Mar 29, 2024  
2022-2023 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2022-2023 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Geology, B.S.


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Degree and Major Requirements

The Department of Geology and Environmental Science offers a B.S. and a B.A. degree. Both degree options have a research requirement that includes a formal presentation.

Students must complete 12 hours of upper-level electives (300 or 400 level) to meet the requirements for a B.S. in geology. GEOL 301 , GEOL 320 GEOL 367 ,  GEOL 401  and GEOL 477  do not count as upper level electives for the B.S. in geology. Students are strongly advised, but are not required, to select one of four concentrations to fulfill the 12 hours of upper level electives: 

  • General Geology 
  • Environmental and Engineering Geology
  • Life, Ocean and Climate 
  • Solid Earth and Tectonics

The B.A. degree with a major in Earth Science prepares individuals to work in a wide range of professional public sector service careers where preparation in earth science and communication of science to nonscientific audiences is a requirement or an asset. This includes the preparation of earth science teachers.

Degree Requirements


Required Courses


  • General Education  41 Credit Hours 1
  • Quantitative requirement (in addition to General Education ) 3 Credit Hours 2
  • Scientific Literacy requirement (in addition to General Education 3-4 Credit Hours 2
  • Major requirements (listed below) 68-76 Credit Hours
  • General Electives 2-11 Credit Hours

Total: 120 Credit Hours


Footnotes


1 The General Education  program contains a set of requirements each student must fulfill. The number of credit hours necessary to fulfill these requirements may vary.

2 The quantitative and scientific literacy requirements are met by courses required by the major.

Major Requirements


Research Requirements: 2-6 Credit Hours


In addition to GEOL 291 , choose from the following to complete the research requirement. All majors must complete a minimum of two credits. Students conducting research with faculty should select GEOL 497 ; Honors students doing research with faculty must complete a minimum of six credits in GEOL 499A /GEOL 499B /GEOL 499C . All students must give a formal presentation to fulfill this requirement.

Total: 30-37 Credit Hours


Courses


The B.S. degree in geology is designed for students who plan to obtain professional employment in geology or enter graduate school upon graduation. It is recommended that incoming B.S. degree students complete the following courses prior to enrolling in required geology courses numbered 300 and higher.

Additional Information


Students planning graduate study in some areas of the geosciences should consider courses in mathematics, physics or chemistry beyond those required for the B.S. major.

Concentrations


The B.S. degree option recommends that each student complete at least 12 credit hours chosen from one of the four concentrations.

Environmental and Engineering Geology Concentration


The environmental and engineering geology concentration provides students with the necessary skills to enter the environmental and/or geotechnical engineering industry. Students will have the opportunity to take courses that focus on soil classification, ground water flow mechanics, water chemistry, soil/rock mechanics, geomorphology and geophysics. 

Life, Ocean and Climate Concentration


This concentration is meant for students interested in academic or professional careers that requires a background in the evolution of the Earth system, life and climate. The recommended course work is designed to provide students with content knowledge and research skills to consider questions of evolution, extinction, and global climate change from a geologic perspective.

Choose at least 2 of the following courses:


Solid Earth and Tectonics Concentration


The solid Earth and tectonics track is designed for students who are interested in studying the evolution of the Earth and the methods to study it. The recommended course work is designed to provide students with content knowledge and skills to investigate the structure of the Earth.  Possible professional opportunities include, but are not limited to, mining, seismic investigations, and geologic mapping.  

Choose at least 2 of the following courses:


Recommended Schedule for B.S. Degree in Geology


Choose one of the following: 6-8 Credit Hours


Total: 34-36 Credit Hours


Second Year


Third Year


Total: 34 Credit Hours


Fourth Year


  • Upper-Level geology courses to fulfill concentration 9-20 Credit Hours

Choose from the following: 2-6 Credit Hours


Total: 11-26 Credit Hours


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