Program Overview

Introduction to the Geology Program

The Geology program is a comprehensive study of Earth, its materials, structure, and the processes that act upon them. Geologists play a crucial role in discovering natural resources, identifying natural hazards, and providing critical information to help solve problems and establish important policies on protecting and managing natural resources, the environment, and public health, safety, and welfare.

Program Overview

The program requires a minimum of 122 credit hours, with 40 of those hours at the 3000/4000 level. This applies to both the Bachelor of Science (B.S.) and Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degrees, although exact curriculum requirements differ between the two.

Program Outcomes

Graduates with a geology degree are equipped to:

• Identify, describe, and classify earth materials, formations, and structures, and interpret them in the context of geological processes.
• Analyze and report quantitative geologic data collected in the field and laboratory.
• Read, write, present, and critically evaluate geologic reports, professional papers, and maps.
• Synthesize information from a variety of disciplines to solve geologic problems.

Required Courses

The program includes a range of required courses for both B.A. and B.S. degrees, such as:

• Earth Materials
• Earth Structures and Tectonics
• Field Geology
• Geospatial Science
• Life Through Time
• Quantitative Methods in Geology
• Remote Sensing
• Sedimentation and Stratigraphy
• Volcanology