Snow Science Option
The snow program in the Department of Earth Sciences provides a foundation for understanding the distribution of snow (geography), mechanics of snow (physics, engineering), composition of snow (chemistry), variability of snow (statistics), and ecological effects of snow (ecology, hydrology). It is also one of the best pre-professional programs in the world for those who want to carry their interests in snow into a professional career. Employment ranges from ski patrol, director of snow safety, avalanche-center employee, snow scientist with a federal agency, or consulting in the area of land use planning, transportation engineering, or avalanche protection.
The optimal degree for employment and advancement in snow science is the Master's Degree. Some students interested in college teaching or advanced research may require a Ph.D. degree. The snow science option is an excellent preparatory degree both for employment and for advanced graduate studies.
In the Snow Science Option, students progress through a broad-based core of courses that includes introductory geology and geography, calculus, chemistry, physics, weather and climate, geomorphology, glacial geology, and mountain geography. In addition to the core of snow science courses, students focus on snow geography, snow mechanics, or snow statistics. Snow geography examines spatial analysis of factors important to snow distribution, snow hydrology, snow melt, and the analysis of factors which influence the spatial distribution of snow or snow avalanche factors. Snow mechanics prepares the student to study the mechanics of snow as it relates to transportation, avalanche release, and the impact of snow on buildings (loading and avalanche impact forces), as well as snow metamorphism and snow strength. The snow statistics emphasis prepares the student to apply statistical techniques to questions about spatial and temporal variability of snow properties such as strength, depth, grain size, grain type, water content, and fracture initiation. The capstone course is snow dynamics and accumulation. Students are strongly encouraged to consider a graduate degree in snow science to prepare for professional jobs, but such training is not always required.
Courses Required in Department
| Freshman Year | Credits |
|---|---|
| ERTH 101IN - Earth System Sciences | 4 |
| ERTH 102CS - Topics in Earth Sciences* | 1 |
| GPHY 141D - Geography of World Regions | 3 |
| M 171Q - Calculus I | 4 |
| M 172Q - Calculus II | 4 |
| University Core and Electives | 12 |
| Year Total: | 30 |
| Sophomore Year | Credits |
| CHMY 141 - College Chemistry I | 4 |
| CHMY 143 - College Chemistry II | 4 |
| PHSX 205 - College Physics I | 4 |
| PHSX 207 - College Physics II | 4 |
| ERTH 303 - Weather and Climate | 3 |
| University Core and Electives | 11 |
| Year Total: | 30 |
| Junior Year | Credits |
| ERTH 307 - Principles of Geomorphology | 4 |
| Courses from Core and Snow Geography, Mechanics, or Statistics Emphasis | 26 |
| Year Total: | 30 |
| Senior Year | Credits |
| ERTH 450R - Snow Dynamics and Accumulation | 4 |
| GPHY 441R - Mountain Geography | 4 |
| GEO 445 - Glacial Geology | 3 |
| Courses from Core and Snow Geography, Mechanics, or Statistics Emphasis | 19 |
| Year Total: | 30 |
| Total Program Credits: | 120 |
| * | Students are required to take 3 credits of ERTH 102CS to fulfill department requirements as well as Core 2.0 |
| ** | Snow Geography concentration take BIOB 170IN |
Select one of the following areas of Emphasis: Snow Geography, Snow Mechanics, Snow Statistics
Snow Geography Emphasis
| BIOB 170IN | Principles of Biological Diversity | 4 |
| GPHY 121D | Human Geography | 3 |
| GPHY 284 | Intro to GIS Science & Cartog | 3 |
| STAT 332 | Statistics for Scientists and Engineers * | 3 |
| GPHY 365 | Geographical Planning | 3 |
| GPHY 384 | Adv GIS and Spatial Analysis | 3 |
| GPHY 411 | Biogeography | 3 |
| GPHY 484R | Applied GIS & Spatial Analysis | 3 |
| GPHY 461 | Tourism Planning | 3 |
| ENSC 444 | Watershed Hydrology | 3 |
| STAT 446 | Sampling | 3 |
| Total Credits | 34 | |
| * | Students with a grade less than B in calculus might consider taking STAT 216Q and STAT 217Q rather than STAT 332. |
Snow Mechanics Emphasis
| EGEN 350 | Applied Engineering Data Analysis | 2 |
| M 273Q | Multivariable Calculus | 4 |
| M 274 | Introduction to Differential Equation | 4 |
| EGEN 201 | Engineering Mechanics--Statics | 3 |
| EGEN 202 | Engineering Mech--Dynamics | 3 |
| EGEN 205 | Mechanics of Mtls (equiv 305) | 3 |
| EGEN 335 | Fluid Mechanics | 3 |
| EGEN 435 | Fluid Dynamics | 3 |
| ECIV 312 | Structures I | 3 |
| ECIV 320 | Geotechnical Engineering | 3 |
| ECIV 331 | Engineering Hydrology | 2 |
| ECIV 332 | Engineering Hydraulics | 2 |
| Additional 6 upper division credits needed to graduate | ||
| Total Credits | 36 | |
Snow Statistics Emphasis
| M 221 | Introduction to Linear Algebra | 3 |
| GPHY 284 | Intro to GIS Science & Cartog | 3 |
| GPHY 384 | Adv GIS and Spatial Analysis | 3 |
| GPHY 365 | Geographical Planning | 3 |
| or GPHY 484R | Applied GIS & Spatial Analysis | |
| ENSC 444 | Watershed Hydrology | 3 |
| ENSC 445 | Watershed Analysis | 3 |
| STAT 446 | Sampling | 3 |
| STAT 411 | Methods for Data Analysis I | 3 |
| STAT 431 | Nonparametric Statistics | 3 |
| or STAT 412 | Methods for Data Analysis II | |
| STAT 436 | Introduction to Time Series Analysis | 3 |
| STAT 437 | Introduction to Applied Multivariate Analysis | 3 |
| GPHY 490R | Undergraduate Research | 3 |
| or GEO 499 | Senior Thesis/Capstone | |
| Total Credits | 36 | |
Notes:
- The Snow Statistics Emphasis meets the requirements for a Statistics Minor. Statistics is integral to snow science and students with an interest in numerical analysis are encouraged to take this option.
- A C- is required in all curriculum courses to graduate by Regents' policy. This includes electives in this curriculum.
- A minimum of 120 credits is required for graduation; 42 of these credits must be in courses numbered 300 or above.
- All offerings are dependent upon available staffing.