DEPARTMENT OF EARTH SCIENCES
Chair: Miriam L. Fearn (251) 460-6381
Professors: Dilsaver,
Kimball, Ryder
Associate Professors: Allison, Blackwell, Clark, Fearn, Haywick, Rivizzigno
Assistant Professors: J. Connors, Sawyer, Shafer, Terwey Instructors:
M.A. Connors, Jordan,
Murray, Stutsman
Emeriti:
Isphording, Lamb,
Sebastian,
Williams, Wilson
Department of Earth Sciences web site
http://www.southalabama.edu/geography The Department of Earth Sciences includes the disciplines of Geography, Geology, and Meteorology, and it offers a B.S. degree
as well as a minor in each of these three majors.
Students can also earn a GIS Certificate. Geography, which is both a natural and a social science, studies the location, spatial distribution, and spatial interaction of
Earth’s natural and human environments.
Courses cover the subfields of Human Geography, Physical Geography, Regional Geography, and Geographic Information Science. Geology is the study of Earth, its composition, and the forces that form and change it
as well as the natural mineral resources it contains. As such, it encompasses a broad spectrum of studies and draws from the other basic sciences: chemistry, physics, and biology.
Meteorology is the study of atmospheric phenomena and the processes that cause weather. The science of meteorology is firmly rooted in basic physical laws governing mass, momentum, and energy. Many weather processes are simulated by complex computer models; however, accurate weather analysis and forecasting often requires meteorologists to identify and conceptualize weather patterns often missed by automated techniques.
The programs of the Department of Earth Sciences are designed to give the non-major a background in Earth and atmospheric science and the human impact on the landscape as part of a general education. Students pursuing a degree in Geography, Geology, or Meteorology must also have a minor in another discipline.
The Earth Sciences Department offers a departmental honors program that allows exceptional students to pursue independent research. Students work with a faculty committee to choose an Earth Sciences research project (
Geography,
Geology,
Meteorology), develop a prospectus, and complete a senior thesis. Students completing this program graduate with departmental honors.
Requirements for successful completion of an honors degree in
Geography, Geology, or Meteorology require a GPA of at least 3.50 at graduation and completion of ES 492 (Honors Earth Sciences Seminar), ES 497 (Senior Thesis Prospectus), and six hours of ES 499 (Senior Honors Thesis). These classes are in addition to those required for the major in
Geography, Geology, or Meteorology. All honors courses are listed under the prefix ES. Students interested in Earth Sciences honors must apply
for the program by their junior year. Complete requirements are available on the departmental web page.
All first-time freshmen must successfully complete CAS 100: First Year Experience as a degree requirement. Students must enroll during their first term at USA, except for summer-entry students who must enroll in the fall semester following entry. GRADUATE STUDIES
Although the Department of Earth Sciences has no graduate degree program, courses are offered at the graduate level for students enrolled in Marine Sciences and others who need such course work. Contact the Department.
REQUIREMENTS FOR A MAJOR IN GEOGRAPHY A student with a major in geography must take a group of required core geography courses as well as six (6) additional upper division courses for a total of
48 semester hours. The six (6) additional upper division courses must be chosen from at least three (3) of the following categories: Human, Physical, Regional, and Technical.
Geography 101 and 102 are prerequisites to most upper level physical geography courses and Geography 114 and 115 are prerequisites to most upper level human geography courses listed below.
A. Geography Major Requirements (
48 HRS)
Core requirements for a geography major (
30 HRS):
GEO 101
& 101L 4 hrs GEO 102
&102L 4 hrs
GEO 114 3 hrs GEO 115 3 hrs
GEO 201 1 hr GEO 331 4 hrs
GEO 332 4 hrs GEO 435 3 hrs
GEO 480 4 hrs
B. One additional natural science course, one additional social science course outside of geography, ST 210, and CIS 150.
