GEOLOGY
Bachelor of Science

Geology involves the physics and chemistry of materials which comprise the earth, but equally important, it considers the development of life on earth. Fundamentally, the chemical, physical, and biological responses to environments on and in the earth must be thoroughly understood so that the historical development of the earth can be deduced, predictions of the future inferred, and natural resources intelligently developed. Industry depends on minerals and rocks; metals have their origin in them as do our chief power sources: coal, petroleum, and radioactive minerals.

Employment opportunities for geologists include such far-reaching fields as mineral-producing industries, railroads, municipalities, engineering firms, and water authorities. It is important, therefore, that a geology education rest on a broad yet rigorous base.

Students pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in Geology have three concentrations from which to choose. The ìtraditionalî curriculum provides the fundamentals of geology and excellent support in the other basic sciences. Students completing this curriculum are prepared for employment or for graduate study in any field of geology. The Environmental Geology concentration prepares students for careers in the environmental consulting industry. Students in this concentration take 15 credits of Environmental Science Requirement, including at least nine credits from one of three subdisciplines: geology/soil science, biology/ecology, or chemistry/physics. The Engineering Geology concentration can be taken by students interested in applying engineering principles to geologic problems. Engineering geologists are increasingly called upon to perform geologic site evaluations for construction projects and to minimize the threat of geologic hazards. The curriculum involves courses in engineering and soil mechanics plus 15 credits of Engineering Geology Requirement selected from courses in civil, environmental systems, and biosystems engineering, or advanced mathematics.
 
Freshman Year
First Semester
4 - CH 101 General Chemistry
3 - ENGL 101 Composition I
1 - GEOL 100 Current Topics in Geology
3 - GEOL 101 Physical Geology
1 - GEOL 103 Physical Geology Lab.
4 - MTHSC 106 Calculus of One Variable I
16

Second Semester
4 - CH 102 General Chemistry
3 - ENGL 102 Composition II
4 - GEOL 102 Historical Geology
4 - MTHSC 108 Calculus of One Variable II
15

Sophomore Year
First Semester
4 - BIOL 103 General Biology I
4 - GEOL 302 Structural Geology
4 - MTHSC 206 Calculus of Several Variables
3 - Literature Requirement1
15

Second Semester
3 - CP SC 110 Elementary Computer Prog. or
 3 - CP SC 111 Elem. Comp. Prog. in C/C++
4 - GEOL 306 Mineralogy
3 - PHYS 122 Physics with Calculus I
3 - SPCH 250 Public Speaking
3 - Humanities Requirement E.22
16

Junior Year
First Semester
3 - ENGL 314 Technical Writing
3 - GEOL 314 Sedimentary Petrology
3 - PHYS 221 Physics with Calculus II
3 - Social Science Requirement2
3 - Elective
15

Second Semester
3 - EX ST 301 Introductory Statistics
6 - Geology Requirement3
3 - Social Science Requirement2
3 - Elective
15

Summer
6 - Summer Geology Field Course4

Senior Year
First Semester
3 - GEOL 316 Igneous and Metamorphic Petrol.
3 - GEOL 403 Invertebrate Paleontology
3 - Technical Requirement5
6 - Elective
15

Second Semester
3 - GEOL 401 Applied Geophysics
3 - GEOL 413 Stratigraphy
3 - Geology Requirement3
3 - Technical Requirement5
5 - Elective
17

130 Total Semester Hours

1ENGL 202, 203, 204, 205, 206, 207, 208, 209, or H210.
2See General Education Requirements.
3Select from 300 or 400-level geology courses.
4GEOL 475 or select from departmental list.
5Choose from departmental list of approved courses.

 

ENGINEERING GEOLOGY CONCENTRATION

Freshman Year
First Semester
4 - CH 101 General Chemistry
3 - ENGL 101 Composition I
1 - GEOL 100 Current Topics in Geology
3 - GEOL 101 Physical Geology
1 - GEOL 103 Physical Geology Lab.
4 - MTHSC 106 Calculus of One Variable I
16

Second Semester
4 - CH 102 General Chemistry
3 - ENGL 102 Composition II
4 - GEOL 102 Historical Geology
4 - MTHSC 108 Calculus of One Variable II
15

Sophomore Year
First Semester
3 - C E 255 Geomatics
3 - CP SC 110 Elementary Computer Prog. or
 3 - CP SC 111 Elem. Comp. Prog. in C/C++
4 - GEOL 302 Structural Geology
4 - MTHSC 206 Calculus of Several Variables
3 - Literature Requirement1
17

Second Semester
4 - GEOL 306 Mineralogy
4 - MTHSC 208 Intro. to Ord. Diff. Equations
3 - PHYS 122 Physics with Calculus I
3 - SPCH 250 Public Speaking
3 - Social Science Requirement2
17

Junior Year
First Semester
3 - E M 201 Engineering Mechanics: Statics
3 - ENGL 314 Technical Writing
3 - PHYS 221 Physics with Calculus II
3 - Engineering Geology Requirement3
3 - Geology Requirement4
15

