About the Degree
Getting started in the EaES Major or Minor Heading link
- Define your academic goals as early as possible to be able to meet the requirements of the College and the Department in a minimum amount of time.
- Meet once a semester with the Undergraduate Student Advisor: Mr. Greg Keller (3276 SES, (312) 996-4646, gkeller1@uic.edu) is available to answer questions and assist you with making a course plan and meet degree requirements.
- Contact the Director of Undergraduate Studies: Professor Fabien Kenig (2450 SES, (312) 996-3020, fkenig@uic.edu) is available to answer and assist you with any questions you may have about the EaES requirements and provide guidance as you plan your academic and career path.
- Join the EaES listserv: Listserv e-mails contain information on internships, Department events, scholarship opportunities, etc. If you are not signed up, please contact the Director of Undergraduate Studies.
- Check Department Bulletin Boards: In the 2400 quadrant of SES, information on jobs, internships, scholarships, etc. is posted on Bulletin Boards throughout the hallways.
Earning an EaES Degree Heading link
To earn a Bachelor of Science in Earth and Environmental Sciences, students need to complete university, college, and department requirements. The Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences is within the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at UIC. Department degree requirements are outlined below.
To be recommended for graduation with Departmental Distinction, a student must have a GPA in mathematics and science courses of at least 3.20/4.00 or at least 3.50/4.00 for High Distinction. For Highest Distinction, students must have a GPA of at least 3.70/4.00, as well as superior performance in EAES 396, entitled Independent Research, which allows students to work one-on-one with faculty.
table of requirements Heading link
| Summary of Requirements | Hours |
|---|---|
| Required Prerequisite and Collateral Courses | 26-28 |
| EaES Department Requirements: Core Courses | 20 |
| EaES Department Requirements: Selective Courses | 19 |
| College of LAS Requirements: General Education and Electives | 53-55 |
| Total Hours | 120 |
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences - General Education Requirements Heading link
Students are required to complete a set of general education course requirements in order to earn a degree in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Some requirements will be fulfilled naturally as you complete the major, such as Writing in the Discipline and Quantitative Reasoning, but you may need to specifically sign up for other requirements, such as English Composition or a foreign language class.
General Education Core
General Education at UIC is designed to serve as a foundation for lifelong learning. The following General Education Core requirements for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences satisfy the University’s minimum requirements. The General Education Core includes the following six categories: Analyzing the Natural World, Understanding the Individual and Society, Understanding the Past, Understanding the Creative Arts, Exploring World Cultures, and Understanding U.S. Society. You must take at least one course in all six categories.
General Education Proficiencies—Foreign Language, Quantitative Reasoning, and University Writing
Students in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences must demonstrate competency in a foreign language (equivalent of 4 semesters), quantitative reasoning, writing composition (ENGL 160 and 161), and writing-in-the discipline (EAES 290) to earn a degree.
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences - Other Requirements Heading link
As a requirement for graduation, the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences stipulates that every graduating student must have taken a minimum of 40 credit hours at the 200, 300, and 400 levels at a 4-year institution; these may include hours in the major. The courses needed to fulfill this requirement can be in any discipline; however, as you approach graduation, you will probably find that advanced EAES courses will allow you to satisfy the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences requirement. Warning: It is easy to reach your senior year still taking 100-level courses and as a consequence fail to satisfy this requirement.
The college also requires that your last 30 hours of course work be completed at UIC and that you complete at least 60 hours after reaching junior status must be at a 4-year institution. This last rule means that you should not take courses at a community college after your sophomore year.