Liberal Arts (Code 160-011)

University Requirements

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS FOR BACCALAUREATE DEGREE
Credit Requirements
Minimum total for graduation 1		120
Upper division credits (courses numbered 300 and higher)		39
Core General Education		10 courses, 36 credits
Academic Concentrations
Grade Point Requirements 2
Total		2.00 average
Resident		2.00 average
Major		2.00 average
Minor		2.00 average
Certificate		2.00 average
University Residency Requirements
Minimum total		30
Senior year		23
Major, Standard, upper division in residence		12
Major, Comprehensive, upper division in residence		21
Certificate		25 percent of credits
Procedures Required for Graduation
Obtain admission to the degree program and/or the College offering it.
Apply for graduation on CampS.

¹

Certain programs exceed this minimum.

²

See special requirements in each College.

Applicability of Credits Toward Graduation

Junior College or Two-Year College Credits. A maximum of 72 semester credits earned in a junior college or two-year college will be accepted as degree credits at UW-Eau Claire.

Extension Credits. Credits earned in credit outreach courses offered by UW-Eau Claire are treated as resident credits. Credits earned in extension courses offered by other units of the Universities of Wisconsin System are treated as transfer credits. All other (non-UW) extension and correspondence credits are normally limited to one-fourth of the total required for graduation from any curriculum.

WTCS Credits. A maximum of 72 semester credits earned in college parallel programs at Madison Area Technical College, Milwaukee Area Technical College, Nicolet Area Technical College, or Chippewa Valley Technical College may be accepted as degree credits at UW-Eau Claire. A set number of general education courses will be accepted from other technical schools. Occupational and technical courses may also be considered for transfer if the quality and content of the course work from the technical college is judged to be comparable to course work at UW-Eau Claire. Refer to the Transfer Credit Wizard or contact the UW-Eau Claire Admissions Office for information about the current transfer policy.

USAFI Credit. UW-Eau Claire will accept up to 32 semester credits for work done through the United States Armed Forces Institute, under the provision for non-UW correspondence credit (see Extension Credits above).

Activity Credit (band, chorus, drama, KINS 100-184 courses) Students may count toward graduation no more than one credit of KINS 110-184 courses. Students may count toward graduation no more than four credits earned in any single activity course and no more than 12 credits resulting from any combination of activity courses (excluding KINS 110-184 courses). 

Other Restricted Credits. For other University restrictions, see the following: Cooperative Education; Credit by Examination; Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory Registration; Transfer of Credits. College or departmental restrictions may also be placed on Independent Study (399-499 courses), Directed Study (395-495), and other types of credits.

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
APPLICABILITY OF CREDITS TOWARD GRADUATION		Credit Restrictions
Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory
Total degree credit		maximum 12
Major, Standard		maximum 1 course
Major, Comprehensive		maximum 2 courses
Minor		maximum 1 course
Credit by Examination
Total degree credit		maximum ¼ of total
Major or minor		maximum ½ of total
Two-Year College Credits
Total degree credit		maximum 72 credits
Activity credit (band, chorus, drama, KINS 100-184)
Total KINS 100-184		maximum 1 credit
Total Band, chorus, drama		maximum 12 credits
Single course band, chorus, drama		maximum 4 credits
Extension credits
UW-System		no maximum
Other extension/correspondence		maximum ¼ of total
USAFI
USAFI		maximum 32 credits

Core General Education Requirements (CGER)

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
CGER Categories
Mathematics & Quantitative Reasoning (MQR)		4 credit hours, 1 course min
Includes University Math Requirement 1
Communication & Literacy (CL)		8 credit hours, 2 course min (including CL-W)
Includes University Writing Requirement (CL-W) 2
Natural Sciences & Wellness (NSW/NSWL)		6 credit hours, 1 course min (NSW-Lab required)
Social & Behavioral Sciences (SBS)		6 credit hours, 2 course min
Humanities & Arts (HA)		6 credit hours, 2 course min
Civics & Perspectives (CP)		6 credit hours, 2 course min
CGER Totals 3
Credits		minimum 36 credits
Courses		minimum 10 courses

