Dec 30, 2024

2020-2021 SDSM&T Academic Catalog

2020-2021 SDSM&T Academic Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Geology, BS

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Contact Information

Dr. Laurie Anderson, Department Head
Department of Geology and Geological Engineering
Mineral Industries 303
(605) 394-2461
E-mail: Laurie.Anderson@sdsmt.edu

GEOL Flowchart

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. Students may select program electives (those with a GEOL or GEOE prefix) and free electives (college credits approved by the student’s academic advisor) in six focus areas including Energy and Mineral Resources, Environmental Geology, Geophysics, Geospatial Technology, Paleontology, and Solid Earth and Tectonics. For more information on the geology bachelor’s degree see the Department of Geology and Geological Engineering page under Undergraduate Studies in this catalog.

Freshman Year

First Semester

CHEM 112 General Chemistry I Credits: (3-0) 3 (Goal 6) ¹
CHEM 112L General Chemistry I Lab Credits: (0-1) 1
GEOL 201 Physical Geology Credits: (3-0) 3 (Goal 6) ¹
GEOL 201L Physical Geology Laboratory Credits: (0-1) 1 (Goal 6) ¹
GEOL 110L Introduction to Geology, Geological Engineering, and Mining Engineering Lab Credits: (0-1) 1
MATH 123 Calculus I Credits: (4-0) 4 ^{1, 2}
General Education Goal 1 or 2 Elective Credits: (3-0) 3 ¹

Total: 16

Second Semester

CHEM 114 General Chemistry II Credits: (3-0) 3
CHEM 114L General Chemistry II Lab Credits: (0-1) 1
MATH 125 Calculus II Credits: (4-0) 4 ²
General Education Goal 3 or 4 Elective Credits: 3 ¹
GGE Program Elective Credits: 3 ³

Total: 14

Sophomore Year

First Semester

GEOL 212/212L Mineralogy and Crystallography/Lab Credits: (2-1) 3 ⁴
GEOL 323 Search for Our Past Credits: (3-0) 3 ⁴
GEOL 323L Search for Our Past Laboratory Credits: (0-1) 1 ⁴
MATH 381 Introduction to Probability and Statistics Credits: (3-0) 3 ²

One of: 2-3 Credits

CSC 111/111L Introduction to Computer Programming/Lab Credits: (2-0) 2 ⁵
CSC 150/150L Computer Science I/Lab Credits: (2-1) 3
CSC 170/170L Programming for Engineers and Scientists Credits: (3-0) 3

Total: 12-13

Second Semester

GEOL 341/341L Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology/Lab Credits: (2-1) 3 ⁴
GEOL 416/416L/516/516L Introduction to GIS/Lab Credits: (2-1) 3 ⁴
PHYS 211 University Physics I Credits: (3-0) 3
General Education Goal 1 or 2 Elective Credits: 3 ¹
General Education Goal 3 or Goal 4 Elective Credits: 3 ¹

Total: 15

Junior Year

First Semester

GEOL 331/331L Stratigraphy and Sedimentation/Lab Credits: (2-1) 3 ⁴
PHYS 213 University Physics II Credits: (3-0) 3
GGE Program Elective Credits: 3 ³
General Education Goal 1 or 2 Elective Credits: 3 ¹
General Education Goal 3 or Goal 4 Elective Credits: 3 ¹

Total: 15

Second Semester

GEOE 482/482L/582/582L Applied Geomorphology/Lab Credits: (3-0) 3
GEOL 322/322L Structural Geology/Lab Credits: (2-1) 3 ⁴
General Education Goal 3 or Goal 4 Elective Credits: 3 ¹
Resource or GGE Program Elective(s) Credits: 3 ^{6, 3}
Free Elective Credits: 3 ⁷

Total: 15

Summer

GEOL 410 Field Geology Credits: (0-6) 6 ⁴

Total: 6

Senior Year

First Semester

GEOL 421/521 Aqueous Geochemistry Credits: (3-0) 3
GEOL 464 Senior Research I Credits: (0-1) 1
Resource or GGE Program Elective Credits: 3 ^{6, 3}
Free Elective Credits: 3 ⁷
Geophysics requirement or GGE Program Elective Credits: 3 ^{4, 8, 9, 3}

Total: 13

Second Semester

GEOL 461/461L Invertebrate Paleontology/Lab Credits: (2-1) 3
GEOL 465 Senior Research II Credits: (0-3) 3
Geophysics requirement or GGE Program Elective Credits: 3 ^{4, 8, 3}
Free elective(s) Credits: 4-5 ⁷

Total: 13-14

120 credits required for graduation

Curriculum Notes

¹ Students must complete 30 credits of the general education core including 6 credits of science (with at least 1 credit lab), 3 credits of math, 9 credits of writing/communication, 6 credits of humanities, and 6 credits of social sciences.ENGL 101 , ENGL 279 , and ENGL 289 are recommended English courses for the Geology major. General education courses must be chosen from an approved list in the university catalog. Students should consult the “General Education Requirements ” section of this catalog for a complete listing of all general education requirements.

