Degree Requirements
2024 - 2025 Catalog
We have the following degrees:
- Earth and Environmental Geoscience major leading to BA degree
- Earth and Environmental Geoscience major leading to BS degree
Earth and Environmental Geoscience major leading to BA degree
A major in Earth and Environmental Geoscience leading to a Bachelor of Arts degree is recommended for students interested in careers outside of science, including business, law, or policy, and requires 36 credits, with at least 28 credits in Earth and Environmental Geoscience as follows:
- Core: EEG 200
- Capstone: EEG 390
- At least three 200-level EEG laboratory courses totaling 12 credits.
- At least two 300-level EEG courses (excluding EEG 390 and EEG 395) totaling between 6-8 credits.
- Additional credits chosen from Earth and Environmental Geoscience at the 100, 200, or 300 level towards the 28 credit EEG requirement. (only one 100-level EEG lab course may count towards the major)
- Additional credits not already applied chosen from: Earth and Environmental Geoscience (any level, excluding summer research credits); ENGN 178 or higher; MATH 102 or higher; BIOL 105 or higher; CHEM 110 or higher; CSCI 111 or higher; PHYS 111 or higher; ECON 203; or one of BUS 202, CBSC 250, ECON 202, POL 202, SOAN 218.
- The completion of a Capstone Portfolio of coursework
- Core:
- EEG 200 - Building a Planet
Credits 3 This course is designed to introduce students to a wide array of foundational concepts associated broadly with the Earth and environmental geosciences. We will explore the components of our planet, how they interact, the history of our Earth and how it has evolved to where we are today. Topics will include plate tectonics, deep time, the composition and structure of the planet from the inside to the atmosphere, and how our Earth is a system of interacting parts. In our investigation, we will build foundational skills in the scientific method, data analysis, literature review, and some basic analytical tools that will prepare you for a variety of other courses at W&L and beyond.
- Capstone:
- EEG 390 - Geoscience Senior Seminar Workshop: Crafting Portfolios
Credits 1 Prerequisite or Corequisite: EEG 100, EEG 101, EEG 102, EEG 103, EEG 105, EEG 107, or EEG 200 In this senior seminar students will work alongside their peers to develop and refine their Earth & Environmental Geoscience (EEG) Portfolios. The EEG Portfolio serves as a means for demonstrating mastery of many different types of learning, as a reflective tool for students to understand their learning journey, and as a document that students may share with potential employers to help prepare for their careers. In this course, seniors will be guided through the process of selecting and refining documents for inclusion in their Portfolios, and through metacognitive questions as they reflect on their past and consider their futures
- At least three 200-level EEG laboratory courses totally 12 credits.
- At least two 300-level EEG courses (excluding EEG 390 and EEG 395) totaling between 6-8 credits.
- Additional credits chosen from Earth and Environmental Geoscience at the 100, 200, or 300 level towards the 28 credit EEG requirement.
- Additional credits not already applied chosen from:
- The completion of a Capstone Portfolio of coursework.
Only one 100-level EEG lab course may count toward the major.
Earth and Environmental Geoscience (any level, excluding summer research credits); ENGN 178 or higher; MATH 102 or higher; BIOL 105 or higher; CHEM 110 or higher; CSCI 111 or higher; PHYS 111 or higher; ECON 203; or one of BUS 202, CBSC 250, ECON 202, POL 202, SOAN 218.
Earth and Environmental Geoscience major leading to BS degree
A major in Earth and Environmental Geoscience leading to a Bachelor of Science degree is recommended for students pursuing graduate school or employment in earth or environmental geoscience fields and requires 52 credits, with at least 36 credits in Earth and Environmental Geoscience as follows.
- Core: EEG 200
- Capstone: EEG 390
- CHEM 110 and PHYS 111
- At least four 200-level EEG laboratory courses totaling 16 credits.
- At least three 300-level EEG courses (excluding EEG 390 and EEG 395) totaling between 9-12 credits.
- Additional credits chosen from Earth and Environmental Geoscience at the 100, 200, or 300 level towards the 36 credit EEG requirement. (Only one 100-level EEG lab course may count towards the major.)
