Geology (B.S.)
Required course work includes the university requirements (see regulation J-3) and:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CHEM 111 | General Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 111L | General Chemistry I Laboratory | 1 |
| ENGL 318 | Science Writing | 3 |
| GEOG 385 | Foundations of GIS | 3 |
| GEOL 102 | Historical Geology | 3 |
| GEOL 102L | Historical Geology Lab | 1 |
| GEOL 249 | Mineralogy and Optical Mineralogy | 4 |
| GEOL 302 | Field Geology Methods | 3 |
| GEOL 324 | Principles of Stratigraphy and Sedimentation | 4 |
| GEOL 326 | Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology | 4 |
| GEOL 345 | Structural Geology | 4 |
| GEOL 422 | Principles of Geophysics | 4 |
| GEOL 490 | Geology Field Camp | 3 |
| MATH 143 | Precalculus I: Algebra | 3 |
| MATH 170 | Calculus I | 4 |
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
| Physical Geology and Physical Geology Lab | ||
| Physical Geology for Science Majors and Physical Geology for Science Majors Lab | ||
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
| General Physics I and General Physics I Lab | ||
| Engineering Physics I and Laboratory Physics I | ||
| Options | ||
| Select one of the following options: | 23-43 | |
| Total Hours | 78-98 | |
A. Physical Geology
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select 36-38 credits from the following: | 36-38 | |
| Paleontology: Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Life | ||
| Ground Water Hydrology | ||
| Geological Core Logging | ||
| Economic Geology | ||
| Geomorphology | ||
| Basin Analysis | ||
| Groundwater Field Methods | ||
| Advanced Paleontology | ||
| Principles of Geochemistry | ||
| Geostatistics | ||
| Geodynamics | ||
| Glaciology and the Dynamic Frozen Earth | ||
| Geochronology and Thermochronology | ||
| Petroleum Systems and Energy Transitions | ||
| Volcanology | ||
| Ore Deposits and Exploration | ||
| Stable Isotopes in the Environment | ||
| Total Hours | 36-38 | |
B. Energy Resiliency Option
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| GEOL 212 | Paleontology: Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Life | 4 |
| GEOL 462 | Petroleum Systems and Energy Transitions | 3 |
| GEOL 471 | Ore Deposits and Exploration | 3 |
| GEOG 313 | Global Climate Change | 3 |
| GEOG 488 | Geography of Energy Systems | 3 |
| GEOG 435 | Climate Change Mitigation | 3 |
| ENGR 215 | Elements of Materials Science | 3 |
| MSE 438 | Fundamentals of Nuclear Materials | 3 |
| ENVS 484 | History of Energy | 3 |
| ENVS 485 | Energy Efficiency and Conservation | 3 |
| ENVS 415 | Environmental Lifecycle Assessment | 3 |
| GEOL 318 | Economic Geology | 3 |
| Total Hours | 37 | |
Courses to total 120 credits for this degree
C. Environmental Hydrogeology Option
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| GEOL 309 | Ground Water Hydrology | 3 |
| GEOL 361 | Geology and the Environment | 3 |
| HYDR 409 | Quantitative Hydrogeology | 3 |
| GEOL 410 | Groundwater Field Methods | 3 |
| HYDR 412 | Environmental Hydrogeology | 3 |
| GEOL 428 | Geostatistics | 3 |
| GEOL 431 | Chemical Hydrogeology | 3 |
| GEOL 435 | Glaciology and the Dynamic Frozen Earth | 3 |
| or GEOL 474 | Stable Isotopes in the Environment | |
| Select two courses from the following: | 6-7 | |
| Calculus II | ||
| Statistical Methods | ||
| Probability and Statistics | ||
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
| General Physics II and General Physics II Lab | ||
| Engineering Physics II and Laboratory Physics II | ||
| Select one elective from the following: | 6-8 | |
| Meteorology | ||
| Climatology | ||
| Calculus III | ||
| Ordinary Differential Equations | ||
| Linear Algebra | ||
| General Chemistry II and General Chemistry II Laboratory | ||
| Carbon Compounds and Carbon Compounds Lab | ||
| Organic Chemistry I and Organic Chemistry I: Lab | ||
| Total Hours | 40-43 | |
Courses to total 120 credits for this degree
D. Sustainable Mining and Earth Resource Management Option
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CE 105 | Civil Engineering Drafting | 3 |
| CE 211 | Engineering Surveying | 3 |