² Some students may need preparatory math in the first semester, such as MATH 120 , which will offset completion of the required mathematics sequence of MATH 123 , MATH 125 , and MATH 381 .

³GGE program electives must have a GEOL or GEOE prefix. At least 6 of the 12 total credits must be taken from 400-level courses. Substitutions must be approved by the department head.

⁴ A grade of C or better is required in these courses for graduation with a Geology B.S. degree and for advancement into some subsequent required courses. Check prerequisite requirements on course descriptions.

⁵ Students must also take one (1) additional free elective credit to reach the 120 credits required for graduation.

⁶ Student must take at least one of these electives in geological resources: GEOE 475/475L/575/575L , GEOL 351 , GEOL 451/451L , and GEOL 476/576 .

⁷ Free electives are courses with any prefix that are approved by the academic advisor. Excluded are CHEM 106 /CHEM 106L , CSC 105 , MATH 100 , MATH 101 , MATH 114 , MATH 114L , MATH 115 , MATH 116/116L , MATH 120 , MATH 281 , PHYS 111 , PHYS 111L , PHYS 113 , and PHYS 113L .

⁸ Students must take one of these two courses: GEOE 324/324L or GEOL 456/456L/556/556L ⁹. If both are taken, the second may serve as a GGE program elective.

⁹ GEOL 456/456L/556/556L is offered in alternate years.

Choosing Electives for Career Paths

Program electives (courses with a GEOL or GEOE prefix) and free electives (other courses approved by a student’s academic advisor) can be chosen to focus in one of six career paths or from two or more career paths, depending on a student’s interests.

Students are strongly encouraged to consult with their advisor in selecting a career path and electives.

Recommended Electives for Career Paths

Energy and Mineral Resources

Recommended electives for energy and mineral resource geology include:

Free Electives
MEM 120 Introduction to Mining, Sustainable Development, and Safety Credits: (3-0) 3
MEM 204 Surface Mining Methods and Unit Operations Credits: (3-0) 3
MEM 301/301L Computer Applications in Mining/Lab Credits: (1-2) 3
MEM 307 Mineral Exploration and Geostatistics Credits: (3-0) 3
MET 220 Mineral Processing and Resource Recovery Credits: (3-0) 3
MET 220L Mineral Processing and Resource Recovery Laboratory Credits: (0-1) 1
POLS 407 Environmental Law & Policy Credits: (3-0) 3
Program electives
GEOE 201L Surveying for Mining and Geological Engineers Credits: (0-2) 2
GEOE 324/324L Engineering Geophysics I/Lab Credits: (2-1) 3
GEOE 412/512 Science and Engineering Field Applications Credits: 3 to 6
GEOE 456/556/456L/556L Statistical Methods in Geology and Geological Engineering Credits: (2-1) 3
GEOE 461/561 Petroleum Drilling and Production Engineering Credits: (3-0) 3
GEOE 462/462L/562/562L Well Log Analysis/Laboratory Credits: (2-1) 3
GEOE 466/466L/566/566L Engineering and Environmental Geology/Lab Credits: (2-1) 3
GEOE 467/567 Introduction to Geomechanics Credits: (3-0) 3
GEOL 351 Earth Resources and the Environment Credits: (3-0) 3
GEOL 412/512 Science and Engineering Field Applications Credits: 3 to 6
GEOL 420/520 Introduction to Remote Sensing Credits: (3-0) 3
GEOL 422/422L/522/522L Tectonics and Sedimentary Basin Analysis/Lab Credits: (2-1) 3
GEOL 444/544 Orogenic Systems Credits: (3-0) 3
GEOL 451/451L Economic Geology/Lab Credits: (2-1) 3
GEOL 456/456L/556/556L Global Geophysics/Lab Credits: (2-1) 3
GEOL 476/576 Petroleum Geology Credits: (3-0) 3
A minor in Petroleum Systems is also offered; consult the requirements in the catalog.

