Geography and Geology

David Ozsvath, Chair
Room D-332, Science Building
Phone: 715-346-2629
Email: geoggeol@uwsp.edu
Web: www.uwsp.edu/geo

This department is in the College of Letters and Science .

Faculty: N Heywood, K Hefferan, S Kaplan, T Kennedy, E Larsen, K Lemke, I Odogba, D Ozsvath, K Rice, M Ritter.

Definitions: Earth Science: Also see the earth science option of the Natural Science major .

Geography is the study of spatial patterns to the earth’s physical and human environments, and the art and science of map making. Geographers study where things are located on the surface of the earth and why. They also study how places differ from one another, and how people interact with the environment.

Geology is the scientific study of the history, structure, and composition of the earth, the natural processes that alter the earth’s surface, and the resources and hazards associated with the geologic environment.

As a geoscientist you will study earth materials (minerals, rocks, water), geologic processes, and geospatial relationships. Geoscience includes aspects of earth science, geology, physical geography, and geographic techniques such as mapping and geographic information systems.

Abbreviations:
GIS = Geographic Information Systems
GISc = Geographic Information Science
GISSA = Geographic Information Systems and Spatial Analysis

Notes for Earth Science:

You may use no more than three total field experience credits (GEOL 393 or GEOG 393 ) to satisfy the earth science minor requirements.
For teacher certification in earth science, you must include ASTR 205 and ASTR 206 or ASTR 311 , and at least two field experience credits in GEOG 393 and/or GEOL 393 .

Academic Standards for Earth Science Minor

To be admitted, retained, and approved for graduation as an approved earth science minor, you must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.00 (2.75 to student teach in earth science) for all courses taken within the minor, including collateral courses and regardless of declaration of academic bankruptcy.
1. You must complete GEOG 101 or GEOL 104 before you are admitted as an approved minor; otherwise you are a provisional minor.
2. If you transfer and have no credits earned at UW-Stevens Point in the minor, you will be a provisional minor until you have completed the minimum requirements.
If you do not maintain a 2.00 GPA, you will be placed on earth science probation and will have 2 semesters to restore your GPA. If you fail to do so, you will be dropped from the minor. The department will attempt to notify and consult with students who are at or below a 2.00 GPA. However, it is your responsibility to know your own GPA status.
You may repeat a course in the minor only if you follow the policy on repeating courses found in the Grade-related Policies section of this catalog.
Geology, geography, and astronomy courses taken at the 300 and 400 level on a pass/fail basis do NOT count toward the minor.

Academic Standards for Geography

To be admitted, retained, and approved for graduation as an approved geography major or minor, you must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.00 (2.75 to student teach in geography) for all courses taken within the major or minor, including collateral courses and regardless of a declaration of academic bankruptcy.
1. You must complete GEOG 101 and GEOG 120 before you are admitted as an approved major or minor; otherwise you are a provisional major or minor.
2. If you transfer and have no credits earned at UW-Stevens Point in the major or minor, you will be a provisional major or minor until you complete the minimum requirements.
If you do not maintain a 2.00 GPA, you will be placed on geography probation and will have 2 semesters to restore your GPA. If you fail to do so, you will be dropped from the major or minor. The department will attempt to notify and consult with you if you are at or below a 2.00 GPA. However, it is your responsibility to know your own GPA status.
Majors must have an adviser in the department. Any department faculty member may advise a geography major. You must file a major declaration form in the department office, keep it current, and confer with your adviser every semester.
You may repeat a course in the major or minor only if you follow the policy on repeating courses found in the Grade-related Policies section of this catalog.
Geography and geology courses taken at the 300 or 400 level on a pass/fail basis do NOT count toward the major or minor.
For all Geography majors, the Communication in the Major is satisfied by two of the following courses: GEOG 280 , GEOG 382 , GEOG 389 , GEOG 393 , and GEOG 490 .
For all Geography majors, the Capstone Experience is satisfied by GEOG 490 , GEOG 491 , or GEOG 496 (urban planning option).

