2009 Institutional Report
Reporting Institution
University of Victoria, School of Earth and Ocean Sciences (SEOS)
Representative
Stan Dosso, (250) 472-4341, sdosso@uvic.ca
Program/Course Changes
Over the past several years SEOS has carried out a thorough review of our undergraduate programs, with the goal of improving/updating content with a greater emphasis on an Earth Systems Science approach, simplifying our combined programs with other departments, and increasing flexibility and student choice. The following changes came into effect in the 2008/09 academic year:
Introduction of a new (required) course EOS 260 Earth System Evolution through Deep Time.
Replacement of EOS 310 Igneous Geology and 320 Metamorphic Geology with new courses EOS 316 Igneous and Metamorphic Geology and 416 High Temperature Petrology .
Replacement of EOS 430 Isotopes in Earth and Ocean Sciences , formerly an elective course, with EOS 335 Isotopes in Geosciences , which is a required course with similar content.
Introduction of EOS 365 Climate and Society as an elective course that can be taken by students in any University program. Deleted elective EOS 360 Evolution of Life through Time .
Replacement of our two combined programs with Geography (Geoscience and Geotechnic) with a single program that includes the flexibility/choice to encompass both of the former programs. With appropriate course selections, students in this program can fulfill the APEGBC Professional Registration academic requirements for a Professional Environmental Geoscientist.
Replacement of the two streams of our combined program with Biology (Paleontology and Environmental) with a single more flexible program.
Removal of CHEM 222 Inorganic Chemistry as a required course.
The following changes will come into effect in the 2009/10 academic year:
Introduction of a new (required) course EOS 325 Earth System Modelling.
Introduction of a new course EOS 170 Natural Hazards , an elective course open to all University students. Deletion of the elective course EOS 370 Geologic Hazards.
Change to the second-year math requirements from courses in each of Multivariate Calculus (MATH 205) and Introductory Differential Equations (MATH 201) to a single course combing these topics, Intermediate Calculus for CSC and EOS (MATH 202).
Staffing
Kathleen Chretien joined SEOS as a part-time secretary with responsibilities including graduate student administration.
Enrolment Trends
A total of 1546 students took Earth and Ocean Sciences (EOS) courses in 2008/09, representing a significant increase over the past two years (1286 and 1289). This total includes 545 students in our first-year courses.
A total of 97 students were enrolled in EOS undergraduate degree programs in May 2009, representing a significant increase over the previous two years (72 for both).
The enrollment in our three third-year elective courses open to all University students has decreased significantly over the past five years.
A total of 71 graduate students are currently enrolled in EOS programs; this number has been remained relatively stable over the past few years.
Facilities
In August, 2009, SEOS moved into the newly-constructed Bob Wright Centre for Ocean, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, bringing all components of the School together, for the first time, from seven different locations on campus. The $66M, 12,000 square-metre building (largest on campus) provides office and research space for all SEOS faculty, as well as six new undergraduate teaching labs (including earth science, computer, and geochemistry labs), two large lecture theatres, and graduate and undergraduate student space. The building also hosts the Canadian Centre for Climate Modelling and Analysis, a research division of Environment Canada.
Issues/Challenges
While student enrollment in SEOS programs and core courses has increased significantly over the past year, enrollment in our third-year outreach courses (elective courses without prerequisites open to all University students) has decreased in recent years. We are seeking to reverse the latter trend by changing to more current-interest topics (replacement of Evolution of Life through Time with Climate and Society ) and broadening the potential student base (moving Natural Hazards from third year to first year).