- One course chosen from BIOL 201; POL 202; BUS 202; ECON 202; CSCI 112; CBSC 250; SOAN 218; or MATH 102 or Higher.
- Additional credits not already applied chosen from: Earth and Environmental Geoscience (any level, excluding summer research credits); ENGN 178 or higher; MATH 102 or higher; BIOL 105 or higher; CHEM 110 or higher; CSCI 111 or higher; PHYS 111 or higher; ECON 203; or one of BUS 202, CBSC 250, ECON 202, POL 202, SOAN 218.
- The completion of a Capstone Portfolio of coursework.
- Core:
- EEG 200 - Building a Planet
Credits 3 This course is designed to introduce students to a wide array of foundational concepts associated broadly with the Earth and environmental geosciences. We will explore the components of our planet, how they interact, the history of our Earth and how it has evolved to where we are today. Topics will include plate tectonics, deep time, the composition and structure of the planet from the inside to the atmosphere, and how our Earth is a system of interacting parts. In our investigation, we will build foundational skills in the scientific method, data analysis, literature review, and some basic analytical tools that will prepare you for a variety of other courses at W&L and beyond.
- Capstone:
- EEG 390 - Geoscience Senior Seminar Workshop: Crafting Portfolios
Credits 1 Prerequisite or Corequisite: EEG 100, EEG 101, EEG 102, EEG 103, EEG 105, EEG 107, or EEG 200 In this senior seminar students will work alongside their peers to develop and refine their Earth & Environmental Geoscience (EEG) Portfolios. The EEG Portfolio serves as a means for demonstrating mastery of many different types of learning, as a reflective tool for students to understand their learning journey, and as a document that students may share with potential employers to help prepare for their careers. In this course, seniors will be guided through the process of selecting and refining documents for inclusion in their Portfolios, and through metacognitive questions as they reflect on their past and consider their futures
- Take:
- CHEM 110 - General Chemistry
FDR SL Lab Science Distribution Credits 4 This is a foundational course for those pursuing upper-level chemistry and biochemistry. Fundamental vocabulary, concepts, and principles that appear throughout the chemistry and biochemistry curriculum are introduced. Topics include basic chemistry calculations, quantum mechanics in chemistry, molecular structure, chemical thermodynamics, and chemical kinetics. In addition, a range of spectroscopic methods including UV-Vis, Atomic Absorption, and XRF are employed in the laboratory. While no previous knowledge of chemistry is required, some background is advantageous. Laboratory course with fee.
- PHYS 111 - General Physics I
FDR SL Lab Science Distribution Credits 4 An introduction to classical mechanics. Topics include kinematics, Newton's laws, solids, fluids, and wave motion.
- At least four 200-level EEG laboratory courses totaling 16 credits.
- At least three 300-level EEG courses (excluding EEG 390 and EEG 395) totaling between 9-12 credits.
- Additional credits chosen from:
- One course chosen from:
- BIOL 201 - Statistics for Biology and Medicine
Credits 3 Prerequisite BIOL 111, 113, and either a Biology major, Neuroscience major, or Data Science minor This course examines the principles of statistics and experimental design for biological and medical research. The focus is on the practical and conceptual aspects of statistics, rather than mathematical derivations. Students completing this class will be able to read and understand research papers, to design realistic experiments, and to carry out their own statistical analyses using computer packages.
- POL 202 - Applied Statistics
Credits 3 Not open to students with credit for BUS 202, ECON 202, INTR 202, CBSC 250, or MATH 118. An examination of the principal applications of statistics to allow students to develop a working knowledge and understanding of applied statistics in the social sciences (politics, sociology, and economics), and accounting and business. Topics include descriptive statistics, probability, estimation, hypothesis testing, and regression analysis.
- BUS 202 - Fundamentals of Business Analytics
Credits 3 Business analytics allows for the conversion of raw data into actionable real-world insights. We'll build a foundation of knowledge in the fundamentals of statistics and data science using business data to formulate key metrics. We'll use a programming language to summarize and visualize data, interpret patterns, infer population parameters, explore relationships among variables, and make forecasts. No prior programming experience is expected.
