May 10, 2024  
2018-2019 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
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2018-2019 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Course Descriptions

SUNY Oneonta offers students more than 1,400 courses—from Accounting to Zoology—from over 25 separate departments. Requirements for majors and minors and course descriptions are listed under the departments that offer them; and these departments are arranged in alphabetical order. See the “Course Index” for details.

Please note that requirements, courses, and course descriptions are subject to change after publication of this catalog. Contact the appropriate departments for updated information. Also note that some course descriptions have been edited for clarity and consistency. Complete descriptions are available from the instructors or the departments concerned.

Key to Course Descriptions

Abbreviation   Meaning
(PACT)   Activity course in Health & Fitness
(LA)   Liberal Arts (course is a Liberal Arts offering)
SUSF   Sustainability Focused Courses
s.h.   Semester Hour(s)
SoS   Sophomore standing
JrS   Junior standing
SrS   Senior standing

Course Numbering System

001 - 099   No credit; usually developmental in nature.
100 - 199   Lower-division undergraduate-level courses.
200 - 299   Upper-division intermediate undergraduate-level courses.
300 - 499   Upper-division advanced courses.
500 - 699   Graduate-level courses.
 

Earth Science
  

  • ESCI 100 - Introduction to the Earth 3 s.h.

    An introduction to the earth sciences; concepts developed in astronomy, geology, geophysics, meteorology, and oceanography. Lecture only. Credit cannot be applied toward science requirement in any science major in Liberal Arts or Secondary Education. Students who have had high school earth science should consider other introductory earth science classes.
    LA
    NS3
  

  • ESCI 105 - Introduction to Soils 3 s.h.

    Introduction to soils. Focus on the soil as a natural resource and as an ecosystem. Highlights interactions between soils and other components of the natural world (forest, agriculture, wetlands). Introduces soils as systems. Concepts from Biology, Chemistry, Geology. Lecture only.
  

  • ESCI 200 - Investigations in Earth and Planetary Science 4 s.h.

    An exploration of science as inquiry, focusing on the unifying concepts and processes of science as applied to planet Earth. The specific Earth Science content from the K-4 and 5-8 levels of the National Science Education Standards (NRC 1996) will be rigorously and comprehensively explored. Laboratory activities will model science as inquiry, with students engaged in a variety of directed and open-ended investigations of selected Earth and planetary science phenomena and topics. This course is intended primarily for Elementary Education majors, but is open to all students. Content and instruction are consistent with the NSES, NSTA Standards and New York’s MST Learning Standards.
    LA
    NS3
    Prerequisite(s): SoS and EDUC 106 .
  

  • ESCI 214 - Principles of Soil Science 4 s.h.

    Introduction to the principles of soil science to gain an understanding of soils as natural resources and integral components of the terrestrial environment. Focus on fundamental physical, chemical and biological properties of soils and processes governing formation, development and differentiation. Lecture and lab weekly. Labs will focus on practical experiences in soil classification and analyses. A 2-day weekend field trip is mandatory. Offered irregularly.
    Cross-Listed as ENVS 214 .
    Prerequisite(s): ENVS 101 , ENVS 110  ,or 3sh. of 100 level GEOL.
  

  • ESCI 215 - Earth Materials 4 s.h.

    This course provides an overview of the physical and chemical properties, origins, and geologic settings of the major categories of earth materials: minerals, rocks, and geofluids. It includes development of hands-on skills in mineral and rock identification and textural analysis at hand-specimen scale. It is intended for liberal arts Earth Science, Adolescent Education Earth Science, and Environmental Earth Science majors. Offered Fall only.
    LA
    Prerequisite(s): GEOL 120  or GEOL 115  or GEOL 150  or GEOL 182 .
  

  • ESCI 294 - Special Topics in Earth Science 1 s.h. - 4 s.h.

