Chairperson: Associate Professor Walcott
Knight Distinguished Professor: Sommer
Professors: Bender, Furuseth, Hartgen, Ingalls, Lord, Schul, Stuart
Associate Professors: Allan, Bobyarchick, Diemer, Forsythe, Ives, Marshall,
Moore, Xiang
Assistant Professors: Campbell, Haas, Martin
Lecturers: Garo, Smith
Emeritus: Nunnally, Schul, Stuart
The Department of Geography and Earth Sciences offers an interdisciplinary program of study that has three different but related components. Earth Sciences includes the study of the hydrosphere, atmosphere and surficial materials of the earth. Geology examines the composition, history and structure of the whole earth. Geography emphasizes the locational aspects of human activities as they are distributed over the earth.
Earth Sciences. The Earth Sciences program focuses on the dynamic processes acting at the surface of the earth. Students pursuing the B.S. degree choose among three options within the curriculum. The atmosphere-hydrology option focuses on the interaction of the hydrosphere and atmosphere with surficial materials. It includes courses in climatology, fluvial processes, hydrology and meteorology. The environmental geology option investigates the origin and distribution of surficial materials and examines technical aspects of human interaction with the earth. The environmental geology option combines essential elements of a geology program with applied courses such as fluvial processes, geologic mapping, hydrogeology, remote sensing and soil science in order to prepare students for employment opportunities in the fields of environmental monitoring and consulting. The environmental information systems option focuses on the decision-making processes of humans as they interact with the environment through such courses as environmental dilemma, environmental geology, environmental planning, geographic information systems and remote sensing.
Geography. The Geography curriculum is oriented toward the methodologies of social science in which the importance of location is stressed. Traditional regional studies and conceptual courses that deal with land use patterns, transportation systems, industrial location, the distribution of retail activities, city planning, and urban systems are augmented by technique-oriented courses such as map design and compilation, computer mapping, analysis of satellite images, statistical methods and geographic information systems. These courses prepare students in both the concepts and methods of contemporary spatial analysis.
Students majoring in geography find careers open to them in urban and regional planning, cartography, marketing research, transportation planning, real estate development and teaching. As in earth sciences and geology, the greatest range of opportunities is open to those who earn graduate degrees. (See The Graduate School section of this Catalog regarding the M.A. degree program).
A unique advantage of the Department's interdisciplinary curriculum is that students majoring in one component of the program may take related courses in another component. A student concentrating in geology, for example, might study computer mapping as part of their major. Conversely, a geography student interested in land use planning could take supporting course work in soil science or hydrology as part of the major.
Geology. The Geology program examines the earth as a dynamic natural system by focusing on its composition, history and structure. Students pursuing a B.S. degree take coursework in areas such as mineralogy, geochemistry, aqueous geochemistry, structural geology, tectonics, sedimentology, stratigraphy, petrology and optical mineralogy. The program prepares students interested in graduate studies and careers as professional geoscientists.
Students majoring in earth sciences and geology pursue careers in basic research, environmental consulting, environmental planning, meteorology, mining, oil and gas exploration, site analysis, terrain analysis, and teaching. There are employment opportunities in both government and private industry with the greatest range of positions available to students who earn graduate degrees.
Facilities. The Department of Geography and Earth Sciences is housed in modern, well-equipped facilities. Extensive rock, mineral and fossil holdings are available for instructional purposes. The optical mineralogy laboratory features high-quality petrographic microscopes linked with image analysis and cathodoluminescence systems. Geochemical research facilities include sample preparation and experimental laboratories equipped with modern wet chemical instrumentation including a UV-vis spectrophotometer, automated-burette titration apparatus, and rapid sediment analyzers. The petrology lab employs a research quality X-ray diffraction unit, a precision thin section machine and an automated photomicrography unit that is attached to a research-grade polarizing microscope. A proton magnetometer and ground penetrating radar systems are available for ground-based field surveys. Frequent field trips are facilitated by the Department's vans, extensive field instruments and camping gear.
The atmospheric-hydrology laboratory houses the Department's Meteorology Data Acquisition System (McIDAS), a geographic information systems package that provides "real time" meteorological data via links to weather satellites. Stream gauges and soil analysis instruments are on hand for use in fluvial processes and soils labs.
