Earth Science
1. Programs offered
BSc and BSc Honours in Earth Science | The Earth Science program is a single degree, four-year multidisciplinary program jointly administered by the Faculty of Science and the Faculty of Social Sciences. Since this is a restricted entry program, students should contact the Earth Science Director as early as possible for proper advice regarding their program. |
Double Major and Double Degree Programs | 路 Double major programs combining any two of Earth Science, Geology, Applied and Environmental Geology, Geophysics, or Environmental Science are allowed. 路 Double major, double degree or major/minor programs are not allowed combining Earth Science and Geography. |
2. Program vs. Faculty Regulations
The Earth Science program is governed by a combination of general Faculty of Science and Faculty of Social Sciences regulations, as well as the additional program specific regulations listed below. In cases where the regulations of the two faculties are different, students in the Earth Science program will follow the regulations listed in the Faculty of Science section. It is essential for students to be familiar with all regulations and it is helpful to read Section III of the Faculty of Science regulations first. Students completing a BSc or BSc Honours in Earth Science will be eligible for consideration for admission to the graduate program in Geography at the 六九色堂 and will be eligible for consideration for admission to the graduate program in the Department of Geology and Geophysics (additional course work will be required). | |
APEGGA Regulations | The practice of geology and geophysics in Alberta is governed by Provincial law and regulated by the Association of Professional Engineers, Geologists and Geophysicists of Alberta (APEGGA). The Earth Science program is not designed to meet those requirements. Persons intending to pursue geology or geophysics as a profession should obtain a BSc or BSc Honours in Geology, Geophysics, or Applied and Environmental Geology. |
3. Program Information
Program Director | D. Sjogren |
Program Office | ES 926 |
Telephone | 220-2575 |
Fax | 210-8626 |
Web Site | |
4. Enrollment Limitations
Program Enrollment Limitations | Enrollment is limited in the Earth Science program. Students may be admitted directly into the Earth Science program and, once admitted, a place in the program is assured for students advancing through the second and subsequent years with satisfactory performance. Admission will be granted in the Fall Session only and will be based upon academic merit. Due to limited enrollment, it will not always be possible to accommodate every student's choice of optional courses in the third and subsequent years. As space permits, a certain number of students who wish to gain admission to the second and third year of the program by transferring from other institutions or programs will be accepted. Any student requesting admission at this level must meet the following criteria in addition to those listed in Section III (Faculty Regulations) in the Faculty of Science section of this Calendar: (i) Completion of the following courses with a grade of "C-" or better in each course: 路 Chemistry 201 路 Geology 201 路 Geology 203 路 Mathematics 249 or 251 or Applied Mathematics 217 (ii) A minimum admission grade point average (GPA) is established for each program each year. Students will be admitted on the basis of this GPA calculated over the most recent course work to a maximum of 5 full-course equivalents (FCE) (六九色堂 courses and/or transferable courses taken at other institutions). All grades within a session will be included except where the number of courses taken within a session exceeds that required to fulfill (to a maximum of) five FCE, in which case the highest grades will be used. |
Course Enrollment Limits | Geology 311, 313, 337, 341, 373, 381, 391, 401, 429, 437, 441, 503, 541, Geophysics 355, 453, 457, 549, 557, and 559 are limited enrollment courses. Earth Science majors will have priority registration in Geology 311, 337, 341, 381, and 391. |
5. Program Details
Admission | See Subsection III.3 on "Enrollment Limitations" in the Faculty of Science section of this Calendar. |
Courses constituting the field of Earth Science | 路 Geography 211, 231, 251, 305, 307, 313, 321, 333, 357, 391, and 599 路 Geology 201, 203, 307, 311, 337, 341, 373, 381, 391, and 510 |
Required Courses - Major Program | See also Section III (Faculty Regulations), Subsections 4A (Program Requirements - Major Programs) and 5B (Course Selection - Introductory Courses) in the Faculty of Science section of this Calendar. 0.5 FCE - Archaeology 201 0.5 FCE - Chemistry 201 3.5 FCE - Geography 211, 231, 251, 305, 313, 321, and 391 0.5 FCE - Geography 307 or Geology 373 0.5 FCE - Geography 333 or 3573.5 FCE - Geology 201, 203, 311, 337, 341, 381, and one of 307 or 391 1.0 FCE - Geophysics 365 and 375 0.5 FCE - Mathematics 249 or 251 or Applied Mathematics 217 0.5 FCE - Science 311 2.0 FCE - Science options from the following: Applied Mathematics 219 Astrophysics 213 Chemistry 203 Mathematics 211 or 221, 253 or 263 3.5 FCE - Non-science options as follows (see Areas Chart in Faculty of Social Sciences, Course Classification) 0.5 FCE - Archaeology Area II 1.0 FCE - from the Faculty of Social Sciences Area II 1.0 FCE - from the Faculty of Humanities 1.0 FCE - from the Faculty of Humanities or Fine Arts Area I 3.5 FCE - Open options Note: Students are encouraged to take 400- and 500-level courses in the third and fourth years. 600-level courses are available to fourth year students with prerequisites and consent of the Department offering the course. |
Required Courses - Honours Program | Same as Major program, but 0.5 or 1.0 FCE options must be replaced by one of the following with approval of the Earth Science Program Director: Archaeology 596 Geography 599 Geology 510 Geophysics 509 |
Required Courses - Minor Program | 5.0 FCE in the field of Earth Science; these must include: 0.5 FCE - Archeology 201 1.5 FCE - Geography 1.0 FCE - Geology or Geophysics Required non-Earth Science courses: 0.5 FCE - Chemistry 201 |
Suggested Program Sequence (Majors and Honours)
First Year | |
Fall | Winter |
Chemistry 201 | Geography 251 |
Geology 201 | Geology 203 |
Geography231 | |
Geography 211 | Option |
Option | Option |
Second Year | |
Geography 313 | Archaeology 201 |
Geography 321 | Archaeology (Area II) |
Geography 391* | Geology 341 |
Geology 311 | Option |
Option | |
Third Year | |
Geography 305 | Geology 307 or Option |
Geology 337* | Science311 |
Geology 381 | Option |
Geology 391 or Option | Option |
Geophysics 365 | Option |
Fourth Year | |
Geophysics 375 | Option |
Option | Option |
Option | Option |
Option | Option |
Option | Option |
*Geography 391 and Geology 337 run for about 10-12 days prior to the Fall Session. In addition to these field school courses, students are permitted to register in 2.5 FCE in each of the Fall and Winter Sessions. | |