University College Raj Soin College of   Business Education and   Human Services Engineering and   Computer Science Liberal Arts Nursing and Health Science and   Mathematics Lake Campus
	Admissions and   Advising Degrees and Areas of   Study Student Organizations Biochemistry and   Molecular Biology Biological Sciences Chemistry Earth and Environmental   Sciences Integrated Science Mathematics and   Statistics Physics Neuroscience, Cell   Biology and Physiology Psychology

Earth and Environmental Sciences

Professors Barton, Burton (Chair), Gregor, Ritzi, Wolfe (emeritus)

Associate Professors Agrawal, Carney, Cheng, Dominic, Hauser, Hunt, Slattery, Tebbens, Watts

Assistant Professors Ciampaglio (Lake Campus), Hammerschmidt

Lecturer Brown

Earth Sciences

The department offers programs leading to the Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts degrees in earth sciences and earth sciences education. Both programs are designed to include earth and related sciences and to prepare students for graduate study or professional employment. Professional earth scientists are employed in protecting and enhancing natural resources (environment, surface, and ground waters), as well as in exploring for new resources (oil, gas, and minerals). The Bachelor of Science program is more highly structured and through the various options offered is intended to prepare students for specific professional or technical careers. The Bachelor of Arts program is intended to be more flexible and to permit students with either broad or specialized interests to fulfill their program needs. The Bachelor of Arts program readily permits interdisciplinary programs such as a dual major in an unrelated field.

Students who have taken the General Education Earth and Environmental Sciences sequence (100 level) are not required to take EES 251, 253, and 255. However, they are required to take EES 252, 254, and 256.

Environmental Sciences

Wright State University's program is one of only 26 nationwide accredited by the National Environmental Health Science and Protection Accreditation Council. The curriculum in environmental sciences provides students with a sound academic background and the specialized training needed to work effectively in several Areas involving environmental quality management. Career opportunities include work in public health and environmental protection agencies, environmental consulting firms and analytical laboratories, and health and safety programs in industries, as well as in natural resource management. The program also prepares students for graduate programs in public health and environmental sciences. A field internship program, operated in cooperation with participating environmental health agencies or industries, gives students an opportunity to gain practical work experience.

Both the Earth and Environmental Sciences programs also offer minors. Since personal objectives, interests, and aptitudes vary considerably with each individual, the department offers a broad spectrum of educational options within a sound academic framework. Majors have considerable choice in the basic program, options, and elective courses. Students should identify these choices as early as possible because course sequencing, particularly in Bachelor of Science options, is a critical factor. For this reason, all students are strongly urged to consult their advisor to develop their individual programs.

Honors Program

Candidates for the B.A. or B.S. degree who have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better may apply at the end of their junior year for admission to the departmental honors program. Requirements for graduation with honors are a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better and satisfactory completion of a senior thesis under the guidance of a faculty member. EES 496 (Senior Thesis Research) requires a total of six to nine credits. Students may choose the topic from any branch of earth and environmental sciences; current course listings in this catalog may be taken as a rough indication of the range available.

Application forms for the honors program are available in the department office and require the following:

1.     A summary proposal of the senior thesis topic

2.     Expected date of graduation (which must be at least three full quarters, not including summer quarter, after the date of the application)

3.     The endorsement of the student's departmental advisor and that of the senior thesis advisor, if not the same

Degree Requirements-Earth and Environmental Sciences/Earth Science Option

Bachelor of Science Degree

The Bachelor of Science degree curriculum is designed to prepare the graduate for a technical career or for graduate study in earth sciences. The course requirements and recommended course sequences follow.

Bachelor of Arts Degree

The Bachelor of Arts curriculum is designed for students who desire scientific training, especially through interdisciplinary programs. Because of its broad and flexible approach, students who elect to follow a Bachelor of Arts program should have specific educational objectives that can be reasonably attained through this program.

Earth Sciences Education

Students who wish to teach earth sciences in Ohio public high schools can pursue the Bachelor of Arts degree. Upon completion of this undergraduate degree program in the College of Science and Mathematics, students then must complete the Professional Educators Program (PEP) Master of Education (M.Ed.) degree through Wright State's College of Education and Human Services. Graduates of the B.A. or B.S. in earth sciences and the M.Ed. Professional Educators Program are eligible to seek licensure from the Ohio Department of Education in Earth and Space Sciences, Earth Sciences/Chemistry or Life Sciences/Earth Sciences, depending on the content of the undergraduate curriculum.

Degree Requirements-Earth Sciences Education

Bachelor of Arts Degree (Earth and Space Sciences)

The Adolescent to Young Adult Earth and Space Sciences Licensure Program is based on an undergraduate Bachelor of Arts degree in earth sciences.

Bachelor of Arts Degree (Earth Sciences/Chemistry)

The Adolescent to Young Adult Earth Sciences/Chemistry Licensure Program is based on an undergraduate Bachelor of Arts degree in earth sciences.

Bachelor of Arts Degree (Life Sciences/ Earth Sciences)

The Adolescent to Young Adult Life Sciences/ Earth Sciences Licensure Program is based on an undergraduate Bachelor of Arts degree in earth sciences.

Minor Program

Students may earn a minor in earth sciences. A minor in earth sciences can improve a student's credentials for employment or for acceptance into graduate school. The minor requires a minimum of 35 credit hours. At least 10 of the credit hours used toward the minor may not be earth sciences courses required by the student's degree program. A GPA of 2.0 must be attained in the minor courses. A minor will be completed when the following requirements are satisfied.

Minor Requirements-Earth Sciences

Degree Requirements-Environmental Sciences

Bachelor of Science Degree

A grade of C or better must be achieved in each course used to fulfill the environmental sciences core, required supporting courses in biological sciences, environmental specialty courses, and supporting electives units of this degree.

Minor Program

An Environmental Sciences minor is available to all WSU students, regardless of major. Students must have junior standing, a 2.0 GPA, and an interest in environmental issues. A minimum of 35 credits are required for the minor. The 35-credit minimum permits the student to select from a broad array of environmental courses suited to individual needs.

Minor Requirements-Environmental Sciences