| GEOE 465 | Excavation and Materials Handling | 3 |
| GEOE 499 | Directed Study | 2 |
| or GEOL 498 | Senior Thesis | |
| or GEOL 400 | Seminar | |
| GEOG 350 | Sustainability of Global Development | 3-4 |
| GEOL 361 | Geology and the Environment | 3 |
| GEOL 447 | Geochronology and Thermochronology | 3 |
| or GEOL 474 | Stable Isotopes in the Environment | |
| GEOL 462 | Petroleum Systems and Energy Transitions | 3 |
| GEOL 471 | Ore Deposits and Exploration | 3 |
| GEOL 428 | Geostatistics | 3 |
| HYDR 412 | Environmental Hydrogeology | 3 |
| FOR 207 | Properties of Artificial Growth Media | 1 |
| or REM 280 | Introduction to Wildland Restoration | |
| NRS 488 | NEPA in Policy and Practice | 3 |
| or ENVS 479 | Introduction to Environmental Regulations | |
| GEOL 318 | Economic Geology | 3 |
| GEOL 310 | Geological Core Logging | 1 |
| Total Hours | 40-41 | |
E. Geological Education Option
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| BIOL 115 | Cells and the Evolution of Life | 3 |
| BIOL 115L | Cells and the Evolution of Life Laboratory | 1 |
| GEOG 100 | Introduction to Planet Earth | 3 |
| GEOG 100L | Introduction to Planet Earth Lab | 1 |
| GEOG 401 | Climatology | 3 |
| GEOL 212 | Paleontology: Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Life | 4 |
| GEOL 335 | Geomorphology | 3 |
| PHYS 103 | General Astronomy | 3 |
| PHYS 104 | Astronomy Lab | 1 |
| PLSC 205 | General Botany | 4 |
| Select one of the following: | 3-4 | |
| Calculus II | ||
| Linear Algebra | ||
| Statistical Methods | ||
| Total Hours | 29-30 | |
Courses to total 120 credits for this degree
Physical Geology Option
| Fall Term 1 | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| ENGL 101 | Writing and Rhetoric I | 3 |
| MATH 143 or MATH 144 | Precalculus I: Algebra or Precalculus II: Trigonometry | 3 |
| GEOL 101 or GEOL 111 | Physical Geology or Physical Geology for Science Majors | 3 |
| GEOL 101L or GEOL 111L | Physical Geology Lab or Physical Geology for Science Majors Lab | 1 |
| GEOG 165 or GEOG 200 | Human Geography ((Human and Artistic Ways of Knowing)) or World Cultures and Globalization | 3 |
| Hours | 13 | |
| Spring Term 1 | ||
| ENGL 102 | Writing and Rhetoric II | 3 |
| CHEM 111 | General Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 111L | General Chemistry I Laboratory | 1 |
| GEOL 102 | Historical Geology | 3 |
| GEOL 102L | Historical Geology Lab | 1 |
| MATH 170 | Calculus I | 4 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Fall Term 2 | ||
| PHYS 111 or PHYS 211 | General Physics I or Engineering Physics I | 3 |
| PHYS 111L or PHYS 211L | General Physics I Lab or Laboratory Physics I | 1 |
| Humanistic and Artistic Ways of Knowing | 3 | |
| Elective in GEOL | 4 | |
| Elective in GEOL | 3 | |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Spring Term 2 | ||
| GEOL 249 | Mineralogy and Optical Mineralogy | 4 |
| GEOL 345 | Structural Geology | 4 |
| Elective in GEOL | 3 | |
| Societal Ways of Knowing | 3 | |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Summer Term 2 | ||
| GEOL 302 | Field Geology Methods | 3 |
| Hours | 3 | |
| Fall Term 3 | ||
| GEOL 324 | Principles of Stratigraphy and Sedimentation | 4 |
| GEOL 326 | Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology | 4 |
| Elective in GEOL | 3 | |
| Elective in GEOL | 3 | |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Spring Term 3 | ||
| ENGL 318 | Science Writing | 3 |
| American Diversity Course | 3 | |
| Elective in GEOL | 3 | |
| Elective in GEOL | 3 | |
| Oral Communication Course | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Summer Term 3 | ||
| GEOL 490 | Geology Field Camp | 3 |
| Hours | 3 | |
| Fall Term 4 | ||
| GEOG 385 | Foundations of GIS | 3 |
| Elective in GEOL | 3 | |
| Elective in GEOL | 3 | |
| Elective in GEOL | 3 | |
| Elective Course | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring Term 4 | ||
| GEOL 422 | Principles of Geophysics | 4 |
| Societal Ways of Knowing Course | 3 | |
| Elective in GEOL | 3 | |
| Elective in GEOL | 3 | |
| Elective Course | 1 | |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
Energy Resiliency Option
