The Essential Studies Program at Chadron State provides an integrated, coherent learning experience to prepare students for a life of responsible inquiry.
A student must complete the core requirements, an option, and the Essential Studies requirements. Students seeking to enter graduate school are advised to take advanced coursework in the discipline, plus additional mathematics. Students should consult their advisor.
| Number | Course Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CHEM, GEOS or PHYS 110 | Careers in Science | 1 |
| CHEM 131 & 131L | College Chemistry I & Lab | 4 |
| CHEM, GEOS, PHYS 310 | Capstone I: Research Seminar | 1 |
| CHEM 332 & 332L | Analytical Instru & Lab | 3 |
| CHEM, GEOS, PHYS 401 | Capstone II: Senior Research | 2 |
| CHEM, GEOS, PHYS 410 | Capstone III: Senior Research Thesis | 1 |
| GEOS 231& 231L | Physical Geology & Lab | 4 |
| GEOS 322 | Introduction to GIS | 3 |
| PHYS 151& 151L | College Physics & Lab | 5 |
| PHYS 370D | Scientific Computer Applications | 3 |
| Math elective chosen from 138, 151, or 232 | 3-5 | |
| Total hours | 30-32 | |
Students pursuing this option must complete MATH 151 as the Essential Studies Mathematics requirement. Students must complete MATH 232 in the core requirements above.
| Number | Course Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core requirements | 30-32 | |
| GEOS 234 & 234L | History of Earth Systems & Lab | 4 |
| GEOS 338 | Rocks & Minerals | 3 |
| GEOS 431 | Geology of Water Resources | 3 |
| GEOS 432 | Structural Geology | 3 |
| GEOS 439 & 439L | Sedimentology & Strat & Lab | 4 |
| PHYS 334 | Meteorology | 3 |
| Field Camp (may be taken at another institution) | 5 | |
| Upper division GEOS electives | 3 | |
| Total hours | 56-58 | |
Students must complete the following program in addition to the Professional Education and Essential Studies requirements. Students pursuing this endorsement must complete PHYS 435 as one of the Essential Studies Global and Social Awareness requirements.
| Number | Course Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| BIOL 136 & 136L | Biological Science & Lab | 3 |
| CHEM 140 & 140L | General Chemistry & Lab | 4 |
| GEOS 137 | Environmental Geology | 3 |
| GEOS 231 & 231L | Physical Geology & Lab | 4 |
| GEOS 234 & 234L | History of Earth Systems & Lab | 4 |
| GEOS 310 | Capstone I: Research Seminar | 1 |
| GEOS 320 | Sup Study in Lab & Field Methods | 1 |
| GEOS 338 | Rocks & Minerals | 3 |
| GEOS 431 | Geology of Water Resources | 3 |
| PHYS 151 & 151L PHYS 241 & 241L |
College Physics I & Lab or University Physics I & Lab |
5 |
| PHYS 333 & 333L | Astronomy & Lab | 3 |
| PHYS 334 | Meteorology | 3 |
| Biology Electives | 3 | |
| Geoscience Electives | 3 | |
| Total hours | 43 | |
Students must complete the following program in addition to the Professional Education and Essential Studies requirements. Students pursuing this endorsement must complete MATH 232 as the Essential Studies Mathematics requirement and PHYS 435 as one of the Essential Studies Global and Social Awareness requirements. Spanish language classes are highly encouraged.
Students choosing the Natural Science Field Teaching Endorsement opt for a concentration in one of four areas: Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science or Physics (below).
| Number | Course Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| BIOL 131 | Fundamentals of Cell Biology | 3 |
| BIOL 138 & 138L | General Botany & Lab | 3 |
| BIOL 139 & 139L | General Zoology & Lab | 3 |
| CHEM 131 & 131L | College Chem I and Lab | 4 |
| CHEM 132 & 132L | College Chem II & Lab | 5 |
| GEOS 231 & 231L | Physical Geology & Lab | 4 |
| GEOS 234 & 234L | History of Earth System & Lab | 4 |
| PHYS 151 & 151L | College Physics I & Lab | 5 |
| PHYS 152 & 152L | College Physics I & Lab | 5 |
| BIOL/CHEM/GEOS/PHYS 310 | Capstone I | 1 |
| BIOL/CHEM/GEOS/PHYS 320 | Sup Study Lab Meth | 1 |
| Total hours | 38 | |
Select one concentration from below:
| Number | Course Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core requirements | 38 | |
| GEOS 137 | Environmental Geology | 3 |
| GEOS 322 | Introduction to GIS | 3 |
| GEOS 338 | Rocks & Minerals | 3 |
| GEOS 431 | Geology of Water Resources | 3 |
| GEOS 439 & 439L | Stratig and Sed & Lab | 4 |
| Total hours | 54 | |
Students must complete the following program in addition to the Professional Education and Essential Studies requirements. Students pursuing this endorsement must take MATH 232 as their Essential Studies mathematics requirement and PHYS 435 as one of the Essential Studies Global and Social Awareness requirements.
