guidelines for a major in geoscience center for integrative geosciences university of connecticut...

Guidelines for a major in Geoscience

Center for Integrative GeosciencesUniversity of Connecticut

Revised 04/2015

Students must complete one intro-level lecture and lab course.

The major in Geoscience requires 30 credits above 2000-level.

Core Courses Elective Courses Capstone Course

13 credits 14 credits 3 credits




The four core classes are mandatory for all majors.





The elective courses may be taken at the discretion of the student.






The capstone course is satisfied by completing Geoscience and Writing, or an Undergraduate Thesis.

Four core classes (13 credits) are required for a major in Geoscience.

GSCI 3010 – Earth History and Global Change

This course is offered during the Spring Semester in odd years (2015, 2017, 2019, etc.).


GSCI 3020 – Earth Surface Processes

This course is offered during the Fall Semester every year.

This course is required for ENVS, creating high demand for enrollment.


GSCI 3030 – Earth Structure

This course is offered during the Fall Semester every year.


GSCI 3040 – Earth Materials

This course is offered during the Spring Semester every year.

CHEM 1127, 1128 are recommended in preparation for this course.

Students must complete 14 additional 3000 and 4000-level credits in Geoscience.You can only use 3 credits of GSCI 4989, 4990, 4991, and 4999 to satisfy this requirement.

You can use courses that are cross-listed with Geoscience to satisfy this requirement.

We ask, however, that you enroll in the GSCI section of a cross-listed course.

Students must complete the required capstone course (3 credits)

Students will enroll in GSCI 4050W or GSCI 4996W.

GSCI 4050W (Geoscience and Society) is offered during the Spring Semester, and should be completed during your last semester.

GSCI 4996W (Undergraduate Thesis) is completed during senior year, and can be substituted in place of GSCI 4050W.

Students must complete at least 12 credits at the 2000-level in related areas.

Please consult with your advisor before choosing related courses.

The related courses category in your Advisement Report in PeopleSoft will remain not satisfied until your final plan of study is approved by Degree Audit.

Courses used to fulfill minor requirements can also be used to satisfy related course requirements. However, cross-listed courses DO NOT satisfy the requirements.

Students must complete at least 12 credits at the 2000-level in related areas.

The following are examples of related courses:

•ANTH 2501•CE 2110, 2410•EEB 2214, 2244, 2245, 4275•GEOG 2300, 3310, 3400, 3410, 3505, 3510•MARN 3000, 3505•MATH 2110Q, 2410Q, 2210Q•NRE 3145, 3146, 3535

Students may obtain a BA or BS in Geoscience.

Deciding on a BA or BS degree is highly individual. Talk to your advisor about the right decision for you.

Information on the differences between CLAS BA and BS degrees can be found in the Academic Services Center’s 2012-2013 Student Workbook, which is available at this link: 2012-2013 Student Workbook.


If you’d like additional information on the geoscience major, you can visit our website: GEOSCIENCE UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM.

You can reach out geoscience faculty who serve as undergraduate advisors: GEOSCIENCE UNDERGRADUATE ADVISORS.


To declare the major, you should do one of the following:

•If you are a Storrs student, complete an online program change by going to this link: CLAS ONLINE PROGRAM CHANGE.

•If you are not a Storrs student, you must fill out a paper form. To obtain the form, go to this link: PROGRAM CHANGE FORM.

Students may also declare a minor in Geoscience.

If you’d like information on the geoscience minor, you can visit our website: GEOSCIENCE UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM.

To declare the minor, you should fill out the minor declaration form, which is available at this link: MINOR DECLARATION FORM. This form must be signed by the geoscience minor advisor.

Check the Course Catalog for all Geoscience courses. To access the Course Catalog, please visit catalog.uconn.edu/gsci/.

For further questions about courses offered, please contact the Geoscience Main Office at (860) 486-4432.

The following courses are offered every Fall Semester.

Intro-level Upper-level

GSCI 1050 GSCI 3020

GSCI 1051 GSCI 3030

GSCI 1052 GSCI 4390

GSCI 1070 GSCI 4735

The following courses are offered every Spring Semester.

Intro-level Upper-level

GSCI 1010 GSCI 3040

GSCI 1050 GSCI 3710

GSCI 1051 GSCI 4050W

GSCI 1052 GSCI 4230

The following courses are offered during odd years.

Fall semester Spring semester

GSCI 4110 GSCI 3010

GSCI 4520 GSCI 3990

GSCI 4550

The following courses are offered during even years.

Fall semester Spring semester

GSCI 4130 GSCI 4120

GSCI 4510 GSCI 4210

GSCI 4330

GSCI 4560

In order to graduate, you must complete a final plan of study.The plan of study for the geoscience major is available at this link: GEOSCIENCE PLAN OF STUDY.

You must submit your plan of study by the end of the fourth week of the semester in which you plan to graduate.

•Review your plan of study with your advisor.•Submit your plan of study via Student Admin for final approval from your advisor.

In order to graduate, you must complete a final plan of study.If you plan to graduate in August and walk in May, you must submit your plan of study by the end of the fourth week of the spring semester before your August graduation.

In addition, periodically check CLAS Academic Services website for any forms you may need to complete.

Here are a few resources that will help you track your academic plan.Access the CLAS Academic Services website for detailed information regarding the policies of majors.

The CLAS General Education Audit Sheet can be found under Quick Links on the Geoscience website.

Access Student Admin to create What-If Scenarios and check your Academic Requirements.

Here are suggestions for meeting with your academic advisor.

• Schedule advising appointments at least a week in advance of your class registration date. You MUST meet with your advisor in order to have your enrollment hold lifted.

• Enroll in courses as soon as your registration time opens. • Have a plan in place for courses you need to take.• Have a back-up plan should courses fill up before your

registration date.• Alert your advisor ASAP if you need a form signed.• Establish regular contact with your advisor. This will make

meetings much more productive!

Your Requirements in Student Admin are set according to your catalog year.The default setting for your catalog year is the academic year that you entered CLAS.

In some cases, it may be beneficial for you to change your catalog year. You can change your catalog year only to an academic year after the year you entered CLAS.

Your Requirements in Student Admin are set according to your catalog year.To determine how a change of catalog year will affect your requirements, you should run a What-If Scenario in PeopleSoft.

To change your catalog year, you need to fill out a request to change undergraduate requirement catalog form, which is available at this link: CATALOG YEAR CHANGE FORM.

If you take courses at another institution, make sure they transfer correctly.Information on transferring courses is available at this link: COURSE TRANSFERS.

If you need advice or need to make a change to a course transfer, please contact the Geoscience Main Office.

Study abroad can be a great opportunity but requires careful planning.Geoscience offers two study abroad opportunities:

•UConn Geoscience and Geohazards in Taiwan•UConn Geoscience in the Bahamas

Each trip is faculty-led and occur every other year. For more information, see the Geoscience website.

For more information on study abroad opportunities through UConn, please visit studyabroad.uconn.edu.

You must do the following if taking internship courses (GSCI 4990 & 4991).

• Discuss the internship opportunity with your advisor to see if it is appropriate for academic credit in geoscience.

• Choose a faculty supervisor.• Write a short proposal on your proposed internship and have

it approved by your faculty supervisor. You must have your proposal approved before your internship starts.

• Note that you can enroll in GSCI 4990 & 4991 during the fall semester for a summer internship.

Questions? Please contact us!

Center for Integrative GeosciencesBeach Hall 207, U-1045354 Mansfield RoadStorrs, CT 06269

Office Phone: (860) 486-4432Office Email: [email protected]

Visit our website: earth.uconn.edu

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