Degree/Program Title: Geology Track within the Geography Major

Sponsor(s): Frank Luther and Rex Hanger
Department(s): Geography and Geology
College(s): Letters and Sciences

Effective Term: Fall 2001

Check if:
 

______		New Degree: Intent to Plan
______		New Degree: Final Proposal
______		New Major: Intent to Plan
______		New Major: Final Proposal
______		New Submajor: Minor
_X	New Submajor: Emphasis/Track
______	New Submajor: Certificate Program
______	Module: Intent to Plan
______	Module: Final Proposal
______	Other ___________________

A. Description of the Program
The objective of the proposed geology track within the geography major in the Department of Geography and Geology is to prepare UW-W students for graduate work or careers in geology. Students who complete the required and recommended portions of the program stated below with good grades should have little trouble being accepted into graduate school; those who prefer to enter the labor market directly will have the skills to compete with students trained at other institutions which have a full geology major. The track differs from a geology major in that some 12 cr of geography are required, the ancillary sciences and mathematics are recommended rather than required, the credits in geology required to complete the track are less, and a summer geology field school is recommended rather than required.

Proposed Catalog Description:
The objective of the geology track is to provide the proper training in geology and the supporting sciences and mathematics to students who wish to obtain a thorough understanding to the processes, composition, structure, and history of the earth. Students who complete the major and recommended minor should qualify for direct entry into graduate work in geology. Students who desire employment in geology or related fields will have the fundamental scientific knowledge with which to proceed. Students electing minors other than that recommended will be prepared to seek employment in areas supporting mineral resource exploration or land use.

Geology Track - Required and recommended courses

C. Relationship to other programs on campus, in the UW system, and in the region
This track is unique in that it combines the basic knowledge of geography and map use with the training necessary to continue the student's education in graduate school or to seek employment in geology or related disciplines. There is no course of training comparable to this track offered in this region.

D. Relationship to department goals and objectives
This track offers students a new option within the geography major. It furthers the goals of the department by providing significant education in the earth-science side of the geography major.

E. Plan of course offering/rotation, resources needed, and student demand
This track is a repackaging of existing course in order to give our students new options. The effect on course offerings and course rotation should be minimal. No new resources will be needed unless enrollments go unexpectedly high. Modest numbers of students request that training such as this be offered at UW-W; every year we lose good students who transfer to other schools for related training.

F. Assessment Plan
Assessment of the geology track will be integrated into the existing Geography and Geology Department assessment plan.

G. Student Learning Objectives
Students graduating in this program will have the fundamental scientific and geological knowledge with a geographical base with which to proceed to graduate work in geology or seek employment in the applications of geology in the mineral resource industry, environmental work, or associated areas. To this end, the student will have the ability to: (1) recognize and understand the origin of earth materials, (2) understand earth history and the techniques required to interpret earth history, (3) understand the structure of the earth's crust and deeper parts of the earth, and (4) understand the physical-chemical basis of the processes which now affect or have affected the earth.