Students have access to a Departmental computer lab equipped with networked Apple Macintosh and IBM microcomputers, a file server, and printer. This facility is networked to other labs on campus and to the University's mainframe computers. A separate Geographic Information System (GIS) and remote sensing lab houses a Sun Microsystems 4/390 fileserver, Sun Sparc workstations, digitizers, and a large format color electrostatic plotter. Arc/Info and Erdas software packages run on the workstations and are used to support classes in GIS, remote sensing and image processing, and spatial decision support systems. The department also maintains a large collection of geographically- referenced data for use by students and staff in the lab. These data sets include satellite imagery, U.S. Census Bureau files, and U.S. Geological Survey map data as well as locally-developed data sets.
The UNC Charlotte Cartography Laboratory has earned a reputation for its high quality production cartography. This cutting edge facility contains high end Macintosh workstations, a 1200 dpi scanner, a 35 mm slide scanner and a slide processing unit, high resolution laser printers and a large format color printer. Software include Adove Illustrator, Photoshop, PageMill, Authorware, Director, Power Point and Astound.
Cooperative Education in Geography and Earth Sciences. Students in the Geography and Earth Sciences programs may obtain practical work experience while pursuing their degrees by participating in the Cooperative Education program. The work experience is approved by the Department and is closely related to the student's field of study. Students interested in learning more about participating in this program should contact the Department of Geography and Earth Sciences.
GEOGRAPHY MAJOR: BACHELOR OF ARTS
A major leading to a B.A. degree consists of 29 hours in geography and earth sciences and will include GEOG 1101, 1105, 2100, 2101, 2110 and ESCI 1101. Except for required courses, all work offered for the major must be numbered 2100 or above. Students are encouraged to take additional coursework in related disciplines or to select a second major. Consult the Department of Geography and Earth Sciences for a Suggested Schedule to complete the B.A. degree with a major in Geography.
Honors in Geography and Earth Sciences Program. To graduate with Honors in Geography or in Earth Sciences a student must meet the following requirements:
1. Satisfy all the requirements for the degree sought and the major in Geography or in Earth Sciences.
2. Complete at least two courses designated as honors in the UNCC course catalog. These may be offered through the University Honors Program or from any of individual departments that have honors designated courses. Honors work may be undertaken as early as the first semester of the freshman year.
3. Maintain at least a 3.2 GPA in all honors work, 3.25 GPA overall, and 3.5 GOA in all geography and/or earth sciences courses taken at UNCC to satisfy major requirements.
4. As part of the final 15 hours of course work,
the student must register for the honors section of GEOG 4800/ESCI 4800- Individual Study
in Geography/Earth Sciences (3) and complete a research project to be submitted to a
faculty department honors committee that will certify that the project merits honors
distinction. The candidate must earn the grade "A" on the thesis research. To be
certified as honors quality, a project must contain original research and demonstrate a
high degre of scholarship. Students seeking the honors desgination must nogify the norns
committee no later than the second week of classes that the project be evaluated for
honors. Faculty members who serve on the Honors Committee will not evaluate projects
completed under their supervision. Instead, another faculty member will be asked to
evaluate the project in question along with the other members of the Committee. Should the
Committee agree to confer Honors on the student's project, it will certify this to the
Department Chair. Should the Committee decide that the project does not warrant Honors,
the student will still receive whatever grade the faculty member supervising the project
assigns.
GEOGRAPHY MAJOR: BACHELOR OF SCIENCE
A major leading to a B.S. degree consists of 40 hours of geography and earth sciences and will include 17 hours of major requirements listed below. In addition, students must complete ENGL 2116 (Introduction to Technical Communication) as well as general education English requirements, CSCI 1100 or CSCI 1201 and its lab, and one mathematics course above MATH 1103. Options are available within the major in Economic Geography and in Community and Regional Planning and other concentrations can be developed. Students should contact their advisers about these and other possible concentrations. Except for required courses, all work offered for the major must be in courses numbered 2100 or above. Consult the Department of Geography and Earth Sciences for a Suggested Schedule to complete the B.S. degree with a major in Geography.
