SEOS Year 2 revisions

These slides outline a starting point for revising Year 2 to create a clearer computational path for our students.

The earlier discussion focused on rationale and direction, and that general approach had broad support. Here the goal is to identify the main program and prerequisite changes needed to implement it, and to flag any issues early.

Program-level proposed changes

EOS230 would become the main second-year computing course for most programs, replacing EOS261 where appropriate.

  • Earth Science: replace EOS261 with EOS230.
  • Physical Geography and Earth and Ocean Sciences: replace EOS261 with EOS230.
  • Chemistry and Earth Sciences: replace EOS261 with EOS230.
  • Biology and Earth Sciences: replace EOS261 with EOS230.
  • Climate Science - Physical Climate Science Stream: EOS230 is already required, so replace EOS261 with EOS240.

Programs needing special treatment

Some programs should be left unchanged, and one still needs a decision.

  • Physics and Earth Sciences (Geophysics): already requires CSC110. No change.
  • Physics and Ocean-Atmosphere Sciences: already requires CSC110. No change.
  • Chemistry and Ocean Sciences: does not currently require EOS261. Students take EOS325, and the program note currently uses EOS314 to satisfy the computing prerequisite.

Open question: should Chemistry and Ocean Sciences add a second-year programming course, or remain as it is?

Changes to course structure and prerequisites

The program changes above require some supporting changes to course prerequisites and level.

  • EOS240: reduce prerequisites to CHEM102 only, so the course can serve more programs across the sciences.
  • EOS261: move this material to upper level and potentially renumber it as a third-year course.

Possible prerequisite structure for a renumbered upper-level EOS261:

  1. 1 of EOS240 / EOS312
  2. 1 of EOS220 / EOS340 / GEOG272
  3. 1 of EOS230 / CSC110

Downstream prerequisite changes

If EOS230 becomes the main second-year programming course, several upper-level prerequisites should change as well.

  • EOS325: change the computing prerequisite to 1 of EOS230 / CSC110.
  • EOS325: keep this as a prerequisite for fourth-year computing courses as a 1-of with PHYS248.
  • EOS340: change the prerequisite to EOS230 / CSC110.

What about EOS460?

EOS460 should probably be left unresolved for now while we focus on the Year 2 changes.

  • It could eventually be removed.
  • Some material could merge with the new upper-level EOS261.
  • Some material could merge with Earth history EOS321.

Questions and possible problems

This is a starting point. The main goal now is to identify problems before the proposal is finalized.

  • Does this create a clearer computational path through Year 2?
  • Does it create any advising or scheduling problems?
  • Should Chemistry and Ocean Sciences add a second-year programming course?
  • Are there downstream effects on upper-level courses that we are missing?