Geology Program Requirements

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Faculty

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

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 4  
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
Electives 8  

Students must take an additional eight credits in geology, including at least one course at the 400 level.

   
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

 

Physics for Scientists  and Engineers I

4

 

4

 MATH 144

PHYS 152

or

PHYS 212

 

Principles of Physics II

 

Physics for Scientists and Engineers II

4

 

4

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

Recommended Plan of Study for Geology

Fall Semester Spring Semester Summer 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 10 credits in Geology, at least 4 of which are at the 300 level.

Total Hours for the Geology Minor 24