EARTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
2013-2014
Professors: Barry Chernoff, Biology; Peter C. Patton; Johan C. Varekamp
Associate Professors: Martha Gilmore, Chair; Timothy Ku; Suzanne O’Connell; Phillip Resor; Dana Royer
Research Professor: Ellen Thomas
Research Associate Professor: James P. Greenwood, Director, McNair Program
Undergraduate Program
Departmental Advising Experts 2013-2014: All Program Faculty
The Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences (E&ES) at Wesleyan University covers many aspects of the natural world, on Earth and on other planets. Course topics range from active volcanoes to climate change to eco-conservation. The E&ES major is designed to prepare students for graduate school as well as provide a basis for a variety of careers in the private or public sectors. Courses in Geology, Environmental Science/Environmental Chemistry, Environmental Science/Ecology, and Planetary Geology lead to different areas of specialization and career options. Many E&ES students work with faculty on research projects that range from climate studies to active volcanoes in the Andes, from the structure of the Grand Canyon to the structure of the planet Venus, from coastal areas nearby (Long Island Sound) to lagoons far away (Vieques Island, Puerto Rico). The culmination of the major is a capstone course where students perform independent research in the field (Puerto Rico or Death Valley).
- E&ES 101 Dynamic Earth
- E&ES 111 Life on Planet Earth: Diversity, Evolution and Extinction
- E&ES 115 Introduction to Planetary Geology
- E&ES 118 Water Recources and the Environment
- E&ES 120 Mars, the Moon, and Earth: Similar, Yet so Different
- E&ES 121 Science on the Radio
- E&ES 151 The Planets
- E&ES 155 Hazardous Earth
- E&ES 160 Forensic Geology
- E&ES 197 Introduction to Environmental Studies
- E&ES 199 Introduction to Environmental Science
- E&ES 101 Dynamic Earth
- E&ES 115 Introduction to Planetary Geology
- E&ES 197 Introduction to Environmental Studies
- E&ES 199 Introduction to Environmental Science
- E&ES 195 Sophomore Seminar
Students pursuing a major in E&ES are expected to take one gateway course (E&ES 101, E&ES 115, E&ES 197, or E&ES 199), the sophomore seminar (E&ES 195), three core courses, four elective courses, and the senior seminar. Because Earth and environmental scientists need a broad background in the natural sciences and mathematics, E&ES majors are also required to take one year (two semesters) of gateway courses from two of the following disciplines: biology, chemistry, mathematics, or physics, for a total of four courses. Students considering graduate studies in the sciences are encouraged to take gateways from more than two disciplines and/or upper-level coursework in these disciplines. In addition to a minimum of four 200-300 level Wesleyan University E&ES courses, up to two upper-level science or math courses taken in other departments may count toward the E&ES major as electives, and two E&ES courses may be imported from study-abroad programs.
Core courses- E&ES 213/215 Mineralogy/Laboratory Study of Minerals
- E&ES 220/222 Geomorphology/Geomorphology Laboratory
- E&ES 223/225 Structural Geology/Field Geology
- E&ES 230/232 Sedimentology/Stratigraphy Techniques
- E&ES 233/229 Geobiology/Geobiology Laboratory
- E&ES 250/252 Earth Materials/Earth Materials Laboratory
- E&ES 280/281 Environmental Geochemistry/Environmental Geochemistry Laboratory
- E&ES 290/292 Oceans and Climate/Techniques in Ocean and Climate Investigations
- BIOL 216 Ecology
- E&ES 305/307 Soils/Soils Laboratory
- E&ES 312 Conservation of Aquatic Ecosystems
- E&ES 314/316 Petrogenesis of Igneous and Metamorphic Rocks/Laboratory
- E&ES 317/319 Hydrology/Hydrology Laboratory
- E&ES 320 Quantitative Methods for the Biological and Environmental Sciences
- E&ES 322/324 Introduction to GIS/GIS Service Learning Laboratory
- E&ES 323 Isotope Geochemistry: Tracers of Environmental Processes
- E&ES 326/328 Remote Sensing/Remote Sensing Laboratory
- E&ES 341 Marine Biogeochemistry
- E&ES 359 Global Climate Change
- E&ES 361 Living in a Polluted World
- E&ES 365 Modeling the Earth and the Environment
- E&ES 371 Planetary Geology Seminar
- E&ES 380/381 Volcanology/Volcanology Lab Course
- E&ES 397 Senior Seminar
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Geology. These courses can help prepare students for academic careers or jobs in industry or government in natural resource or geohazard management (e.g., USGS, water resources, mining and energy industries).
