Undergraduate Degree

Geological Sciences

Program:
Geological Sciences
Plan Code:
GEOLOG_BS1
Program Level:
Undergraduate
Award Type:
Bachelor of Science
College:
College of Natural Science
Department:
Earth and Environmental Sciences


Excerpt from the official Academic Programs Catalog:

Listed below are the approved requirements for the program from the official Academic Programs Catalog.
Students must consult their advisors to learn which specific requirements apply to their degree programs.


College of Natural Science

Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences

Undergraduate Programs
Geological Sciences

Requirements for the Bachelor of Science Degree in Geological Sciences

  1. The University requirements for bachelor's degrees as described in the Undergraduate Education section of this catalog; 120 credits, including general elective credits, are required for the Bachelor of Science degree in Geological Sciences.

    The University's Tier II writing requirement for the Geological Sciences major is met by completing Geological Sciences 401.  That courses is referenced in item 3. b. below.

    Students who are enrolled in the College of Natural Science may complete the alternative track to Integrative Studies in Biological and Physical Sciences that is described in item 1. under the heading Graduation Requirements in the College statement.  Certain courses referenced in requirement 3. below may be used to satisfy the alternative track.
  2. The requirements of the College of Natural Science for the Bachelor of Science degree.

    The credits earned in certain courses referenced in requirement 3. below may be counted toward College requirements as appropriate.
  3. The following requirements for the major:
    a. The following courses outside the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences (26 or 27 credits):
    (1) All of the following courses (8 credits):
    CEM 161 Chemistry Laboratory I 1
    MTH 132 Calculus I 3
    MTH 133 Calculus II 4
    (2) One of the following pairs of courses (7 credits):
    (a) CEM 141 General Chemistry 4
    CEM 142 General and Inorganic Chemistry 3
    (b) CEM 151 General and Descriptive Chemistry  4
    CEM 152 Principles of Chemistry  3
    (3) One of the following options (3 or 4 credits):
    (a) MTH 234 Multivariable Calculus  4
    (b) One course of at least 3 credits in statistics and probability.
    (4) One of the following groups of courses (8 credits):
    (a) PHY 231 Introductory Physics I 3
    PHY 232 Introductory Physics II 3
    PHY 251 Introductory Physics Laboratory I 1
    PHY 252 Introductory Physics Laboratory II 1
    (b) PHY 183 Physics for Scientists and Engineers I 4
    PHY 184 Physics for Scientists and Engineers II 4
    b. The following courses in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences (40 credits):
    GLG 201 The Dynamic Earth 4
    GLG 304 Physical and Biological History of the Earth 4
    GLG 321 Mineralogy and Geochemistry 4
    GLG 361 Petrology 4
    GLG 401 Global Tectonics and Earth Structure (W) 4
    GLG 431 Sedimentology and Stratigraphy 4
    GLG 491 Field Geology – Summer Camp (W) 6
    Ten additional credits in Geological Sciences courses at the 300–400 level. Plant Biology 335 and Microbiology and Molecular Genetics 426 may be used to satisfy either the requirements for the major or the requirements referenced under the heading Graduation Requirements in the College statement, but not both of those requirements. The credits that are used to satisfy this requirement may be used to satisfy either the requirements for the geological sciences major or the requirements for the environmental geosciences major, but not both of those requirements.
    The completion of Geological Sciences 491 fulfills the department's capstone course requirement.

Concentration in Geophysics

A concentration in geophysics is also available. Students must complete all of the following courses. Courses that are used to satisfy the requirements for the concentration may also be used to satisfy the requirements for the Bachelor of Science degree in Geological Sciences. The concentration will be noted on the student’s transcript.

1. All of the following courses (22 credits):
GLG 470 Principles of Modern Geophysics 3
GLG 471 Applied Geophysics 4
MTH 234 Multivariate Calculus 4
MTH 235 Differential Equations 3
PHY 183 Physics for Scientists and Engineers I 4
PHY 184 Physics for Scientists and Engineers II 4