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Earth Science - B.A.

Our Bachelor of Arts in Earth Science provides you with the knowledge and skills needed to understand the dynamic processes that shape our planet. With a focus on interdisciplinary learning and hands-on experiences, you'll be prepared for a variety of careers in the geosciences.

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Bachelor's Degree in Earth Science

The Bachelor of Arts degree in Earth Science is designed for students who seek more advanced knowledge of Geology than the Minor in Geology, but who have other academic interests that complement their interest in Geology.

The degree is particularly useful when coupled with a minor or BA from an additional field. The B.A. in Geology can be of particular benefit to students with an interest in Education, Anthropology, Environmental Law, Architecture, Leisure Studies, Business, Political Science, Geography, Journalism and other liberal arts or science fields. Other employment opportunities include work as naturalists in parks and museums.

The program requires biology, chemistry, mathematics, and physics. The Geology sequence includes courses in oceanography, minerals, rocks, fossils, and landforms, whereas that in geography includes courses in meteorology, climatology, soils, and conservation.

Program Information for Earth Science - B.A.

Program Description

Full Description

The Bachelor of Arts degree in Earth Science is ideal for students interested in broad interdisciplinary study of the key natural and physical processes that shape the planet, leading to potential careers in environmental or earth system fields. The program requires courses in physical geology, minerals and rocks and geographic information science. Most geology courses have extensive (one-to-three-day) excursions that allow students to obtain valuable field experience.

Graduates have opportunities for employment in a wide variety of careers where an understanding of natural science is useful or critical in success. Earth science can be a strong background for advanced study or career development in areas such as business, city management, regional development, planning, law, journalism and science writing.

Admissions for Earth Science - B.A.

Admission Requirements

The university affirmatively strives to provide educational opportunities and access to students with varied backgrounds, those with special talents and adult students who graduated from high school three or more years ago.

First-Year Students on the Kent Campus: First-year admission policy on the Kent Campus is selective. Admission decisions are based upon cumulative grade point average, strength of high school college preparatory curriculum and grade trends. Students not admissible to the Kent Campus may be administratively referred to one of the seven regional campuses to begin their college coursework. For more information, visit the .

First-Year Students on the Regional Campuses: First-year admission to Kent State’s campuses at Ashtabula, East Liverpool, Geauga, Salem, Stark, Trumbull and Tuscarawas, as well as the Twinsburg Academic Center, is open to anyone with a high school diploma or its equivalent. For more information on admissions, contact the Regional Campuses admissions offices.

International Students: All international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions) by earning a minimum 525 TOEFL score (71 on the Internet-based version), minimum 75 MELAB score, minimum 6.0 IELTS score or minimum 48 PTE Academic score, or by completing the ELS level 112 Intensive Program. For more information, visit the admissions website for international students.

Transfer Students: Students who have attended any other educational institution after graduating from high school must apply as undergraduate transfer students. For more information, visit the admissions website for transfer students.

Former Students: Former Kent State students or graduates who have not attended another college or university since Kent State may complete the reenrollment or reinstatement form on the University Registrar’s website.

Admission policies for undergraduate students may be found in the University Catalog's .

Some programs may require that students meet certain requirements before progressing through the program. For programs with progression requirements, the information is shown on the program's Coursework tab.

Learning Outcomes

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

  1. Understand and communicate to others:
    1. The nature of scientific investigation and evidence.
    2. The complex interrelationships of the biosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere and the lithosphere through geologic time.
  2. Understand Earth materials and interpret geologic and environmental processes.
  3. Synthesize geologic information to understand and solve geologic and environmental problems.
  4. Demonstrate critical thinking skills.
  5. Work as a geologist in the field and in the laboratory.
Coursework

Program Requirements

Major Requirements

Major Requirements (courses count in major GPA)
CHEM 10060GENERAL CHEMISTRY I (KBS) 4
CHEM 10062GENERAL CHEMISTRY I LABORATORY (KBS) (KLAB) 1
ESCI 11040HOW THE EARTH WORKS (KBS) 3
ESCI 11041HOW THE EARTH WORKS LABORATORY (KBS) (KLAB) 1
ESCI 11042EARTH AND LIFE THROUGH TIME (KBS) 3
or ESCI 21062 ENVIRONMENTAL EARTH SCIENCE (KBS)
or ESCI 21080 ALL ABOUT THE OCEANS (KBS)
ESCI 22000DEGREE AND CAREER PATHS IN EARTH SCIENCES (ELR) 1
ESCI 23063EARTH MATERIALS I 4
ESCI 31070EARTH MATERIALS II (WIC) 14
ESCI 42035DATA ANALYSIS IN THE EARTH SCIENCES 3
GEOG 49070GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SCIENCE 4
MATH 11010ALGEBRA FOR CALCULUS (KMCR) 3
Earth Science (ESCI) Upper-Division Electives (30000 or 40000 level) 29
Geography (GEOG) Upper-Division Electives (30000 or 40000 level), choose from the following: 26
GEOG 31062
FUNDAMENTALS OF METEOROLOGY
GEOG 31064
CLIMATE AND THE ENVIRONMENT
GEOG 41065
APPLIED CLIMATOLOGY
GEOG 41066
GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE
GEOG 41073
CONSERVATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES
GEOG 49078
GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SCIENCE AND ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS
Additional Program Requirements (courses do not count in major GPA)
UC 10001FLASHES 101 1
Foreign Language (see Foreign Language College Requirement below)14-16
6
9
6
General Electives (total credit hours depends on earning 120 credit hours, including 39 upper-division credit hours)38
Minimum Total Credit Hours:120
1

A minimum C grade must be earned to fulfill the writing-intensive requirement.