    Selected topics of current geological interest not found in other courses. Subject matter will vary each time the course is offered, reflecting new developments in the field and changing interests of the students and staff. Intended for students majoring in any of the Earth Sciences disciplines or in the Environmental Sciences.
    LA
    Prerequisite(s): SoS, prior courses in Earth Sciences or Environmental Sciences.
  

  • ESCI 295 - Teaching Assistantship in Earth Science 1 s.h. - 2 s.h.

    Provides college-level experience as an assistant to the teaching faculty. Student assistants will serve directly under faculty supervision, with responsibilities such as tutoring, as well as assistance in laboratory classes, review sessions, field trips, laboratory set-up, and administration of classroom functions (e.g., taking attendance, setting up AV facilities). The teaching assistantship may be repeated as ESCI 395 , but with a 3-credit maximum combined total for both courses. Credit can be applied toward earth science elective categories.
    Prerequisite(s): JrS or SrS, major in an Earth Sciences field, minimum GPA 2.5, permission of instructor and chair.
  

  • ESCI 299 - Independent Study in Earth Science 1 s.h. - 6 s.h.

    Individual studies under faculty supervision. Admission by consent of department chair and instructor involved.
    LA
    Prerequisite(s): SoS and prior course(s) in earth sciences.
  

  • ESCI 315 - Laboratory Techniques in Earth Science 2 s.h.

    The selection, preparation, maintenance, and proper use of laboratory equipment and supplies in earth science; application of technologies in the earth science laboratory, practice in developing demonstrations and presentation of topics; planning of inquiry-based laboratory exercises. Offered Spring only.
    Prerequisite(s): JrS and 6 s.h. in approved earth sciences.
    Corequisite(s): SCIN 315 .
  

  • ESCI 394 - Special Topics in Earth Science 1 s.h. - 4 s.h.

    Selected topics in areas of Earth Science in which recent advances have occurred and are not covered adequately in other courses. Subject matter is taught by one or more Earth Science faculty members and varies in content. Intended for Earth Science majors of SoS or higher.
    LA
  

  • ESCI 395 - Teaching Assistantship in Earth Science 1 s.h. - 2 s.h.

    Provides college-level experience as an assistant to the teaching faculty. Student assistants will serve directly under faculty supervision, with responsibilities such as tutoring, as well as assistance in laboratory classes, review sessions, field trips, laboratory set-up, and administration of classroom functions (e.g., taking attendance, setting up AV facilities). There is a 3-credit maximum combined total for ESCI 295  and ESCI 395. Credit can be applied toward earth science elective categories.
    Prerequisite(s): JrS or SrS, major in an Earth Sciences field, minimum GPA 2.5, permission of instructor and chair, ESCI 295 .
  

  • ESCI 396 - Seminar in Environmental Earth Science 1 s.h. - 4 s.h.

    Designed to familiarize majors in the Earth Sciences disciplines (including Environmental Earth Science, Earth Science, Geology, Meteorology, Oceanography, and Water Resources) with current issues and developments in their field by reading, discussion, written reports, and oral presentations with active involvement by all participants. Offered irregularly.
    LA
    Prerequisite(s): enrollment by consent of department chair and instructor involved. Passing grade on CWE.
  

  • ESCI 397 - Internship in Environmental Earth Sciences 1 s.h. - 15 s.h.

    Students are placed with an appropriate organization or agency for applied work experience. Requirements and credits vary with individual internships.
    Prerequisite(s): JrS.
  

  • ESCI 398 - Senior Thesis in Earth Science 3 s.h.

    Individual research under faculty supervision in disciplines of geology, meteorology, or earth science. Enrollment by consent of department chair and instructor involved. A thesis is likely to require more than one semester to complete. A-E only.
    LA
    Prerequisite(s): SrS and permission of instructor and department chair.
  

  • ESCI 399 - Independent Study in Earth Science 1 s.h. - 6 s.h.

    Individual studies under faculty supervision. Admission by consent of department chair and instructor involved.
    LA
    Prerequisite(s): JrS and prior courses in earth sciences.