Environmental Studies, Earth Science Option

The Environmental Studies major is designed so that a student specializes in one of the following areas of emphasis or options: Analytic, Earth Sciences, Geography and Planning, or Life Science. Each Option is designed for the student to develop enough depth to continue on to graduate school in that discipline. The courses required in each option, however, are also chosen with the intent that a student with a Bachelor's degree is competitive in the environmental job market. Only a B.S. degree is offered.

Earth Sciences Option:  The earth sciences option is designed to prepare students for a career in environmental geology.  Today many environmental problems are associated with the earth and our use of it.  Thus, contamination of surface and underground waters, pollution of the soil and construction of dams and other large structures all require earth science environmental specialists to either help alleviated the problem created by misuse, or avoid environmental problems during project development.  Many public and private agencies, including engineering and construction firms, have jobs for people trained in this area.

Advisers: Dr. Harmon Maher, Dr. Robert Shuster, and Dr. Jeffrey Peake.

Environmental Studies - The Core Curriculum
All Environmental Studies majors, no matter which Option they choose, are required to take the same core of courses which provide breadth, environmental values, and a fundamental understanding of our social/legal processes. Some of the courses in the Core Curriculum may be used to fulfill divisional requirements.
Courses needed to fulfill the Core Curriculum:

BIOL 1330 - Environmental Biology - 3 credits,

CHEM 1010 - Chemistry in the Environment and Society - 3 credits, and

CHEM 1014 - Chemistry in the Environment and Society Laboratory - 1 credit, or

CHEM 3030 - Environmental Chemistry - 3 credits,

GEOL 1010 - Environmental Geology - 3 credits,

ECON 2200 - Principles of Economics (Macro) - 3 credits,

BIOL / CHEM / GEOG / GEOL 4610 - Environmental Field Methods - 3 credits,

BIOL/CHEM/GEOG/GEOL 4800 - Internship in Environmental Science - 3 credits,
or an approved course in statistics

 

one of the following:

GEOG 1030 - Introduction to Earth and Environmental Science - 5 credits, or

GEOG 1060 - Physical Geography: Climate and Waters - 4 credits, or

GEOG 1070 - Physical Geography: Soils and Landforms - 4 credits,

one of the following:

LAWS 3910 - Business Law I - 3 credits, or

PA 2170 - Introduction to Public Administration - 3 credits, or

ECON 3320 - Introduction to Environmental and Natural Resources Economics - 3 credits, or

GEOL 4820 - Introduction to Environmental Law and Regulations - 3 credits,

 

one of the following:

PHIL 2030 - Introduction to Ethics - 3 credits or

PHIL 3180 - Environmental Ethics - 3 credits,

one of the following:

SOC 3840 - World Populations & Social Issues or

SOC 3850 - Society, Environment, and Resource Conservation or
an approved course in Sociology - 3 credits,

or, an approved course in statistics.

Environmental Studies – Earth Science Option
The Earth Science Option requires:

GEOL 1170 – Physical Geology – 4 credits

GEOL 4260 – Geomorphology – 3 credits

And at least 29 additional credits are required to be chosen from the courses listed below.  Note that some of these courses have prerequisites that must be taken into account when planning course selection.  Also, other appropriate courses may be substituted.  Please work closely with your advisor when planning your academic schedule.

GEOL 1180 & Lab – Historical Geology – 4 credits

GEOL 2300 – Geoscience Data Analysis & Modeling – 3 credits

GEOL 2500 – Special Topics – 1 credit (Note:  can be repeated, but not all sections are applicable towards the 29 credit requirement – consult your advisor)

GEOL 2600 – Geohydrology – 3 credits

GEOL 2750 & Lab – Mineralogy – 4 credits

GEOL 2760 & Lab – Igneous & Metamorphic Petrology – 4 credits

GEOL 3100 & Lab – Invertebrate Paleontology

GEOL 3300 & Lab – Structural Geology – 4 credits

GEOL 3400 – Introduction to Sedimentary Geology – 3 credits

GEOG 3440 – Nebraska Natural Resource Management – 3 credits

GEOG 3510 – Meteorology – 3 credits

GEOG 4010 – Conservation of Natural Resources – 3 credits

GEOG 4030 – Computer Mapping and Visualization – 3 credits

GEOL 4040 – Geoarchaeology – 3 credits

GEOG 4050 – Geographic Information Systems I – 3 credits

GEOL 4100 – Biogeography – 3 credits

GEOG 4320 – Climatoloty – 3 credits

GEOG 4330 – Soils Genesis, Morphology & Classification – 3 credits

GEOL 4400 – Geophysics – 3 credits

GEOL 4540 – Geochemistry – 3 credits

GEOG 4630 Environmental Remote Sensing – 4 credits

Or other acceptable course(s), upon approval from your advisor

In additon, the following cognate courses need to be taken:
One of the following two chemistry sequences:

CHEM 1140 & Lab    Inorganic Chemistry Lecture & Lab – 5 credits

CHEM 2210 & Lab    Organic Chemistry Lecture & Lab – 5 credits

CHEM 3650 & Lab    Biochemistry Lecture & Lab – 4 credits

or

CHEM 1180 & Lab    General Chemistry I & Lab – 4 credits

CHEM 1190 & Lab    General Chemistry II & Lab – 4 credits

CHEM 2210 & Lab    Organic Chemistry Lecture & Lab – 5 credits

 

And one of the following courses:

PHYS 1050 & Lab      Introduction to Physics Lecture & Lab – 5 credits

PHYS 1110 & Lab      General Physics Lecture & Lab – 5 credits

PHYS 2110 & Lab      General Physics – Calculus Level & Lab – 5 credits

For more information...
about the Environmental Studies, Earth Science option at UNO, please contact us at:

Department of Geography & Geology
University of Nebraska - Omaha
Omaha, NE 68182
Tel. (402) 554 2662