¹

University Mathematics Requirement:

Students satisfy the University Mathematics Requirement in one of four ways:

• completing an approved university-level mathematics course (MQR) with a grade of C (not C-) or above
• achieving a suitable score on the UW Math Placement Test
• achieving a suitable score on an exam such as the Advanced Placement Calculus or Advanced Placement Statistics exams
• achieving a suitable score on a Credit by Examination administered by the Department of Mathematics.   

²

University Writing Requirement:

Students satisfy the University Writing Requirement in one of four ways:

• completing a Blugold Seminar in Critical Reading and Writing course (WRIT 102, WRIT 114, WRIT 116, WRIT 118, or WRIT 120) with a grade of C (not C-) or above
• achieving a suitable score on the English Placement Test (WPT ENGL)
• achieving a suitable score on an exam such as the Advanced Placement English Literature and Composition or Advanced Placement English Language and Composition exams
• achieving a suitable score on the University Writing Program Portfolio.

³

Completion via Placement Tests

• Writing: If the CL-W subcategory is satisfied through a placement test, the CGER Communication and Literacy requirement will be reduced from 8 credits (2 courses) to 3 credits (1 course).
• Mathematics: If the University Math Requirement is satisfied through a placement test, the CGER Mathematics & Quantitative Reasoning requirement will be considered fully met, replacing the 4-credit (1 course) requirement.
• Students must still complete 36 credits across 10 courses, with any remaining credits or courses eligible to be taken from any CGER category.

College Degree Requirements

Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science Degree (B.A./B.S.)

University Graduation Requirements. All candidates for degrees must fulfill the requirements for credits, curriculum, GPA, and University residency as specified in the section of this catalog titled University Graduation Requirements.

College Graduation Requirements: Grade Point Averages. All candidates for degrees in the College of Arts and Sciences must earn minimum resident and total GPAs of 2.00 in the major, the minor, and the certificate. The resident and total GPAs for the major are computed using all attempted credits applicable to the major including those offered by departments other than the major department. The resident and total GPAs for the minor and the certificate are computed similarly.

Major-Minor and Major-Certificate Requirements. A standard major (a minimum of 36 credits) must be supplemented by a minor (a minimum of 24 credits) or by a certificate (12 to 18 credits) to meet graduation requirements for completing a first and second degree program. No minor or certificate is required with a Comprehensive Major (60 or more credits) or with two majors of 36 or more credits each.

Certain degree programs, which include Comprehensive Majors, may require more than the minimum of 120 credits for graduation.

Acceptable academic program combinations are determined at the college level. A major and a minor or a major and certificate or two majors (if available) may not be elected in the same department or program, except in the approved combinations listed here.

College Credits. Earn at least 90 credits in courses offered by the College of Arts and Sciences.

Bachelor of Arts Degree in the College of Arts and Sciences (B.A.)

Fulfillment of all University Graduation Requirements (which includes the Core General Education Requirements); all College-level degree requirements (major and minor/certificate emphases, GPAs, earning at least 90 credits in Arts and Sciences course work); second language competency at the 102 level.  Second language competency may be met in one of two ways:  (1) Demonstrate a level of second language competency that qualifies the student to enter the 201-level course in a second language.  (2) Earn a grade of at least C (not C-) or a mark of S in a 102-level second language course (or AIS 112 or AIS 122 or SLHS 103).

Bachelor of Science Degree in the College of Arts and Sciences (B.S.)

