Earth Sciences Option

Department of Earth Sciences

• Earth Sciences Programs 
• Honours Program 
• Major Program 
• Geological Studies Program
• Co-op Program 

Faculty

• Broster, Bruce, BSc (Waterloo), PhD (UWO), Prof - 1987
• Butler, Karl E., P. Eng, BSc (Queens), MSc (UBC), PhD (UBC), Prof & Chair– 1999
• Enright, Allison, BSc (Ottawa), MSc (Toronto), PhD (Toronto), Asst Prof - 2020
• Keighley, David, BSc (Manchester), PhD (UNB), Prof & Asst Dean - 2004
• Lentz, David R., BSc (UNB), MSc (UNB), PhD (Ottawa), Prof - 2000
• Limoges, Audrey, BSc, MSc, PhD(UQAM), Assoc Prof – 2017
• McFarlane, Chris R.M., BSc (Toronto), MSc (Calgary), PhD (Austin), Prof – 2007
• Shaw, Cliff, BSc (Goldsmiths), MSc, PhD (Western), Prof & Chair – 2002
• Timmermans, Ann C., BSc (Waterloo), MSc (Carleton), PhD (Carleton) Instructor – 2014
• White, Joseph C., BSc, PhD (Western), Prof - 1981
• Williams, Paul F., BSc (Durham), MSc (NSW), PhD (Sydney), Em. Prof - 1980

Adjunct

General Information

The Department of Earth Sciences offers Bachelor of Science options in the Earth Sciences, and in Environmental Geosciences (see the Environmental Geosciences section of this calendar) as well as a Joint Program in Earth Sciences and Physics (see the Interdepartmental Programs section of this calendar).  Co-op programs are available.  A Bachelor of Arts in Earth Sciences, and a Minor in Earth Sciences, are also offered for students in other programs that are interested in a coherent set of earth science courses.  Introductory (1000-level) lecture courses require no previous (high school) exposure to the earth sciences.

Further details about Earth Sciences are available at https://www.unb.ca/fredericton/science/depts/earth-sciences/index.html.

W.E. Hale Fund and the McAllister/Silver Standard Fund

In addition to the required field schools, the Department supports non-credit field trips in alternate years through the W.E. Hale Fund and the McAllister/Silver Standard Fund.  These funds partly defray the cost for students of trips generally scheduled during spring break or after the end of the winter term.  The Hale Fund was established by the friends and colleagues of the late Dr. W.E. Hale, a Professor and former Chair of the Department of Geology (Earth Sciences), and the itinerary is initiated by the students.  In the past the Hale Fund has sponsored trips to Iceland, Ireland and Scotland, the Eifel region in Germany, Italy, Hawaii, and Greece.  The McAllister/Silver Standard Fund was established by Dr Robert Quartermain, BSc UNB, founder of Silver Standard, in honour of the late Dr. Arnie McAllister, also a former Department Chair, who introduced Robert to Economic Geology.  The McAllister/Silver Standard trip is initiated by a faculty member and previously has visited Spain and Portugal, Greek Islands, Grand Canyon and SW USA, Nevada USA, and Eastern Europe.

Professional Registration

Geoscience is a regulated profession in most of Canada. Individual provinces and territories have legislative acts that restrict the practice of geoscience to individuals who are registered members of professional associations. In New Brunswick, the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of New Brunswick (APEGNB) is the licensing body. In order to meet the requirements of professional registration, specific academic training and four years of appropriate full-time experience as a geologist- or geophysicist-in-training following graduation are needed. Geoscientists Canada has developed a set of guidelines for the academic training that are used by most provinces. The professional stream programs offered by the Department (Earth Sciences Option, honours and major programs; Environmental Geosciences option, honours and major programs) meet these current guidelines. However, because the academic requirements are set by the individual provincial bodies, outside of the control of the Department of Earth Sciences, and the provincial bodies are free to change their requirements at any time, there is no guarantee that a student will meet the academic requirements for registration. Students are urged to consult the relevant provincial body to ensure that they meet the necessary subject and grade requirements.