C. Select six courses (for at least 18 hrs) from a minimum of three groups.
Human Geography Courses:
GEO 312 3 hrs GEO 321 3 hrs
GEO 365 3 hrs GEO 370 3 hrs
GEO 381 3 hrs
Physical Geography Courses:
GEO 310 3 hrs GEO 341 3 hrs
GEO 342 3 hrs GEO 353 4 hrs
GEO 410 3 hrs GEO 411 3 hrs
GEO 412 3 hrs GEO 440 2 hrs
GEO 441 2 hrs
Regional Geography Courses:
GEO 313 3 hrs GEO 314 3 hrs
GEO 315 3 hrs GEO 320 3 hrs
Technical Geography Courses:
* GEO
420 4 hrs GEO
442 4 hrs
GEO
460 4 hrs GEO
461 4 hrs
GEO
462 4 hrs
*Only two technical geography courses may be counted toward the Geography major.
D. Complete at least 15 semester hours in residence in major at the 300 and/or 400 level. A minimum GPA of 2.0 is required in major.
GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS FOR GEOGRAPHY MAJORS
Areas I and II of the General Education Requirements for Geography are specified in the
College of Arts and Sciences section. Note that a portion of Area IV (GEO 114, GEO 115) and the Natural Sciences portion of Area III (GEO 101, GEO 102, ST 210) are fulfilled by the major requirements specified above.
REQUIREMENTS FOR A MINOR IN GEOGRAPHY
A student must take 20 semester hours of Geography, including 101, 102, 114, and three electives at the 300 or 400 level.
REQUIREMENTS FOR A GIS CERTIFICATE
Students who want to earn a GIS (Geographic Information Science) Certificate must take all six of the following courses. GEO 331, GEO/GY 332, GEO/GY 442, GEO/GY 460, GEO/GY 461, and GEO 462.
REQUIREMENTS FOR A MAJOR IN GEOLOGY
Students should complete a minimum of
44 semester hours in geology. GY 111 and GY 112 are prerequisites for most upper level geology courses. The core requirements for a degree in Geology are listed below:
Core requirements for a geology major
GY 111
& 111L 4 hrs GY 112
& 112L 4 hrs
GY 301 3 hrs GY 302 4 hrs
GY 303 4 hrs GY 304 3 hrs
GY 401 3 hrs GY 402 3 hrs
GY 403 4 hrs GY 480 6 hrs
GY Elective 1 3/4 hrs GY Elective 2 3/4 hrs
Total 44-46
Additional requirements from other disciplines
MA 125, MA 126, CH 131, CH 132, and a minimum of 8 hours of Physics (algebra/trigonometry-based; PH 114 and PH 115, or calculus-based; PH 201 and PH 202). Students can elect to substitute GY 305 for PH 115/PH 202 and/or substitute GY 420 for MA 126; however, those intending to pursue graduate study are encouraged to complete a full year of calculus and physics at the University of South Alabama. A program in
Composite Sciences has been approved as an acceptable minor for
Geology majors,
by adding BLY 101 and 102 or BLY 121 and 122 and associated labs. A Geology major may also seek a traditional minor. A Certificate in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) can be obtained simultaneously with a BS in Geology if the student elects to minor in Geography. Contact the Department of Earth Sciences for information concerning the GIS certification program, the composite sciences minor, Geology elective courses, and Departmental Honors opportunities in Geology. An overall GPA 2.0 is required for the major.
GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS FOR GEOLOGY MAJORS
Areas I, II, and IV of the General Education Requirements for Geology are specified in the
College of Arts and Sciences section. Note that Area III requirements (Mathematics and Natural Sciences) are fulfilled by the major requirements specified above.
REQUIREMENTS FOR A MINOR IN GEOLOGY
A student must take a minimum of 20 semester hours of Geology courses including GY 111, GY 111L, GY 112, , GY 112L and a minimum of two courses from the following list: GY 301 (Geomorphology), GY 302 (Crystallography and Mineralogy), GY 304 (Stratigraphy), GY 401 (Paleontology), and GY 425 (Hydrology). Any GY courses numbered 300 and higher may be used to satisfy the remainder of the 20 hour requirement. A geology faculty advisor is recommended for planning an appropriate minor curriculum past the initial introductory sequence.