BUS 202 will count towards the statistics requirement of both the business administration and accounting majors (currently also satisfied by POL/INTR 202, ECON 202, MATH 118, etc.). It will also count towards the statistics requirement of the Data Science minor. As is the case with POL/INTR 202, etc., BUS 202 serves as a pre- or co-requisite for FIN 221. Due to contact overlap, students may take only one of the following courses for degree credit: BUS 202, POL/INTR 202, ECON 202, MATH 118. Students who have already taken CBSC 250 should not take any of these other courses.
- ECON 202 - Data Analytics for Economics
Credits 3 Prerequisite ECON 100, 180, 180A, or both ECON 101 and ECON 102 Fundamentals of probability, statistics, estimation, and hypothesis testing and ending with an introduction to regression analysis. The topics are critical for success in upper-level economics electives and are important for careers that rely on empirical research in the social sciences. Students engage in a dialogue between theory and application and learn to think formally about data, uncertainty, and random processes, while learning hands-on methods to organize and analyze real data using modern statistical software. Not open to students with credit for BUS 202 or POL/INTR 202.
- CSCI 112 - Data Structures
FDR SC Science, Math, CS Distribution Credits 4 Prerequisite CSCI 111 This course continues the introduction to computer science begun in CSCI 111. Emphasis is on the use and implementation of data structures (i.e., how to store information and access it efficiently), introductory algorithm analysis, and object-oriented design and programming with Python. Lectures and formal laboratories.
- CBSC 250 - Statistics and Research Design
Credits 4 Prerequisite any CBSC course and at least sophomore class standing Students learn about the design and analysis of psychological research, with particular emphasis on experimentation. Students learn statistical inference appropriate for hypothesis testing, and they use standard statistical packages to analyze data. Laboratory course.
- SOAN 218 - Basic Statistics in the Social Sciences
Credits 3 Introductory statistics course designed to help students become good consumers of statistics, but especially geared for students interested in sociology, archeology, and anthropology. Topics include descriptive and inferential statistics, sampling, and regression analysis. Students also get practical experience with cleaning and analyzing real world secondary data.
- MATH 102 - Calculus II
FDR FM Math and Computer Science Foundation Credits 3 Prerequisite MATH 101 with a grade of C or greater or MATH 102 placement A continuation of MATH 101, including techniques and applications of integration, transcendental functions, and infinite series.
or higher
- Additional credits not already applied chosen from:
- ENGN 178 - Introduction to Engineering
FDR SC Science, Math, CS Distribution Credits 4 This course introduces students to basic skills useful to engineers, the engineering design process, and the engineering profession. Students learn various topics of engineering, including engineering disciplines, the role of an engineer in the engineering design process, and engineering ethics. Skills learned in this course include programming and the preparation of engineering drawings. Programming skills are developed using flowcharting and MATLAB. Autodesk Inventor is used to create three-dimensional solid models and engineering drawings. The course culminates in a collaborative design project, allowing students to use their new skills
or higher
- MATH 102 - Calculus II
FDR FM Math and Computer Science Foundation Credits 3 Prerequisite MATH 101 with a grade of C or greater or MATH 102 placement A continuation of MATH 101, including techniques and applications of integration, transcendental functions, and infinite series.
or higher
- BIOL 105 - Introduction to Behavioral Ecology
FDR SL Lab Science Distribution Credits 4 Prerequisite instructor consent How do animals experience the world? What are animal social systems like? How do animals choose mates, find places to live, decide when to help others? This course for non-majors focuses on both the mechanisms of animal behavior (genes, hormones, sensory systems) and the adaptive value of behavior for survival and reproduction in nature. The laboratory includes field experiments and lab observations that test hypotheses using animals such as salamanders, cows, birds, and humans. Credit does not apply toward the biology major. Laboratory course.
or higher
- CHEM 110 - General Chemistry
FDR SL Lab Science Distribution Credits 4 This is a foundational course for those pursuing upper-level chemistry and biochemistry. Fundamental vocabulary, concepts, and principles that appear throughout the chemistry and biochemistry curriculum are introduced. Topics include basic chemistry calculations, quantum mechanics in chemistry, molecular structure, chemical thermodynamics, and chemical kinetics. In addition, a range of spectroscopic methods including UV-Vis, Atomic Absorption, and XRF are employed in the laboratory. While no previous knowledge of chemistry is required, some background is advantageous. Laboratory course with fee.
