Major in Applied Geosciences
The Applied Geosciences program integrates Earth system science, environmental inquiry, and geospatial analysis to examine how physical processes and natural resource systems interact across spatial and temporal scales. Students develop expertise in climate, hydrology, soils, earth materials, landforms, ecosystems, and environmental change while building empirical, spatial, and field-based skills to analyze and evaluate complex Earth data. The Earth and Ecosystem Resource Management concentration brings together geoscientific analysis of earth materials, hydrologic and climate systems, and surface processes with ecosystem stewardship, environmental governance, and resource policy, preparing students to assess land and water systems, evaluate socio-ecological resilience, and design evidence-informed management strategies. The Geodata and Geospatial Analytics concentration integrates Earth-system knowledge with advanced geospatial methods, spatial statistics, remote sensing, computational analysis, and systems modeling, developing proficiency in interpreting geoenvironmental datasets and translating spatial evidence into decisions-relevant insights. Through this integration of geoscientific depth, environmental analysis, analytical rigor, and applied systems thinking, graduates are prepared to confront pressing challenges and complex issues involving resource sustainability, environmental risk, and climate variability across professional and research contexts. By connecting geoscientific foundations with ecosystem management and policy, the program equips students to lead at the intersection of science, data, and environmental decision-making.
Admission to the Applied Geosciences program is open to students who meet the University’s general admission requirements. There are no additional program-specific admission requirements beyond those required for admission to the University.
University Core Curriculum Requirements
| General Education Distribution Area | Cr. Hrs. |
|---|---|
| Fine Arts (FA)* 2 courses, from at least two of the following areas of study: Art, CMT (Mass Media or Theatre), Music (includes Dance). | 6 |
| Humanities (HU)* 3 courses, from at least two of the following areas of study: CMT (Communication), English, Linguistics. Philosophy, Women's and Gender Studies, World Languages and Cultures, (Note: No more than two foreign language courses may be used to fulfill this requirement.) | 9 |
| Behavioral/Social Sciences (SB)* 3 courses, from at least two of the following areas of study: African & African American Studies, Anthropology, Computer Science, Economics, Geography & Environmental Studies, History, Justice Studies, Latino & Latin American Studies, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology, Social Work | 9 |
| Natural Sciences (NS and NSL)** 3 courses, from at least two of the following areas of study; one course must have a laboratory component (NSL): Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science, Environmental Science, Physics (Note: If an FYE ANTH that counts as Natural Science is taken, only one Biology course may be used for Natural Science). | 9 |
| Engaged Learning Experiences | |
| Students must complete, at Northeastern, three courses designated as Engaged Learning Experiences courses. One of the Engaged Learning Experiences courses must be at the 300-level, and one Engaged Learning Experiences course must be designated as "Boundary Crossing". | |
| Discipline Specific (ELE-DS) These courses have pre-requisites that are specific courses within a program of study. Discipline Specific courses give students a deeper understanding of how knowledge is created and applied in their field. | |
| Boundary Crossing (ELE-X) These are courses that cross disciplinary boundaries and/or cross boundaries through engagements outside the classroom or University allowing students to see how knowledge gained in one field might inform other fields or other aspects of society. | |
| Math/Quantitative Reasoning (MA) 1 Math course, that has intermediate Algebra as prerequisite OR is a course listed on the General Education Distributive Learning List of Approved Courses. Any 3 hour college level math course, beyond Intermediate Algebra, meets this requirement. |
- *
Majors in Fine Arts, Humanities or Social/Behavioral Sciences, may waive up to 6 credit hours of General Education requirements in the corresponding distribution area.
- **
Majors in Natural Sciences may waive up to 9 credit hours of General Education requirements in the Natural Sciences distribution area.
Students should also be aware of all other university requirements to obtain a degree - NEIU requirements
Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Degree in Applied Geosciences
To obtain the Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Applied Geosciences, students will complete a common core in geography, environmental studies, and geoscience foundations, required cognate courses, and choose one of two concentrations: Earth and Ecosystem Resource Management or Geodata and Geospatial Analytics. Both concentrations provide applied, interdisciplinary training that integrates Earth-system science with environmental analysis and geospatial methods to examine complex natural resource management and environmental challenges.
