UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-WHITEWATER
CURRICULUM PROPOSAL FORM #2

CHANGE IN A DEGREE, MAJOR, OR SUBMAJOR

Check Exactly One:

Change in:	____	Degree	____	Major	X	Submajor
Deletion of:			____	Major	____	Submajor

Total Number of Credits in Program:

(if "change in" is checked - even if credits remain the same)

23

Before Change

23

After Change

Program Title:	Geology Minor
Sponsor(s):	Rex Alan Hanger
Department(s):	Geography & Geology
College(s):	L&S
Other Programs Affected:	None
Effective Term:	Fall 2002

1. Exact description of request
The required courses of the minor would be reduced from 21 to 9 credits(or 20 to 8 if the student takes GEOLGY 101
instead of GEOLGY 100). The remaining credits would be consequently increased from 2 to 14, maintaining the total
credit load of 23 credits.

Change From:

GEOLOGY

MINOR - 23 CREDITS

1. GEOLGY 100 or 101, 204, 205, 315, 316 AND 318

2. SELECT A MINIMUM 2 CRED FROM COURSES

    GEOLOGY 300, 301, 314, 317, 319, 492, OR GEOGRPY 310

Change To:

GEOLOGY

MINOR - 23 CREDITS

1. GEOLGY 100 or 101, 204, 205

2. SELECT A MINIMUM 15 CRED FROM COURSES

GEOLGY 206, GEOGRPY 310 and any 300 level or above Geology course.

II. Relationship to mission and strategic plan of institution, and/or College/Department goals and objectives

This increase in course-choice flexibility strengthens the minor, consistent with the mission of the University of Wisconsin System to develop heightened scientific expertise. It is consistent with the UW-Whitewater mission to provide programs leading to professional specialization. It is consistent with the mission of the Geography and Geology Department in providing diverse, field and laboratory based training in preparation for careers in both public and private sectors.

III. Rationale

Previous Geology minor, with 21 credits of required courses, has now been replaced with the Geology Track within Geography Major, with the same 21 required credit courses. This will now exist as the primary route for students interested in graduate school or careers in geology. The proposed Minor change increases the flexibility in interest direction for the potential, non-geology student. This simple, relaxation of the required load (with the same number of required credits and courses offered) can 'fit' a Minor program more closely to a student's interests and career goals. For example, a biologically-oriented student interested in paleontology could take GEOLGY 300, 301, 317, 318 and 492, while a chemistry-oriented student interested in mineralogy could take GEOLOGY 206, 315, 316 and 318. It is likely that student interest in the low enrollment courses (317, 318) will be increased.

IV. Cost implications

No added costs, as all required courses are offered regularly.