Program Overview

Geosciences Major with Geobiology & Paleobiology Option

The Geosciences Major with Geobiology & Paleobiology Option is a Bachelor of Science degree program that provides students with a comprehensive understanding of the Earth's systems and processes. This program is designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to pursue careers in geosciences, paleobiology, and related fields.

Program Curriculum

The program curriculum consists of the following components:

• Degree Core Requirements:
  • GEOS 2004: Geosciences Career and Professional Development (3 credits)
  • GEOS 2024: Earth's Dynamic Systems (6 credits)
  • GEOS 2444: Geoscience Field Observations (3 credits)
  • GEOS 3204: Sedimentology-Stratigraphy (3 credits)
  • GEOS 3404: Elements of Structural Geology (3 credits)
  • GEOS 3504/MSE 3104: Mineralogy (3 credits)
• Major Requirements:
  • GEOS 4024: Senior Seminar 1 (3 credits)
  • GEOG 2084: Principles of Geographic Information Systems (3 credits)
  • CHEM 1035: General Chemistry 1 (3 credits)
  • CHEM 1045: General Chemistry Laboratory 1 (1 credit)
  • STAT 3005: Statistical Methods 1 (3 credits)
  • or STAT 3615: Biological Statistics (3 credits)
  • Select one of the following:
    • GEOS 3024: Computational Methods in the Geosciences (3 credits)
    • CS 1064: Introduction to Programming in Python (3 credits)
• Option Required Courses:
  • Select one sequence of the following:
    • Sequence 1:
      • MATH 1025: Elementary Calculus 2 (3 credits)
      • MATH 1026: Elementary Calculus 2 (3 credits)
      • PHYS 2205: General Physics (3 credits)
      • PHYS 2215: General Physics Laboratory 2 (3 credits)
    • Sequence 2 (preferred):
      • MATH 1225: Calculus of a Single Variable 2 (3 credits)
      • MATH 1226: Calculus of a Single Variable 2 (3 credits)
      • PHYS 2305: Foundations of Physics 2 (3 credits)
• Additional Requirements:
  • BIOL 1105: Principles of Biology (3 credits)
  • BIOL 1115: Principles of Biology Laboratory 2 (1 credit)
  • BIOL 1106: Principles of Biology (3 credits)
  • BIOL 1116: Principles of Biology Laboratory 2 (1 credit)
  • BIOL 2704: Evolutionary Biology (3 credits)
  • GEOS 3044: Geosciences Outreach (2-3 credits)
  • or COMM 2004: Public Speaking (3 credits)
  • or COMM 2014: Speech Communication (3 credits)
  • STAT 2094: Basic R for Statistics (1 credit)
  • GEOS 3604: Paleontology (3 credits)
  • GEOS 4254: Integrative Earth System History (3 credits)
  • GEOS 4234: Vertebrate Evolution (4 credits)
  • or GEOS 4244: Morphology of the Vertebrates (4 credits)
  • GEOS 4964: Field Study (6 credits)
  • or GEOS 3634: Natural History Collections and Curation (3 credits)
  • and GEOS 3644: Paleontological Laboratory Techniques (3 credits)
  • and GEOS 4994: Undergraduate Research (3 credits)
• Elective Courses:
  • Select two of the following:
    • BIOL 2004: Genetics (3 credits)
    • BIOL/HORT 2304: Plant Biology (3 credits)
    • BIOL 2504: General Zoology (3 credits)
    • BIOL 2604: General Microbiology (3 credits)
    • BIOL 3204: Plant Taxonomy (3 credits)
    • ENT/BIOL 4354: Aquatic Entomology (3 credits)
    • BIOL 4404: Ornithology (3 credits)
    • FIW 4424: Ichthyology (3 credits)
    • FIW 4334: Mammalogy (3 credits)
    • FIW 4344: Herpetology (3 credits)
    • GEOS 4944: Study Abroad Topics in Geosciences (max 6 credits)
    • GEOS 4954: Study Abroad (max 6 credits)
  • Select one of the following:
    • BIOL 2804: Ecology (3 credits)
    • BIOL 4114: Global Change Ecology (3 credits)
    • FIW 4624: Marine Ecology (3 credits)
• Free Electives:
  • Complete remaining credit hours needed to satisfy degree 120 credit hour requirement (Students may need to complete less credit hours in this category depending on choices in categories above)
• Pathways to General Education:
  • Pathways Concept 1 - Discourse:
    • ENGL 1105: First-Year Writing (1F) (3 credits)
    • ENGL 1106: First-Year Writing (1F) (3 credits)
  • Pathways Concept 2 - Critical Thinking in the Humanities:
    • Select six credits in Pathway 2
  • Pathways Concept 3 - Reasoning in the Social Sciences:
    • Select six credits in Pathway 3
  • Pathways Concept 4 - Reasoning in the Natural Sciences:
    • Pathways Concept 4 - Reasoning in the Natural Sciences completed by major/option requirements
  • Pathways Concept 5 - Quantitative and Computational Thinking:
    • Pathways Concept 5 - Quantitative and Computational Thinking (Foundation) completed by major/option requirements
    • Pathways Concept 5 - Quantitative and Computational Thinking (Advanced) completed by major/option requirements
  • Pathways Concept 6 - Critique and Practice in Design and the Arts:
    • Select three credits in Pathway 6a
    • Select three credits in Pathway 6d
  • Pathways Concept 7 - Critical Analysis of Identity and Equity in the United States:
    • Select three credits in Pathway 7

