Geology Program Requirements

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Faculty

  • David Goldsmith 
  • Tiffany Rivera (Co-Chair)
  • Nick Pollock (Co-Chair)

View Geology Courses

Program Goals

  • Critical Thinking
    • Ability to synthesize multiple lines of evidence and multiple sources of data to support geologic hypotheses
    • Ability to use an Earth Systems perspective to integrate understanding of geologic processes across disciplines
  • Creativity
    • Ability to evaluate data necessary to answer a particular question
    • Ability to think and extrapolate across a broad range of temporal and dimensional scales
  • Collaboration
    • Ability to work collaboratively to break a complex problem into simpler, individually achievable tasks
    • Ability to work together constructively in challenging field environments
  • Communication
    • Ability to explain geologic information at a level appropriate to the audience
    • Ability to read and understand the geologic literature and to create original research reports
    • Ability to communicate scientific information through verbal and written presentation of data, graphics, and maps.
  • Global Responsibility
    • Ability to assess the effects of human activity on the natural environment
    • Ability to bring a geologic perspective to discussions of social issues

Objectives

The Geology program offers a Bachelor of Science degree for students interested in understanding the earth. The degree incorporates a diversity of both perspectives and methods.  Classes incorporate lecture, lab, and fieldwork to study our planet’s physical, chemical, and biological history.

Program Requirements

Students must maintain a minimum 2.3 GPA in all courses required for the major.

Students must meet the college-wide graduation requirements in addition to the Geology major:

  • 124 total hours
  • 30 upper division hours
  • WCore or Honors College requirements

For course prerequisites, please refer to the course descriptions.

Geology Major

Requirement Description Credit Hours Prerequisites
I. World Language Requirement 8  

The student must complete eight credit hours in a single world language.
II. Lower Division Geology Courses 18  
GEOL 201 Earth Materials I: Mineralogy 4 GEOL 107 or 111
Co-requisite: GEOL 201L
GEOL 210  Historical Geology 4 GEOL 107 or GEOL 111
GEOL 214 Sedimentology & Stratigraphy  4 GEOL 107 or 111
Co-requisite: GEOL 214L
GEOL 260 Geoliteracy  2 GEOL 107 or 111
Choose one of the following courses:
GEOL 107  Geology of the American West 4  
GEOL 111 National Parks Geology    
III. Upper Division Geology Courses 18  
GEOL 301 Earth Materials II: Petrology  4 GEOL 201, CHEM 111
Co-requisite: GEOL 301L
GEOL 310 Structural Geology and Tectonics  4 GEOL 107 or 111
Pre or co-requisite: GEOL 425 and PHYS 152 or PHYS 212
GEOL 315 Principles of Paleontology  4  
GEOL 360  Field Geology 6 GEOL 214, GEOL 301, GEOL 310, and GEOL 107 or 111
IV. Electives 8  

Students must take an additional eight credits in geology, including at least one course at the 400 level.
V. Required Courses from Other Programs 24  
CHEM 111 Principles of Chemistry I 4 Pre or co-requisite: MATH 144 or MATH 143
CHEM 112 Principles of Chemistry II  4 CHEM 111
MATH 201 Calculus I  4 MATH 144
MATH 202 Calculus II 4 MATH 201

PHYS 151

or

PHYS 211

Principles of Physics I 

or

Physics for Scientists  and Engineers I

 4 MATH 144

PHYS 152

or

PHYS 212

Principles of Physics II 

or

Physics for Scientists  and Engineers II

 4 PHYS 151 or PHYS 211
Total Hours for the Geology Major 76  

Recommended Plan of Study for Geology

Fall Semester Spring Semester
Year 1 Geology Learning Community
CHEM 111
MATH 201		 CHEM 112
MATH 202
GEOL 210
GEOL 260
Year 2 GEOL 201
PHYS 151		 GEOL 301
GEOL 214
PHYS 152
Year 3 GEOL 315
DATA 220 (recommended for students
considering graduate school)		 GEOL 310
GEOL 360 (summer)
GEOL Electives
Year 4 GEOL Electives GEOL Electives

Geology Minor

Requirement Description Credit Hours Prerequisites
I. Required Geology Courses 14  
GEOL 201 Earth Materials I: Mineralogy 4

GEOL 107 or 111

Co-requisite: GEOL 201L
GEOL 210 Historical Geology 4 GEOL 107 or GEOL 111
GEOL 260 Geoliteracy 2 GEOL 107 or 111
Choose one of the following courses:
GEOL 107 Geology of the American West  4  
GEOL 111 National Parks Geology 4  
II. Electives 10  

Students wishing to complete a minor must take an additional ten credits in Geology, at least four of which are at the 300 level.
Total Hours for the Geology Minor 24