undergraduate Programs
Undergraduate Degrees: Geology, B.A. and Minor
Inquiries about the Geology, B.A. and Minor or Honors Program should be directed to Dr. Randolph McBride, ESP Undergraduate Advisor, Geology and Earth Sciences.
Environmental Science Checklist for Undergraduates
Download the requirements checklist (.pdf)
Degree Requirements
In addition to the university-wide general education requirements and the requirements for a BA degree in CAS, candidates for a degree in geology must complete the following with a minimum GPA of 2.0. Through the course work below, geology majors satisfy the university-wide requirements in natural science and quantitative reasoning.
38 credits in geology and geography, including:
GEOL 101,102, 302, 304*, 308*, 312, 317, 401, and 404**
MATH 110, 111, or 113
CHEM 211, 212
GEOL 316 or a computer science course (may fulfill the university information technology requirement)
9 credits of degree-related course work in a coherent program designed in coordination with advisor and approved by department chair
* Students must achieve a grade of 2.00 or better in GEOL 302 before taking GEOL 304 or 308.
** Not offered on a regular basis; 6-credit geology field camp recommended as substitute.
A minor in Geology includes three required courses that all include laboratory sections. To receive the minor, students must successfully complete 20 credits with a minimum GPA of 2.00 to include GEOL 101, 102, and 302; and two of the following courses: GEOL 304*, 308*, 312, 317, or 401. * Students must achieve a grade of 2.0 or better in GEOL 302 before taking GEOL 304 or 308.
Benefits
Geology means the scientific study of the Earth, Earth materials and the processes by which they form. Courses in geology include local streams and soils in the backyard to volcanic eruptions in Hawaii and the uplift of the Himalayas. Geology also includes the history of life on Earth, which is closely intertwined with the history of the physical and chemical environment. Earth processes have operated throughout immensely long periods of time. A minor in Geology will enable you to read the clues in the rocks to interpret past environments and the history of the Earth.
Physical Geology emphasizes the processes that operate on or within the Earth, including plate tectonics, volcanoes, earthquakes and landforms. In Historical Geology students learn about events that happened during the evolution of the Earth, from the formation of super-continents (Pangea) to the extinction of the dinosaurs and the evolution of mammals. The basic materials that build up the Earth many resources are studied in the Mineralogy class. Together with eight elective credits, students taking this minor will appreciate the complexities of the Earth, the planet on which we live.Inquiries
Inquiries about the Geology, Minor should be directed to Dr. Randolph McBride, ESP Undergraduate Advisor, Geology and Earth Sciences.
Honors Program for Earth Science and Geology
Earth science and geology majors who have completed 16 credits of math and science including GEOL 302 or BIOL 307, with a GPA of 3.00 or higher, are eligible to enter the departmental honors program. Transfer students who have an incoming GPA of 3.10 or higher in math and science, and a B or better in GEOL 302 or BIOL 307, are also eligible. To graduate with honors in Earth science or geology, students are required to maintain a minimum GPA of 3.00 in math and science, and complete the following courses with an average GPA of 3.50 or better: GEOL 406, 410, and 411.
Inquiries
Inquiries about the Honors Program for Geology should be directed to Dr. Randolph McBride, ESP Undergraduate Advisor, Geology and Earth Sciences.