Satisfactory Progress Toward Degree

To make satisfactory progress toward the degree, students must complete the following courses by the specified hours attempted at Virginia Tech:

1. By 45 hours attempted:
   • GEOS 2004: Geosciences Career and Professional Development
   • GEOS 2024: Earth's Dynamic Systems (or GEOS 1004 Earth Science: Our Past, Present, and Future and GEOS 1104 Introduction to Earth Sciences Laboratory and GEOS 1014 Evolution of the Earth-Life System) (or GEOS 2104 Elements of Geology, GEOS 1014 Evolution of the Earth-Life System)
   • GEOS 2444: Geoscience Field Observations
   • GEOS 3504: Mineralogy
   • MATH 1025: Elementary Calculus or MATH 1225: Calculus of a Single Variable
   • CHEM 1035: General Chemistry
   • CHEM 1045: General Chemistry Laboratory
2. By 60 hours attempted:
   • PHYS 2205: General Physics and PHYS 2215: General Physics Laboratory or PHYS 2305: Foundations of Physics
3. Students must achieve an overall GPA of 2.0 and an in-major GPA of 2.5 upon attempting 15 GEOS credit hours (including transfer credit, courses completed with a grade of “W”, advanced placement or IB credit).

Graduation Requirements

Graduation requires completion of a minimum of 120 credit hours with a GPA of 2.0 or greater for all hours attempted. In addition, students must have an in-major GPA of 2.5 or greater. The in-major GPA is calculated from all GEOS courses.

Prerequisites

Except when noted, all prerequisites are listed on the checksheet. There are no hidden prerequisites, although some of the courses listed are prerequisites for other courses. Even when listed, prerequisites are subject to change. Please consult University Course Catalog for current information.

Acceptable Substitutions

• GEOS 1004: Earth Science: Our Past, Present, and Future and GEOS 1104: Introduction to Earth Sciences Laboratory and GEOS 1014: Evolution of the Earth-Life System for GEOS 2024: Earth's Dynamic Systems
• GEOS 2104: Elements of Geology and GEOS 1014: Evolution of the Earth-Life System for GEOS 2024: Earth's Dynamic Systems
• GEOS 4974: Independent Study for GEOS 4994: Undergraduate Research
• CHEM 1055: General Chemistry for Chemistry Majors for CHEM 1035: General Chemistry
• CHEM 1065: General Chemistry for Chemistry Majors Lab for CHEM 1045: General Chemistry Laboratory
• COMM 1015: Communication Skills for ENGL 1105: First-Year Writing
• COMM 1016: Communication Skills for ENGL 1106: First-Year Writing

Foreign Language Requirement

Students who did not successfully complete at least two years of a single foreign, classical, or sign language during high school must successfully complete six semester hours of a single foreign, classical, or sign language at the college level. Courses taken to meet this requirement do not count toward the hours required for graduation. Please consult the Undergraduate Catalog for details.