Core Courses (19-20 Credit Hours):
The program core establishes shared foundations in Geography, Environmental Studies, and Geosciences to develop the conceptual and methodological framework that supports advanced concentration-specific study.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| GES-104 | World Geography | 3 |
| GES-150 | Introduction To Environmental Studies | 3 |
| GES-205 | Physical Geography | 3 |
| or ESCI-211 | Physical Geology | |
| GES-374 | Research Methods | 3 |
| GES-391 | Introduction To GIS | 3 |
| Capstone | ||
Cognate Courses (20-22 Credit Hours):
To support the scientific and quantitative rigor of the B.S. in Applied Geosciences, students must complete foundational coursework in mathematics, statistics, and complementary STEM disciplines. These courses provide analytical, laboratory, and computational competencies required for advanced study in Earth systems, resource management, and geospatial analysis.
Required (8 Credit Hours):
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MATH-187 | Calculus I | 4 |
| MATH-275 | Applied And Computational Statistics | 4 |
Additional Cognate Courses (12–14 Credit Hours):
Students must complete three additional courses selected from at least two different disciplines among the following blocks. Selection of additional cognate coursework should reflect the student’s chosen concentration and professional goals. Students in the Earth and Ecosystem Resource Management concentration are encouraged to consider coursework in biology, chemistry, and physics to strengthen ecological, hydrologic, and material process understanding. Students in the Geodata and Geospatial Analytics concentration may benefit from additional preparation in biology, mathematics, or computer science to support quantitative modeling and computational analysis. Final course selection is made in consultation with a faculty advisor.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| BIOLOGY | ||
| BIO-201 | General Biology I | 4 |
| BIO-202 | General Biology II | 4 |
| CHEMISTRY | ||
| CHEM-211 | General Chemistry I | 5 |
| CHEM-212 | General Chemistry II | 4 |
| CHEM-331 | Instrumental Analysis: Quantitative Methods | 5 |
| PHYSICS | ||
| PHYS-201L | College Physics I With Lab | 5 |
| or PHYS-206L | University Physics I With Lab | |
| PHYS-202L | College Physics II With Lab | 5 |
| or PHYS-207L | University Physics II With Lab | |
| PHYS-305 | Modern Physics I | 3 |
| PHYS-330 | Writing Intensive Program: Experimental Methods | 3 |
| MATHEMATICS | ||
| MATH-202 | Calculus II | 4 |
| COMPUTER SCIENCE | ||
| CS-200 | Programming Fundamentals | 4 |
| CS-351 | Data Wrangling For Data Analysis | 3 |
Earth and Ecosystem Resource Management Concentration
The Earth and Ecosystem Resource Management concentration emphasizes Earth surface processes, hydrologic and climatic systems, and the sustainable management of natural and ecosystem resources. Students gain field-based, analytical, and policy-informed skills applicable to land, soil, water, and ecosystems, preparing them for professional roles in applied geoscience, resource management, environmental stewardship, consulting, and related fields.
In addition to completion of the program core and required cognate coursework, students must complete the following concentration requirements and approved electives.
Required Courses (17 Credit Hours):
Students must complete the required number of courses from each of the following course blocks.
Block 1: Earth Materials and Dynamics (Select 2 courses - 8 Credit Hours):
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ESCI-306 | Writing Intensive Program: Earth Materials | 4 |
| ESCI-312 | Historical Geology | 4 |
| ESCI-329 | Soil Science | 4 |
| ESCI-337 | Principles Of Hydrogeology | 4 |
| ESCI-307 | Climate Change: Evidence, Causes, Effects | 4 |
| ESCI-347 | Climate Change: Past, Present, Future | 4 |
| ESCI-317 | Sedimentology And Stratigraphy | 4 |
| ESCI-330 | Structural Geology | 4 |
Block 2: Environment and Resource Management (Select 2 courses - 6 Credit Hours):
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| GES-301 | Great Lakes Environmental Management | 3 |
| GES-311 | Social Dimensions Of Water Resources Management | 3 |
| GES-323 | Green Infrastructure Planning And Management | 3 |
| GES-327 | Forest Resource Management | 3 |
| GES-328 | Wildlife Resource Management | 3 |
| GES-344 | Chicago River Issues | 3 |
Block 3: Sustainability and Policy (Select 1 courses - 3 Credit Hours):
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| GES-308 | Conservation Psychology | 3 |
| GES-314 | Political Geography | 3 |
| GES-319 | Environmental And Natural Resources Policy | 3 |
| GES-329 | Sustainable Energy Policy | 3 |
| GES-338 | Sustainable Development | 3 |
| GES-350 | Climate Change: International Policy And Politics | 3 |
| GES-359 | Environmental Planning | 3 |
Elective Courses (12 Credit Hours):
Students must also complete additional approved elective coursework selected from concentration-appropriate offerings to meet total credit hours required for the degree.
