Coordinator: Shane McGary
Email: mcgaryrs@jmu.edu
Phone: (540) 568-6130
Geophysics Minor Website
Program Description
The minor in geophysics is designed to provide adequate training for professional work or graduate school in geophysics in the broad sense.
Minor Requirements
No more than 10 credits from the geophysics minor may be used to double count with a major. The requirements for the geophysics minor are a minimum of 22 credits, including at least one semester each of geology, mathematics and physics, distributed as follows:
Course List
| Code |
Title |
Credits |
| 4 |
| Physical Geology [C3NS]
and Physical Geology Laboratory [C3L] | |
| Applied Physical Geology [C3NS]
and Physical Geology Laboratory [C3L] | |
| College Physics I [C3PP]
and General Physics Laboratory I [C3L] | |
| University Physics I [C3PP]
and General Physics Laboratory I [C3L] | |
| 4 |
| GEOL 440 | Geophysics (3, 2) | 4 |
| GEOL 442 | Field Geophysics | 3 |
| MATH 238 | Linear Algebra with Differential Equations | 4 |
| MATH 248 | Computers and Numerical Algorithms | 4 |
| 15 |
| 1 | 3-4 |
| General Astronomy I: The Night Sky, the Solar System and Stars | |
| Physical Chemistry I | |
| Engineering Geology (2, 2) | |
| Hydrogeology (2, 2) | |
| Calculus III | |
| University Physics III | |
| 3-4 |
| Total Credits | 22-23 |
Note for Geology, B.S. Majors
The B.S. in Geology requires a sequence of math and physics courses. The following sequence of courses will satisfy the major requirements and is strongly recommended for students interested in geophysics. In particular, MATH 236 is a prerequisite for several courses included in the geophysics minor.
Course List
| Code |
Title |
Credits |
| MATH 235 | Calculus I [C3QR] | 4 |
| MATH 236 | Calculus II | 4 |
| PHYS 240 | University Physics I [C3PP] (and Lab) | 3 |
| PHYS 250 | University Physics II (and Lab) | 3 |