| Fall Term 1 | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| ENGL 101 | Writing and Rhetoric I | 3 |
| GEOG 165 or GEOG 200 | Human Geography (Recommended - Both courses fulfill Social & Behavioral Ways of Knowing and International requirements) or World Cultures and Globalization | 3 |
| MATH 143 | Precalculus I: Algebra | 3 |
| MATH 144 | Precalculus II: Trigonometry | 1 |
| (GEOL 101 AND GEOL 101L) OR (GEOL 111 AND GEOL 111L) | 4 | |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Spring Term 1 | ||
| ENGL 102 | Writing and Rhetoric II | 3 |
| CHEM 111 | General Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 111L | General Chemistry I Laboratory | 1 |
| GEOL 102 | Historical Geology | 3 |
| GEOL 102L | Historical Geology Lab | 1 |
| MATH 170 | Calculus I | 4 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Fall Term 2 | ||
| GEOL 212 | Paleontology: Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Life | 4 |
| MSE 201 | 3 | |
| GEOL 318 | Economic Geology | 3 |
| (PHYS 111 AND PHYS 111L) OR (PHYS 211 AND PHYS 211L) | 4 | |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Spring Term 2 | ||
| GEOL 249 | Mineralogy and Optical Mineralogy | 4 |
| GEOL 345 | Structural Geology | 4 |
| GEOG 385 | Foundations of GIS | 3 |
| Social and Behavioral Ways of Knowing Course | 3 | |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Summer Term 2 | ||
| GEOL 302 | Field Geology Methods | 3 |
| Hours | 3 | |
| Fall Term 3 | ||
| GEOG 313 | Global Climate Change | 3 |
| GEOL 324 | Principles of Stratigraphy and Sedimentation | 4 |
| GEOL 326 | Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology | 4 |
| GEOL 462 | Petroleum Systems and Energy Transitions | 3 |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Spring Term 3 | ||
| ENGL 318 | Science Writing | 3 |
| MSE 438 | Fundamentals of Nuclear Materials | 3 |
| American Diversity Course | 3 | |
| Oral Communication Course | 3 | |
| Humanistic and Artistic Ways of Knowing Course | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Summer Term 3 | ||
| GEOL 490 or GEOL 489 | Geology Field Camp or Virtual Field Camp | 3 |
| Hours | 3 | |
| Fall Term 4 | ||
| GEOL 471 | Ore Deposits and Exploration | 3 |
| GEOG 435 | Climate Change Mitigation | 3 |
| ENVS 485 | Energy Efficiency and Conservation | 3 |
| GEOG 350 | Sustainability of Global Development (Recommended) | 3 |
| Humanistic and Artistic Ways of Knowing | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring Term 4 | ||
| GEOL 422 | Principles of Geophysics | 4 |
| ENVS 484 | History of Energy | 3 |
| GEOG 488 | Geography of Energy Systems | 3 |
| ENVS 415 | Environmental Lifecycle Assessment | 3 |
| Hours | 13 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
Environmental Hydrogeology Option
| Fall Term 1 | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| ENGL 101 | Writing and Rhetoric I | 3 |
| GEOL 101 or GEOL 111 | Physical Geology or Physical Geology for Science Majors | 3 |
| GEOL 101L or GEOL 111L | Physical Geology Lab or Physical Geology for Science Majors Lab | 1 |
| MATH 143 | Precalculus I: Algebra | 3 |
| MATH 144 | Precalculus II: Trigonometry | 1 |
| Humanistic and Artistic Ways of Knowing Course | 3 | |
| Oral Communication Course | 3 | |
| Hours | 17 | |
| Spring Term 1 | ||
| CHEM 111 | General Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 111L | General Chemistry I Laboratory | 1 |
| ENGL 102 | Writing and Rhetoric II | 3 |
| GEOL 102 | Historical Geology | 3 |
| GEOL 102L | Historical Geology Lab | 1 |
| MATH 170 | Calculus I | 4 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Fall Term 2 | ||
| GEOL 309 | Ground Water Hydrology | 3 |
| MATH 175 | Calculus II or Statistical Methods or Probability and Statistics | 4 |
| (PHYS 111 AND PHYS 111L) OR (PHYS 211 AND PHYS 211L) | 4 | |
| Social and Behavioral Ways of Knowing Course | 3 | |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Spring Term 2 | ||
| GEOL 249 | Mineralogy and Optical Mineralogy | 4 |
| GEOL 345 | Structural Geology | 4 |
| STAT 251 | Statistical Methods or Calculus II or Probability and Statistics | 3 |