Academic standards for Geographic Information Systems and Spatial Analysis (GISSA) minor

To be admitted, retained, and approved for graduation as a GISSA minor, you must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00 for all courses taken in the minor, including collateral courses and regardless of a declaration of academic bankruptcy.
You must complete GEOG 279 before you are admitted as an approved minor; otherwise you are a provisional minor.
If you are a transfer student without credits earned at UW-Stevens Point in the minor, you will be admitted as a provisional minor until you have completed the minimum requirements.
If you do not maintain a 2.00 GPA, you will be on probation for the minor and will have 2 semesters to restore your GPA. If you fail to do so, you will be dropped from the minor. The department will attempt to notify you of any changes in GPA status and consult with GISSA minors who are at or below the 2.00 GPA. However, it is your responsibility to know your own GPA status.

Academic Standards for Geology Minor

To be admitted, retained, and approved for graduation as an approved geology minor, you must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.00 for all courses taken within the minor, including collateral courses and regardless of a declaration of academic bankruptcy.
1. You must complete GEOL 104 before you are admitted as an approved minor; otherwise you are a provisional minor.
2. If you transfer and have no credits earned at UW-Stevens Point in the minor, you will be a provisional minor until you complete the minimum requirements.
If you do not maintain a 2.00 GPA, you will be placed on geology probation and will have 2 semesters to restore your GPA. If you fail to do so, you will be dropped from the minor. The department will attempt to notify and consult with you if you are at or below a 2.00 GPA. However, it is your responsibility to know your own GPA status.
You may repeat a course in the minor only if you follow the policy on repeating courses found in the Grade-related Policies section of this catalog.
Geology, geography, and biology courses taken at the 300 or 400 level on a pass/fail basis do NOT count toward the minor.

Academic Standards for Geoscience Major

To be admitted, retained, and approved for graduation as an approved Geoscience major, you must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.00 for all courses taken within the major, including collateral courses and regardless of a declaration of academic bankruptcy.
1. You must complete GEOL 104 before you are admitted as an approved major; otherwise you are a provisional major.
2. If you transfer and have no credits earned at UW-Stevens Point in the major, you will be a provisional major until you complete the minimum requirements.
If you do not maintain a 2.00 GPA, you will be placed on geoscience probation and will have two semesters to restore your GPA. If you fail to do so, you will be dropped from the major. The department will attempt to notify and consult with you if you are at or below a 2.00 GPA. However, it is your responsibility to know your own GPA status.
Majors must have an adviser in the department. Any department faculty member may advise a geoscience major. You must file a major declaration form in the department office, keep it current, and confer with your adviser every semester.
You may repeat a course in the major only if you follow the policy on repeating courses found in the Grade-related Policies section of the UW-Stevens Point Catalog.
Geography and geology courses taken at the 300 or 400 level on a pass/fail basis do NOT count toward the major.
For all Geoscience majors, the Communication in the Major is satisfied by two of the following courses: GEOL 393 , GEOL 490 or GEOG 382 .
For all Geoscience majors, the Capstone Experience is satisfied by GEOL 490 or GEOL 491 .

Test-Out and Credit-by-Exam Policy for Geography and Geology

The Department of Geography and Geology will offer test-out examinations for all of its general education courses. If you wish to take a test-out examination, first confer with the department chair. Then confer with the faculty member who most recently taught the course.
The comprehensive written exam will be based on material normally covered in the course. The faculty member will notify you in writing before you take the exam of the required minimum passing score. You will receive your grade in writing within two weeks after taking the exam.
Credit will not be granted for GEOG 100 and GEOL 100 , but you will receive a waiver for the corresponding GEP requirement. Credit will be granted for all other geography and geology courses listed above. You may take a test-out exam only once.

Geology Latent Course: Not offered recently. See full course description in indicated (xx-xx) catalog.

391/591 Special Topics, 1-3 cr, (03-05)

Programs

Major

Minor

Certificate

Courses

Geography

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