[Geoldept] changes in BS degrees for 2014-2015 pending

[Bernard Housen]

Hi Geostudents,
Welcome back from winter break- as chair I also wish you a most excellent 2014!

I am sending this message to give you an early view of changes we will be making for the Geology BS degree for the 2014-2015 academic year. These changes will take effect- after all the final approvals are in- starting in Fall 2014- but you may wish to plan for these changes earlier.

Here is the gist:


1)      We are eliminating the 3 separate concentrations for the Geology BS degree (the "classic geology", environmental and engineering geology, and geophysics), combining aspects of these into one single Geology BS degree. This will make scheduling and planning simpler, and the more uniform degree will more accurately reflect the overall curriculum we already have.

2)      The changes in the new Geology BS are:

a.       Added Phys 163 to the core

b.      Added Math 240 to the list of Math courses to take

c.       Electives are changed as follows:

                                                               i.      One of Geol 314 or Geol 316

                                                             ii.      One of Geol 407, 452, or 473

                                                            iii.      Two of any 400-level Geol course (excluding 401)

3)      We are also changing the major declaration process for the Geology BS and Geophysics BS degrees (for the BA, or BA-Ed degrees, the process is essentially the same). Here is how the new process will work:

a.       Declare as a Phase I major at any time as long as you are in good academic standing.

b.      To be admitted to the Geology BS or Geophysics BS program, a set of preparatory courses must be completed. A cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher in this set of courses is required. Priority for admission will be given to students with a GPA of 2.5 or higher in these courses- students with a lower GPA will be admitted on a space-available basis

                                                               i.      For the Geology BS, the preparatory courses are: Geol 211, 212, and 213; one of Geol 306, 310, 318, or 352; Chem 121 and Math 124

                                                             ii.      For the Geophysics BS, the preparatory courses are: Geol 211 and 352; Phys 161 and 162; Math 124

I have attached a complete listing of the revised Geology BS and the new major declaration process for your reading pleasure.

So, at this point you may be asking yourself "what do I do now?" Here are some possibilities:

If you have already declared as a Geology or Geophysics major, and like the set of courses in the present degree, you can simply stay with what you have, and complete the requirements for that degree.

If you have already declared, but like the new version of the Geology BS better, then you can switch to the new program in Fall 2014- but you will need to complete the preparatory course work to do so.

If you have not yet declared- you should declare before the end of spring 2014 if you prefer the present Geology BS- otherwise, continue taking courses, but keep in mind the need to complete those preparatory courses...

We will put together a presentation covering these changes, and have time for questions, in the next couple of weeks.

-Bernie Housen






Dr. Bernard Housen, PhD, LG
Professor and Chair- Geology Dept
Professor- Advanced Materials Science and Engineering Center (AMSEC)
Editor- GSA Today
Western Washington University
516 High St
Bellingham, WA 98225-9080

Ph- office: 360-650-6573, chair office: 360-650-3581
Fax: 360-650-7302
Email: bernieh at wwu.edu<mailto:bernieh at wwu.edu>
www: http://myweb.facstaff.wwu.edu/bernieh/

"-because the world is round, it turns me on"- the Beatles

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