Second Semester
3 - E M 304 Mechanics of Materials
3 - EX ST 301 Introductory Statistics
3 - GEOL 320 Engineering Geology
3 - Engineering Geology Requirement3
3 - Humanities Requirement E.22
15

Summer
6 - Summer Geology Field Course5

Senior Year
First Semester
3 - GEOL 408 Geohydrology
3 - Engineering Geology Requirement3
3 - Social Science Requirement2
6 - Elective
15

Second Semester
3 - GEOL 401 Applied Geophysics
6 - Engineering Geology Requirement3
5 - Elective
14

130 Total Semester Hours

1ENGL 202, 203, 204, 205, 206, 207, 208, 209, or H210.
2See General Education Requirements.
3Select from departmental list of approved courses. A minimum of 15 credits is required.
4Select from 300- or 400-level geology courses.
5GEOL 475 or select from departmental list.

ENVIRONMENTAL GEOLOGY CONCENTRATION

Freshman Year
First Semester
4 - CH 101 General Chemistry
3 - ENGL 101 Composition I
1 - GEOL 100 Current Topics in Geology
3 - GEOL 101 Physical Geology
1 - GEOL 103 Physical Geology Lab.
4 - MTHSC 106 Calculus of One Variable I
16

Second Semester
4 - CH 102 General Chemistry
3 - ENGL 102 Composition II
4 - GEOL 102 Historical Geology
4 - MTHSC 108 Calculus of One Variable II
15

Sophomore Year
First Semester
4 - BIOL 103 General Biology I
4 - GEOL 302 Structural Geology
4 - MTHSC 206 Calculus of Several Variables
3 - Literature Requirement1
15

Second Semester
4 - BIOL 104 General Biology II
3 - CP SC 110 Elementary Computer Prog. or
 3 - CP SC 111 Elem. Comp. Prog. in C/C++
3 - EN SP 200 Intro. to Environmental Science
4 - GEOL 306 Mineralogy
3 - PHYS 122 Physics with Calculus I
17

Junior Year
First Semester
3 - GEOL 314 Sedimentary Petrology or GEOL 316 Igneous and Metamorphic Petrol.
3 - GEOL 318 Introduction to Geochemistry
3 - SPCH 250 Public Speaking
3 - Environmental Science Requirement2
3 - Social Science Requirement3
15

Second Semester
3 - ENGL 314 Technical Writing
3 - EX ST 301 Introductory Statistics
3 - GEOL 300 Environmental Geology
3 - Environmental Science Requirement2
3 - Humanities Requirement E.23
15

Summer
6 - Summer Geology Field Course4

Senior Year
First Semester
3 - EN SP 400 Studies in Environmental Sciences
3 - GEOL 408 Geohydrology
6 - Environmental Science Requirement2
4 - Elective
16

Second Semester
3 - GEOL 405 Geomorphology
3 - Environmental Science Requirement2
3 - Social Science Requirement3
6 - Elective
15

130 Total Semester Hours

1ENGL 202, 203, 204, 205, 206, 207, 208, 209, or H210.
2Select from departmental list of approved courses. A minimum of 15 credits is required.
3See General Education Requirements.
4GEOL 475 or select from departmental list.

GEOLOGY
Bachelor of Arts
 
Freshman Year
First Semester
4 - CH 101 General Chemistry
3 - ENGL 101 Composition I
1 - GEOL 100 Current Topics in Geology
3 - GEOL 101 Physical Geology
1 - GEOL 103 Physical Geology Lab.
3 - Mathematical Sciences Requirement1
15

Second Semester
4 - CH 102 General Chemistry
3 - ENGL 102 Composition II
4 - GEOL 102 Historical Geology
3 - Mathematical Sciences Requirement1
3 - Elective
17

Sophomore Year
First Semester
4 - GEOL 302 Structural Geology
3 - HIST 172 Western Civilization
3 - SPCH 250 Public Speaking
4 - Foreign Language Requirement2
3 - Literature Requirement3
17

Second Semester
4 - GEOL 306 Mineralogy
3 - HIST 173 Western Civilization
3 - Computer Skills Requirement4
4 - Foreign Language Requirement2
3 - Literature Requirement3
17

Junior Year
First Semester
3 - Foreign Language Requirement2
6 - Major5
3 - Minor
3 - Elective
15

Second Semester
3 - ENGL 314 Technical Writing
3 - Foreign Language Requirement2
3 - Major5
3 - Minor
3 - Elective
15

Senior Year
First Semester
3 - Major5
6 - Minor
3 - Technical Requirement6
4 - Elective
16

Second Semester
6 - Major5
3 - Minor
3 - Technical Requirement6
4 - Elective
16

128 Total Semester Hours
 
1See General Education Requirements. MTHSC 106 and 108 are recommended.
2German or French is recommended. Two years of the same language are required.
3ENGL 202, 203, 204, 205, 206, 207, 208, 209, or H210.
4See General Education Requirements. CP SC 110 or 111 is recommended.
5Select from any 300- or 400-level geology courses.
6Choose from departmental list of approved courses.