Chair
Frank Fueten
Professors
Uwe Brand, Richard J. Cheel, Frank Fueten, Martin J. Head, Francine McCarthy, John Menzies, Michael Pisaric, Mariek E. Schmidt
Associate Professors
Gregory C. Finn, Kevin Turner
Adjunct Professors
Paul Budkewitsch, Phillip McCausland, Bill Morris, Lisa Neville, Andy Panko, Hernan Ugalde, Jyoti Upadhyaya
Senior Lab Co-ordinator
Astride Silis
Online Course Developer/Administrator
Justin Pentesco
General Information
Administrative Assistant
Caroline Romero
905-688-5550, extension 3526
Mackenzie Chown D431
brocku.ca/earthsciences
The field of Earth sciences is central in solving current problems such as waste disposal, pollution, groundwater management, volcano and earthquake hazards. It is also vital in the exploration and utilization of natural resources such as oil and gas, minerals and aggregates. A very important area of research in the Earth sciences aims to determine how the planet has evolved from its origin 4.6 billion years ago to the present. Earth’s rocks and sediment provide a long record of global change in response to a variety of stimuli. Many Earth scientists are involved in the unravelling of this record of global change and in predicting future changes to the planet.
The Department of Earth Sciences offers programs dedicated to graduating high-quality geoscientists proceeding toward registration as a Professional Geoscientist (PGeo). The Department offers other options for those interested in Earth Sciences, but not intending to become Professional Geoscientists. Please see the calendar entry for the BASc in Earth and Planetary Science Communication for details.
The Department of Earth Sciences offers four-year programs of study leading to a BSc Honours in Earth Sciences, BSc Honours in Environmental Geoscience, a BSc with Major in Earth Sciences, a BSc with Major in Environmental Geoscience and a BSc Pass degree program. In addition, five-year Co-op programs leading to a BSc Honours degree in Earth Sciences or Environmental Geoscience are available.
The four-year BSc Honours and BSc with Major programs consist of a set of core courses in year 1, year 2 and part of year 3. During year 3, students choose from elective courses to specialize in a curriculum reflecting their personal interests. Students normally enter directly into the BSc Honours program and are required to maintain at least second-class honours standing. Students not meeting this requirement may continue in one of the BSc with Major programs.
The requirement for graduation with an Earth Sciences (Honours) degree is a minimum 70 percent major average and a minimum 60 percent non-major average.
The requirements for a BSc with Major and a BSc (pass) are a minimum 60 percent major average and a minimum 60 percent overall average.
The Department has teaching and research laboratories which include such facilities as recirculating sediment flume, dendrochronology laboratory, glacial micromorphology laboratory, palynological laboratories, vitrinite reflectance workstation, cathodoluminescence microscopic analysis, atomic absorption spectrometry, petrographic image analysis equipment, digitizer, water quality analysis equipment, fluorometric analysis and stable isotope preparation. These are supported by rock specimen preparation and drafting facilities, a cold room, core storage facilities and Departmental collections. Departmental as well as University computing facilities are available. SEM and ICPMS facilities are also available within the Faculty of Mathematics and Science. The Department shares the facilities of electronic, machine and glass blowing shops with other departments.
Co-op Program
The Earth Sciences and Environmental Geoscience Co-op programs combine academic and work terms over a five year period. Students spend two years in an academic setting, where they acquire the necessary background prior to taking the first work placement. Successful completion of courses in the core areas of Earth Sciences provides the necessary academic background for the work experience. In addition to the current fees for courses in academic study terms, Earth Sciences and Environmental Geoscience Co-op students are assessed an annual administrative fee (see the Schedule of Fees ).
Eligibility to continue in the Co-op program is based on the student’s major average and non-major average. A student with a minimum 70 percent major average and a minimum 60 percent non-major average will be permitted to continue. A student with a major average lower than 70 percent will not be permitted to continue in the Earth Sciences or Environmental Geoscience Co-op program, but may continue in the Earth Sciences and Environmental Geoscience non Co-op program. For further information, see the Co-op programs section of the Calendar and contact the Department of Earth Sciences.
All students in the Co-operative Education program are required to read, sign and adhere to the terms of the Student Regulations Waiver and Co-op Student Manuals (brocku.ca/co-op/current-students/co-op-student-manuals) as articulated by the Co-op Programs Office. In addition, eligibility to continue in the co-op option is based on the student’s major average and non-major average, and the ability to demonstrate the motivation and potential to pursue a professional career.
