Program Overview

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Geology, BS

Overview

This degree is intended for students interested in studying the Earth and its processes. Students receive a broad background in the Earth sciences and select one of five specialty concentrations. The concentrations in Earth Surface Processes, Environmental Geoscience, Geology, and Paleontology are solely offered by the Department of Atmospheric, Oceanic and Earth Sciences. The concentration in Oceanography and Estuarine science is offered jointly with the Department of Environmental Science and Policy, where specific advising is also available.

Teacher Licensure

Students who wish to become teachers and plan to seek teacher licensure should consider the following options:

• Secondary Education - Earth Science (6-12) Undergraduate Certificate
• Geology, BS/Curriculum and Instruction, Accelerated MEd (Secondary Education Earth Science Concentration)

Interested students should attend an information session early in their undergraduate career. For more information, visit the School of Education's website.

Admissions

University-wide admissions policies can be found in the Undergraduate Admissions Policies section of this catalog.

To apply for this program, please complete the George Mason University Admissions Application.

Policies

Students must fulfill all Requirements for Bachelor's Degrees, including the Mason Core.

For policies governing all undergraduate degrees, see AP.5 Undergraduate Policies.

Writing Intensive Requirement

GEOL 317 Geomorphology (Mason Core) fulfills the writing intensive requirement for this major, with the exception of:

• The Environmental Geoscience Concentration, whereby GEOL 305 Environmental Geology (Mason Core) fulfills the writing intensive requirement.
• The Paleontology Concentration, whereby GEOL 334 Vertebrate Paleontology (Mason Core) fulfills the writing intensive requirement.

Degree Requirements

Total credits: minimum 120

This is a Green Leaf program.

Students should refer to the Admissions & Policies tab for specific policies related to this program.

Candidates for a degree in geology must complete all core courses with a minimum GPA of 2.30.

Core Courses

• GEOL 101 & GEOL 103: Physical Geology (Mason Core) and Physical Geology Lab (Mason Core) - 4 credits
• GEOL 102 & GEOL 104: Historical Geology (Mason Core) and Historical Geology Laboratory (Mason Core) - 4 credits
• GEOL 302: Mineralogy - 4 credits
• GEOL 420: Earth Science and Policy (Mason Core) - 3 credits
• CHEM 211 & CHEM 213: General Chemistry I (Mason Core) and General Chemistry Laboratory I (Mason Core) - 4 credits
• CHEM 212 & CHEM 214: General Chemistry II (Mason Core) and General Chemistry Laboratory II (Mason Core) - 4 credits
• MATH 113: Analytic Geometry and Calculus I (Mason Core) - 4-6 credits
• MATH 114: Analytic Geometry and Calculus II - 4 credits
• STAT 250: Introductory Statistics I (Mason Core) - 3 credits
• PHYS 160 & PHYS 161 & PHYS 260 & PHYS 261: University Physics I (Mason Core) and University Physics I Laboratory (Mason Core) and University Physics II (Mason Core) and University Physics II Laboratory (Mason Core) - 8 credits
• CLIM 111 & CLIM 112: Introduction to the Fundamentals of Atmospheric Science (Mason Core) and Introduction to the Fundamentals of Atmospheric Science Lab (Mason Core) - 3-4 credits

Concentration in Environmental Geoscience (EVGS)

Environmental Geoscience is designed for students wanting their professional work to focus on understanding, preserving, and protecting the environment. This concentration provides the tools for applying geologic information to contemporary environmental topics.

• GEOL 304: Sedimentary Geology - 4 credits
• GEOL 305: Environmental Geology (Mason Core) - 3 credits
• GEOL 313: Hydrogeology - 3 credits
• GEOL 403: Geochemistry - 4 credits
• Select 9 credits from the following:
  • GEOL 301: Geological Field Experience
  • GEOL 306: Soil Science
  • GEOL 317: Geomorphology (Mason Core)
  • GEOL 320: Resource Geology
  • GEOL 407: Geological Field Mapping
  • GEOL 458: Chemical Oceanography
  • CLIM 312: Physical Climatology
  • CLIM 440: Climate Dynamics
  • CHEM 427: Aquatic Environmental Chemistry
  • EVPP 361: Introduction to Environmental Policy
  • GGS 311: Geographic Information Systems
  • GGS 379: Remote Sensing

Concentration in General Geology (GGEO)

This concentration is fashioned after traditional geology bachelor's degrees. It allows graduates to be employed as geologists in the field or to pursue graduate studies in geology.

• GEOL 304: Sedimentary Geology - 4 credits
• GEOL 308: Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology - 4 credits
• GEOL 312: Invertebrate Paleontology - 4 credits
• GEOL 317: Geomorphology (Mason Core) - 4 credits
• GEOL 401: Structural Geology - 4 credits
• Field Experience:
  • Select any combination of the following courses:
    • GEOL 301: Geological Field Experience
    • GEOL 404: Geological Field Techniques
    • GEOL 407: Geological Field Mapping

Concentration in Oceanography and Marine Science (OMAR)

This concentration provides students with a comprehensive knowledge of oceanography. Additional coursework in physical and chemical oceanography give insight into the aquatic environment and its link to both ecosystems and climate.

