Geo/Physical Sciences Department Vision Statement

1   Overview

        The Geo/Physical Sciences Department will continue to educate the whole human being, within the bounds of a natural science department in a liberal arts setting.

2   Five Year Plan

        We currently offer majors in Geography and in Earth Science.   Within five years we expect the Geography major to be more human oriented, and the Earth Science major to become an Earth Systems Science major, one that is implicitly interdisciplinary, integrating as a gestalt the study of our planet's physical components (geosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, biosphere and anthrosphere).   Within the latter major we expect there to be three tracks:   Earth Science track, Environmental Science track and Educator track.

        Within each track a student will select advanced courses in consultation with a department faculty advisor to create a coherent program of study tailored to match the interests and educational goals of each individual student.

        In addition to the skills and knowledge particular to an individual track all of our graduates should have quantitative literacy, to be able to generate and evaluate earth science data and to be able to recognize and manage uncertainty within the canons of scientific inquiry.   In keeping with the College's mission our students will develop effective oral and written communication skills, with a particular aptitude in the visual presentation of data.   As with any college graduate ours will be practiced in team skills, problem solving and critical thinking.

2.1   Geography

        The core courses for the Geography major will be:   Earth System Science (GEOG 1000, formerly "Introduction to Geography"), Principles of Human Geography, Map Use and Geographic Information Systems.   The first two of these courses provide the broad geographic background of both the physical and human aspects of the planet.   In the third and fourth courses students learn how to acquire and interpret geographic information visually and conduct spatial analysis using current technology.

        Students select eight advanced courses from the following list:   Computer Applications, Computer Cartography (currently Cartography I and II), Population Geography, Urban Geography, Regional Geography (currently called "U.S. and Canada"), Political Geography, Geographic Economic System, Independent Study and an Internship.   In these students acquire a skill set and a knowledge base allowing them to pursue a career in geography or in any geographic related field or to pursue graduate work.   In addition all Geography majors will take two mathematics courses at or above the level of MATH 1300.

        We expect the Geography major to have greater interaction with other departments than it currently does.   We further expect that some of the advanced courses will be offered by faculty in the Social Science Department, e.g., political, regional and economic geography.

        A student completing this track will be able to succeed in fields requiring a strong background involving the intersection of geographic skills with several branches of knowledge, e.g., economics, sociology and environmental studies.

2.2   Earth System Science

        The core courses here will be Earth System Science, Map Use, Geographic Information Systems, Geology, Oceanography and Meteorology.   In addition to the overlap with the Geography major, ESS students acquire fundamental concepts of earth's natural processes and the relationships among them.

2.2.1   Earth System Track

        Students in this track choose six advanced courses from the following:   Computer Applications, Computer Cartography, Remote Sensing of the Environment, Geomorphology, Environmental Hydrogeology, Structural Geology, Common Rocks and Minerals, Historical Geology, Astronomy, Ecology (BIOL 2300), Climatology, Internship and an Independent Study.   Required cognate courses include Physics I and Chemistry I and II (these two may be replaced by a potential course in Geochemistry);   recommended cognate courses include Physics II, Organic Chemistry I and II and Calculus I.   All majors will take two mathematics courses at or above the level of MATH 1300.

2.2.2   Environmental Science Track

        Environmental Science majors will be required to take in addition to the core courses Environmental Hydrogeology, Climatology and Ecology.   The list of required cognates expands to include Analytic Chemistry.   Students are encouraged to pursue a minor in either chemistry, biology or mathematics.

        Beyond a professional career in geology students completing either of these two tracks will be able to succeed at endeavors requiring a strong interdisciplinary background in science, at the junction of several subjects.

2.2.3   Educator Track

        By its very nature this track will require courses relating to becoming an Earth Science teacher:   Introduction to Secondary School Teaching (GEOG 2860) and Special Teaching Methods (GEOG 4850).   Our goal is to provide the opportunity for students to acquire the initial teacher licensure, for which the practicum (GEOG 4860/4870) is required.   In addition to the core courses Educator track majors must also take Astronomy (PHYS 2000).   To complete the track students select three courses from:   Common Rocks and Minerals, Environmental Hydrogeology, Remote Sensing of the Environment, Historical Geology, Climatology, Structural Geology, Computer Cartography and Computer Applications.

        Our department at present no longer directly supports the Educator Track.   While this may change in the future, we currently are not planning for this.   Instead we suggest that prospective earth science teachers speak with our earth science faculty about alternative paths to licensure.

2.3   Minors and Option B LA&S Program

        The Department of Geo/Physical Sciences is well positioned to serve our campus-wide community and meet the demands and the intent of the framers of the LA&S Program to "encourage many students to take minors."   We do not expect a substantial change to our current flexible requirements for a minor which allow students to create in consultation with their Geography/Earth Science advisor a coherent program of study based on the core courses but tailored to match the interests and educational goals of each individual student within any degree track offered by the department.

        For students seeking to satisfy Option B of the advanced study LA&S requirements the department proposes the following.   For those choosing Earth Systems Science:
and for those choosing Geography:

3   Service Courses

        Without sacrificing our commitment to our majors the department intends to continue to offer courses to non-majors, including service courses for other departments and courses to satisfy Liberal Arts and Sciences requirements.   In particular we expect Earth System Science, Principles of Human Geography, Physics I and II, Physical Science I and II and Astronomy will be offered every semester, as done currently;   moreover, at least one other lab science course is offered each semester (Geology, Meteorology, Oceanography and Earth, Sea and Air).   We hope to expand our offerings across disciplines, e.g., connections to Criminal Justice and Industrial Technology.

        Consonant with an Environmental Science major is an increased exploration of the scientific and technological aspects of energy issues.   This is envisioned as an interdisciplinary venture between the physics part of our department and the Industrial Technology department.   Such an undertaking would best be addressed by a new, full-time faculty member based in either department but working in both, and whose work would not be restricted to energy.

        There is an increasing interest in introductory physics courses geared toward specific student populations.   There has already been some discussion about a Technical Physics course with Industrial Technology students in mind, and we have been approached by the Exercise and Sports Science Department to accommodate their students who will need physics in order to pursue graduate study in their field.

4   Required Resources

        At the time of this writing we expect the Social Science Department to hire someone with expertise in geography, with a professional interest in the environment.   We hope this new hire will be able to teach at least one advanced geography course per semester in our department.   However, to attempt to realize our vision as laid out here the department needs another, full-time, tenure track hire with skills and interest in traditional Earth Science and in Environmental Science, with possible additional strength in teacher preparation.   As mentioned above, a physicist with an energy background could find a home in our department or in Industrial Technology, and there may still be a need for yet another physicist to handle the increased desire on the part of other departments.

Bruce Duncan, Web Manager and Chair of the Department
bduncan2(at)fsc.edu