College of Geosciences

Curricula in Geology

Bachelor of Arts

The B.A. program in Geology provides the student a broad foundation in geology with a specialization in at least one other field through the minor program. The minor chosen by the student requires a minimum of 15 credit hours in one discipline. The B.A. program offers additional opportunities for the student to diversify through geology and technical electives.

The B.A. degree offers more flexibility than the B.S. program in terms of allowing a program of study which combines geology with subject areas such as geophysics, history, journalism, political science, mathematics, biology, business, computer science, education, medicine, physics or other areas. In addition, the mathematics and physics requirements are less rigorous than in the B.S. degree. The B.A. program meets the needs of many students who plan to use geology as a basis for careers in law (environmental, oil, gas, etc.), medicine, technical writing, teaching at pre-college level, environmental journalism, resource related sales and marketing, to name only a few possibilities. With a judicious selection of electives, the B.A. degree may conceivably be a starting point for further graduate education in geology or geophysics. However, the B.S. is far more appropriate for this goal.

Because of the great flexibility of this program, it is important to speak to a departmental advisor as soon as practicable. In any case, electives must be chosen in consultation with an advisor.

FRESHMAN YEAR

First Semester (Th-Pr) Cr   Second Semester (Th-Pr) Cr
CHEM 101 Fund. of Chemistry I (3-0) 3   ENGL 210 Scientific and Tech. Writing 2 (3-0) 3
CHEM 111 Fund. of Chemistry I Lab. (0-3) 1   CHEM 102 Fund. of Chemistry II (3-0) 3
ENGL 104 Comp. and Rhetoric (3-0) 3   CHEM 112 Fund. of Chemistry II Lab. (0-3) 1
GEOL 104 Physical Geology (3-3) 4   GEOL 106 Historical Geology (3-3) 4
MATH 166 Topics in Cont. Math. II 1 (3-0) 3   MATH 131 Math. Concepts--Calculus 1 (3-0) 3
    14       14

SOPHOMORE YEAR

First Semester (Th-Pr) Cr   Second Semester (Th-Pr) Cr
GEOL 203 Mineralogy (2-6) 4   GEOL 302 Intro. to Petrology (3-3) 4
GEOP 341 Intro. to Global Geophysics (3-0) 3   GEOL 309 Intro. to Geol. Field Methods (1-6) 3
PHYS 201 College Physics 3 (3-3) 4   GEOL 311 Prin. of Geological Writing (1-0) 1
Minor elective 4   3   PHYS 202 College Physics 3 (3-3) 4
* KINE 198 Health and Fitness Activity (0-2) 1   Minor elective 4   3
    15   * KINE 199 Required Physical Activity (0-2) 1
            16

JUNIOR YEAR

First Semester (Th-Pr) Cr   Second Semester (Th-Pr) Cr
Geology elective 6   4   GEOL 306 Sedimentology and Stratigraphy (3-3) 4
Minor elective 4   3   GEOL 312 Struct. Geology and Tectonics (3-3) 4
Social and behavioral sciences elective 8   3   Geology elective 6   3
Technical elective 7   3   Technical elective7   3
U.S. history or political science elective 5   3   U.S. history or political science elective 5   3
    16       17

SUMMER FIELD STUDIES

GEOL 330 Geologic Field Trips 3

SENIOR YEAR

First Semester (Th-Pr) Cr   Second Semester (Th-Pr) Cr
Minor elective 4   3   Humanities elective 8   3
U.S. history or political science elective 5   3   Minor elective 4   3
Visual and performing arts elective 8   3   U.S. history or political science elective 5   3
Geology elective 6   4   General electives 9   8
General elective 9   3       17
    16        
             
total hours
128
NOTES:
  1. May substitute MATH 141 for MATH 166; may substitute MATH 142, 151 or 171 for MATH 131.
  2. Students with junior or senior classification may substitute ENGL 301.
  3. May substitute PHYS 218 for PHYS 201; may substitute PHYS 208 or 219 for PHYS 202.
  4. Fifteen hours of electives must be selected in a minor. Electives must be chosen in consultation with advisor.
  5. These electives must be selected from the approved list of courses satisfying the University Core Curriculum.
  6. Any 300- or 400-level geology or geophysics course not already required.
  7. Any science, math, engineering or social science course that augments the degree with the approval of the advisor.
  8. These electives must be selected from the approved list of courses satisfying the University Core Curriculum and 6 hours must be selected from courses that also satisfy the international and cultural diversity requirement (see item 6).
  9. General electives MAY NOT include BUAD 100; STLC 001-499; SLCX 001-499; DEVS 001-499; ENGL 100, 103; GEOL 101-104; KINE 198, 199; LBAR 201; MATH 102, 103, 131, 141, 142, 150, 151, 166, 171; AERS 100-499; MLSC 100-499; NVSC 100-499; SOMS 100-499.

* See University Core Curriculum, item 7.