Earth Science Education

Science Course Requirements 
for the
BA in Earth and Space Sciences/Earth Science Education Track:
updated 05/20/2009

Link here for a check list for these courses

Link here for courses at Suffolk Community College, Nassau Community College and SUNY Farmindale that are accepted as equivalent to the following introductory courses at  Stony Brook University.

 A. Introductory courses  

*Change in Biology course requirements affects all students who begin to take introductory courses in Fall 2009.

 B. Elective Courses

 At least 24 credits from approved course list, chosen in consultation with the program director.  At least two of the courses must include a laboratory.

C. Specific Science Concentration

 At least 12 credits of the 24 elective credits must be chosen from one of the earth and space science disciplines:  astronomy, atmospheric sciences or geosciences.

 D. Upper-division writing requirement.

 All students in the earth science education track must submit two papers (term papers, laboratory reports, or independent research reports) that involve collecting data or observations, processing and interpreting this information and preparing a professional quality report.  These reports must be submitted to the director of undergraduate studies for evaluation by the end of the junior year.  If this evaluation is satisfactory, the student will have fulfilled the upper-division writing requirement.  If it is not, the student must fulfill the requirement before graduation.

 Notes:

 1. See the Education and Teacher Certification entry in the alphabetical listing of Approved Majors, Minors and Programs for additional information on requirements for earth science secondary teacher education program.

 2. The sequence CHE 123 and 124 may be substituted for  CHE 131 and 132, with permission of the undergraduate program director.

Approved Undergraduate Earth Science Courses for the
Earth Science Education track of the BA in ESS –
It is highly recommended that earth science education students take

These courses form the core of geology as taught in the earth science curriculum.
                                                                                                                            Credits

AST 100 Astronomy Today                                                                                             1

AST 105 Introduction to the Solar System                                                                     3

AST 200 Current Astronomical Research at Stony Brook                                                1

AST 205 Introduction to Planetary Sciences                                                                  3

AST 248 Search for Life in the Universe                                                                        3

AST 301 Collisions in the solar system                                                                           3

AST 304 The Universe                                                                                                    3

ATM 237 Current Topics in World Climate and Atmosphere                                           3

ATM 247 Atmospheric Structure and Analysis                                                               3

ATM 305 Global Atmospheric Change                                                                             3

GEO 101 Environmental Geology                                                                                    3

GEO 107 Natural Hazards                                                                                                3

GEO 109 Life Through Time                                                                                           3

GEO 287 Introductory Research in Geology                                                                0-3

GEO 302 GIS for Geologists counts as laboratory                                                           1

GEO 304 Energy, Mineral Resources and the Environment                                            3

GEO 305 Field Geology counts as laboratory                                                                 3

GEO 306 Introduction to Mineralogy  includes laboratory                                           4

GEO 309 Structural Geology includes laboratory                                                         4

GEO 310 Introduction to Geophysics                                                                             3

GEO 311 Geosciences and Global Concerns                                                                    3

GEO 320 Glacial Geology                                                                                                3

GEO 403 Stratigraphy includes laboratory                                                                   4

GEO 405 Field Camp counts as laboratory                                                              1 to 6

GEO 407 Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology includes  laboratory                        4

GEO 420 Environmental Analysis Using Remote Sensing and GIS.                                  4