Skip to main content

Department of Geosciences PLOs

Geosciences BS

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

Geosciences MS

  1. Assimilate discipline-appropriate theory and methods of practice, including knowledge content, skills, and habits of mind.
  2. Navigate the interrelationships and integration of geosciences with other scientific and engineering disciplines.
  3. Formulate novel geoscientific research questions, hypotheses, and experimental designs informed by the scientific literature.
  4. Collect, process, analyze, and interpret diverse geoscientific data, including the quantification of error, resolution, probability, and risk.
  5. Master the skills of oral and written communication to diverse audiences.

Geophysics MS

  1. Apply foundational physics, mathematics, and computational principles to Earth science problems.
  2. Acquire, process, analyze, and interpret diverse geophysical data.
  3. Effectively communicate using oral and written formats to diverse audiences.
  4. Develop and implement a hypothesis-driven research project that addresses knowledge gaps in geosciences.
  5. Professionally communicate technical work with publishable quality.

Hydrologic Science MS

(Shared with Civil Engineering)

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.

Master of Earth Science

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

Geophysics PhD

  1. Apply foundational physics, mathematics, and computational principles to Earth science problems.
  2. Acquire, process, analyze, and interpret diverse geophysical data.
  3. Effectively communicate using oral and written formats to diverse audiences.
  4. Develop and implement a hypothesis-driven research project that addresses knowledge gaps in geosciences.
  5. Advance the body of knowledge or techniques in a geosciences subdiscipline through peer-reviewed publication or other scholarly contributions.
  6. Employ effective project management and teamwork skills.
  7. Establish a professional identity that engages the geoscience community.

Geosciences PhD

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