EARTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

Professors: Jelle Zeilinga de Boer, James T. Gutmann, Gregory S. Horne, Peter C. Patton (Chair)

Associate Professor: Johan C. Varekamp

Assistant Professor: Suzanne O'Connell

Associate Research Professor: Ellen Thomas

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

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 designed 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 The History of Life

E&ES 105 Geologic Catastrophes

E&ES 106 Introductory Oceanography

E&ES 107 Environmental Geology

E&ES 108 Volcanoes of the Earth

E&ES 109 Geology of Connecticut

E&ES 110 Investigations in Marine Science

E&ES 111 Environmental Geology Seminar

E&ES 150 Energy, Mineral, and Water Resources

E&ES 152 Earth Resources

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 master's program in earth science provides a unique opportunity for personalized instruction in the broad field of earth sciences (see the Graduate Catalog for more details). The program is especially suitable for students who wish to prepare themselves better for a Ph.D. career at a large research university. Other students, however, go directly to a professional career with a Wesleyan M.A. degree in earth sciences.

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. Introductory Oceanography (E&ES 106)

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

Biology (205, 206, 207)

Chemistry (141, 142; 143, 144)

Mathematics (117 or 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 advisers and/or with E&ES faculty to determine the appropriate introductory courses, given their previous science training and interest.

The E&ES major curriculum includes the following upper-level core courses. E&ES mjors 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)

Principles of Geobiology (E&ES 227/229)

Geomorphology (E&ES 220/222)

Ecology (BIO 261)

Environmental Geochemistry (E&ES 280)

In addition, students must select four electives from among the core courses ands the upper-level courses listed below. Up to two of these can be taken in any of the natural sciences or mathematics.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 a scholarship fund to 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 E&ES Electives:

E&ES 301 Earth System Science and Global Change

E&ES 306 Coral Reef Ecology and Geology

E&ES 311 Quaternary Environments

E&ES 317 Hydrology

E&ES 319 Climate, Past and Future

E&ES 323 Isotope Geochemistry

E&ES 335 Marine Geology

E&ES 340 Paleoecology

E&ES 350 Coastal and Estuarine Environments

E&ES 380 Volcanology

E&ES 385 Geodynamics

E&ES 513 Analytical Techniques in Geochemistry

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; and 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.