Bachelor of Science in Geology

The B.S. degree is offered for undergraduates who wish to become professional geoscientists either after their Bachelors degree or after subsequent graduate study. It trains students in the essential observational and analytical skills of field geology as well as more applied areas of microscope petrology, geochemistry, and hydrogeology. The B.S. degree is designed to give the student a broad and comprehensive understanding of the discipline of geology and a firm background in math, physics, and chemistry.

Required Courses 

CHEM 121            General Chemistry I           5 cr
CHEM 122            General Chemistry II          4 cr
MATH 117            Algebra & Trigonometry        5 cr
MATH 121            Calculus and Analytic 
                    Geometry I                    4 cr
MATH 222            Calculus and Analytic 
                    Geometry II                   4 cr
PHYS 211-212*       General Physics               6 cr
                    OR
PHYS 221-222*       Engineering Physics           8 cr
GEOL 109            Physical Geology              3 cr
GEOL 110            Physical Geology Lab          1 cr
GEOL 112            Historical Geology            2 cr
GEOL 113            Historical Geology Lab        1 cr
GEOL 211            Mineralogy                    3 cr
GEOL 311            Optical Mineralogy Lab        1 cr
GEOL 312            Lithology                     2 cr
GEOL 352            Sedimentation-Stratigraphy    4 cr
GEOL 402            Geomorphology                 3 cr
GEOL 411            Petrology                     4 cr
GEOL 420            Principles of Geochemistry    3 cr
GEOL 421            Structural Geology            4 cr
GEOL 430            Principles of Hydrogeology    3 cr
GEOL 431            Invertebrate Paleontology     4 cr
GEOL 450**          Field Geology                 6 cr
TOTAL: 44 required geology credits plus at least 4 other optional
geology credits to equal at least 48 geology credits. Note: Student who are considering a geology major should take GEOL 109
and GEOL 110 rather than GEOL 106 or GEOL 107. Students who have taken GEOL 106 and GEOL 107 and have decided to major in Geology must take GEOL 110, which is the prerequisite for many other courses in the Geology major. Only in these cases will credit for GEOL 106 be substituted for GEOL 109 for a B.S. major.

*Optional (May choose these as companions to * courses) 

PHYS 213-214        General Physics Lab           2 cr
PHYS 223-224        Engineering Physics Lab       2 cr

**GEOL 450 is a 5-week summer field course, usually taken between the junior and senior year.