- E&ES 101 Dynamic Earth
- E&ES 115 Introduction to Planetary Geology
- E&ES 213/215 Mineralogy/Laboratory Study of Minerals
- E&ES 220/222 Geomorphology/Geomorphology Laboratory
- E&ES 223/225 Structural Geology/Field Geology
- E&ES 230/232 Sedimentology/Stratigraphy Techniques
- E&ES 290/292 Oceans & Climate/Techniques in Ocean and Climate Investigations
- E&ES 314/316 Petrogenesis of Igneous and Metamorphic Rocks/Laboratory
- E&ES 317/319 Hydrology/Hydrology Laboratory
- E&ES 322/E&ES324 Introduction to GIS/GIS Service Learning Laboratory
- E&ES 326/328 Remote Sensing/Remote Sensing Laboratory
- E&ES 371 Planetary Geology Seminar
- E&ES 380/381 Volcanology/Volcanology Lab Course
- E&ES 397/398 Senior Seminar/Senior Field Research Project
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Environmental Science/Environmental Chemistry.These courses can help prepare students for jobs in consulting, government, or nonprofit organizations (e.g. EPA, NOAA, USGS, state agencies), or to academic careers in climate science and water resources.
- E&ES 197 Introduction to Environmental Studies
- E&ES 199 Introduction to Environmental Science
- E&ES 213/215 Mineralogy/Laboratory Study of Minerals
- E&ES 220/222 Geomorphology/Geomorphology Laboratory
- E&ES 223/225 Structural Geology/Field Geology
- E&ES 233/229 Geobiology/Geobiology Laboratory
- E&ES 280/281 Environmental Geochemistry/Environmental Geochemistry Laboratory
- E&ES 290/292 Oceans & Climate/Techniques in Ocean and Climate Investigations
- E&ES 305/307 Soils/Soils Laboratory
- E&ES 320 Quantitative Methods for the Biological and Environmental Sciences
- E&ES 322/324 Introduction to GIS/GIS Service Learning Laboratory
- E&ES 323 Isotope Geochemistry
- E&ES 359 Global Climate Change
- E&ES 397/398 Senior Seminar/Senior Field Research Project
- BIOL 216 Ecology
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Environmental Science/Ecology. These courses can help prepare students for jobs in government, consulting, and nonprofit organizations (e.g., U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, state conservation agencies, Nature Conservancy, National Audubon Society), or academic careers in conservation and natural resource management).
- E&ES 197 Introduction to Environmental Studies
- E&ES 199 Introduction to Environmental Science
- E&ES 233/229 Geobiology/Geobiology Laboratory
- E&ES 280/281 Environmental Geochemistry/Environmental Geochemistry Laboratory
- E&ES 290/292 Oceans & Climate/Techniques in Ocean and Climate Investigations
- E&ES 305/307 Soils/Soils Laboratory
- E&ES 312 Conservation of Aquatic Ecosystems
- E&ES 320 Quanitative Methods for the Biological and Environmental Sciences
- E&ES 322/324 Introduction to GIS/GIS Service Learning Laboratory
- E&ES 323 Isotope Geochemistry
- E&ES 326/328 Remote Sensing/Remote Sensing Laboratory
- E&ES 359 Global Climate Change
- E&ES 397/398 Senior Seminar/Senior Field Research Project
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Planetary Geology. These courses can help prepare students for jobs in government and industry (e.g., NASA, remote sensing, and GIS contractors), or to academic careers in space science and remote sensing.
