Geology, B.S.
Program Description
The B.S. degree in Geology prepares students for professional employment in the geosciences, graduate school and professional licensure in geology. Concentrations are offered for Solid Earth & Tectonics, Life, Ocean, & Climate, and Environmental & Engineering Geology. This degree path also requires a capstone field experience.
Students may not major in both Geology and Environmental Earth Science.
Degree Requirements
| Degree Requirements | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| General Education 1 | 41 |
| Quantitative requirement (in addition to General Education) 2 | 3 |
| Scientific Literacy requirement (in addition to General Education) 2 | 3-4 |
| Major requirements | 69-72 |
| University Electives | 17-20 |
| Total | 120 |
- 1
The General Education program contains a set of requirements each student must fulfill. Some of these courses may double count with major requirements.
- 2
The quantitative and scientific literacy requirements are met by courses required by the major.
Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Core Requirements | ||
| GEOL 230 | Evolution of Earth (3, 2) | 4 |
| GEOL 291 | Writing and Communicating in the Geosciences | 1 |
| GEOL 377 | Earth Surface Processes (2, 2) | 3 |
| GEOL 497 | Work-Based Learning Experiences in Geology and Environmental Science | 2 |
| Subtotal | 10 | |
| Major Requirements | ||
| GEOL 102 | Environment: Earth [C3NS] | 3 |
| or GEOL 110 | Physical Geology [C3NS] | |
| or GEOL 115 | Earth Systems and Climate Change [C3NS] | |
| or GEOL 210 | Applied Physical Geology [C3NS] | |
| GEOL 110L | Physical Geology Laboratory [C3L] | 1 |
| or GEOL 115L | Earth Systems and Climate Change Lab [C3L] | |
| GEOL 280 | Mineralogy (3, 2) | 4 |
| GEOL 300 | Introduction to Petrology (3, 3) | 4 |
| GEOL 330 | Sedimentology, Stratigraphy and Paleoclimatology | 4 |
| GEOL 365 | Structural Geology, Tectonics and Climate | 4 |
| GEOL 399 | Field Geology | 4 |
| Subtotal | 24 | |
| Concentrations | ||
| Students must select one of the following concentrations. The requirements for each concentration are listed below. | 12 | |
Environmental and Engineering Geology Concentration | ||
Life, Ocean and Climate Concentration | ||
Solid Earth and Tectonics Concentration | ||
General Geology Concentration | ||
| Subtotal | 12 | |
| Cognate Science and Mathematics Courses | ||
| CHEM 131 & 131L | General Chemistry I [C3PP] and General Chemistry Laboratory [C3L] | 4 |
| CHEM 132 & 132L | General Chemistry II and General Chemistry Laboratory | 4 |
| MATH 231 & MATH 232 | Calculus with Functions I [C3QR] and Calculus with Functions II | 4-6 |
| or MATH 235 | Calculus I [C3QR] | |
| MATH 220 | Elementary Statistics [C3QR] | 3-4 |
| or MATH 229 | Introduction to Applied Statistics Using R [C3QR] | |
| or MATH 236 | Calculus II | |
| PHYS 140 & 140L | College Physics I [C3PP] and General Physics Laboratory I [C3L] | 4 |
| or PHYS 240 & 240L | University Physics I [C3PP] and University Physics Laboratory I [C3L] | |
| PHYS 150 & 150L | College Physics II and General Physics Laboratory II | 4 |
| or PHYS 250 & 250L | University Physics II and University Physics Laboratory II | |
| Subtotal | 23-26 | |
| Total Credits | 69-72 | |
Concentrations
Students must take 12 credits from one of the following 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.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Choose at least 2 of the following courses: | 6 | |
| Mineral Resources and the Environment (2,2) | ||
| Geochemistry of Natural Waters | ||
| Engineering Geology (2, 2) | ||
| Environmental Soil Science (2, 2) | ||
| Field Geophysics | ||
| Hydrogeology (2, 2) | ||
| Choose at least 1 of the following courses: | 3 | |
| GIS for the Geoscientist | ||
| Laboratory Techniques in Geology (2,2) | ||
| Quantitative Methods in Geology | ||
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.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Choose at least 2 of the following courses: | 6-7 | |
| Paleobiology | ||
| Geology and Ecology of the Bahamas | ||
| Vertebrate Paleontology | ||
| Paleoclimatology and Paleoceanography | ||
| Choose at least 1 of the following courses: | 3 | |
| GIS for the Geoscientist | ||
| Laboratory Techniques in Geology (2,2) | ||
| Quantitative Methods in Geology | ||
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.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Choose at least 2 of the following courses: | 4-7 | |
| Sedimentary Petrology | ||
| Planetary Geology (2, 2) | ||
| Mineral Resources and the Environment (2,2) | ||
| Geophysics (3, 2) | ||
| Choose at least 1 of the following courses: | 3 | |
| GIS for the Geoscientist | ||
| Laboratory Techniques in Geology (2,2) | ||
| Quantitative Methods in Geology | ||
General Geology Concentration
Students select 12 credit hours of 300- or 400-level GEOL courses. Students are encouraged to work with their advisor to select courses appropriate to their goals. GEOL 301, GEOL 320, GEOL 367, GEOL 401 and GEOL 477 do not count as upper level electives for the B.S. in Geology.
Recommended Schedule for Majors
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Credits | |
| CHEM 131 & 131L |
General Chemistry I [C3PP] and General Chemistry Laboratory [C3L] |
4 |
| GEOL 110 & 110L |
Physical Geology [C3NS] and Physical Geology Laboratory [C3L] |
4 |
| General Education | 7 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| CHEM 132 & 132L |
General Chemistry II and General Chemistry Laboratory |
4 |
| GEOL 230 | Evolution of Earth (3, 2) | 4 |
| MATH 235 | Calculus I [C3QR] | 4 |
| General Education | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| GEOL 280 | Mineralogy (3, 2) | 4 |
| GEOL 291 | Writing and Communicating in the Geosciences | 1 |
| GEOL 330 | Sedimentology, Stratigraphy and Paleoclimatology | 4 |
| PHYS 140 & 140L |
College Physics I [C3PP] and General Physics Laboratory I [C3L] |
4 |
| General Education | 3 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| GEOL 300 | Introduction to Petrology (3, 3) | 4 |
| PHYS 150 & 150L |
College Physics II and General Physics Laboratory II |
4 |
| General Education | 6 | |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| Upper-level GEOL courses and/or General Education courses | 15 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| GEOL 365 | Structural Geology, Tectonics and Climate | 4 |
| GEOL 377 | Earth Surface Processes (2, 2) | 3 |
| GEOL 399 | Field Geology | 4 |
| Upper-level GEOL concentration courses | 4 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| GEOL 497 | Work-Based Learning Experiences in Geology and Environmental Science | 1 |
| GEOL electives, university electives, or General Education courses | 14 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| GEOL 497 | Work-Based Learning Experiences in Geology and Environmental Science | 1 |
| GEOL electives, university electives, or General Education courses | 14 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |