Program Overview

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Geology (Earth and Environmental Sciences) - Bachelor of Science

The concentration in geological sciences provides students with scientific insight as a foundation for careers in environmental earth science, environmental policy, and resource management. Qualified students are also prepared for graduate study in these areas. This concentration does not prepare students for graduate study in the geological sciences; these students should follow the curriculum in the Geological Sciences Concentration.

Requirements

Students must complete all University degree requirements, which include:

• General Education requirements
• Viewing a Wider World requirements
• Elective credits to total at least 120 credits with 48 credits in courses numbered 300 or above.
• Developmental coursework will not count towards the degree requirements and/or elective credits, but may be needed in order to take the necessary English and Mathematics coursework.
• Students must receive a C- or better in courses.

Course List

General Education

• Area I: Communications (10 credits)
  • English Composition - Level 1
  • English Composition - Level 2
  • Oral Communication 1
• Area II: Mathematics (3-4 credits)
  • MATH 1220G: College Algebra (or higher)
• Area III/IV: Laboratory Sciences and Social/Behavioral Sciences (11 credits)
  • CHEM 1215G: General Chemistry I Lecture and Laboratory for STEM Majors
  • GEOL 1110G: Physical Geology
  • or HNRS 2116G: Earth, Time and Life
  • ECON 2120G: Principles of Microeconomics
• Area V: Humanities (3 credits)
• Area VI: Creative and Fine Arts (3 credits)
• General Education Elective
  • BIOL 2610G & BIOL 2610L: Principles of Biology: Biodiversity, Ecology, and Evolution and Principles of Biology: Biodiversity, Ecology, and Evolution Laboratory

Viewing a Wider World

• 6 credits

Departmental/College Requirements

• GEOL 1150: Introduction to Rocks and Minerals
• GEOL 305V: Fossils and the Evolution of Life
• GEOL 335V: Earthquakes, Volcanoes, Hurricanes, and Floods: The Role of Natural Hazards in Civ Past and Present
• GEOL 353: Geomorphology
• GEOL 360: General Geochemistry
• GEOL 420: Stratigraphy and Sedimentology
• GEOL 449: The Geological Profession
• GEOL 452: Geohydrology
• GEOL 470: Structural Geology

Departmental Elective Requirements

• Select 9 credits from the following:
  • GEOL 312: Mineralogy and Optics
  • GEOL 399: Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology
  • GEOL 465: Isotope Geochemistry
  • GEOL 478: Petroleum Systems and Stratigraphy
  • GEOL 480: Seminar
  • GEOL 490: Field Geology
  • GEOL 491: Tectonic Evolution of North America
  • GEOL 495: Geology Field Camp

Non-Departmental Requirements

• Choose one from the following:
  • A ST 311: Statistical Applications
  • MATH 1350G: Introduction to Statistics
  • MATH 2350G: Statistical Methods
  • AEEC 337V: Natural Resource Economics
  • or AEEC 384V: Water Resource Economics
  • GEOG 381: Cartography and Geographic Information Systems
  • PHYS 1230G: Algebra-Based Physics I
  • or PHYS 2230G: General Physics for Life Science I
  • PHYS 1230L: Algebra-Based Physics I Lab
  • or PHYS 2230L: Laboratory to General Physics for Life Science I

Second Language Requirement

• Select 8 credits from two semesters of a second language.

Non-Departmental Electives

• Choose 12-14 credits from the following:
  • SOIL 2110 & 2110L: Introduction to Soil Science and Introduction to Soil Science Laboratory
  • SOIL 370: Environmental Soil Science
  • CHEM 1225G: General Chemistry II Lecture and Laboratory for STEM Majors
  • or CHEM 2115: Survey of Organic Chemistry and Laboratory
  • POLS 320: Making Public Policy
  • GEOG 373: Introduction to Remote Sensing
  • GEOG 473: Advanced Remote Sensing
  • EPWS 380V: Science & Society
  • RGSC 2110: Introduction to Rangeland Management
  • RGSC 302V: Forestry and Society
  • GEOL courses: 300-400 level GEOL courses other than those used to satisfy the departmental requirements and electives

Suggested Plan of Study

This roadmap assumes student placement in ENGL 1110G Composition I and MATH 1220G College Algebra. The contents and order of this roadmap may vary depending on initial student placement in mathematics and English.

First Year

• Semester 1:
  • GEOL 1110G: Physical Geology
  • MATH 1220G: College Algebra
  • Choose one from the following:
    • COMM 1115G: Introduction to Communication
    • COMM 1130G: Public Speaking
    • ACOM 1130G: Effective Leadership and Communication in Agriculture
    • HNRS 2175G: Introduction to Communication Honors
  • Area V: Humanities Course
  • Area VI: Creative and Fine Arts Course
• Semester 2:
  • Choose one from the following:
    • ENGL 1110G: Composition I
    • ENGL 1110H: Composition I
    • ENGL 1110M: Composition I
  • CHEM 1215G: General Chemistry I Lecture and Laboratory for STEM Majors
  • CHEM 1121: General Supplemental Instruction I
  • BIOL 2610G & BIOL 2610L: Principles of Biology: Biodiversity, Ecology, and Evolution and Principles of Biology: Biodiversity, Ecology, and Evolution Laboratory
  • ECON 2120G: Principles of Microeconomics

Second Year

• Semester 1:
  • GEOL 1150: Introduction to Rocks and Minerals
  • GEOL 305V: Fossils and the Evolution of Life
  • PHYS 1230G: Algebra-Based Physics I
  • PHYS 1230L: Algebra-Based Physics I Lab
  • Second Language, first course in sequence
• Semester 2:
  • GEOL 335V: Earthquakes, Volcanoes, Hurricanes, and Floods: The Role of Natural Hazards in Civ Past and Present
  • GEOL 420: Stratigraphy and Sedimentology
  • Second language, second course in sequence
  • Non-Departmental Elective Course
  • Elective Course

Third Year

• Semester 1:
  • GEOL 353: Geomorphology
  • GEOL 360: General Geochemistry
  • Geology Departmental Elective Course
  • English Composition Level 2
  • Viewing the Wider World
• Semester 2:
  • Geology Departmental Elective Course
  • GEOG 381: Cartography and Geographic Information Systems
  • AEEC 337V: Natural Resource Economics
  • or AEEC 384V: Water Resource Economics
  • Non-Departmental Elective Course
  • Elective Course

Fourth Year

• Semester 1:
  • GEOL 470: Structural Geology
  • GEOL 452: Geohydrology
  • A ST 311: Statistical Applications
  • or MATH 1350G: Introduction to Statistics
  • or MATH 2350G: Statistical Methods
  • Viewing the Wider World
  • Non-Departmental Elective Course
• Semester 2:
  • GEOL 449: The Geological Profession
  • Geology Departmental Elective course
  • Non-Departmental Elective Course
  • Elective Course

Total Credits

• 120 credits