Geodata and Geospatial Analytics Concentration
The Geodata and Geospatial Analytics concentration emphasizes advanced geospatial and quantitative analysis, including remote sensing, spatial statistics, computational methods, and system modeling applied to earth, environmental, and resource systems. Students gain proficiency in interpreting large geoscientific and environmental datasets and translating spatial evidence into decision-relevant insights for governmental, private-sector, and research settings.
In addition to completion of the program core and required cognate coursework, students must complete the following concentration requirements and approved electives.
Required Courses (18 Credit Hours):
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| GES-390 | Remote Sensing And Digital Image Processing | 3 |
| GES-351 | Spatial Statistics | 3 |
| ESCI-381 | Working With Earth Data In Python | 4 |
| ESCI-384 | Modeling Dynamic Systems | 4 |
| or ESCI-307 | Climate Change: Evidence, Causes, Effects | |
| ESCI-385 | Community Data Lab | 4 |
Elective Courses (12 Credit Hours):
Students must also complete additional approved elective coursework selected from concentration-appropriate offerings to meet total credit hours required for the degree.
This sample curricular map is provided to guide program planning for students who plan to attend as full-time students. This guide should not replace regular consultations with your program advisor. For specific recommendations of courses not identified, please consult your program advisor.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Term 1 | Hours | |
| FYE Course (e.g., ESCI-109) | 3 | |
| GES-104 | World Geography | 3 |
| ENGL-101 | Writing I | 3 |
| General Education Course (FA1) | 3 | |
| General Education Course (H1) | 3 | |
| Term Hours | 15 | |
| Term 2 | ||
| GES-350 | Climate Change: International Policy And Politics | 3 |
| ESCI-211 | Physical Geology | 4 |
| MATH-173 | College Algebra | 4 |
| ENGL-102 | Writing II | 3 |
| Term Hours | 14 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Term 1 | ||
| GES-374 | Research Methods | 3 |
| MATH-185 | Precalculus | 4 |
| BIO-201 | General Biology I | 4 |
| Concentration Requirement 1 | 4 | |
| Term Hours | 15 | |
| Term 2 | ||
| GES-391 | Introduction To GIS | 3 |
| MATH-187 | Calculus I | 4 |
| Concentration Requirement 2 | 4 | |
| General Education Course (H2) | 3 | |
| Term Hours | 14 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Term 1 | ||
| MATH-275 | Applied And Computational Statistics | 4 |
| Concentration Requirement 3 | 4 | |
| Concentration Elective 1 | 4 | |
| General Education Course (FA2) | 3 | |
| Term Hours | 15 | |
| Term 2 | ||
| CHEM-211 | General Chemistry I | 5 |
| Concentration Requirement 4 | 4 | |
| Concentration Elective 2 | 4 | |
| General Education Course (SS3) | 3 | |
| Term Hours | 16 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Term 1 | ||
| PHYS-206L | University Physics I With Lab | 5 |
| Concentration Requirement 5 | 3 | |
| Concentration Elective 3 | 4 | |
| General Education Course (H3) | 3 | |
| Term Hours | 15 | |
| Term 2 | ||
| 300-level course | 4 | |
| 300-level course | 4 | |
| 300-level course | 4 | |
| Capstone | 3 | |
| Term Hours | 15 | |
| Total Hours: | 119 | |