BA Degree in Geology
The BA degree in geological sciences serves as a liberal arts degree with emphasis
on
the natural sciences and, with appropriate planning, as a preparatory degree for
graduate study and professional employment. The BA degree requires courses in
geology, several from the cognate sciences (biology, chemistry, physics and/or
mathematics), and a four-course area of specialization. An important aspect of the
program is the flexibility of the four-course specialization, which should be carefully
planned with the assistance of a faculty advisor. Final approval of the courses selected
for the four-course specialization should be secured from the undergraduate advisor
no later than the student’s sixth semester. These four courses must establish a program
with a sound rationale, either in the geological sciences or in related fields.
For Students Matriculating in Fall 2020 or later
The BA degree requires 14 or more courses that include the following:
- One four-credit 100-level geology course OR GEOL 206 OR GEOL 234 OR ENVI 206 OR ENVI 234
- GEOL 301 – Rock Record and Earth History
- GEOL 302 – Introduction to Geophysics
- GEOL 303 – Earth Materials
- GEOL 304 – Introduction to Environmental Geochemistry
- GEOL 311 – Earth’s Surface Processes
- GEOL 344 – Structural Geology
- CHEM 104 – General Chemistry I and CHEM 106 – General Chemistry Laboratory OR CHEM 107 – General Chemistry I CHEM/BCHEM Majors OR CHEM 111 – Chemical Principles
- Two courses from among: any of BIOL 113, 114, 350, 370, and 371; any of CHEM 105, 108, 221, 231, 332, 341 and 351; MATH 147; the combination of MATH 224 and 225; the combination of MATH 226 and 227; MATH 304; MATH 323; any of PHYS 121, 122, 131, 132 and 227
- Four courses in an area of specialization, which must be approved by the
department advisor no later than the student’s sixth semester
BS Degree in Geology
The BS degree is intended as training for graduate school and professional
employment, with research, teaching and industry careers as the ultimate goals. The
BS degree offers three tracks: geology, environmental geology, and geophysics.
Two of the required courses for the BS degree—MATH 224 and PHYS 121 or
131—may have prerequisites. If students do not place into MATH 224, then MATH 223
and, if needed, MATH 108 are also required for completion of the major. If students
do not place into PHYS 121, then MATH 108 is also required for completion of the major.
In addition, the geophysics track requires PHYS 341. MATH 304 and 330 may be
required prerequisites to PHYS 341; students should check for current prerequisites
on the physics program page. In addition to the required courses noted below, geology
majors are encouraged to gain experience with statistics, computer languages or programming,
and/or Geographic Information Systems (GIS).
BS students must take a field experience course (GEOL 401 or equivalent) for four-six
credits, generally in the summer following their junior year. They are encouraged
to
choose a course in the branch of the Earth sciences that most directly relates to
their
major track or career interest. The course must cover basic field techniques and skills,
followed by field experience with traditional geological, hydrogeological, geophysical
or other approved applications.
For Students Matriculating Fall 2020 and later
The BS requirements are:
Cognate Science Requirements:
- MATH 224 – Differential Calculus
- MATH 225 – Integral Calculus
- MATH 226 – Integration Tech & Application
- MATH 227 – Infinite Series
- PHYS 131 – General Physic I (Calc-based) and PHYS 132 General Physic II (Calc-based) OR PHYS 121 – General Physic I and PHYS 122 General Physic II
- CHEM 111 – Chemical Principles OR CHEM 104 – General Chemistry I, CHEM 105 – General Chemistry II, and CHEM 106 – General Chemistry Laboratory OR CHEM 107 – General Chemistry I CHEM/BCHEM Majors and CHEM 108 – General Chemistry II CHEM/BCHEM Majors
Department CORE Courses:
- One four-credit 100-level geology course OR GEOL 206 OR GEOL 234 OR ENVI 206 OR ENVI 234
- GEOL 301* – Rock Record and Earth History
- GEOL 302 – Introduction to Geophysics
- GEOL 303 – Earth Materials
- GEOL 304 – Introduction to Environmental Geochemistry
- GEOL 401 OR equivalent (summer field experience)
* Geophysics students must complete this requirement with GEOL 311. All others must take GEOL 301.
GEOLOGY TRACK:
- GEOL 311 – Earth’s Surface Processes
- GEOL 344 – Structural Geology
- One Course from: GEOL 326 – Nonrenewable Natural Resources, GEOL 342 Environmental Hydrology, GEOL 436 – Sediment Environments and Facies
- Two additional 300 or 400 level GEOL courses.
ENVIRONMENTAL GEOLOGY TRACK:
- GEOL 311 – Earth’s Surface Processes
- GEOL 344 – Structural Geology
- Three additional courses from: GEOL 342 Environmental Hydrology, GEOL 342 - Environmental Hydrology, GEOL 411 – Advanced Geomorphology, GEOL 414 – Climate and Paleoclimate, GEOL 416 – Hydrogeology, GEOL 453 – Environmental Geophysics, GEOL 460 – Geomicrobiology, GEOL 465 – Environmental Measurements, GEOL 470 – Geochemistry
GEOPHYSICS TRACK:
- MATH 323 – Calculus III
- MATH 324 – ODE’s for Scientists/Engineers
- PHYS 331 – Electromagnetic Theory I
- PHYS 332 – Electromagnetic Theory II
- PHYS 341 – Analytical Mechanics
- GEOL 450 – Geophysics I
- One additional course from: GEOL 344 – Structural Geology, GEOL 416 – Hydrogeology, GEOL 453 – Environmental Geophysics
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