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DEPARTMENT OF EARTH SCIENCES |
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| 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, Thakur |
| Instructors: M.A. Connors, Jordan, Murray, Stutsman |
| Emeriti: Isphording, Lamb, Sebastian, Williams, Wilson |
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Department
of Earth Sciences web site
http://www.southalabama.edu/geography |
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| 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 into the program by their junior year. Complete requirements are available on the departmental web page. |
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| 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. |
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| 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) |
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Core requirements for a geography major (30 HRS): |
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GEO 101 & 101L |
4 hrs |
GEO 102 &102L |
4 hrs |
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GEO 114 |
3 hrs |
GEO 115 |
3 hrs |
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GEO 201 |
1 hr |
GEO 331 |
4 hrs |
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GEO 332 |
4 hrs |
GEO 435 |
3 hrs |
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GEO 480 |
4 hrs |
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| B. |
One additional natural science course, one additional social science course outside of geography, ST 210, and CIS 150. |
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| C. |
Select six courses (for at least 18 hrs) from a minimum of three groups. |
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Human Geography Courses: |
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GEO 312 |
3 hrs |
GEO 321 |
3 hrs |
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GEO 365 |
3 hrs |
GEO 370 |
3 hrs |
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GEO 381 |
3 hrs |
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Physical Geography Courses: |
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GEO 310 |
3 hrs |
GEO 341 |
3 hrs |
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GEO 342 |
3 hrs |
GEO 353 |
4 hrs |
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GEO 410 |
3 hrs |
GEO 411 |
3 hrs |
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GEO 412 |
3 hrs |
GEO 440 |
2 hrs |
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GEO 441 |
2 hrs |
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Regional Geography Courses: |
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GEO 313 |
3 hrs |
GEO 314 |
3 hrs |
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GEO 315 |
3 hrs |
GEO 320 |
3 hrs |
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Technical Geography Courses: * |
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GEO 420 |
4 hrs |
GEO 442 |
4 hrs |
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GEO 460 |
4 hrs |
GEO 461 |
4 hrs |
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GEO 462 |
4 hrs |
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*Only two technical geography courses may be counted toward the Geography major. |
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| 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. |
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| 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. |
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| 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. |
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| 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. |
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| 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: |
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| 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 |
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Total 44-46 |
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| 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 on pursuing 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 101/102 or BLY 121/122 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. |
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| 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. |
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| 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. |
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| Recommended Geology Class Sequence for Freshmen Students |
| Year |
Fall
Semester |
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Spring
Semester |
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Summer
Semester |
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1 |
CAS 100 |
2 |
GY 112 & 112L |
4 |
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GY 111 & 111L |
4 |
MA 125 |
4 |
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CH 131 |
4 |
CH 132 |
4 |
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SS 1 |
3 |
EH 102 |
3 |
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EH 101 |
3 |
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Total |
16 |
Total |
15 |
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2 |
GY 301 |
3 |
GY 303 |
4 |
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GY 302 |
4 |
GY 304 |
3 |
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MA 126 or |
4 |
PH 114/201 |
4/5 |
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GY 420 |
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SS 2 |
3/4 |
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HUM 1 |
3 |
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Total |
14 |
Total |
14/16 |
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3 |
GY 305,
PH 115 |
4/5 |
GY 402 |
3 |
GY 480 |
6 |
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or PH 201 |
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GY 403 |
4 |
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GY 401 |
3 |
HUM 3 |
3 |
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HUM 2 |
3 |
FL 2 |
3 |
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FL 1 |
3 |
CA 110 |
3 |
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Minor 1 |
3/4 |
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Total |
16/18 |
Total |
16 |
Total |
6 |
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4 |
GY Elect 1 |
3/4 |
GY Elect 2 |
3/4 |
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Minor 2 |
3/4 |
SS 3 (3) |
3 |
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Minor 3 |
3/4 |
SS 4 (3) |
3 |
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Minor 4 |
3/4 |
Minor 5 |
3/4 |
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Art |
3 |
Minor 6 |
3/4 |
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Total |
15/19 |
Total |
15/18 |
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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. |
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| 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. |
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| Meteorology Major Requirements (49 HRS) |
| A. |
Meteorology Core Courses: |
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MET 140 |
4 hrs |
MET 341 |
3 hrs |
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MET 353 |
4 hrs |
MET 354 |
3 hrs |
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MET 355 |
3 hrs |
MET 356 |
3 hrs |
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MET 357 |
2 hrs |
MET 454 |
6 hrs |
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MET 455 |
6 hrs |
MET 496 |
1 hr |
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Total |
35 hrs |
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| 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). |
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| C. |
Select one group: |
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Group 1 - Professional Meteorology Track: |
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GEO 332 or |
4 hrs |
GY 425 |
4 hrs |
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MET 492** |
3 hrs |
MET 358 |
3 hrs |
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Total |
10-11 hrs |
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Group 2 - Industrial Meteorology Track: |
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MGT 300 |
3 hrs |
MET 492*** |
2 hrs |
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MKT 320 |
3 hrs |
GY 425 |
4 hrs |
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Total |
12 hrs |
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Group 3 - Broadcast Meteorology Track: |
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MET 359 |
2 hrs |
MET 498 |
3 hrs |
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MET 497 |
3 hrs |
MET 358 |
3 hrs |
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Total |
11 hrs |
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Group 4 - Environ. Meteorology Track: |
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GY 425 |
4 hrs |
GEO 460 |
4 hrs |
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MET 492**** |
3 hrs |
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Total |
11 hrs |
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** |
Satellite Meteorology seminar |
*** |
Industrial Meteorology seminar |
**** |
Air Pollution Meteorology seminar |
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| 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. |
|
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| 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). |
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| 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. |
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