Fulfillment of all University Graduation Requirements (which includes the Core General Education Requirements); all College-level degree requirements (major and minor/certificate emphases, GPAs, earning at least 90 credits in Arts and Sciences course work); mathematics competency at the MATH 111, MATH 112 or MATH 113 level.  Mathematics competency can be met in one of three ways:  (1) Achieve a score on the mathematics placement test that qualifies the student to enter MATH 114.  (2) Earn a grade of at least C (not C-) or a mark of S in MATH 111, MATH 112, or MATH 113.  (3) Achieve a satisfactory score on the MATH 112 competency test.  This test may be attempted no more than two times.

Major Requirements

Liberal Arts (Code 160-011)

The objective of the comprehensive major in geology is to prepare students for graduate programs in geological sciences or for careers as professional geologists, hydrogeologists, or geological engineers. The liberal arts comprehensive major requires completion of the Core and one of the four Emphases.

NOTE:  Communication classes, both written and oral, are strongly recommended to fulfill core general education requirements in any of the emphases.

Core Requirements for all Liberal Arts Emphases in the Comprehensive Geology Major

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
27-29 credits
Select one of the following:		4
GEOL 106	Earth Science
GEOL 110	Physical Geology
GEOL 115	Environmental Geology
Required:
GEOL 312	Mineralogy and Petrology I	5
GEOL 320	Sedimentology and Stratigraphy	4
GEOL 330	Structural Geology	4
GEOL 468	Geological Field Methods	1
GEOL 470	Field Geology I	3
CHEM 115	Chemical Principles (or equivalent)	6
Capstone Experience (required for all majors)		0-2

All Geology majors are required to complete a capstone experience. Approved capstone experiences include 1) successful completion of GEOL 470 and GEOL 471 with a grade of C or above in both courses, 2) successful completion of GEOL 470 and GEOL 472 with a grade of C or above in both courses, 3) student-faculty collaborative research that includes the student giving a public presentation of the research and being listed as the first author of the research presentation, 4) a department-approved internship, 5) other department-approved experiences. Working with their advisor, students submit a proposal to the department faculty outlining their capstone experience choice and explicitly stating how the capstone fits into their personal career goals. The capstone experience proposal must be submitted to the Chair of the Department no later than the second week of the fall semester of the senior year.

Environmental Science Emphasis

Recommended for students who are interested in careers working in environmental fields, such as environmental geology, land conservation, and environmental policy, or who desire to attend graduate school in environmental science, environmental law, or resource planning.

This emphasis requires completion of the Comprehensive Geology Major Core plus the required and elective credits as listed below.

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Minimum 60 semester credits, including:
Required Courses
GEOL 301	Earth Resources and Sustainability	3
or GEOL 304	Global Environmental Change
GEOL 308	Water Resources	3
GEOL 315	Hydrogeology I	4
GEOL 345	Geomorphology and Aerial Photography Interpretation	3
or GEOL 420	Glacial Geology
GEOL 452	Responsible Mining Seminar	1
GEOG 335	Geographic Information Systems I	3
ENV/GEOG 377	U.S. Environmental and Sustainability Policy	3
MATH 246	Elementary Statistics	4
Electives
Select two of the following elective courses. It is strongly recommended students select these courses from more than one of the listed disciplines. Students should work with a Geology faculty advisor to select the most suitable course combination.
Biology:
BIOL 321	Ecology
BIOL 328	Conservation Biology
BIOL 338	Vegetation Ecology
BIOL 376	Aquatic Ecology
Geography:
GEOG 336	Geospatial Field Methods
GEOG 337	Geographic Information Systems II
GEOG 338	Remote Sensing of the Environment
GEOG 350	Soils and the Environment
GEOG 363	Watershed Analysis
Chemistry:
CHEM 213	Quantitative Analysis
CHEM 218	Introduction to Inorganic Chemistry
CHEM 304	Environmental Chemistry
CHEM 325	Organic Chemistry I with Laboratory
GEOL 336	Introduction to Geochemistry
Plus electives to total at least 60 credits selected from the following geology courses:
GEOL 313	Mineralogy and Petrology II
GEOL 416	Hydrogeology II
GEOL 418	Global Tectonics

NOTE 1:  All students are also required to complete MATH 114 in addition to the 60 credits required for the major.

