Mar 28, 2024  
2022-2023 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2022-2023 Undergraduate Catalog [NOTE!!!! THIS IS AN ARCHIVED CATALOG. FOR THE CURRENT CATALOG, GO TO CATALOG.NIU.EDU]

Earth, Atmosphere and Environment (GEOG, GEOL, MET)


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The Department of Geology and Environmental Geosciences offers a B.S. degree with emphases in geology, environmental geosciences, and earth science teaching. The environmental geosciences emphasis includes cross-disciplinary study with other departments. The emphases are designed to prepare students for a variety of careers in environmental geology, geology and hydrogeology, secondary teaching, and other professions that utilize geoscience information. The program also prepares students for graduate study in geology, geochemistry, geophysics, oceanography, hydrogeology, and other environmental fields. The program is flexible to accommodate the needs of students with a variety of interests. For this reason, the student must consult with a departmental adviser at the earliest possible opportunity to plan a program of courses that will fulfill her or his objectives.

The department’s 100-level courses can be used by non-majors toward fulfilling the science area requirement of the university’s general education program. A minor is offered in geology and environmental geosciences which should be of interest to majors in geography, biology, physics, and chemistry. The department also participates in the interdisciplinary minor in environmental studies. A departmental honors program is available for outstanding students.

The Department of Geographic and Atmospheric Sciences offers the B.A. and B.S. degrees with a major in geography and the B.S. degree with a major in meteorology. The major in geography has emphases in geography and geomatics. An advanced studies certificate is also available in GIS.

The major in meteorology provides training for students interested in general meteorology, weather forecasting, and environmental meteorology, and the education necessary for graduate work in the atmospheric sciences. The program offers the student the opportunity to participate in the NIU Weather Service. Students may pursue a double major in geography and meteorology or the major in meteorology and a minor in geography.

The department offers a minor in geography and a departmental honors program and participates in the interdisciplinary minors in black studies, environmental management systems, environmental studies, global studies, Latino/Latin American studies, and Southeast Asian studies.

Earth, Atmosphere and Environment Faculty

Mark R. Frank, Ph.D., University of Maryland, professor, chair
Walker S. Ashley, Ph.D., University of Georgia; Presidential Teaching Professor; Presidential Research, Scholarship and Artistry Professor
Robert Brinkmann, Ph.D. University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, professor
Megan R.M. Brown, Ph.D., University of Colorado, Boulder, assistant professor
Philip J. Carpenter, Ph.D., New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, professor emeritus
Xuwei Chen, Ph.D., Texas State University, associate professor
Justin P. Dodd, Ph.D., University of New Mexico, associate professor
Mark P. Fischer, Ph.D., The Pennsylvania State University, professor
Courtney M. Gallaher, Ph.D., Michigan State University, associate professor
Vittorio (Victor) Gensini, Ph.D., University of Georgia, associate professor
Alex Haberlie, Ph.D., Northern Illinois University, assistant professor
Michael E. Konen, Ph.D., Iowa State University, associate professor
Nicole D. LaDue, Ph.D., Michigan State University, associate professor
Melissa E. Lenczewski, Ph.D., University of Tennessee, Presidential Engagement and Partnerships Professor
Wei Luo, Ph.D., Washington University, Distinguished Research Professor
Allison C. Michaelis, Ph.D., North Carolina State University, assistant professor
Ross D. Powell, Ph.D., The Ohio State University, Distinguished Research Professor, Board of Trustees Professor, professor emeritus
Reed P. Scherer, Ph.D., The Ohio State University, Distinguished Research Professor, Board of Trustees Professor
Jie Song, Ph.D., University of Delaware, professor
Nathan D. Stansell, Ph.D., University of Pittsburgh, associate professor
James L. Wilson, Ph.D., University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, associate professor

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