General Information

Undergraduate Program Offerings

General (B.Sc.) Degree in Earth Sciences

See the University Calendar for detailed information. All majors in Earth Sciences must successfully complete those courses specified in Clauses 1. through 4. Students should examine prerequisites of 3000 level courses in order to decide which course to select under Clauses 3. and 4.

  1. Six credit hours in Critical Reading and Writing (CRW) courses, including at least 3 credit hours in English courses, Mathematics 1000 and 1001, Earth Sciences 1000 and 1002, Chemistry 1050 and 1051 or Chemistry 1200 and 1001, Physics 1050 and 1051 or Physics 1020 and 1021. Students are advised to consult the Department of Physics Course Descriptions section for credit restrictions.

    Students who intend or are required to successfully complete higher level Physics courses must successfully complete Physics 1051 as well, since it is a prerequisite for higher level Physics courses. Students should review the Department of Physics Calendar entry for these courses.

  2. Earth Sciences 2030, 2031, 2401, 2502, 2702, 2905, 3420, 3905.

  3. Mathematics 2000 or Statistics 2550.

  4. Either Biology 2120 (or Biology 1001 and 1002); or both Physics 2055 and Physics 2820.

In addition to the Common Block of Required Courses listed under Major Programs in Earth Sciences, the following requirements must be completed to qualify for the General B.Sc. degree in Earth Sciences:

  1. Eighteen additional credit hours from Earth Sciences courses at 3000 and/or 4000 levels with a minimum of 9 credit hours from courses at 4000 level. Credit hours from Earth Sciences 4310, 4950 and 499A/B cannot be used to fulfill this requirement.

  2. Six credit hours from Science Faculty courses numbered 2000 or higher. Credit hours from Earth Sciences courses, courses that are cross-listed with Earth Sciences courses, and the former Physics 2050 are excluded. However, Physics 2820 is permitted.

  3. Additional credit hours selected to conform with the Regulations for the General Degree of Bachelor of Science so as to achieve a total of 120 credit hours. Students are encouraged to complete a minor in another department.

Students are advised that this is the minimum requirement for the General B.Sc. in Earth Sciences. Many provinces, including Newfoundland and Labrador, have legislation requiring registration of professional geoscientists. A basic requirement for registration is, in most cases, the course equivalent of an Honours B.Sc. degree. Students intending to make a career in Earth Sciences should consider taking the Honours Degree program of courses, regardless of whether honours standing is maintained. 

Minor in Earth Sciences

A Minor in Earth Sciences will consist of the following:

  1. Earth Sciences 1000 and 1002.

  2. Eighteen credit hours chosen from Earth Sciences courses at the 2000 level or higher with at least 5 credit hours from courses at the 2000 level. Credit hours from Earth Sciences 2150, 2311, 2914, 2915, 2916, 2917, 2918, 4310 and 4950 cannot be used to fulfil this requirement.

Due to the prerequisite structure, availability of courses at the 3000 level and higher depends on courses taken at the 2000 level (see Undergraduate Handbook for some options).

Earth Sciences and Biology Joint Honours

A joint honours degree in Biology and Earth Sciences is a 135 credit hour program.

The following courses, including prerequisites where applicable, will be required:

  1. Six credit hours in Critical Reading and Writing (CRW) courses, including at least 3 credit hours in English courses.

  2. Mathematics 1000 and 1001, Biology 1001 and 1002, Earth Sciences 1000 and 1002, Chemistry 1050 and 1051 (or 1200 and 1001), Physics 1020 and 1021 (or 1050 and 1051).

  3. Chemistry 2400, Human Biosciences 2001 or the former Biochemistry 2101 or 2201, Human Biosciences 2003 or the former Biochemistry 3106 or 3206, one of Statistics 2550 or 2560.

  4. Biology 2060, 2250, 2600, 2900, one of 3401, 3402, or 4404; plus Biology 3710, 3711, and 4505. In addition, further Biology courses at the 2000, 3000, or 4000 level must be selected by the student in consultation with the supervisor to make up a minimum of 42 credit hours in Biology not including Biology 499A or 499B.

  5. Earth Sciences 2030, 2031, 2502, 2905; plus a minimum of 24 credit hours in other Earth Science courses from 2000 to 4000 level, at least 3 credit hours of which must be at 4000 level. Earth Sciences 2150, 2914, 2915, 2916, 2917, 2918, 4310, and 4950 cannot be used to fulfill this requirement. Career-related streams outlined in the departmental Student Handbook should be used as a guide to course selection so as to achieve a concentration in one facet of Earth Sciences.

  6. An Honours dissertation (Biology 499A/B or Earth Sciences 499A/B). The topic of the Honours dissertation must be chosen with the approval of both Department Heads. A faculty member of either Department may act as supervisor.

  7. Other courses to complete a minimum of 135 credit hours in courses for the Honours degree, with at least 84 credit hours in courses in Biology and Earth Sciences combined.

Any change in the program of study must have the prior approval of the Heads of the two Departments concerned.

 

Geophysics and Physical Oceanography Joint Honours

The program requires the following courses:

  1. Six credit hours in Critical Reading and Writing (CRW) courses, including at least 3 credit hours in English courses.

  2. Chemistry 1050 and 1051 (or Chemistry 1200 and 1001), Mathematics 1000 and 1001, Earth Sciences 1000 and 1002, Physics 1050 (or 1020) and 1051.

  3. Earth Sciences 2905, 3170, 3172, 4105, 4171, 4173, 4179 and 10 credit hours at the 2000 level or higher with at least 3 credit hours at the 3000 level.