• GEOL 309: Oceanography - 3 credits
• GEOL 364: Marine Geology - 3 credits
• GEOL 403: Geochemistry - 4 credits
• GEOL 412: Physical Oceanography - 3 credits
• Select one sequence from the following:
  • BIOL 102 & BIOL 103 & BIOL 105: Introductory Biology I-Survey of Biodiversity and Ecology (Mason Core) and Introductory Biology II-Survey of Cell and Molecular Biology (Mason Core) and Introductory Biology II Laboratory (Mason Core)
  • EVPP 108 & EVPP 109 & EVPP 112 & EVPP 113: Ecosphere - Introduction to Environmental Science I-Lecture (Mason Core) and Ecosphere- Introduction to Environmental Science I- Lab (Mason Core) and Ecosphere: Introduction to Environmental Science II-Lecture (Mason Core) and Ecosphere: Introduction to Environmental Science II–Lab (Mason Core)
• Select at least 9 credits from the following:
  • GEOL 301: Geological Field Experience
  • GEOL 304: Sedimentary Geology
  • GEOL 308: Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology
  • GEOL 312: Invertebrate Paleontology
  • GEOL 332: Paleoclimatology
  • GEOL 340: Modern Methods in Geology
  • GEOL 363: Coastal Morphology and Processes
  • GEOL 392: Geology and Earth Science Seminar
  • GEOL 407: Geological Field Mapping

Concentration in Paleontology (PLEO)

This concentration focuses on a broad understanding of Earth's history and the evolution of life on Earth as revealed through the fossil record.

• GEOL 304: Sedimentary Geology - 4 credits
• GEOL 312: Invertebrate Paleontology - 4 credits
• GEOL 334: Vertebrate Paleontology (Mason Core) - 4 credits
• BIOL 213: Cell Structure and Function - 4 credits
• BIOL 300: BioDiversity - 4 credits
• Select at least 9 credits from the following:
  • GEOL 301: Geological Field Experience
  • GEOL 306: Soil Science
  • GEOL 317: Geomorphology (Mason Core)
  • GEOL 332: Paleoclimatology
  • GEOL 340: Modern Methods in Geology
  • GEOL 364: Marine Geology
  • GEOL 392: Geology and Earth Science Seminar
  • GEOL 403: Geochemistry
  • GEOL 407: Geological Field Mapping
  • GEOL 412: Physical Oceanography
  • GEOL 441: Great Events in Earth History
• Select 3-4 credits from the following:
  • BIOL 320: Comparative Chordate Anatomy
  • BIOL 331: Invertebrate Zoology
  • BIOL 374: Biogeography: Space, Time, and Life
  • BIOL 471: Evolution

Mason Core and Elective Credits

In order to meet a minimum of 120 credits, this degree requires additional credits (specific credit counts by concentration are shown below), which may be applied toward any remaining Mason Core requirements, Requirements for Bachelor's Degrees, and elective courses.

• EVGS concentration: 49-52 credits
• GGEO concentration: 43-49 credits
• OMAR concentration: 42-45 credits
• PLEO concentration: 39-43 credits

Honors in the Major

Geology majors who have completed 16 credits of math and science, including GEOL 302 Mineralogy, with a GPA of 3.00 or higher are eligible to enter the departmental honors program.

Bachelor's Degree (selected)/Environmental Science and Policy, Accelerated MS

This bachelor's/accelerated master's degree program allows academically strong undergraduates with a commitment to advance their education to obtain a Green Leaf-designated bachelor's degree and the Environmental Science and Policy, MS degrees within an accelerated timeframe.

Geology, BS/Earth Systems Science, Accelerated MS

Geology, and Earth sciences more broadly, are extremely important to society and our economy as they deal with our planet, our oceans, and our climate.

Geology, BA or BS/Secondary Education, Accelerated MEd (Secondary Education - Science Concentration)

Highly-qualified undergraduates may be admitted to the bachelor's/accelerated master's program and obtain a BA or BS in Geology and an MEd in Secondary Education (Secondary Education - Science concentration) in an accelerated timeframe.

Program Outcomes

1. Comprehend important earth-science concepts that reflect the complexity of the integrated earth-ocean-atmosphere system.
2. Demonstrate intellectual and technical ability to observe, develop questions, describe, measure, classify, interpret, assess problems, and critically evaluate hypotheses or plans in field and laboratory settings.
3. Appreciate both team and individual approaches to scientific problem solving, and work effectively, thoroughly, efficiently and competently in either situation.
4. Develop the ability to observe and analyze geoscience problems in three dimensions and time.
5. Know how to perform their own research and to efficiently track down and critically evaluate primary literature on earth science topics to help them answer (or pose) scientific questions in the geosciences.
6. Demonstrate the ability to communicate scientific ideas and findings effectively in both oral presentations and writing to a wide range of audiences.
7. Conduct themselves professionally, rationally, and ethically.
8. Have the appropriate knowledge base from their individual concentrations to enter the workforce or to continue on to graduate school to ultimately enter industry, academia, or government service as a geoscientist.
9. Value scientific information in and of itself, and the process through which scientific knowledge is generated.
10. Be an open-minded (open to new scientific concepts and information), independent, and analytical thinker.