Recommended Geology Class Sequence for Freshmen Students
Year Fall
Semester Spring
Semester Summer
Semester
1
CAS 100 2 GY 112
& 112L 4
GY 111
& 111L 4 MA 125 4
CH 131 4 CH 132 4
SS 1 3 EH 102 3
EH 101 3
Total
16
Total
15
2
GY 301 3 GY 303 4
GY 302 4 GY 304 3
MA 126
or 4 PH 114/201 4/5
GY 420 SS 2 3/4
HUM 1 3
Total
14
Total
14/16
3
GY 305,
PH 115 4/5 GY 402 3 GY 480 6
or PH 201 GY 403 4
GY 401 3 HUM 3 3
HUM 2 3 FL 2 3
FL 1 3 CA 110 3
Minor 1 3/4
Total
16/18
Total
16
Total
6
4
GY Elect 1 3/4 GY Elect 2 3/4
Minor 2 3/4 SS 3 (3) 3
Minor 3 3/4 SS 4 (3) 3
Minor 4 3/4 Minor 5 3/4
Art 3 Minor 6 3/4
Total
15/19
Total
15/18
Major Hours 44-46
Minor Hours 8-24
HUM = Humanities
SS = Social Sciences
FL= Foreign Language
Art = Fine and Performing Arts
Total hours 128 to 138 (Assumes student will pass placement tests for CH 131, MA 125 and CIS 150. REQUIREMENTS FOR A MAJOR IN METEOROLOGY
A student with a major in Meteorology must take a group of required courses totaling at least 49 semester hours. Meteorology students must take a core of 35 semester hours of meteorology courses, plus one of the specialty tracks listed below and two to four hours of electives. Students may meet the meteorology elective requirement by taking one or more course(s) from another track(s) or from additional meteorology offerings.
The meteorology degree also requires MA 125, 126, 227, 238, PH 201, 202; ST 315 and CIS 227 or MET 420.
Meteorology Major Requirements (49 HRS)
A. Meteorology Core Courses:
MET 140 4 hrs MET 341 3 hrs
MET 353 4 hrs MET 354 3 hrs
MET 355 3 hrs MET 356 3 hrs
MET 357 2 hrs MET 454 6 hrs
MET 455 6 hrs MET 496 1 hr
Total
35 hrs B. Select 3 - 4 hours of electives in Meteorology or courses listed in the tracks, and/or from MET 420, MET 442, MET 456 (W).
C. Select one group:
Group 1 -
Professional Meteorology Track: GEO 332
or 4 hrs GY
425 4 hrs
MET 492** 3 hrs MET
358 3 hrs
Total
10-11 hrs Group 2 - Industrial Meteorology Track:
MGT 300 3 hrs MET 492*** 2 hrs
MKT 320 3 hrs GY
425 4 hrs
Total
12 hrs Group 3 - Broadcast Meteorology Track:
MET 359 2 hrs MET 498 3 hrs
MET 497 3 hrs MET 358 3 hrs
Total
11 hrs Group 4 - Environ. Meteorology Track:
GY
425 4 hrs GEO 460 4 hrs
MET 492**** 3 hrs
Total
11 hrs
**
Satellite Meteorology seminar
***
Industrial Meteorology seminar
****
Air Pollution Meteorology seminar
D. Complete at least 15 semester hours in residence in major at the 300 and/or 400 level. A minimum GPA of 2.0 is required in major.
GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS FOR METEOROLOGY MAJORS
Areas I, II, and IV of the General Education Requirements for Meteorology are specified in the
College of Arts and Sciences section. Note that Area III requirements (Mathematics and Natural Sciences) are fulfilled by the major requirements specified above.
REQUIREMENTS FOR A MINOR IN METEOROLOGY
A student must take 20 semester hours of Meteorology, including
MET 140, MET 353, MET 341 and 9 semester hours of electives from MET 342,
MET 354,
MET 355,
MET 356,
MET 357,
MET 358,
MET 401,
MET 402,
MET 420,
MET 442, and
MET 456 (W).
