College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences

Department of Plants, Soils and Climate

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• For more information about Climate Science, see the department website.

• Following is a sample four-year plan. Please note that student-specific plans may differ.

• Admitted students must meet with an advisor. Current students should also meet with an advisor and log on to Degree Works  to check student-specific program progress.

 

Minimum University Requirements
Total Credits	125			Grade Point Average (most majors require higher GPA)	2.0 GPA
Credits of C- or better	100			Credits of upper-division courses (#3000 or above)	40
Total USU Credits	30			Upper-division USU Credits	20
USU Credits within the Major	15			Credits in Minor (if required)	12
Credits in Major	see below			Credits in American Institutions	3
General Education Requirements	see link			University Studies Depth Requirements	see link
NOTES: The highest math requirement for this degree is MATH 2250: Linear Algebra and Differential Equations (QI) .

 

Admissions Requirements for this Program
New freshmen	Admitted to USU in Good Standing			Transfer students from other institutions or other programs at USU	2.75 GPA

First Year
Fall Semester	Credits	General Education Info and Notes:		Spring Semester	Credits	General Education Info and Notes:
GEO 1110: Physical Geology (BPS)	3			CHEM 1110: General Chemistry I (BPS)	4
GEO 1115: Physical Geology Laboratory	1			Breadth Humanities (BHU)	3
MATH 1210: Calculus I (QL)	4			ENGL 2010: Intermediate Writing: Research Writing in a Persuasive Mode (CL2)	3
ENGL 1010: Introduction to Writing: Academic Prose (CL1)	3			MATH 1220: Calculus II (QL)	4
SOC 1010: Introductory Sociology (BSS)	3	Recommended BSS course		Elective	1
POLS 1100: United States Government and Politics (BAI)	3	Recommended BAI course
Comments				Comments

Second Year
Fall Semester	Credits	General Education Info and Notes:		Spring Semester	Credits	General Education Info and Notes:
PSC 2000: The Atmosphere and Weather (BPS)	3			PSC Elective	3
PHYS 2210: Physics for Scientists and Engineers I (BPS/QI)	4			JCOM 1130: News Writing	3
MATH 2210: Multivariable Calculus (QI)	3			MATH 2250: Linear Algebra and Differential Equations (QI)	4
PSC 3000: Fundamentals of Soil Science	4			WILD 2200 - Ecology of Our Changing World (BLS)	3
Breadth Creative Arts (BCA)	3			WATS 3000: Oceanography (DSC)	3
Comments				Comments

Third Year
Fall Semester (Taiwan)	Credits	General Education Info and Notes:		Spring Semester (Taiwan)	Credits	General Education Info and Notes:
PSC 4850 - Physics of Climate	3			GEO 3100: Natural Disasters (DSC)	3	Online
PSC 4840 - Climate Dynamics	3			PSC 4880 - Earth System Science	3
PSC 4860 - Atmospheric Thermodynamics	3			PSC 4870 - Synoptic Meteorology	3	(odd spring semesters)
Depth Social Sciences (DSS)	3			PSC 5410 - Hydroclimate	3	Online
PSC 4830 - Atmospheric Instrumentation and Operation  or PSC 5000 - Environmental Instrumentation	3  or 2			PSC 4810: Climate and Climate Change (DSC/QI)	3
Comments:				Comments:

Fourth Year
Fall Semester	Credits	General Education Info and Notes:		Spring Semester	Credits	General Education Info and Notes:
PSC 4123 - Climate Data Analysis	3			PSC 4740 - Climate Practicum	4
Elective	3			Communications Intensive (CI)	3
STAT 2000: Statistical Methods (QI)	4			PSC Elective	3
Elective	2			PSC 5500: Environmental Physics of Land Ecosystems and Climate	3
Depth Humanities and Creative Arts (DHA)  or Communications Intensive (CI)	3			Elective	2
Comments				Comments

 

Coursework for this major requires a GPA of 2.5 or higher.