Earth Sciences Programs

Within the Earth Sciences Option, four programs are offered to students starting their second year in Science: 

1. Earth Sciences, Major Program (minimum of 139 ch): This program (or the Honours version below) is recommended for students intending to either pursue graduate studies in the Earth Sciences, or whose goal is to become a professional geoscientist. It has more required courses so that the program is designed to meet the current knowledge requirements for professional registration.  
2. Earth Sciences, Honours Program (minimum of 147 ch): This program follows the same outline as the Earth Sciences major program above, but gives the student the opportunity to undertake specialized independent research in some aspect of the Earth Sciences that is then submitted as a written thesis.  A cgpa of 3.0 is required at the time of entry, normally the start of the student’s final year. Honours students are not formally recognized as such until this time. The program is designed to meet the current knowledge requirements for professional registration. 
3. Geological Studies, Major Program (minimum of 135 ch): This program is designed for those students who are looking for some specialization in Earth Sciences and the opportunity of taking more elective courses outside the Department. Minimum course requirements are given below. Students are reminded that courses offered by other Departments can form an important complementary part of the overall course of studies. This program typically does not meet all of the requirements for professional registration. 
4. Geological Studies, Honours Program (minimum of 143 ch): This program follows the same outline as the Geological Studies major program above, but gives the student the opportunity to undertake specialized independent research in some aspect of the Earth Sciences that is then submitted as a written thesis.  A cgpa of 3.0 is required at the time of entry, normally the start of the student’s final year. Honours students are not formally recognized as such until this time. This program typically does not meet all of the requirements for professional registration.  

All students in the Earth Sciences, Geological Studies and Environmental Geosciences programs will take a common core in the first two years of study (only Geological Studies students may make limited substitutions as indicated). However, by the end of the winter term of the second year, students must finalize an option and major program stream (Honours may be requested after 3rd year). Because many third and fourth year courses are offered in alternate years, students must consult with the Director of Undergraduate Studies when planning their program in order to graduate in a timely fashion. All required and elective ESCI courses must be passed with a grade of C or better to count toward graduation. 

Common Core

First Year (37 ch minimum)

ESCI 1001, ESCI 1006 or ESCI 1026 or ESCI 1703, ESCI 1012, ESCI 1017;SCI 1001, SCI 1002; MATH 1003 or MATH 1053, MATH 1013 or MATH 1063; CHEM 1001, CHEM 1006, CHEM 1012, CHEM 1017. The third science must also include the labs, PHYS 1051 (or PHYS 1061 or PHYS 1071), PHYS 1052 (or  PHYS 1062 or PHYS 1072), PHYS 1091, PHYS 1092, or BIOL 1001, BIOL 1006, BIOL 1012, BIOL 1017. Students planning a Geological Studies degree may discuss with the Director of Undergraduate Studies regarding switching MATH 1013 and MATH 1503. 

Second Year (33 ch minimum plus 5 ch field school after winter exams)

ESCI 2131, ESCI 2142, ESCI 2211, ESCI 2272, ESCI 2321, ESCI 2602, ESCI 2703, STAT 2264 or STAT 2593, plus two science electives (6 ch minimum) chosen from the following:

PHYS 1051 (or equivalent) and PHYS 1091 (counts as one elective)
PHYS 1052 (or equivalent) and PHYS 1092 (counts as one elective)
BIOL 1001 and BIOL 1006 (counts as one elective)
BIOL 1012 and BIOL 1017 (counts as one elective)
MATH 1503 or MATH 2003
CS 1003 or CS 1073
CHEM 2121 or CHEM 2201 or CHEM 2321 or CHEM 2401 or CHEM 2421

Courses used to satisfy first year requirements cannot be used to satisfy second year requirements.  Other sciences may be taken with the approval of the Director of Undergraduate Studies, but students planning an Earth Sciences or Environmental Geosciences program must have taken a full year of physics (PHYS 1051/PHYS 1052 or equivalents, and PHYS 1091/PHYS 1092) by the end of second year. Students planning a Geological Studies degree need not complete a full year of Physics, and may discuss with the Director of Undergraduate Studies regarding switching the field school (ESCI 2703) to other approved courses totalling 5-6 ch.

