College of Letters and Science Faculty Document No. 430
Recommendation of the Geosciences Department Faculty to Bifurcate the
Geosciences Major into Two Majors: Geosciences and Atmospheric Sciences
- Current Structure of the Major in Geosciences (current Undergraduate Bulletin copy attached; introductory portion reproduced here)
The Department of Geosciences offers majors in the atmospheric and geological sciences leading to the Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees. The Atmospheric Sciences and Geology-Geophysics Options in the major lead to the BS degree . . . The General Option in the major leads to the BA degree . . .
Course of Study: Majors
All majors in Geosciences must complete at least 15 credits at the advanced level (numbered 300 or above) in residence at UWM.
ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCES
The atmospheric sciences component of the department offers courses designed to prepare students for professional work in meteorology in both government and private service and for graduate study in atmospheric sciences. The Atmospheric Sciences Option leads to a BS degree with a major in geosciences and requires the following courses . . .
All students in the Atmospheric Sciences Option also must take the following courses . . .
GEOLOGICAL SCIENCES
The geological sciences component of the department offers both a Geology-Geophysics and General Option in the major . . .
- Summary of Proposed Change
Divide the existing major into two majors, Atmospheric Sciences and Geosciences, the latter of these having two options, Geology-Geophysics and General.
- Justification for Proposed Change
Atmospheric Science has achieved recognition in the academic and professional arenas, as well as among the general public, as a distinct discipline. This distinct nature is made apparent in academia by the predominance of the atmospheric sciences as a separate department on many university campuses. Professionally, most atmospheric scientists are employed in this core discipline, in both the
Federal government (NOAA/NWS, NOAA/ERL, NASA, etc.) and the private sector (meteorological consulting firms). At UWM, the lack of a distinct structure for atmospheric sciences is largely the result of external and historical considerations related to management. The program, which always has been small, began at UWM in the college of Engineering and was transferred to Geosciences (as part of the College of Letters and Science) in the 1970s. Throughout its history at UWM, the atmospheric sciences program has operated with considerable independence within these larger administrative structures.
Referring to the atmospheric sciences program now as a separate major will in no way hinder its current or future operations; the proposed action does not involve any changes in the courses required for completion of the program. Furthermore, this action will give the UWM program the increased visibility that it needs to attract additional majors and to help those students achieve their future career goals (including admission to graduate school) in the field of atmospheric sciences.
- Proposed Structure of the Major in Geosciences (refer to Undergraduate Bulletin copy attached; introductory portion, as modified, presented here)
The Department of Geosciences offers majors in the atmospheric and geological sciences leading to the Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees. The Atmospheric Sciences Major and Geology-Geophysics Option of the Geosciences Major lead to the BS degree . . . The General Option in the Geosciences Major leads to the BA degree . . .
Course of Study: Majors
All majors in Atmospheric Sciences and Geosciences must complete at least 15 credits at the advanced level (numbered 300 or above) in residence at UWM.
ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCES
The atmospheric sciences major faculty offers courses designed to prepare students for professional work in meteorology in both government and private service and for graduate study in atmospheric sciences. The Atmospheric Sciences Major leads to a BS degree and requires the following courses . . .
All students in the Atmospheric Sciences Major also must take the following courses . . .
GEOLOGICAL SCIENCES
The geological sciences major faculty offers both Geology-Geophysics and General Options in the major . . .
- Recommendation for Action
That the bifurcation of the geosciences major be approved effective Semester II, 1998-99.
Approved: Geosciences faculty, December 1, 1998
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