Years 1 and 2:
Most students begin with an introductory survey course, choosing any
one of the 100-level courses. Then, typically in the sophomore year,
students take a series of four “core” courses which cover the
fundamental concepts, the theoretical basis, and the techniques and
methods need by every well educated student in the Geological Sciences.
During the first two years, students also begin to take the supporting
science and mathematics courses required as background for the upper
level courses in Geological Sciences.
One Introductory Course:
| GEOL 102 Geology of the Solar System | GEOL 111 Planet Earth |
| GEOL 112 Oceanography | GEOL 113 The Dynamic Earth |
| GEOL 114 Earth's Dynamic Interior | GEOL 115 Global Change |
| GEOL 121 Pollution Natural and Unnatural | GEOL 142 Water and Watersheds |
Four Geology 'Core' Courses:
| Fall Semester: | Spring Semester: |
| GEOL 211 Earth Surface Processes | GEOL 212 Earth Materials |
| GEOL 213 Earth History | GEOL 214 Interior of the Earth |
Cognate Sciences and Math:
CHEM 107 or 111
(Note: CHEM 107 or 111 is prerequisite or corequisite to GEOL 212)
and any two courses from the following list:
BIOL 117, 118, 370, 371, 373;
CHEM 108, 221, 231, 332, 341, 351;
MATH 147, 221, 222, 304, 323;
PHYS 121, 122, 131, 132, 227
Years 3 and 4:
Three courses in GEOL numbered 300 or higher.
and
Four courses in an area of specialization. The student has flexibility
in defining this specialization. These four courses must represent a
program with a sound rationale, either in geological sciences or
related fields. This could be exploring a sub discipline in geology
(like sedimentology or igneous geology), environmental science,
geography, or even science journalism, political science, or education,
to mention a few possibilities. The specialization should be carefully
planned with the assistance of a faculty adviser or the Undergraduate
Program Director. Final approval of the courses selected for the
four-course specialization should be secured from the Undergraduate
Program Director no later than the student's sixth semester.
Note: The cognate science courses and four-course specialization must include at least three upper-level (300 or higher) courses.
NOTE: The department requires a grade of C- or better in geology courses counted towards the major. No courses for the major may be taken pass/fail.