NOTE 2: No degree credit may be earned under the Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory option in any required courses in a geology major or minor. 

Program Learning Outcomes

Students completing this program will be expected to meet the following learning outcomes:

• Explain Earth processes.
• Use mathematics and computational methods to analyze scientific and geological data.
• Read, write, and critically evaluate geological papers.
• Construct an internally consistent geological map utilizing field data, topographic maps, geological maps, air photos, geographic information systems (GIS) data, and geological cross sections.
• Use analytical and quantitative methods to evaluate an environmental problem.

Geology, Environmental Science Emphasis, Comprehensive Major, B.S.

The following is a sample degree plan, based on the current catalog. It is based on the 120-credit graduation requirement and assumes no transferred credits, no requirements waived by placement tests, no courses taken in the summer or winter, no repeated courses, and no remedial courses that may be required. This sample degree plan is intended for first-year students entering UW-Eau Claire in the fall semester. Your own degree plan may differ depending on the course of study selected (second major, minor, etc.). UW-Eau Claire cannot guarantee all courses will be offered as shown, but will provide a range of courses that may enable prepared students to fulfill their requirements in a timely period. This sample degree plan is just a guide. Please consult your advisor, your degree audit, and the catalog to create your own degree plan. Note: In order to earn the required minimum of 120 credits for the degree in four years, you should plan to take 15 credits each semester or 30 credits each year.

To earn a degree, students must fulfill all University Graduation Requirements, including the Core General Education Requirements (CGER). CGER course work in the following sample degree plan uses abbreviations such as CGER CL, CGER HA, and CGER NSWL to represent the learning outcomes students will meet via completion of the course. Please click here for a description of the outcomes and requirements.

Students in this major have the option to pursue either a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) or a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree. The degrees are distinguished by second language competency for the B.A. and a higher level of mathematics competency for the B.S.

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
SOME TIME IN THE FIRST YEAR
GEOL 106	Earth Science (CGER NSWL)	4
OR
GEOL 110	Physical Geology (CGER NSWL)
OR
GEOL 115	Environmental Geology (CGER NSWL)
MATH 114	Calculus I (CGER MQR) 1	4
CHEM 108	General Chemistry I	4
CGER Option: Humanities & Arts (HA) - e.g., ART 105, ENGL 130 2		3
or CGER Option: Civics & Perspectives (CP) - e.g., AIS 101, GEOG 270 2
SECOND SEMESTER
CHEM 109	General Chemistry II	4
GEOL 308	Water Resources (NSW)	3
WRIT 114	Intensive Blugold Seminar in Critical Reading and Writing (CGER CL)	5
OR
WRIT 116	Blugold Seminar in Critical Reading and Writing (CGER CL)
CGER Option: Social & Behavioral Sciences (SBS) - e.g., CJ 201, ECON 103		3
or CGER Option: Communication & Literacy (CL) - e.g., CJ 203
TOTAL FIRST YEAR		30
SECOND YEAR
FIRST SEMESTER
GEOL 212	Introduction to Geology and Environmental Science	1
GEOL 312	Mineralogy and Petrology I	5
GEOL 315	Hydrogeology I	4
SECOND SEMESTER
GEOL 320	Sedimentology and Stratigraphy	4
GEOL 452	Responsible Mining Seminar	1
GEOL 301	Earth Resources and Sustainability	3
OR
GEOL 304	Global Environmental Change
SOME TIME IN THE SECOND YEAR
GEOG 335	Geographic Information Systems I 3	3
MATH 246	Elementary Statistics	4
CGER Option: 2 courses from CL, CP, HA, or SBS as appropriate		6
TOTAL SECOND YEAR		31
THIRD YEAR
FIRST SEMESTER
GEOL 330	Structural Geology	4
GEOL 468	Geological Field Methods	1
GEOL 345	Geomorphology and Aerial Photography Interpretation	3
or GEOL 420	Glacial Geology
SECOND SEMESTER
GEOL Elective - Choose from GEOL 313, 336, 416, 418 4, 5		4
Major Elective - Choose from BIOL, CHEM, and GEOG 6		3-4
Electives 5		6
SOME TIME IN THE THIRD YEAR
CGER Option: 3 courses from CL, CP, HA, or SBS as appropriate		9
TOTAL THIRD YEAR		30-31
WINTERIM AND SUMMER DURING/AFTER THIRD YEAR
WINTERIM New Mexico, 3 weeks
GEOL 470	Field Geology I	3
SUMMER Montana, 3 weeks
GEOL 471	Field Geology II (Elective) 7	3
OR
GEOL 472	Field Hydrology (Elective) 7
TOTAL		6
FOURTH YEAR
SOME TIME IN THE FOURTH YEAR
ENV 377	U.S. Environmental and Sustainability Policy	3
CGER Option: 1 course from CL, CP, HA, or SBS as appropriate		3
Major Elective - Choose from BIOL, CHEM, and GEOG 6		3-4
Electives 5		14-17
TOTAL FOURTH YEAR		23-27