| Number | Course Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| BIOL 136 & 136L | Biological Science & Lab | 3 |
| CHEM 131 & 131L | College Chemistry I & Lab | 4 |
| CHEM 231 & 231L | Intro to Organic Chem & Lab | 4 |
| CHEM 433 & 433L CHEM 435 & 435L |
Environmental Chemistry or Biochemistry |
4 |
| GEOS 137 | Environmental Geology | 3 |
| GEOS 231 & 231L | Physical Geology & Lab | 4 |
| GEOS 234 & 234L | History of the Earth Sys & Lab | 4 |
| GEOS 338 | Rocks & Minerals | 3 |
| PHYS 110 | Careers in Science | 1 |
| PHYS 151 & 151L | College Physics I & Lab | 5 |
| PHYS 333 & 333L | Astronomy & Lab | 3 |
| PHYS 334 | Meteorology | 3 |
| Electives in Biology: BIOL 131, 138/138L or 139/139L | 3 | |
| Total hours | 44 | |
A student must complete the following program in addition to the Essential Studies, Professional Education Middle Grades requirements, and one other Content Area of Specialization requirements. Students pursuing this endorsement must complete PHYS 435 as one of the Essential Studies Global and Social Awareness requirements. The following hours must be unduplicated, i.e. different from Essential Studies hours taken:
| Number | Course Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| BIOL 121 & 121L | Human Biology & Lab | 3 |
| BIOL 136 & 136L | Biological Science & Lab | 3 |
| CHEM 140 & 140L | General Chemistry & Lab | 4 |
| GEOS 231 & 231L GEOS 234 & 234L |
Physical Geology & Lab or History of Earth Systems & Lab |
4 |
| PHYS 330 | Physical Science for Elem & Middle School Teachers | 3 |
| Elective in Biol, Chem, Geoscience or Physics | 1 | |
| Total hours | 18 | |
A student must complete the following program in addition to the Essential Studies requirements and a major in another discipline.
| Number | Course Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| GEOS 231 & 231L | Physical Geology & Lab | 4 |
| GEOS 234 & 234L | History of Earth Systems & Lab | 4 |
| GEOS 338 | Rocks & Minerals | 3 |
| GEOS 431 | Geology of Water Resources | 3 |
| GEOS 432 | Structural Geology | 3 |
| GEOS 439 & 439L | Sedimentology/Strat & Lab | 4 |
| Total hours | 21 | |
A student must complete the following program in addition to the Essential Studies requirements and a major in another discipline.
| Number | Course Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| BIOL 337 | Environmental Management | 3 |
| BIOL 429 CHEM 433 & 433L |
Aquatic Microbiology or Environment Chem & Lab |
4 |
| CHEM 332 & 332L AGRI 245 & 245L |
Analytical Instrumentation & Lab or Prin of Soil Science & Lab |
4 |
| GEOS 231 & 231L | Physical Geology & Lab | 4 |
| GEOS 322 | Introduction to GIS | 3 |
| GEOS 431 | Geology of Water Resources | 3 |
| Total hours | 21 | |
A student must complete the following program in addition to the Essential Studies and Professional Education, Elementary Education requirements. The following hours must be unduplicated, i.e. different from Essential Studies hours taken:
| Number | Course Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| BIOL 121 & 121L | Human Biology & Lab | 3 |
| BIOL 136 & 136L | Biological Science & Lab | 3 |
| CHEM 140 & 140L | General Chemistry & Lab | 4 |
| GEOS 231 & 231L | Physical Geology & Lab | 4 |
| PHYS 330 | Phy Sci for Elem & Middle Sch Teach | 3 |
| Electives in Biology, Chemistry, Geocience, or Physics | 1 | |
| Total hours | 18 | |
A student may be awarded a Certificate in Geographic Information Systems upon successful completion of the following requirements:
| Number | Course Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| GEOG 336 | Map Use and GIS | 3 |
| GEOG 390 GEOG 400 |
Internship in Geography (GIS emphasis) or Independent Study (GIS emphasis) |
4 |
| GEOS 321 | Introduction to GPS | 1 |
| GEOS 322 | Introduction to GIS | 2 |
| IST 133 | Programming Concepts I | 3 |
| IST 134 | Programming Concepts II | 3 |
| MIS 331 | Database Management | 3 |
| Total hours | 19 | |
A student may be awarded a Certificate in Water Resources Management upon successful completion of Water Resources Management minor listed above.
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