Each four-month co-operative education work term must be registered. Once students are registered in a co-op work term, they are expected to fulfill their commitment. If the placement accepted is for more than one four-month work term, students are committed to complete all terms. Students may not withdraw from or terminate a work term without permission from the Director, Co-op Program Office.
The Earth Sciences and Environmental Geoscience Co-op program designation will be awarded to those students who have successfully completed a minimum of twelve months of Co-op work experience.
Professional Geoscientists of Ontario
Graduates of any of the 20 credit single major programs offered by the Department of Earth Sciences may qualify to be registered as a practising member of the Professional Geoscientists of Ontario (PGO), and be entitled to practise geoscience or environmental geoscience and use the title of Professional Geoscientist (P.Geo.) in Ontario in accordance with the “Professional Geoscientist Act, 2000”. This accreditation may be transferable to other provincial and state jurisdictions in North America. Students wishing to apply for geoscientist-in-training (GIT) status may want to contact or consult the PGO website at pgo.net.
Field Trips
Field trips form an integral component of training in the earth sciences and are offered in all years of study, linked to specific courses. Field trips may take place during the lab period or involve a time period beyond the lab, over a single day or weekend trips. To offset transportation costs the Department has instituted a Field Trip Levy for all courses with multiple field trips. In addition, on single day or weekend trips, students are expected to cover costs of accommodation and food. Field trip costs, where applicable, are in addition to the regular tuition fees associated with the course.
Program Notes
- May be replaced with an elective credit. PHYS 1P91 is recommended to fulfill the PGO Compulsory Foundation Science requirements.
- The unspecified science elective credit is to be taken from APCO, BIOL, CHEM, MATH, STAT or PHYS (except ASTR 1P01 , ASTR 1P02 , BIOL 1F25, BIOL 1P23 , BIOL 1P24 , BIOL 1P27 , BIOL 1P28 , CHEM 1P00 , ERSC 1P92 , SCIE 1P50 , SCIE 1P51 and SCIE 1P52 ).
- One of ERSC 3P99 , ERSC 3Q99 , BIOL 3P71 is required for entry to Year 4.
- ERSC 3P99 or ERSC 3Q99 is normally required Spring Session prior to Year 4.
- Students wishing to transfer from the BSc with Major program into BSc Honours program are required to have a minimum 70 percent major average and a minimum 60 percent average in the remaining credits.
- Electives from APCO 1P93 , MATH 1P12 , STAT 2P98 or PHYS 1P92 are recommended to fulfill the PGO Additional Foundation Science requirements.
- ERSC 3P07 and ERSC 4P61 recommended to fulfill the PGO Additional Foundation Geoscience requirements.
- ERSC 3P99 recommended to fulfill the PGO Compulsory Foundation Geoscience requirements.
- ERSC 3P93 recommended to fulfill the PGO Additional Foundation Geoscience Requirements.
- Students wishing to fulfill PGO Geology Group 2C Other Geoscience knowledge requirements are recommended to take a minimum of 2.5 credits from ERSC 2P15 , ERSC 3P03 , ERSC 3P05 , ERSC 3P07 , ERSC 3P25 , ERSC 4F91 , ERSC 4P01 , ERSC 4P10 , ERSC 4P16 , ERSC 4P21 , ERSC 4P28 , ERSC 4P50 , ERSC 4P61 . Students wishing to fulfill PGO Environmental Geoscience Group 2C Other Geoscience knowledge requirements are recommended to take a minimum of 2.5 credits from: ERSC 2P15 , ERSC 3P03 , ERSC 3P05 , ERSC 3P25 , ERSC 3P35 , ERSC 4F91 , ERSC 4P01 , ERSC 4P10 , ERSC 4P16 , ERSC 4P28 , ERSC 4P31 or ERSC 4P50 .
- Students who do not have SCH4U with a minimum grade of 70 percent must take CHEM 1P00 before CHEM 1P91 .
- ERSC 3P59 , ERSC 3P96 and ERSC 4F90 are project-based courses and the completed project must be relevant to the micro-certficate.
- In 20 credit degree programs a maximum of eight credits may be numbered 1(alpha)00 to 1(alpha)99; at least three credits must be numbered 2(alpha)90 or above; at least three credits must be numbered 3(alpha)90 or above; and the remaining credits must be numbered 2(alpha)00 or above.
In 15 credit degree programs a maximum of eight credits may be numbered 1(alpha)00 to 1(alpha)99; at least three credits must be numbered 2(alpha)90 or above; and the remaining credits must be numbered 2(alpha)00 or above.
In some circumstances, in order to meet university degree and program requirements, more than 15 or 20 credits may be taken.