Geology - Auburn Universi

Auburn University's Geology program offers a comprehensive curriculum with 124 credit hours, including a six-credit field camp and a senior seminar. Students can choose from 12 hours of geology electives and several technical electives, allowing for specialization in various fields. The program emphasizes experiential learning, research opportunities, and career preparation, leading to diverse career prospects in geology and related industries.

Program Outline

Outline:

The Geology program at Auburn University consists of 124 total credit hours, distributed across eight semesters (four years). Here's a breakdown of the curriculum:

Freshman Year:

Fall (14 credit hours):
CHEM 1030 & 1031 - Fundamentals Chemistry I & Laboratory (3+1)
Core History I (3)
ENGL 1100 - English Composition I (3)
GEOL 1100 - Dynamic Earth (4)
Spring (14 credit hours):
CHEM 1040 & 1041 - Fundamental Chemistry II & Laboratory (3+1)
Core History II (3)
ENGL 1120 - English Composition II (3)
GEOL 1110 - Earth and Life Through Time (4)

Sophomore Year:

Fall (14 credit hours):
BIOL 1020 & 1021 - Principles of Biology & Laboratory (3+1)
MATH 1610 - Calculus I (4)
GEOL 2000 - Professional Development (1)
GEOL 2050 - Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology (4)
Elective (4)
Spring (16 credit hours):
BIOL 1030 & 1031 - Organismal Biology & Laboratory (3+1)
MATH 1620 - Calculus II (4)
GEOL 2010 - Mineralogy and Optical Crystallography (5)
Elective (4)

Junior Year:

Fall (23 credit hours):
PHYS 1500 - General Physics I (4)
CORE Fine Arts (3)
CORE Social Science (2)
GEOL 3650 - Field Camp (6)
GEOL 3200 - Introduction to Paleobiology (3)
Geology Elective (3)
Technical Elective (2)
Spring (14 credit hours):
PHYS 1510 - General Physics II (4)
GEOL 3400 - Structural Geology (4)
Technical Elective (3)
Geology Elective (3)

Senior Year:

Fall (20 credit hours):
GEOG 5830 - Geographic Information Systems (4)
CORE Social Science II (3)
GEOL 4010 - Sedimentary Petrology (3)
GEOL 4110 - Stratigraphy (3)
Geology Elective (3)
GEOL 4740 - Senior Seminar (2)
CORE Humanities (3)
Spring (14 credit hours):
CORE Literature I, II (3,3)
UNIV 4AA0 - Achieve the Creed (2)

Geology Electives:

Students have 12 hours of required Geology electives. They can choose from a diverse list of courses, including (but not limited to):

Lunar and Planetary Geology
Economic Geology
Geochemistry
Introduction to Micropaleontology
Hydrogeology
Geomorphology
Basin Analysis
Electron Microprobe Analysis
Petroleum Geology
Applied Geophysics
Climate Change and Society
Directed Study (up to 3 hours)
Undergraduate Research (up to 3 hours)

Technical Electives:

Technical electives can be chosen from several disciplines with advisor approval, including:

Agronomy: AGRN 3040, 3100, 5000, 5080, 5150, 5300
Anthropology: Any 2000+ course
Biological Sciences: Many options, see context
Civil Engineering: Wide selection, check list
Chemistry: Many options, see context
Computer Science: Many options, see context
Geography: Many options, see context
Mathematics: Many options, see context
Mechanical Engineering: Many options, see context
Physics: Many options, see context
Statistics: Many options, see context
Additional Notes:
The Geology program is recommended to take GEOG 1010 - Global Geography.

Assessment:

Assessment methods appear concentrated within individual courses rather than program-specific measures. However, requirements suggest an emphasis on comprehensive learning:

Field Camp (GEOL 3650): Six intensive credit hours focused on practical fieldwork experience.
Senior Seminar (GEOL 4740): Two-hour course culminating research projects and presentation skills.
Electives offer the chance to specialize or explore diverse applications, indicating an expectation for breadth of knowledge.
Additional Notes:
Emphasis on Experiential Learning:
Field Camp provides real-world experience and data collection essential for geologists.
Many elective options likely include fieldwork or lab components.
Access to research opportunities through directed research or elective choices suggests hands-on learning opportunities beyond traditional coursework.
Strong faculty expertise:
Listing specialized electives across diverse geological subfields indicates significant faculty expertise within the department.
Opportunities for undergraduate research are likely facilitated by active researchers, providing access to cutting-edge knowledge and mentorship.
Additional Notes:

Careers:

While specific career placement or earnings data are missing, the context strongly hints at diverse and promising career prospects:

Wide Range of Potential Fields:
Petroleum and Mining industries
Government agencies and environmental consulting
Academia and research
Education and outreach initiatives
Technical Electives allow specialization for various industries or careers.
Research experiences could lead to graduate studies or research-intensive positions.
Field Camp provides essential skills and professional connections valuable in any geological career path.
Strong program reputation at Auburn could enhance job prospects or graduate school admissions.
Additional Notes:
Specific statistics about placement rates, average salaries, or employer partners are lacking