| (PHYS 112 AND PHYS 112L) OR (PHYS 211 AND PHYS 211L) | 4 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Summer Term 2 | ||
| GEOL 302 | Field Geology Methods | 3 |
| Hours | 3 | |
| Fall Term 3 | ||
| GEOL 324 | Principles of Stratigraphy and Sedimentation | 4 |
| GEOL 326 | Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology | 4 |
| GEOL 361 | Geology and the Environment | 3 |
| ENGL 318 | Science Writing | 3 |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Spring Term 3 | ||
| GEOL 474 or GEOL 435 | Stable Isotopes in the Environment or Glaciology and the Dynamic Frozen Earth | 3 |
| HYDR 412 | Environmental Hydrogeology | 3 |
| GEOG/MATH/CHEM, Major Elective Course | 3 | |
| Social and Behavioral Ways of Knowing Course | 3 | |
| American Diversity Course | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Summer Term 3 | ||
| GEOL 490 or GEOL 489 | Geology Field Camp or Virtual Field Camp | 3 |
| Hours | 3 | |
| Fall Term 4 | ||
| GEOL 410 | Groundwater Field Methods | 3 |
| HYDR 409 | Quantitative Hydrogeology | 3 |
| GEOG 385 | Foundations of GIS | 3 |
| Humanistic and Artistic Ways of Knowing | 3 | |
| GEOG/MATH/CHEM, Major Elective Course | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring Term 4 | ||
| GEOL 422 | Principles of Geophysics | 4 |
| GEOL 428 | Geostatistics | 3 |
| GEOL 431 | Chemical Hydrogeology | 3 |
| International Course (GEOG 350 recommended) | 3 | |
| Hours | 13 | |
| Total Hours | 124 | |
Sustainable Mining and Earth Resource Management Option
| Freshman | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Term 1 | Hours | |
| ENGL 101 | Writing and Rhetoric I | 3 |
| MATH 143 | Precalculus I: Algebra | 3 |
| MATH 144 | Precalculus II: Trigonometry | 1 |
| GEOL 101 or GEOL 111 | Physical Geology or Physical Geology for Science Majors | 3 |
| GEOL 101L or GEOL 111L | Physical Geology Lab or Physical Geology for Science Majors Lab | 1 |
| GEOG 165 or GEOG 200 | Human Geography (Recommended - Both courses fulfill Social & Behavioral Ways of Knowing and International requirements) or World Cultures and Globalization | 3 |
| Oral Communication Course | 3 | |
| Hours | 17 | |
| Spring Term 1 | ||
| ENGL 102 | Writing and Rhetoric II | 3 |
| CHEM 111 | General Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 111L | General Chemistry I Laboratory | 1 |
| GEOL 102 | Historical Geology | 3 |
| GEOL 102L | Historical Geology Lab | 1 |
| MATH 170 | Calculus I | 4 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Sophomore | ||
| Fall Term 2 | ||
| GEOL 318 | Economic Geology | 3 |
| GEOL 324 | Principles of Stratigraphy and Sedimentation | 4 |
| PHYS 111 or PHYS 211 | General Physics I or Engineering Physics I | 3 |
| PHYS 111L or PHYS 211L | General Physics I Lab or Laboratory Physics I | 1 |
| Humanistic and Artistic Ways of Knowing Course | 3 | |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Spring Term 2 | ||
| GEOL 249 | Mineralogy and Optical Mineralogy | 4 |
| GEOL 345 | Structural Geology | 4 |
| GEOG 385 | Foundations of GIS | 3 |
| CE 105 | Civil Engineering Drafting | 3 |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Summer Term 2 | ||
| GEOL 302 | Field Geology Methods | 3 |
| Hours | 3 | |
| Junior | ||
| Fall Term 3 | ||
| CE 211 | Engineering Surveying | 3 |
| GEOL 326 | Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology | 4 |
| GEOL 361 | Geology and the Environment | 3 |
| GEOL 462 | Petroleum Systems and Energy Transitions | 3 |
| Hours | 13 | |
| Spring Term 3 | ||
| ENGL 318 | Science Writing | 3 |
| FOR 207 or REM 280 | Properties of Artificial Growth Media or Introduction to Wildland Restoration | 1 |
| GEOL 498 | Senior Thesis (or internship) or Seminar or Directed Study | 2 |
| American Diversity Course | 3 | |
| Social and Behavioral Ways of Knowing Course | 3 | |
| Hours | 12 | |
| Summer Term 3 | ||
| GEOL 490 or GEOL 489 | Geology Field Camp or Virtual Field Camp | 3 |
| Hours | 3 | |
| Senior | ||
| Fall Term 4 | ||
| GEOE 465 | Excavation and Materials Handling | 3 |
| GEOL 310 | Geological Core Logging | 1 |
| GEOL 471 | Ore Deposits and Exploration | 3 |
| ENVS 479 or NRS 488 | Introduction to Environmental Regulations or NEPA in Policy and Practice | 3 |