or higher
- CSCI 111 - Introduction to Computer Science
FDR FM Math and Computer Science Foundation Credits 4 This course introduces students to fundamental ideas in computer science while building skills in software development. Emphasis is on problem-solving methods, algorithm development, and object-oriented concepts. CSCI 111 is appropriate for all students who want to be able to write programs, regardless of the domain. It is the typical first course for computer science majors and minors. No previous programming experience required. Lectures and formal laboratories.
or higher
- PHYS 111 - General Physics I
FDR SL Lab Science Distribution Credits 4 An introduction to classical mechanics. Topics include kinematics, Newton's laws, solids, fluids, and wave motion.
or higher
- ECON 203 - Econometrics
Credits 3 Prerequisite ECON 202 Explorations of regression models that relate a response variable to one or more predictor variables. The course begins with a review of the simple bivariate model used in POL/INTR 202, and moves on to multivariate models. Underlying model assumptions and consequences are discussed. Advanced topics include non-linear regression and forecasting. Examples in each class are drawn from a number of disciplines. The course emphasizes the use of data and student-directed research.
or one of:
- BUS 202 - Fundamentals of Business Analytics
Credits 3 Business analytics allows for the conversion of raw data into actionable real-world insights. We'll build a foundation of knowledge in the fundamentals of statistics and data science using business data to formulate key metrics. We'll use a programming language to summarize and visualize data, interpret patterns, infer population parameters, explore relationships among variables, and make forecasts. No prior programming experience is expected.
BUS 202 will count towards the statistics requirement of both the business administration and accounting majors (currently also satisfied by POL/INTR 202, ECON 202, MATH 118, etc.). It will also count towards the statistics requirement of the Data Science minor. As is the case with POL/INTR 202, etc., BUS 202 serves as a pre- or co-requisite for FIN 221. Due to contact overlap, students may take only one of the following courses for degree credit: BUS 202, POL/INTR 202, ECON 202, MATH 118. Students who have already taken CBSC 250 should not take any of these other courses.
- CBSC 250 - Statistics and Research Design
Credits 4 Prerequisite any CBSC course and at least sophomore class standing Students learn about the design and analysis of psychological research, with particular emphasis on experimentation. Students learn statistical inference appropriate for hypothesis testing, and they use standard statistical packages to analyze data. Laboratory course.
- ECON 202 - Data Analytics for Economics
Credits 3 Prerequisite ECON 100, 180, 180A, or both ECON 101 and ECON 102 Fundamentals of probability, statistics, estimation, and hypothesis testing and ending with an introduction to regression analysis. The topics are critical for success in upper-level economics electives and are important for careers that rely on empirical research in the social sciences. Students engage in a dialogue between theory and application and learn to think formally about data, uncertainty, and random processes, while learning hands-on methods to organize and analyze real data using modern statistical software. Not open to students with credit for BUS 202 or POL/INTR 202.
- POL 202 - Applied Statistics
Credits 3 Not open to students with credit for BUS 202, ECON 202, INTR 202, CBSC 250, or MATH 118. An examination of the principal applications of statistics to allow students to develop a working knowledge and understanding of applied statistics in the social sciences (politics, sociology, and economics), and accounting and business. Topics include descriptive statistics, probability, estimation, hypothesis testing, and regression analysis.
- SOAN 218 - Basic Statistics in the Social Sciences
Credits 3 Introductory statistics course designed to help students become good consumers of statistics, but especially geared for students interested in sociology, archeology, and anthropology. Topics include descriptive and inferential statistics, sampling, and regression analysis. Students also get practical experience with cleaning and analyzing real world secondary data.
- The completion of a Capstone Portfolio of coursework.
Earth and Environmental Geoscience at the 100, 200, or 300 level towards the 36 credit EEG requirement. (Only one 100-level EE lab course may count towards the major)
Earth and Environmental Geoscience (any level, excluding summer research credits);