Environmental Geology Track. The environmental geology track is a recommended group of electives that provides training for geology students to work on some of society's most pressing problems including groundwater contamination and remediation, nonpoint-source pollution, water resources, and geologic hazards such as earthquakes, landslides, flooding, volcanism and surface deformation. The geology curriculum with an emphasis in environmental geology is designed to provide a strong foundation in geology coupled with specialized training in environmental and hydrologic topics. Students completing this track receive a B.S. degree in Geology from the Department of Geology and Geophysics and are prepared to go on to graduate school for an advanced geoscience degree. Typical careers for environmental geoscientists include careers with environmental and engineering consulting companies and other industrial corporations, governmental agencies or academics.

Specific classes recommended for the geology and technical electives include GEOL 410 Hydrogeology, GEOL 420 Environmental Geology, GEOL 440 Engineering Geology, GEOG 431 Geomorphology, GEOS 410 Global Change, GEOG 390 Principles of GIS, CVEN 365 Introduction to Geotechnical Engineering; or approved classes in other departments including Soil Science, Chemistry, Physics and Civil Engineering.

Petroleum Geology Track. The petroleum geology track is intended to prepare an undergraduate student for graduate study in this discipline, as well as provide training for the students who may be interested in service jobs in the oil and gas industry between their undergraduate and graduate careers. Many of the geology undergraduate classes prepare students for this track. In addition, students may select technical electives in petroleum engineering and other disciplines.

Specific classes recommended include GEOL 400 Reservoir Description, GEOL 404 Geology of Petroleum, PETE 311 Reservoir Petrophysics, PETE 321 Formation Evaluation, PETE 324 Well Performance, PETE 402 Petroleum Property Management. Qualified students may also take related graduate courses during the senior year. Such classes include GEOL 619 Petroleum Geology, GEOL 622 Stratigraphy, GEOL 623 Carbonate Rocks, GEOL 624 Carbonate Reservoirs, GEOL 668 Clastic Sedimentology and Sedimentary Petrology, and GEOP 629 Seismic Interpretation.

GeoPACT Program. The B.A. in Geology and the Geoscience Program for Accelerated Certification for Teaching ( GeoPACT ) is an innovative program to meet the critical shortage of science teachers in the State of Texas. In accordance with the Texas A&M System Regents' Initiative, GeoPACT seeks to provide quality, trained classroom teachers for our state's middle and high schools.

The Geology B.A. and GeoPACT program utilizes a combination of traditional courses in earth science, education, continuing education and a year-long internship to train science teachers in an accelerated format. In as little as one semester, a qualified student with an appropriate science background may complete all classroom work necessary for certification and then embark on a one year, paid, field-based teaching internship experience offered through the Region IV (Houston) TEA Office.

The Geology B.A. and GeoPACT program will meet the requirements for teacher certification in grade 4-8 science and grade 9-12 secondary composite science. The latter provides certification to teach earth science, environmental science, biology, chemistry and physics in grades 9-12. Electives must be chosen in consultation with an advisor.