Nov 22, 2024  
2014-2015 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2014-2015 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences


The Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences (EAS) is composed of disciplines in: environmental science, geography, geology, meteorology, and geographic information systems (GIS). The department offers degrees in Environmental Science, Land Use and Meteorology, providing students with a strong background in the physical and quantitative aspects of the environment. Students will receive a bachelor of science degree except when their focused area of interest in land use is urban land use planning (bachelor of arts degree). Each student must have an EAS faculty advisor. Visit the department website, msudenver.edu/eas for additional information. Minor programs are available in geography, geology, meteorology, environmental science, and  geographic information systems. Students working toward teacher licensure in either science or social studies may take courses in geology, geography, or meteorology.

Environmental Science

The Environmental Science major is an extended major (no minor required) designed as an entry-level major for MSU Denver students, as well as for students transferring at the junior level from a community college with a background in the environmental sciences. Students may choose from five concentrations. The multidisciplinary concentration provides students with a broad-based environmental science background, whereas the concentrations in ecological restoration, environmental chemistry, environmental geology, and water management and hydrologic science are more specialized. All concentrations, except for environmental science for teacher licensure, require a unified core. Interested students should go to the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences (Science 2028) to be assigned an advisor and to pick up advising and career option sheets. Students interested in teacher licensure in secondary science should consult an advisor in environmental science and teacher education (see teacher education ).

Land Use

The Land Use major is an extended major (no minor required) that combines planning courses with a focused concentration, including environment and resources, geographic information systems, geology, or urban land use planning, linked by the vital thread of land use management. It also prepares students with a dynamic foundation for understanding issues and solving problems that confront the community and environment. The program is broad in scope and can be applied to a number of career objectives and graduate school programs. Opportunities exist in such areas as cartography, environment and resource management, environmental science, geographic information systems, geology, mining and mineral resources, planning, population analysis, recreational land use, remote sensing, sustainable development, transportation, and a variety of other interrelated fields. Students will receive a Bachelor of Science degree except when their concentration is urban land use planning, in which case the student will receive a Bachelor of Arts degree. 

Meteorology

Meteorology is the science of the atmosphere. Meteorologists are employed in operational meteorology, meteorological research, applied meteorology, and the media. Meteorologists study global weather and climate, and investigate the influence that human beings exert on earth’s climate. The Meteorology Computer Laboratory provides access to real-time weather data and analysis software supported by the UNIDATA Program. The Bachelor of Science degree conforms to the American Meteorological Society and National Weather Service recommendations for an undergraduate meteorology degree. A Mathematics Minor is a requirement of the Meteorology Major. Students should contact a meteorology faculty member to discuss degree programs, career opportunities, and graduate school options.

Minor and Certificate Programs