Department of Geosciences PLOs

Geosciences BS

Integrate geoscientific principles to infer and demonstrate knowledge of Earth system processes
Formulate geoscientific research questions and hypotheses and design ways to test them
Collect, process, analyze, and interpret various types of geoscientific data (e.g. field, lab, synthetic)
Communicate scientific ideas & their societal relevance in a variety of formats (verbal, written, graphical) to diverse audiences
Apply physics, chemistry, math, and computational methods to solve problems in the geosciences
Evaluate professional preparation in the field of geosciences and how it relates to their career goals

Assimilate discipline-appropriate theory and methods of practice, including knowledge content, skills, and habits of mind
Navigate the interrelationships and integration of geosciences with other scientific and engineering disciplines
Formulate novel geoscientific research questions, hypotheses, and experimental designs informed by the scientific literature
Collect, process, analyze, and interpret diverse geoscientific data, including the quantification of error, resolution, probability, and risk
Master the skills of oral and written communication to diverse audiences
Articulate scientific contributions to their field, other disciplines, and society
Practice effective leadership, project management, and teamwork
Practice effective leadership, project management, and teamwork
Establish a professional identity that engages the geoscience community

Describe basic principles of the application of physics to large scale earth science problems, including the theory behind the application of geophysical tools in the areas of seismology, volcanology, cryosphere, electromagnetics, and remote sensing
Select and use appropriate observation methods, including both in-situ and remote sensing techniques, to collect geophysical data including both direct observations of material structure and properties, as well as indirect methods that estimate material structure and properties through petrophysical relationships
Choose and apply appropriate data analysis, statistics, modeling, and inversion techniques, through a critical assessment of applicable literature, to analyze, interpret, and draw inference from data that directly and indirectly characterize geophysical problems
Design and carry out a research project that addresses an identified knowledge gap in geophysics, involves a coordinated process of theory, experimental design, data collection, analysis, interpretation of data, archives research products according to standards within Earth science community for scientific reproducibility and reusability, and leads to a thesis that is worthy of submission to a peer-reviewed scientific journal

Describe basic principles in the body of knowledge related to the fluxes and stores of water solutes, sediments and energy, and the geologic and biologic properties of landscapes that impact and are impacted by the water cycle.
Select and use appropriate field and laboratory methods to collect data to characterize key parameters characterizing storages and fluxes of water, energy, and biogeochemical products within and across the boundaries of a given hydrologic systems.
Choose and apply appropriate data analysis and/or modeling techniques, through a critical assessment of applicable literature, to analyze, interpret, and draw inference from data that directly and indirectly characterize hydrologic systems.
Design and carry out a research project that addresses an identified knowledge gap in the hydrologic sciences and involves a coordinated process of data collection, analysis, and interpretation of data, and organize and document data and other research products to meet standards commonly used within the hydrologic and Earth science community (where available) for scientific reproducibility and reusability.
Create products to effectively communicate outcomes of research in the hydrologic sciences that are tailored to audiences that include the general public, key stakeholders, and the scientific community.

Demonstrate a broad knowledge of general Earth Sciences principles and advanced knowledge in a chosen core subdiscipline of Earth Science
Collect, analyze, and interpret earth science data using a relevant computational, laboratory, and field techniques
Communicate scientific information in written and oral form
Integrate interdisciplinary knowledge and skills to design solutions to scientific problems

Assimilate discipline-appropriate theory and methods of practice, including knowledge content, skills, and habits of mind
Navigate the interrelationships and integration of geophysics with other scientific and engineering disciplines
Formulate novel geophysics research questions, hypotheses, and experimental designs informed by the scientific literature
Collect, process, analyze, and interpret diverse geophysical data, including the quantification of error, resolution, probability, and risk
Master the skills of oral and written communication to diverse audiences
Articulate scientific contributions to their field, other disciplines, and society
Practice effective leadership, project management, and teamwork
Develop competencies and credentials defined by their professional goals
Establish a professional identity that engages the geoscience community

Assimilate discipline-appropriate theory and methods of practice, including knowledge content, skills, and habits of mind
Navigate the interrelationships and integration of geosciences with other scientific and engineering disciplines
Formulate novel geoscientific research questions, hypotheses, and experimental designs informed by the scientific literature
Collect, process, analyze, and interpret diverse geoscientific data, including the quantification of error, resolution, probability, and risk
Master the skills of oral and written communication to diverse audiences
Articulate scientific contributions to their field, other disciplines, and society
Practice effective leadership, project management, and teamwork
Develop competencies and credentials defined by their professional goals
Establish a professional identity that engages the geoscience community