Department of Earth and Physical Sciences

Our mission

To help develop a scientifically literate and proficient student body, and to encourage the greater community to be informed and engaged in areas of national and global importance such as: the success of the country’s technological industries, responsibly supporting our society’s energy needs, and maintaining the environmental well-being of our planet for posterity.

In support of this mission, our goals as a department are:

• To prepare our majors for careers in their respective scientific professions including, when appropriate, success in employment, graduate school and/or engineering programs.
• To support all students regardless of major, taking required courses in our department or who may benefit from the content of these courses. In particular, to help strengthen students’ skills at critical thinking and problem solving including practical and experimental methods both in the laboratory and in the field.
• To help the population at large to better appreciate our natural environment and how it relates to the human condition.

Geology

Geology is a dynamic discipline, intimately related to the proper management of earth resources and the human environment. The program prepares the student to function upon graduation as a professional geologist or to continue studies at the graduate level. In addition, geology majors may prepare for careers as high-school science teachers or as specialists in the field of environmental protection. Knowledge of the earth has assumed critical importance because of the imminent depletion of many natural resources and the rapid deterioration of the physical environment. Demand for fossil fuels, metals, and industrial minerals, and the development of alternative sources of energy; have opened excellent job opportunities for graduates with a Geology degree. In addition, Federal and State environmental regulations are requiring more geological information than ever before. Oil and mining companies, consulting firms, federal, state and city agencies employ our graduates at present. The objectives of the geology curriculum are to provide the student with a scientific understanding of earth materials, their properties, arrangement, and distribution, as well as the dynamic processes that affect them; the historical dimension of the earth and its inhabitants, the evolutionary processes that shaped them; the geologists role in the proper planning for use of earth resources and the maintenance of the quality of the environment.

The Department offers a major in Geology with Biology and Physics options.

Dr. Nazrul Khandaker, Geology Coordinator

Physics

Physics is the study of the matter and interactions that shape the universe and determine the properties and behavior of the natural world.

The physics program prepares majors for graduate study in physics or astronomy, as well as engineering. In particular, the pre-engineering track within physics prepares students for transfer to advanced undergraduate standing in engineering at City College, CUNY. The problem-solving skills physics degree recipients acquire also qualifies them for a variety of careers in industry including finance. We aim to ensure that students develop the skills and background to master the underlying physical principles of their discipline.

The physics discipline dedicates itself to making accessible a rigorous, high quality science education to a culturally and ethnically diverse population with widely varying degrees of science proficiency and preparation. We proudly provide research experiences for undergraduate physics majors through programs sponsored by the DOE, DOD, NSF, NASA, and other Federal, State, and City agencies.

Students interested in majoring in physics or pre-engineering should take Univ. Physics I (Physics 117 and 113) and its corequisite Calculus I (Math 121) as early as possible in their studies. Please come to the Dept. of Earth and Physical Sciences in Room 2F09 for proper advisement.

Dr. Timothy Paglione, Astronomy Coordinator

Dr. James Popp, Physics and Pre-Engineering Coordinator

Our faculty also hold appointments in the Physics Ph.D. program of the CUNY Graduate Center.

Environmental Health Science

The Environmental Health Science Program is designed for students with a special interest in improving the quality of man's physical environment.

Students will be prepared for careers in industrial, governmental, health care, urban affairs, and educational agencies concerned with environmental health, occupational health, public health, and community interaction.

As professional technologists students will be prepared to assist in the conduct of comprehensive environmental control programs. They will have acquired skills in laboratory and field procedures from the analysis of water, food and air pollutants.

The Department offers a major in Environmental Health Science and a minor in Environmental Science.

Dr. Ratan Dhar, EHS Coordinator

Our faculty also hold appointments in the Earth and Environmental Sciences Ph.D. program of the CUNY Graduate Center.