Field Oriented Geological Curriculum Initiative for Minority Undergraduate Students

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A field oriented geological science curriculum initiative rooted in hands-on, discovery-based pedagogical methods has been designed to attract first-year undergraduate students to the sciences. The program includes a six-week pre-freshman geology/environmental science field course for under-prepared entering students that stresses field research, laboratory and analytical methods, and development of quantitative skills. This is followed by a fall semester freshman seminar, entitled Geology Outdoors. The principal goals of the curriculum initiative are (1) to attract more minority students into the geosciences at an earlier stage, (2) to provide them with an innovative and exciting course of study in a welcoming and nurturing atmosphere, and (3) to encourage all students to consider careers in the geosciences as viable and attractive options for the future.