth Science Teaching major is for those students interested in teaching earth
science in grades 9-12, and meets the requirements for licensure in Science
(grades 5-8). Our Earth Science
teaching program is particularly strong in providing in-depth coverage of the
wide range of Earth Science subjects needed for Minnesota licensure, including
Physical Geology, Historical Geology, Meteorology, Astronomy and Planetary
Science, Oceanography, and Interaction of People with the Land.
A minor in Geosciences is also offered. Students should see an advisor concerning which geoscience courses fit their particular needs or interests.