2

Other relevant courses may be substituted in consultation with an advisor.

Graduation Requirements

Minimum Major GPA Minimum Overall GPA
2.000 2.000

Foreign Language College Requirement, B.A.

Students pursuing the Bachelor of Arts degree in the College of Arts and Sciences must complete 14-16 credit hours of foreign language.1
To complete the requirement, students need the equivalent of Elementary I and II in any language, plus one of the following options2:

  1. Intermediate I and II of the same language
  2. Elementary I and II of a second language
  3. Any combination of two courses from the following list:
  • Intermediate I of the same language
  • ARAB 21401
  • ASL 19401
  • CHIN 25421
  • MCLS 10001
  • MCLS 20001
  • MCLS 20091
  • MCLS 21417
  • MCLS 21420
  • MCLS 22217
  • MCLS 28403
  • MCLS 28404
1

All students with prior foreign language experience should take the foreign language placement test to determine the appropriate level at which to start. Some students may start beyond the Elementary I level and will complete the requirement with fewer credit hours and fewer courses. This may be accomplished by (1) passing a course beyond Elementary I through Intermediate II level; (2) receiving credit through one of the programs offered by 黑料网; or (3) demonstrating comparable to Elementary II of a foreign language. When students complete the requirement with fewer than 14 credit hours and four courses, they will complete remaining credit hours with general electives.

2

Certain majors, concentrations and minors may require specific languages, limit the languages from which a student may choose or require coursework through Intermediate II. Students who plan to pursue graduate study may need particular language coursework.

Roadmap

Roadmap

This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this major. However, courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.

Plan of Study Grid
Semester OneCredits
ESCI 11040 HOW THE EARTH WORKS (KBS) 3
ESCI 11041 HOW THE EARTH WORKS LABORATORY (KBS) (KLAB) 1
MATH 11010 ALGEBRA FOR CALCULUS (KMCR) 3
UC 10001 FLASHES 101 1
Foreign Language 4
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours15
Semester Two
ESCI 11042 EARTH AND LIFE THROUGH TIME (KBS) 3
ESCI 22000 DEGREE AND CAREER PATHS IN EARTH SCIENCES (ELR) 1
ESCI 42035 DATA ANALYSIS IN THE EARTH SCIENCES 3
Foreign Language 4
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours14
Semester Three
CHEM 10060 GENERAL CHEMISTRY I (KBS) 4
CHEM 10062 GENERAL CHEMISTRY I LABORATORY (KBS) (KLAB) 1
ESCI 23063 EARTH MATERIALS I 4
Foreign Language 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours18
Semester Four
ESCI 31070 EARTH MATERIALS II (WIC) 4
GEOG 49070 GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SCIENCE 4
Foreign Language 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours14
Semester Five
Earth Science (ESCI) Upper-Division Elective (30000 or 40000 level) 3
Geography (GEOG) Upper-Division Elective (30000 or 40000 level) 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
General Elective 3
 Credit Hours15
Semester Six
Earth Science (ESCI) Upper-Division Elective (30000 or 40000 level) 3
Geography (GEOG) Upper-Division Elective (30000 or 40000 level) 3
General Electives 9
 Credit Hours15
Semester Seven
Earth Science (ESCI) Upper-Division Elective (30000 or 40000 level) 3
General Electives 12
 Credit Hours15
Semester Eight
General Electives 14
 Credit Hours14
 Minimum Total Credit Hours:120
Program Delivery
  • Delivery:
    • In person
  • Location:
    • Kent Campus
    • Stark Campus

Advisors in Earth Sciences

Undergraduate Advisors

Field Camp Director

Examples of Possible Careers and Salaries for Earth Science - B.A.

Graduates of Kent State鈥檚 B.A. Degree in Earth Science are well-prepared for careers in education, environmental advocacy, and science communication. The program鈥檚 broad curriculum, which covers topics such as geology, meteorology, and environmental science, equips students with a strong foundation in Earth systems and processes. Graduates often pursue roles as environmental educators, park naturalists, and sustainability coordinators, contributing to fields like public education, environmental conservation, and community outreach.

Geological and hydrologic technicians

5.5%

faster than the average

19,000

number of jobs

$50,630

potential earnings

Notice: Career Information Source
* Source of occupation titles and labor data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' . Data comprises projected percent change in employment over the next 10 years; nation-wide employment numbers; and the yearly median wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.