COURSE CURRICULUM

The Earth and Environmental Sciences program at StFX offers a comprehensive curriculum that spans foundational, intermediate, and advanced courses designed to provide students with both theoretical knowledge and practical skills. At the 100-level, students begin with courses such as Understanding the Earth, Environment, Climate, and Resources, and Natural Hazards, which introduce the fundamental principles of Earth systems, environmental processes, and risk assessment. The 200-level courses, including Structural Geology, Data Analysis in Earth and Environmental Sciences, Hydrology, Understanding Climate Change, Health and the Environment, Health Impacts of Global Climate Change, The Earth in Everyday Life, Introduction to Atmospheric Physics, and Earth History and Crustal Materials, build on these foundations while integrating quantitative and analytical skills essential for studying Earth and environmental systems. At the 300-level, courses such as Genesis of Igneous Rocks, Genesis of Metamorphic Rocks, Crystal Chemistry and Mineralogy, Sedimentology and Stratigraphy, Geochemistry, Geomorphology and Quaternary Geology, Geological Field Methods, Environmental Earth Science Field Course, and Earth Observing emphasize specialized knowledge, field techniques, and research methods. Advanced 400-level courses, including Environmental Biogeochemistry, Ore Deposits, Advanced Structure and Tectonics, Climate Interactions, Sustainable Energy Systems and Infrastructure, Advanced Geological Field Methods, Senior Thesis, Senior Seminar, and Directed Study, allow students to engage in independent research, apply their learning in practical contexts, and develop expertise in environmental problem-solving and scientific inquiry.