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2015-2016 SDSM&T Academic Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]
Geology, B.S.
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 Return to: Undergraduate Studies
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Contact Information
Dr. Laurie Anderson
Department of Geology and Geological Engineering
Mineral Industries 303
(605) 394-2461
E-mail: Laurie.Anderson@sdsmt.edu
Faculty
Professors Anderson, Duke, Masterlark, Price and Uzunlar; Assistant Professors Baran, Belanger, and Pagnac; Professors Emeritus Fox, Lisenbee, Martin, Paterson, and Redden.
Supporting Faculty
Professor Stetler; Associate Professor Sawyer; Assistant Professors Katzenstein and Li; Professors Emeritus Davis and Rahn; Adjunct Faculty M. Anderson, Bapst, Benton, Iles, McCormick, and Roggenthen.
Geology Program (includes Paleontology)
Students majoring in GEOL will earn a BS degree in Geology, which supports five career foci including environmental geology, geospatial technology, mineral resources, paleontology, and petroleum geology. Geologists study geologic process shaping Earth today and through its history to find natural resources, protect the environment, and mitigate geologic hazards. The GEOL program provides a strong background in the basic sciences and geosciences with an emphasis on technical training, research opportunities, and a broad range of field experiences. Courses use the magnificent geologic setting of the Black Hills and adjacent Badlands, and the extensive fossil and mineral specimens in the Museum of Geology. The GEOL degree includes both a geology field mapping course and a two-semester senior research experience. GEOL students train for careers in the geosciences including in environmental applications, mineral and petroleum exploration, paleontologic surveying, governmental agencies, museums, academic fields, teaching, and entrepreneurship.
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Choosing a career focus
Many different career opportunities are open to students in the geosciences. Students complete a core of geology courses to solidly prepare them for careers in the geosciences. Additional electives are chosen to focus on a particular career path and best prepare the student for employment or graduate school. Students may focus in one of five career paths or select electives from two or more career paths, depending on their interests.
GEOL focus areas include:
- Environmental Geology: protection and management of natural resources. Graduates may work for environmental firms, or could do environemntal work for petroleum and mineral companies. Many government agencies also hire graduates with these skills.
- Geospatial Technology: managing spatial data using GIS, GPS, and remote sensing. Graduates may work in traditional petroleum, mining, or environmental companies, for government agencies, or within the geospatial industry that provides and manages maps and imagery to the world.
- Mineral Resources: exploration and development of mineral resources. Graduates may explore for and assist with extracting these resources.
- Paleontology: study of ancient organisms and environments. Graduates in this focus area will often attend graduate school to develop research and teaching careers, but career opportunities also are available in museums, governmental agencies, or with consulting firms that survey and preserve fossil resources.
- Petroleum Geology: exploration and development of both conventional and unconventional petroleum systems. Graduates may become employed in oil and gas exploration and extraction, including work in established fields, coal bed methane, or oil shale provinces.
Students are strongly encouraged to consult with their advisor in selecting a career path and electives.
Environmental Geology
Recommended electives for environmental geology include: Geospatial Technology
Recommended electives for geospatial technology include: Mineral Resources
Recommended electives for resource geology include:
Paleontology
Recommended electives for paleontology include: Petroleum Geology
Recommended electives for petroleum geology include:
Professional Development
The senior year culminates in an individual research project (GEOL 464, GEOL 465) in which the student practices the professional accomplishments of project planning, organization, scientific research, time management, and oral/written communication.
Students are strongly encouraged to participate in professional societies active on campus, including the AAPG Student Chapter, Tech Geological Association, the Society of Economic Geologists and the Paleontology Club. Students interested in paleontology and mineralogy may have opportunities to volunteer or work on collections, archives, educational outreadh and/or research projects through the Museum of Geology. Internships in industry and government are commonly available and highly recommended.
Advanced Degrees
The B.S. in Geology can provide a pathway to professional careers in teaching, law, or medicine. For careers in science education, students shuld consult teaching programs at other colleges for auxiliary education courses that would be needed for teacher certification. With some adaptation, this degree can provide a foundation for professional graduate degrees such as in medicine or law.
Graduate programs, both master’s and doctoral, are available and involve additional specialization in geology or paleontology and incorporate original research leading to the completion and defence of a thesis or dissertation. Completion of graduate degrees leads to higher-level professional employment including college-level instruction. Geology/Paleontology Curriculum/Checklist
It is the student‘s responsibility to check with his or her advisor for any program modifications that may occur after the publication of this catalog. When planning coursework, students are advised that the courses GEOL 212/212L , GEOL 341/341L , GEOL 322/322L and GEOL 410 form a critical sequence that must be taken in the order listed. Total: 13
Note: Some students may need preparatory math in the first semester, such as MATH 102 or MATH 120 .
First Semester
- 2 GEOL 464 Senior Research I Credits: (0-1) 1
- 4 Geology Electives Credits: 6
- Free Elective(s) Credits: 3
- Humanities/Social Science electives Credits: 3
120 credits required for graduation
Curriculum Notes
* Course offered in alternate years.
# Students must take at least one of these two courses. If both are taken, the second may serve as a geology elective.
1 Students must complete 27 credits of the general education core in their first 64 credit hours, including 6 credits of science, 3 cr math, 6 cr English/Technical Communication, 6 cr humanities, and 6 cr social science. ENGL 289 yields an addition 3 general education credits, for a total of 30.
2 A grade of “C” or better is required in these courses for graduation with a Geology B.S.
3 Students should consult an advisor when choosing math courses.
4 Geology electives must have a GEOL or GEOE prefix. At least 9 credits must be taken from 400-level courses. Substitutions must be approved by the department head.
5 Under exceptional circumstances, a student may petition the department head to substitute geology electives for senior research.
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Return to: Undergraduate Studies
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