Program Overview

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Program Overview

The University of Cincinnati offers a Bachelor of Science in Geology, effective Fall 2026. This program is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of geology and its applications.

Program Details

• Duration: 4 Years
• Minimum Credits: 120 Credits

Curriculum

The curriculum for the Bachelor of Science in Geology is as follows:

Fall Semester Year 1

• Course: CHEM1040 - General Chemistry I (C- min) - 4 credits
• Course: CHEM1040L - General Chemistry Laboratory I (C- min) - 1 credit
• Course: GEOL1001 and GEOL1001L (C- min) - Introductory Geosciences Courses - 4 credits
• Course: GE Codes: SBS - Social & Behavioral Science: Can be a First-Year Seminar course - 3 credits
• Course: Free Electives - Elective - 3 credits

Spring Semester Year 1

• Course: ENGL1001 - English Composition - 3 credits
• Course: PD1170 - Career Readiness for the Liberal Arts (C- min) - 1 credit
• Course: GE Codes: CD - Civility & Democracy - 3 credits
• Course: Free Electives - Elective - 1-3 credits
• Course: Math, Stats, Logic (select one)
  • MATH1044 - Applied Calculus I (C- min) - 3 credits
  • MATH1061 - Calculus I (C- min) - 4 credits
• Course: GEOL 2000-level (select one)
  • GEOL2004C - Sedimentary Geology and Earth History (C- min) - 3 credits
  • GEOL2012 - The Earth System (C- min) - 3 credits

Optional Co-op Plan

Students choosing to complete the optional co-op plan must satisfy the following requirements:

• All co-op students must first complete the following courses in Fall Semester of Year 2:
  • PD2066 - Professionalism and Purpose for Natural Science - 3 credits
• Students will complete 1 full-time Co-op or 2 part-time Co-ops and a sprint:
  • COOP2051 - COOP for ARTS & SCIENCES (First Experience) - 0 credits
  • COOP2000 and 3000 and any course with an EL Attribute and advisor approval - 0 credits

Fall Semester Year 2

• Course: GEOL2005C - Geomorphology and Surface Hazards (C- min) - 3 credits
• Course: GEOL2008C - Mineralogy (C- min) - 3 credits
• Course: BIOL/PHYS - General Science - 4-5 credits
• Course: PD2066 - Professionalism and Purpose for Natural Science (C- min) - 3 credits
• Course: Free Electives - Elective - 1-3 credits

Spring Semester Year 2

• Course: GEOL2020 - Analyzing Data in the Earth and Environmental Sciences (C- min) - 3 credits
• Course: GEOL2150C - Field Techniques in the Geosciences (C- min) - 2 credits
• Course: GEOL - General Science - 3 credits
• Course: GEOL - GEOL 3000-Level Course - 3 credits
• Course: GEOL 2000-level (select course not taken in spring year 1)
  • GEOL2004C - Sedimentary Geology and Earth History (C- min) - 3 credits
  • GEOL2012 - The Earth System (C- min) - 3 credits

Fall Semester Year 3

• Course: ENGL2089 - Intermediate Composition - 3 credits
• Course: GEOL3002 - Geochemistry (C- min) - 3 credits
• Course: GEOL - GEOL 3000-Level Course - 3 credits
• Course: Foreign Language - 5 credits

Spring Semester Year 3

• Course: GEOL - GEOL 3000-Level Course - 3 credits
• Course: GE Codes: AH - Arts & Humanities - 3 credits
• Course: Foreign Language - 5 credits
• Course: Free Electives - Elective - 3 credits

Summer Semester Year 3

• Course: GEOL - Capstone - 1-6 credits

Fall Semester Year 4

• Course: GEOL4XXX - GEOL 4000-Level Course - 3 credits
• Course: GEOL - GEOL 4000-Level Course - 3 credits
• Course: GE Codes: AH, SBS - Arts & Humanities or Social & Behavioral Sciences - 3 credits
• Course: Free Electives - Elective - 3 credits
• Course: Free Electives - Elective, if needed - 3 credits

Spring Semester Year 4

• Course: GEOL - GEOL 4000-Level Course - 3 credits
• Course: GEOL - GEOL 4000-Level Course - 3 credits
• Course: Free Electives - Elective - 3 credits
• Course: A&S approved history - 3 credits
• Course: Free Electives - Elective, if needed - 3 credits

Geology 4000-level Courses

• Choose from the list below to fulfill the 12 credit-hour 4000-level course requirement:
  • GEOL4001C, GEOL4002C, GEOL4003, GEOL4007, GEOL4012C, GEOL4018C, GEOL4023, GEOL4024, GEOL4026, GEOL4029, GEOL4035, GEOL4037, GEOL4040, GEOL4042, GEOL4043, GEOL4044, GEOL4048C, GEOL4053C, GEOL4054C, GEOL4058, GEOL4059, GEOL4060C, GEOL4061C, GEOL4066 (C- min) - 3-4 credits

Credit Hours

The typical minimum number of credit hours students must complete is 120 credits. However, the minimum number of credit hours can vary based on previously earned credits and/or the level of placement into required coursework.