Major Requirements: 17 hours
GEOG 1101 World Regional Geography 3
ESCI 1101 Earth Science-Geography 4
GEOG 1105 Location of Human Activity 3
GEOG 2100 Maps and Graphs 3
GEOG 2101 Maps and Graphs Laboratory 1
GEOG 2110 Intro Geographic Research 3
Community and Regional Planning Option Requirements: select 16 hours
GEOG 3200 Land Use Planning 3
GEOG 3210 Regional Planning 3
GEOG 3215 Environmental Planning 3
GEOG 4120 Intro GIS 4
GEOG 4205 Internal Structure of the City 3
GEOG 4210 Urban Planning Methods 3
Economic Geography Option
Requirements: select 15 hours
GEOG 3150 Manufacturing
Geography 3
GEOG 4155 Retail Location 3
GEOG 4160 Geography of Transportation Systems 3
GEOG 4255 Applied Population Analysis 3
GEOG 3000 Topics in Regional Geography 3
GEOG 4000 Selected Topics in Geography 3
Option-related electives to complete B.S. degree may be selected from:
GEOG 3100 The City and Its Region 3
GEOG 3115 Urban Transportation Problems 3
GEOG 3265 Behavioral Geography 3
GEOG 4103 Computer Mapping 3
GEOG 4155 Retail Geography 3
GEOG 4255 Applied Population Analysis 3
GEOG 4400 Internship in Geography 3-6
GEOG 4130 Advanced GIS 4
GEOGRAPHY MINOR
A minor in geography consists of 19 hours, including GEOG 1101 and 1105 and ESCI 1101, and nine additional hours in geography. The minor can be tailored to support a number of majors, such as business, computer science, political science and architecture.
EARTH SCIENCES MAJOR: BACHELOR OF ARTS
A major in Earth Sciences leading to the B.A. degree consists of a minimum of 30 semester hours, including ESCI 1101 and GEOL 1200, 1200L, and 1210. The remaining 18 hours are selected from earth sciences, geology and geography numbered 2000 and above, and must include at least nine hours in earth sciences and geology courses numbered 3000 or above. Students are encouraged to take additional coursework in related sciences and mathematics or to select a second major. Consult the Department of Geography and Earth Sciences for a Suggested Schedule to complete the B.A. degree with a major in Earth Sciences.
EARTH SCIENCES MAJOR: BACHELOR OF ARTS, SECONDARY TEACHING OPTION
Students preparing to teach high school earth science may become licensed by earning the B.A. degree including the Secondary Teaching Option. This program consists of a minimum of 37 hours in geography and earth science including ESCI 1101, 1101L; GEOL 1200, 1200L, 1210, ESCI 2101; GEOL 3115, 3190, 3190L and GEOG 2100; 11 hours selected from earth science courses of which at least four hours are in courses numbered 3000 or above. Also required for this option are CHEM 1251 & 1251L, PHYS 1101 & 1101L, MATH 1241, SPED 2100, 3290, EDUC 2100, 2140, 3141, 3150, 3151, 3142, 3251, 3441, READ 3255, and HLED 3152; PHYS 1130 & 1130L, ESCI 2105 or BIOL 4149, and one additional physical or life science elective. Licensure applications are the responsibility of the student and the Office of Student Academic Services in the College of Education.
EARTH SCIENCES MAJOR: BACHELOR OF SCIENCE
A major in Earth Sciences leading to a B.S. degree consists of a minimum of 45 hours in earth sciences including completion of the requirements for one of the three options below in addition to the following core courses: ESCI 1101, 1101L and GEOL 1200, 1200L, and 1210; CHEM 1251 and 1251L; PHYS 1101 and 1101L (or 2201 and 2201L); and either CHEM 1252 and 1252L or PHYS 1102 and 1102L (or 2202 and 2202L); and MATH 1241 and 1242 or higher (except that students in the environmental information systems option may substitute STAT 1220 for the second math course). Students pursuing the B.S. degree in Earth Sciences must work closely with an adviser in Earth Sciences to follow a program to complete degree requirements in one of the three options offered by the department. Students with advanced permission of the department may substitute electives among the three options.