| HYDR 412 | Environmental Hydrogeology | 3 |
| Hours | 13 | |
| Spring Term 4 | ||
| GEOG 350 | Sustainability of Global Development (International Course) | 3 |
| GEOL 428 | Geostatistics | 3 |
| GEOL 422 | Principles of Geophysics | 4 |
| GEOL 474 | Stable Isotopes in the Environment | 3 |
| Humanistic and Artistic Ways of Knowing | 3 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
Geological Education Option
| Fall Term 1 | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| ENGL 101 | Writing and Rhetoric I | 3 |
| MATH 143 | Precalculus I: Algebra | 3 |
| MATH 144 | Precalculus II: Trigonometry | 1 |
| (GEOL 101 AND GEOL 101L) OR (GEOL 111 AND GEOL 111L) | 4 | |
| Oral Communication Course | 3 | |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Spring Term 1 | ||
| CHEM 111 | General Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 111L | General Chemistry I Laboratory | 1 |
| ENGL 102 | Writing and Rhetoric II | 3 |
| GEOL 102 | Historical Geology | 3 |
| GEOL 102L | Historical Geology Lab | 1 |
| MATH 170 | Calculus I | 4 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Fall Term 2 | ||
| BIOL 115 | Cells and the Evolution of Life | 3 |
| BIOL 115L | Cells and the Evolution of Life Laboratory | 1 |
| GEOL 249 | Mineralogy and Optical Mineralogy | 4 |
| (PHYS 111 AND PHYS 111L) OR (PHYS 211 AND PHYS 211L) | 4 | |
| Humanistic and Artistic Ways of Knowing Course | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring Term 2 | ||
| GEOG 100 | Introduction to Planet Earth | 3 |
| GEOG 100L | Introduction to Planet Earth Lab | 1 |
| GEOL 212 | Paleontology: Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Life | 4 |
| GEOL 326 | Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology | 4 |
| Social and Behavioral Ways of Knowing Course | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Summer Term 2 | ||
| GEOL 302 | Field Geology Methods | 3 |
| Hours | 3 | |
| Fall Term 3 | ||
| ENGL 318 | Science Writing | 3 |
| GEOG 385 | Foundations of GIS | 3 |
| GEOL 324 | Principles of Stratigraphy and Sedimentation | 4 |
| GEOL 345 | Structural Geology | 4 |
| MATH 175 OR MATH 330 OR STAT 251 | 3 | |
| Hours | 17 | |
| Spring Term 3 | ||
| GEOL 335 | Geomorphology | 3 |
| GEOL 422 | Principles of Geophysics | 4 |
| Social and Behavioral Ways of Knowing Course | 3 | |
| International Course | 3 | |
| Hours | 13 | |
| Summer Term 3 | ||
| GEOL 490 or GEOL 489 | Geology Field Camp or Virtual Field Camp | 3 |
| Hours | 3 | |
| Fall Term 4 | ||
| GEOL 423 | Principles of Geochemistry | 3 |
| PHYS 103 | General Astronomy | 3 |
| PHYS 104 | Astronomy Lab | 1 |
| American Diversity Course | 3 | |
| Elective Course | 3 | |
| Hours | 13 | |
| Spring Term 4 | ||
| GEOG 401 | Climatology | 3 |
| PLSC 205 | General Botany | 4 |
| Humanistic and Artistic Ways of Knowing Course | 3 | |
| Elective Course | 2 | |
| Hours | 12 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
The degree map is a guide for the timely completion of your curricular requirements. Your academic advisor or department may be contacted for assistance in interpreting this map. This map is not reflective of your academic history or transcript and it is not official notification of completion of degree or certificate requirements. Please contact the Registrar's Office regarding your official degree/certificate completion status.
Graduates will demonstrate fundamental content knowledge about geologic time, Earth materials and structure, and Earth systems and processes.
Graduates will be proficient in discipline-specific skills including field methods, laboratory methods, mapping and geospatial analysis, experimentation and data analysis, application of principles from other fields to the solution of geological problems, and specific technical skills appropriate to their intended careers.
Graduates will solve geologic problems using their skills in spatial reasoning, temporal reasoning, systematic thinking, and data collection and analysis.
Graduates will be able to design and carry out a project, collaborate with others, and communicate their work and their results to varying audiences.