- E&ES 101 Dynamic Earth
- E&ES 115 Introduction to Planetary Geology
- E&ES 213/215 Mineralogy/Laboratory Study of Minerals
- E&ES 220/222 Geomorphology/Geomorphology Laboratory
- E&ES 223/225 Structural Geology/Field Geology
- E&ES 314/316 Petrogenesis of Igneous and Metamorphic Rocks/Laboratory
- E&ES 322/324 Introduction to GIS/GIS Service Learning Laboratory
- E&ES 326/328 Remote Sensing/Remote Sensing Laboratory
- E&ES 371 Planetary Geology Seminar
- E&ES 380/381 Volcanology/Volcanology Lab Course
- E&ES 397/398 Senior Seminar/Senior Field Research Project
- E&ES397 Senior Seminar
- E&ES398 Senior Field Research Project
The College of the Environment, which includes the Environmental Studies linked major and Environmental Studies Certificate, provides a linkage between the sciences, public policy, economics, and the arts, and provides a wide variety of career options.
The Planetary Science Group and the Planetary Science Course Cluster seek to understand the origin and evolution the solar system in which we live and the other solar systems that we have identified in our galaxy.
The Service-Learning Center and Service-Learning Course Cluster seek to broaden students' understanding of course content through activities which are, at the same time, of service to the community.
Graduate Program
The Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences offers a program leading to the degree of Master of Arts in Earth and Environmental Sciences. This program is designed for students who desire further training prior to initiation of a doctoral program at another university or for whom the master’s degree will be the terminal degree. Graduate students are offered a unique opportunity for accelerated and personal instruction in a small department setting, with strengths in Geology, Volcanology, Ocean Sciences, Planetary Science, and Environmental Science. All admitted students are offered a full tuition waiver, stipend and benefits for this two-year program. A five-year BA/MA program is also available for qualified Wesleyan students.
Requirements for the degree of master of arts.
- Courses. Students who possess the equivalent of a Wesleyan E&ES BA degree are required to take six upper level course credits (of which at least four must be in E&ES) and two MA thesis research credits (E&ES 591 & 592). In addition, students are required to take one year (2 semesters) of courses from three of the following disciplines: mathematics, chemistry, physics, and biology. Students who do not possess the equivalent of a Wesleyan E&ES BA degree must complete or have completed 11 upper-level courses in the sciences or mathematics, and at least five of these must be E&ES courses. All full-time graduate students are expected to complete a minimum of four courses during their first year with a grade of B- or better. Failure to achieve these minimal expectations incurs automatic dismissal from the program.
- Thesis Proposal and Thesis Committee. Upon admission to the program, the student will meet with the E&ES Graduate Program committee to discuss the general requirements and goals of graduate study. Students should endeavor to select an advisor, thesis topic and thesis committee by the end of the first semester. After students have made a choice of faculty advisor and thesis committee, they must, in cooperation with the advisor, write a 1-2 page thesis proposal, in which they provide an outline of the proposed research. The thesis committee will read the proposal and discuss it with the student before acceptance of the research project. At the beginning of each semester, and at the beginning of the summer, each graduate student will be asked to prepare a written summary (~2-3 pages) of their progress and accomplishments and meet with their thesis committee. This summary will be reviewed by the thesis committee in order to discuss and evaluate the student's progress. The discussion of the committee will be summarized by the student's advisor and relayed to the student orally or in writing.
- Thesis and oral examination. The culmination of the masters program is the completion and acceptance of a thesis, and its successful oral defense. The specific format of the written work is to be discussed and agreed upon with the student's advisor and committee. The advisor and thesis committee, in consultation with the student, will agree upon the schedule of the defense. All members of the thesis committee must have read and must approve, in writing, a complete thesis before a defense can be scheduled. Practically, this requires that a thesis draft, already vetted by the advisor, be made available to the remainder of the thesis committee at least one month before any proposed defense date. The form for this purpose can be obtained from the E&ES department. The student is responsible for following all University requirements for the format and scheduling of the thesis. The oral examination will include both discussion of the thesis and any topic of the student's preparation.
- General. Graduate students are expected to fully participate in the scholarly activities in the department, including teaching opportunities, attending departmental seminars, and presenting their own work to the Wesleyan and scientific communities.