EGGS Curriculum

From our perch on the hill, Bloomsburg University's Department of Environmental, Geographical, and Geological Sciences (EGGS) looks out over the town of Bloomsburg and the beautiful Appalachian Valley and Ridge. We take advantage of our location as much as possible by getting students outside to use the local area as our classroom.

The EGGS curriculum builds on the department’s strengths in planning, environmental and economic geography, traditional hard rock geology, and environmental geoscience. Students in our all-undergraduate department also have the opportunity to prepare for careers or graduate school by getting experience outside the classroom with ongoing research projects, volunteering in the community, and our established geography and planning internship program.

EGGS Major Tracks and Minors

The department offers a single major: the Bachelor of Science in Environmental, Geographical, and Geological Sciences, with four different tracks:

The Geography and Planning track prepares students for careers and for graduate school in a variety of specialties, depending on which electives and minors are taken. This track is appropriate for students interested in cartography, urban, regional, or environmental planning, geographic information systems (GIS), resource management and valuation, parks and recreation, and more.
The Environmental Geoscience track is a blend of geography and geology that utilizes the strengths of both disciplines to prepare students for graduate school or careers focusing on water and the environment such as water resources management, environmental consulting, watershed management, coastal or marine systems, and wetlands delineation and restoration.
The Professional Geology track is a traditional geology program that prepares students for graduate school or certification as a Professional Geologist (P.G.), working in careers such as hydrogeology, natural hazard mitigation, mining, or fossil fuel exploration and production.
The Earth and Space Science track gives Secondary Education majors the required coursework to be certified in Earth and Space Science, and is also a good choice for students seeking a broad science background and anticipating careers in science-related business, journalism, public policy, or others, possibly with a double major or strong related minor.

EGGS also offers the following minors:

The Geography Minor is intended for students in any major who are interested in customizing their degree with a specialty such as resource management, planning, recreation, environmental valuation, or hazard management.
The Geosciences Minor is intended for students in any major who are interested in customizing their degree with a focus on mineral or fossil fuel resources, surface processes, environmental consulting, etc.
The Hydrology Minor is intended for students in any major interested in obtaining expertise in water resources, conservation, testing, and management.
The Spatial Analysis and GIS Minor is intended for students in any major who are interested in customizing their degree with a focus on spatial analysis.

Common Core

All four tracks start with a common core of four courses in which students study how the Earth works, the impacts people have on the environment (and the impact the environment has on us), and ways to use maps to record, store, and communicate information about the world around us. Having a common core helps build a sense of community, exposes each student to all aspects of EGGS, and allows majors to make more informed choices about which major track they ultimately pick.

Common Core Courses:

EGGS 100 – Introduction to Environmental Science
EGGS 120 – Physical Geology
EGGS 150 – Quantitative Methods
EGGS 242 – Map Use and Analysis

Related Science and Math Cognates

All EGGS majors must take some courses in related science disciplines such as biology, physics, and chemistry because these are vital to developing a good understanding of the Earth, and our interactions with it! For instance, to treat a stream affected by acid mine drainage, it helps to understand some chemistry; to work for an alternative energy company, it helps to understand some physics; and understanding stream biology can help students restore a stream damaged by dredging or bank erosion.

At least one math course is also required. Having good math skills helps our majors identify and analyze patterns, construct logical arguments, and dissect and solve problems.

Science and Math Cognate Courses: The number and type of required cognate science and math courses varies, depending on your chosen EGGS track.

Specific Degree Requirements

Each track has additional required foundational courses, as well as upper-level electives that allow you to specialize in a particular area of interest.

General Education Courses

In addition to courses required for the major, every student at Bloomsburg University must also complete the General Education requirements. General Education courses will connect you to the world of ideas outside of EGGS, and help you develop the critical thinking and communication skills that are vital for success in every job.

Thoughtful planning will allow you to choose approved General Education courses that reflect your interests, strengthen your major, and perhaps even get you started on a related minor. For example:

if you are interested in working for an environmental advocacy organization, you could take Public Speaking.
If you plan to work in public policy, or get a job with a municipality, the Commonwealth, or the Federal Government, you might want to take Elements of Political Science, or U.S. Government.
Introduction to Business might be appropriate for students interested in environmental consulting, where career paths often start in the field, but lead into the office where you might oversee projects and/or to help manage the business.

Recommended Minors for EGGS Majors

Bloomsburg’s new MyCore General Education program gives students more flexibility to include a minor, ad customize their degree to their specific interests and talents. Talk with your advisor early on to see which minors might best support your interests and intended career path, and to help lay out a plan to complete your coursework.

Science and Technology

Any math or science minor can be of value, depending on your interests:

Sometimes, a minor in a different field will make you stand out to an employer.

Liberal Arts

Alternatively (not minors but still useful)

Two semesters of Arabic will be of value for anyone working in the Middle East
Four semesters of Russian – Russia is one of the most resource rich countries.
An Anthropology minor may be good; geoscientists are involved at most archeological sites.

Education

The Educational Technology minor is useful for anyone interested in science education, whether in schools or industry (specialized training programs).
Nearly every organization in education, business, and industry is engaged in the integration of technology through ongoing instruction and training in technological areas.

Business

The Legal Studies minor is an excellent introduction for those who may pursue or need to be familiar with any type of environmental regulations or environmental law.
A Management minor is useful for those who wish to have advancement options in scientific or engineering industries and companies.

Tentative Schedule of EGGS courses

While most of our General Education and Introductory courses are offered every semester, many of our upper level courses are not! Some are offered once a year, others once every other year or every three semesters. Knowing when the classes needed for your major are offered will help you determine when to take prerequisites for necessary coursework, and when specific requirements and electives will best fit into your plan.

» Tentative Course Offerings.

EGGS Course Prerequisites

Sometimes we require that you take courses in a specific order. Mastering fundamental concepts in one course allows you to succeed in another course that builds upon those fundamentals. When we need you to take classes in a particular order, we make one course a required prerequisite for the next. You will not be able to register for the higher-number course until you have completed (or are taking) the prerequisite lower-number course. For instance, you must take EGGS 242 - Map Use and Analysis before you take EGGS 360 - Principles of GIS I. Being aware of course prerequisites will help you map out an efficient plan for completing the major (as will seeing your advisor regularly!).