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Admission and Progression Standards for this major:

Click on the link to learn more about the admission and progression standards of this major: http://www.jmu.edu/advising/snapshots/SSESCI.shtml

Description of Major:
Earth Science is offered as a major at JMU through the Department of Geology and Environmental Sciences. Students complete a Bachelor of Arts degree with this major, requiring additional coursework in philosophy and foreign language outside of the major. The B.A. in Earth Science degree is designed to integrate all the Earth sciences in a systems approach to understanding the Earth. This includes incorporating and integrating subjects which are seldom selected elective opportunities in the B.S. degree in geology, such as oceanography, meteorology and astronomy. The emphasis is on the preparation of individuals to work in a wide range of professional public sector service careers where preparation in Earth science and communication of science to nonscientific audiences is a requirement or an asset, including Earth science teaching, environmental law, and public administration.

Tell me more about this field of study.
Earth science (also known as geoscience, the geosciences or the Earth Sciences), is an all-embracing term for the sciences related to the planet Earth.

Tell me more about specializations in this field.
Earth Science generally recognizes 4 spheres, the lithosphere, the hydrosphere, the atmosphere, and the biosphere. These correspond to rocks, water, air, and life. Major fields within Earth Science include: Geology (study of the Earth's crust and formation) Geodesy and Geophysics (study of magnetic and other fields) Soil science (study of soil formation processes) Oceanography and Hydrology (study of bodies of water) Glaciology (study of ice formations) and Atmospheric science (study of the atmosphere including meteorology and climatology).

What common major or minor combinations from other departments complement this major?
Complimentary majors and minors would include Geographic Sciences, Anthropology, Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Environmental Studies, Integrated Science and Technology, Mathematics, Materials Science, Physics, or Urban and Regional Studies.

CHARACTERISTICS OF SUCCESSFUL STUDENTS
Successful students in this program are those that have a deep appreciation for all aspects of the Earth and a strong desire to learn about the interactive systems that make up the Earth. These same students must also be willing and able to work with others in a cooperative fashion, either in a peer group or with external audiences that have an interest in learning the content. Students should be prepared to apply their expertise in a variety of settings where a background in Earth science is either required or desirable as a starting point for further studies.

CAREERS
Many graduates choose typical career paths associated with this major. However, some graduates choose nontraditional career fields that utilize skills and experiences developed during their years in college. Keep in mind, that some fields will require graduate study or further training. The listing below offers examples of possible career paths and is not meant to be comprehensive.