Earth Sciences Major Program

Third and Fourth Year (64 ch minimum)

ESCI 3131, ESCI 3322, ESCI 3703, ESCI 4312; one of ESCI 4501 or ESCI 4512, two of ESCI 3482, ESCI 3492, or ESCI 4461; two of ESCI 4112 or ESCI 4212 or ESCI 4401, plus the following electives:

Electives:

Two ESCI electives in the 2000 level or above. Optional courses not used above may be used as electives.

Twenty-one credit hours of elective courses from any Faculty or Department. Twelve ch from the Faculty of Arts, and an Ethics or First Nations course are recommended. Additional ESCI courses may be counted here up to a maximum of three courses.

Earth Sciences Honours Program

Entrance to the Earth Sciences Honours Program requires a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 overall, by the end of the third year. The student must have completed all first and second year requirements and at least 20 ch of upper level (3000 or 4000) earth science courses. An application for admission to the Honours program, available from the Director of Undergraduate Studies, must be submitted by the last day to add classes of the fall term of the fourth year. Students not admitted to the Honours Program may continue in the Major Program.

For graduation with an Honours degree, a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 and a grade of B- or higher in ESCI 4900 are required. Students failing to meet these requirements will be awarded a Major degree.

Third and Fourth Year (73 ch minimum)

Course requirements are the same as for the Major program, plus ESCI 4900.

Geological Studies Major Program

Third and Fourth Year (61 ch minimum)

Eight courses of ESCI electives at the 2000 level or above (28 ch minimum).

Four elective courses from the Faculty of Arts (minimum of 12 ch).

At least seven free elecive courses (minimum of 21 ch) from any Faculty or Department. Additional ESCI courses may be counted here up to a maximum of three courses. 

Students are encouraged to use their free electives for a minor. 

Geological Studies Honours Program

Entrance to the Geological Studies Honours Program requires a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 overall, by the end of the third year. The student must have completed all first and second year requirements and at least 20 ch of upper level (3000 or 4000) earth science courses. An application for admission to the Honours program, available from the Director of Undergraduate Studies, must be submitted by the last day to add classes of the fall term of the fourth year. Students not admitted to the Honours Program may continue in the Major Program. 

For graduation with an Honours degree, a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 and a grade of B- or higher in ESCI 4900 are required. Students failing to meet these requirements will be awarded a Major degree. 

Third and Fourth Year (69 ch minimum)

Course requirements are the same as for the Major program, plus ESCI 4900. 

Co-op Program (Major and Honours Only)

The UNB Faculty of Science seeks to provide opportunities for students and employers to develop relationships that enhance the learning experience for students and present employers with skilled, motivated employees looking to make a career connection. To achieve this, the Faculty through the Department of Earth Sciences, and other Science departments and programs, operates a Co-operative education program. Co-op opportunities are available for qualified students, please refer to the Science section of this calendar for detailed information.

Note that field schools occur at the end of Winter Term in the second year and either at the end of term in the third year or before the start of Fall Term in the fourth year, so Work Terms must be carefully planned to graduate in a timely fashion.

Minor Program

The Department also offers a Minor in Earth Sciences following the University guidelines outlined in the online calendar. The minor must be pre-approved by the Director of Undergraduate Studies.

A Minor consists of first year earth sciences (ESCI 1001, ESCI 1006 or ESCI 1026 or ESCI 1703, ESCI 1012, ESCI 1017) and an additional 14 ch of approved earth sciences courses (total of 24 ch minimum).

Students whose programs require first year earth sciences courses may count these courses towards their minor. The student must get a grade of C or better in all courses used for the minor.

The Earth Sciences Minor does not meet the requirements for professional registration in New Brunswick.

Students in joint, interdepartmental, or interfaculty programs involving the Department of Earth Sciences are not eligible for a Minor in Earth Sciences.