Minimum total for the baccalaureate degree = 120 credits 

¹

All students pursuing a Liberal Arts Comprehensive Major in Geology are also required to complete MATH 114 in addition to the 60 credits required for the major.

²

Many geological issues involve working with people from other cultures. Core General Education Requirement (CGER) electives can help broaden students’ perspectives. Suggested CGER include AIS 101, AIS 243, AIS 322/GEOG 322, HIST 114, and HIST 115.

³

GEOG 335 should be taken prior to GEOL 468.

⁴

Plus electives to total at least 60 credits selected from the following: GEOL 313 Mineralogy and Petrology II, GEOL 330 Structural Geology, GEOL 416 Hydrogeology II, and GEOL 418 Global Tectonics.

⁵

Electives must be selected to ensure that a student’s degree comprises at least 39 credits of upper-division courses (300-400 level). Students are encouraged to take additional courses in chemistry, ecology, physics, math, GIS, and written and oral communication, but electives can be selected from any discipline as long as the course prerequisites are met. The degree also must have 120 credits.

⁶

Select two elective courses from Biology (BIOL 321 Ecology, BIOL 328 Conservation Biology, BIOL 338 Vegetation Ecology, or BIOL 376 Aquatic Ecology), Geography (GEOG 337 Geographic Information Systems II, GEOG 338 Remote Sensing of the Environment, GEOG 350 Soils and the Environment, or GEOG 363 Watershed Analysis), and Chemistry (CHEM 213 Quantitative Analysis, CHEM 218 Introduction to Inorganic Chemistry, CHEM 304 Environmental Chemistry, CHEM 325 Organic Chemistry I with Laboratory, or GEOL 336 Introduction to Geochemistry). It is strongly recommended that students select one course from each of the Biology, Geography, and Chemistry course options. Students should work with a Geology faculty advisor to select the most suitable course combination.

⁷

Earning a grade of C (not C-) in GEOL 470 and GEOL 471 or GEOL 472 fulfills the Geology capstone requirement. Students not taking GEOL 471 or GEOL 472 must consult with a Geology faculty advisor for capstone options and submit a capstone proposal to the Department Chair.

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR HIGH IMPACT PRACTICES (HIPs)
The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire encourages all students to participate in High Impact Practices. The following information identifies any specific recommendations that faculty in this major have concerning which HIPs might be most beneficial to students, and any recommendations about when those HIPs best fit into the degree plan. Students should also consult their faculty advisor for information on HIPs. There are many additional high impact opportunities available. Talk to your academic advisor for more information about incorporating HIPs like Study Abroad, Intercultural Immersion, Internship, and/or Student/Faculty Collaborative Research into your time at UW-Eau Claire.

Core General Education Requirements (CGER)