---

[Wesleyan Home Page] [Course Search] [Course Search by CID]

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

Research Professor: Ellen Thomas

Associate Professor: Suzanne OÃConnell

Assistant Professor: Kristina Beuning

Visiting Assistant Professor: M. Carmela Cuomo

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

The Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences offers an extensive program for non-science majors (general education), an earth and environmental science major, and a masterÃs program in earth science. A weekly informal colloquium provides opportunities to interact with scientists from research universities and for faculty and students to learn about each otherÃs 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 Oceanography

E&ES 107 Environmental Geology

E&ES 108 Volcanoes of the Earth

E&ES 109 Geology of Connecticut

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 evidence for processes that slowly shaped 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 advisers.

The masterÃs 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 and preferably all before the senior year.

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 following four 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 the major advisers in E&ES and the other science departments to determine the appropriate introductory courses, given their previous science training and interest.

Core courses and electives. Students are required to take four courses to be selected from the core curriculum (listed below) with their lab classes where applicable.

Core courses:

*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 select four electives from our total offering of about 12 upper-level courses; two of these four electives can be taken in any of the natural sciences or mathematics. At least four major-level E&ES courses must be taken at Wesleyan.

The electives must be regular courses, not tutorials or independent work. We recommend a 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 303 Principles of Limnology

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 344 Estuarine Ecology

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.