  4. Physics 2053, 2055, 2820, 3220, 3300, 3500, 3820, 4205, 4300, 4330, 4820 plus one of Physics 3600, 3150, 3400, 3550 or 3900.

  5. Mathematics 2000, 2050, 2051, 2260, and 3202.

  6. Either Earth Sciences 499A and 499B or Physics 490A and 490B.

  7. Other courses to complete the prescribed minimum of 120 credit hours.

 

Earth Sciences and Chemistry Joint Honours

A joint honours degree in Chemistry and Earth Sciences is a 120 credit hour program.

The following courses, including prerequisites, where applicable, will be required:

  1. Six credit hours in Critical Reading and Writing (CRW) courses, including at least 3 credit hours in English courses.

  2. Mathematics 1000 and 1001, Earth Sciences 1000 and 1002, Chemistry 1050 and 1051 (or 1010, the former 1011 and the former 1031) (or 1200 and 1001) or their equivalents, Physics 1050 (or 1020) and 1051 (or 1021).

  3. Earth Sciences 2030, 2031, 2401, 2502, 2702, 2905, 3420, 3600; plus 6 additional credit hours in 3000-level Earth Sciences courses, and 9 additional credit hours in 4000-level Earth Sciences courses.

  4. Chemistry 2100, 2210, 2301, 2302, 2400, 2401 and 3110; and at least 6 additional credit hours in 3000-level and 6 credit hours in 4000-level Chemistry courses.

  5. Mathematics 2000 and 2050.

  6. Biology 2120 and Human Biosciences 2001 or the former Biochemistry 2101 or 2201.

  7. An Honours Dissertation (Earth Sciences 499A/B or Chemistry 490A/B). The topic of the Honours Dissertation must have the prior approval of the Heads of the two Departments. A faculty member of either Department may act as supervisor.

  8. Other courses to complete the prescribed minimum of 120 credit hours.

Any change in the program of study must have the prior approval of the Heads of the two Departments concerned.

Earth Sciences and Geography Joint Honours

The following courses will be required. A few prerequisites are not met by this list of courses, and students are advised to obtain advice from instructors in such cases to be sure that they are prepared for course material. Both departmental Heads can advise students on a workable sequencing of courses to complete the degree in a timely manner, and students should view a student handbook that describes thematic streams within the program and offers specific guidance about course selection.

  1. Six credit hours in Critical Reading and Writing (CRW) courses, including at least 3 credit hours in English courses.

  2. Geography 1050, Mathematics 1000 and 1001, Earth Sciences 1000 and 1002, Chemistry 1050 (or equivalent) and 1051 (or equivalent), Physics 1050 and 1051, or Physics 1020 and 1021.

  3. Geography 2001 or 2302, and Geography 2102, 2195, the former 2226, 2425 and the former 3226, Earth Sciences 2401 or 2502, and Earth Sciences 2030, 2031, 2702 and 2905.

  4. Mathematics 2000 or Statistics 2550 or Geography 3222, Biology 1001 and 1002, or Biology 2120 or Physics 2055.

  5. Either Earth Sciences 499A and 499B, or the former Geography 4990 and Geography 4999.

  6. At least an additional 40 credit hours from Earth Sciences and Geography, with a minimum of 16 credit hours from Earth Sciences and 18 credit hours from Geography; and a minimum of 9 credit hours at the 4000-level in each discipline. Earth Sciences 2150, 2914, 2915, 2916, 2917, 2918, 4310, and 4950 cannot be used to fulfill this requirement. Geography 2105, 2290, 2405, 2460 and 2495 cannot be used to fulfill this requirement.

  7. Additional credit hours selected to conform to the Degree Regulations for the Honours Degree of Bachelor of Science so as to achieve a total of 120 credit hours.

Notes:

  1. The topic of the Honours dissertation must be chosen with the approval of both Departments. A faculty member of either Department may act as supervisor.

  2. Any change in the program of study must have the prior approval of the Heads of both Departments concerned.

  3. The number of specified courses means that the second CRW course will be taken normally in the second or third year of the program.

  4. Students who do not satisfy the Graduation Requirements for the Honours Degree of Bachelor of Science, but who successfully complete all the courses, with the exception of the Honours dissertation, and who satisfy all other requirements for the Bachelor of Science, will be eligible for consideration to receive a General Degree of Bachelor of Science with a Joint Major in Earth Sciences and Geography.

Earth Sciences and Physics Joint Honours

This program was formerly in the Earth Sciences section of the Calendar as an Honours Degree of Bachelor of Science in Geophysics. The following courses will be required:

  1. Six credit hours in Critical Reading and Writing (CRW) courses, including at least 3 credit hours in English courses.

  2. Mathematics 1000 and 1001, Earth Sciences 1000 and 1002, Chemistry 1050 and 1051 (or 1200 and 1001), Physics 1050 (or 1020) and 1051.

  3. Earth Sciences 2030, 2401, 2502, 2702, 2905, 3170, 3172, 3420, 3905, 4171, 4173, 4179.

  4. Physics 2055, 2750 or 2056, 2820, 3220, 3230, 3500, 3820, 4820; plus 9 other credit hours in Physics courses at 3000 level or higher.

  5. Mathematics 2000, 2050, 2260, and 3202.

  6. Either Earth Sciences 499A/B or Physics 490A/B.

  7. Other courses to complete at least a minimum of 120 credit hours.

Any change in the program of study must have the prior approval of the Heads of the two Departments concerned.

To obtain additional information on the above programs, please refer to our Undergraduate Student Handbook or meet with an advisor