Professors: Jelle Zeilinga de Boer, James T. Gutmann, Peter C. Patton, Johan C. Varekamp (Chair)

Research Professor: Ellen Thomas

Associate Professor: Suzanne O'Connell

Assistant Professors: Kristina Beuning, Martha S. Gilmore, Janet W. Yun

Visiting Scholars: Nicholas G. McDonald, J. Gregory McHone

Departmental Advising Experts (2000-2001): Jelle de Boer, James T. Gutmann, Suzanne O’Connell, Joop Varekamp

The Department of Earth & Environmental Sciences offers numerous general education courses as staffing permits, an earth and environmental science major, and a master's program in earth science. Frequent colloquia provide opportunities to interact with scientists from other universities and for faculty and students to learn about each other's activities in an informal setting.

The General Education program in E&ES consists of an array of courses appropriate for students who are not science majors. These courses have no prerequisites and each may be elected separately. They currently include:

E&ES 101 Physical Geology: Our Dynamic Earth *

E&ES 104 History of Life on Earth

E&ES 107 Environmental Geology

E&ES 108 Volcanoes of the Earth

E&ES 109 Geology of Connecticut

E&ES 114 Energy Resources

E&ES 115 Introduction to Planetary Science

E&ES 123 Earth's Changing Climate

E&ES 132 C02

E&ES 142 Climate Change & Human History

E&ES 152 Earth Resources

E&ES 154 Environmental and Cultural Aspects of Volcanism

E&ES 199 Introduction to Environmental Science *

* E&ES 101 and 199 also are Gateway courses, required for the major

The Earth and Environmental Science Major program deals with the origin, evolution, and current state of the earth. By studying the approximately 4.5 billion-year history of our planet, including development of our atmosphere, water bodies, mountains and natural resources, we learn more about the current functioning of the planet and possible environmental implications of human interferences with the natural system. The E&ES curriculum addresses these issues in a fundamental way, with courses in solid-earth geological processes, surficial processes, geochemistry of the earth and the environment, and marine science. Faculty and student research focuses on marine environments (coastal as well as deep sea), tectonic investigations, and aspects of volcanism. The E&ES major program is designed for students interested either in a career in earth, marine, or environmental science or in acquiring the scientific background applicable to a variety of environmental and resource problems and concerns. The major program consists of introductory courses, core courses, and electives as outlined below. The exact course of a study program should be decided in close cooperation with the departmental advisors.

Introductory and ancillary science courses. Earth and environmental scientists should possess a broad background in the natural sciences and mathematics. Therefore, E&ES majors are required to take the courses listed below. These should be taken as early as possible.

1.Physical Geology: Our Dynamic Earth (E&ES 101)

2.Introduction to Environmental Sciences(E&ES 199) (First-year students please note that you are given preference for enrollment in E&ES 101 and E&ES 199 only in your first year.)

3.Two courses, as listed, in any two of the following four areas:

Biology (205, 206, 207)

Chemistry (141, 142; 143, 144)

Mathematics(117, 118, 121, 122, 135)

Physics (111, 112; 113, 116)

Students considering graduate school in the physical sciences are strongly urged to elect calculus, chemistry, and physics. Students considering graduate school in the life sciences are urged to elect biology, calculus, and chemistry. Students should consult with their advisors and/or with E&ES faculty to determine appropriate introductory courses given their previous science training and interest.

The E&ES major curriculum includes the following upper-level core courses. E&ES majors are required to take at least four of these and their associated labs.

Core courses:

Principles of Stratigraphy (E&ES 205/203)

Mineralogy (E&ES 213/215)

Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology (E&ES 214/216)

Structural Geology (E&ES 223/225)

Sedimentology (E&ES 230/232)

Macroevolution (E&ES 250) OR Principles of Geobiology (E&ES 227/229)

Geomorphology (E&ES 220/222)

Aquatic Ecology (E&ES 261)

Environmental Geochemistry (E&ES 280)

In addition, students must select four electives from among the core courses above and the upper-level courses listed below. Up to two of these can be taken in any of the natural sciences or mathematics. However, a minimum of at least four major-level E&ES courses must be taken at Wesleyan. The four electives must be regular courses, not tutorials or independent work. We recommend a summer geology field course as an elective for students with a strong interest in earth science. The department has scholarship funds for which E&ES majors may apply in order to defray the costs of these field courses. Seniors are encouraged to participate in ongoing E&ES research projects, which are carried out in many parts of the world under the guidance of the E&ES faculty.

Current upper-level elective courses:

E&ES 301 Earth System Science and Global Change

E&ES 306 Coral Reef Ecology and Geology

E&ES 308 Long Island Sound Dynamics Seminar

E&ES 311 Quaternary Environments

E&ES 317 Hydrology

E&ES 319 Climate, Past and Future

E&ES 333 Tropical Field Studies

E&ES 335 Marine Geology

E&ES 340/342 Paleoecology / Paleoecological Reconstruction

E&ES 350 Coastal and Estuarine Environments

E&ES 380 Volcanology

E&ES 385 Geodynamics

CHEM 314 Environmental Chemistry

Departmental honors. To be considered for graduation with departmental honors in Earth and Environmental Sciences, a student must have achieved a grade average of 85 or better as calculated at the start of the final semester of the senior year from all courses that constitute the major program (not including ancillary science requirements). Award of honors is based upon the execution of independent research and the completion of a thesis or research report of high quality (unusual distinction in the case of high honors), as judged by three faculty members, at least two of whom shall be from this department. Completion of a thesis is not by itself sufficient for award of departmental honors. High honors are awarded based on academic achievement as measured by grade average and on the scope and quality of the independent research and its written report.