Environmental Geology Option. Required courses are GEOL 3115, 3120, 3124, 3130, 3190, 3190L; 4145 and
ESCI 4140. A minimum of 7 hours of electives must be selected from GEOL 3120L, 4100, 4105, 4105L; 4110, 4130, 4145L, 4115, 4120, 4165, 4400; ESCI 3210, 3250, 4155, 4170, 4333, 4400; and GEOG 4115.
Atmospheric Science--Hydrology Option. Required courses are ESCI 3240, 3250, 4140, 4150, and 4155. A minimum of 14 hours of electives must be selected from ESCI 2105, 3210, 3251, 4160, 4800, 4180, 5222; GEOL 3120, 3120L, 4105, 4105L; 4145, 4145L, 4165; and GEOG 4115. STAT 1220 is strongly advised for students in this option.
Environmental Information Systems Option. Required courses are ESCI 2101 and 4170, GEOL 3190 and 3190L, GEOG 3215 and 4120. A minimum of 15 hours must be selected from ESCI 2105, 3170, 3210, 3240, 3250, 4140, 4150, 4155, 4180, 4222; GEOL 3115, 3120, 3120L, 4105, 4105L, 4145, 4145L, 4165; and GEOG 3200, 4130.
Consult the Department of Geography and Earth
Sciences for a Suggested Schedule to complete the B.S. degree with a major in Earth
Sciences or see web site http://ga-mac.uncc.edu for further information.
EARTH SCIENCES MINOR
A minor in earth sciences consists of 20 hours of earth sciences courses. Students will choose either a geology option (GEOL 1200, 1200L and 1210 are required) or an environmental earth sciences option (ESCI 1101, 1101L, 3250 and 4140 are required); and take 12 additional hours in geology and earth sciences. The minor can be tailored to support a number of majors, such as engineering, biology, chemistry or physics.
GEOLOGY MAJOR: BACHELOR OF SCIENCE
A major in Geology leading to a B.S. degree consists of a minimum of 45 hours in geology and earth sciences and 18 hours of extradepartmental courses in Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics.
Required Courses Semester Hours
ESCI 1101 Earth Science - Geography 3
ESCI 1101L Earth Science - Geography Lab 1
GEOL 1200 Physical Geology 3
GEOL 1200L Physical Geology Laboratory 1
GEOL 1210 Earth History 4
GEOL 3115 Mineralogy 4
GEOL 3124 Sedimentology 4
GEOL 3130 Structural Geology 4
GEOL 4130 Optical Mineralogy 4
Elective Courses. Select 17 hours from the following:
GEOL 3120 Geochemistry 3
GEOL 3120L Geochemistry Lab 1
GEOL 3140 Paleontology 3
GEOL 3190 Environmental Geology 3
GEOL 3190L Environmental Geology Laboratory 1
ESCI 3210 Soil Science 3
GEOL 4100 Igneous & Metamorphic Petrology 4
GEOL 4105 Geomorphology 3
GEOL 4105L Geomorphology Laboratory 1
GEOL 4110 Stratigraphy 4
GEOL 4115 Applied Geophysics 4
GEOL 4120 Geologic Mapping & Interpretation 4
GEOL 4135 Tectronics 4
ESCI 4140 Hydrologic Processes 4
GEOL 4145 Fundamentals of Hydrogeology 3
GEOL 4145L Hydrogeology Laboratory 1
ESCI 4170 Fundamentals of Remote Sensing 4
GEOL 4165 Aqueous Geochemistry 4
GEOL 4800 Individual Study in Geology 1
Required Extradepartmental Courses
CHEM 1251 Principles of Chemistry 3
CHEM 1251L Principles of Chemistry Laboratory 1
PHYS 1101 Introductory Physics I 3
PHYS 1101L Introductory Physics I Laboratory 1
MATH 1241 Differential and Integral Calculus I 3
MATH 1242 Differential and Integral Calculus II 3
and:
CHEM 1252 Principles of Chemistry 3
CHEM 1252L Principles of Chemistry Laboratory 1
or:
PHYS 1102 Introductory Physics II 3
PHYS 1102L Introductory Physics II Laboratory 1
The following courses are recommended for students planning to attend Graduate School:
GEOL 4125 Field Camp 6
GEOL 4800 Individual Study in Geology 3
BIOL 2222 Plant Biology 4
BIOL 2233 Animal Biology 4
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