Environmental Geology

Recommended electives for environmental geology include:

Free electives
AES 201 Introduction to Atmospheric Sciences Credits: (3-0) 3
AES 403/503 Biogeochemistry Credits: (3-0) 3
AES 406/506 Global Environmental Change Credits: (3-0) 3
BIOL 311 Principles of Ecology Credits: (3-0) 3
BIOL 311L Principles of Ecology Laboratory Credits: (0-1) 1
BIOL 331 Microbiology Credits: (3-0) 3
BIOL 406/506 Global Environmental Change Credits: (3-0) 3
POLS 407 Environmental Law & Policy Credits: (3-0) 3
Program electives
GEOE 324/324L Engineering Geophysics I/Lab Credits: (2-1) 3
GEOE 412/512 Science and Engineering Field Applications Credits: 3 to 6
GEOE 466/466L/566/566L Engineering and Environmental Geology/Lab Credits: (2-1) 3
GEOE 467/567 Introduction to Geomechanics Credits: (3-0) 3
GEOE 475/475L/575/575L Groundwater/Lab Credits: (2-1) 3
GEOE 456/556/456L/556L Statistical Methods in Geology and Geological Engineering Credits: (2-1) 3
GEOL 351 Earth Resources and the Environment Credits: (3-0) 3
GEOL 412/512 Science and Engineering Field Applications Credits: 3 to 6
GEOL 420/520 Introduction to Remote Sensing Credits: (3-0) 3
GEOL 435/535 Geomicrobiology Credits: (3-0) 3

Geospatial Technology

Recommended electives for geospatial technology include:

Free electives
CSC 111/111L Introduction to Computer Programming/Lab Credits: (2-0) 2
CSC 150/150L Computer Science I/Lab Credits: (2-1) 3
CSC 170/170L Programming for Engineers and Scientists Credits: (3-0) 3
CSC 215 Programming Techniques Credits: (4-0) 4
CEE 437/437L/537/537L Watershed and Floodplain Modeling/Lab Credits: (2-1) 3
MEM 301/301L Computer Applications in Mining/Lab Credits: (1-2) 3
Program electives
GEOE 201L Surveying for Mining and Geological Engineers Credits: (0-2) 2
GEOE 456/556/456L/556L Statistical Methods in Geology and Geological Engineering Credits: (2-1) 3
GEOE 475/475L/575/575L Groundwater/Lab Credits: (2-1) 3
GEOL 417/517 Geospatial Databases Credits: (3-0) 3
GEOL 419/519 Advanced Geospatial Analysis Credits: (3-0) 3
GEOL 420/520 Introduction to Remote Sensing Credits: (3-0) 3
A minor and an undergraduate certificate in Geospatial Technology are also offered; consult the requirements in the catalog for further information. Students considering the geospatial minor should take GEOL 416/416L/516/516L Intro to GIS by their junior year.

Geophysics

Recommended electives for geophysics include:

Free Electives
MATH 225 Calculus III Credits: (4-0) 4
MATH 321 Differential Equations Credits: (3-0) 3
MATH 315 Linear Algebra Credits: (3-0) 3
MATH 382 Probability Theory and Statistics II Credits: (3-0) 3
MATH 451/551 Math Modeling Credits: (3-0) 3
Program Electives
GEOE 324/324L Engineering Geophysics I/Lab Credits: (2-1) 3
GEOE 456/556/456L/556L Statistical Methods in Geology and Geological Engineering Credits: (2-1) 3
GEOE 467/567 Introduction to Geomechanics Credits: (3-0) 3
GEOE 475/475L/575/575L Groundwater/Lab Credits: (2-1) 3
GEOL 444/544 Orogenic Systems Credits: (3-0) 3
GEOL 456/456L/556/556L Global Geophysics/Lab Credits: (2-1) 3

Paleontology

Recommended electives for paleontology include:

Free electives
AES 403/503 Biogeochemistry Credits: (3-0) 3
AES 406/506 Global Environmental Change Credits: (3-0) 3
BIOL 121 Basic Anatomy Credits: (3-0) 3
BIOL 121L Basic Anatomy Lab Credits: (0-1) 1
BIOL 151 General Biology I Credits: (3-0) 3
BIOL 153 General Biology II Credits: (3-0) 3
BIOL 311 Principles of Ecology Credits: (3-0) 3
BIOL 311L Principles of Ecology Laboratory Credits: (0-1) 1
BIOL 326 Biomedical Physiology Credits: (3-0) 3
BIOL 406/506 Global Environmental Change Credits: (3-0) 3
Program electives
GEOE 456/556/456L/556L Statistical Methods in Geology and Geological Engineering Credits: (2-1) 3
GEOL 372 Dinosaurs Credits: (3-0) 3
GEOL 435/535 Geomicrobiology Credits: (3-0) 3
GEOL 471/571 Field Paleontology Credits: (0-2) 2
GEOL 472/472L/572/572L Museum Collections Management/Lab Credits: (2-1) 3
GEOL 473/473L/573/573L Museum Exhibit Design/Lab Credits: (2-1) 3
GEOL 474/574 Paleontological Resource Management Credits: (3-0) 3
GEOL 475/475L/575/575L Vertebrate Fossil Preparation and Conservation Credits: (2-1) 3

Solid Earth and Tectonics

Recommended electives for solid earth and tectonics include:

Free Electives
CSC 111/111L Introduction to Computer Programming/Lab Credits: (2-0) 2
CSC 170/170L Programming for Engineers and Scientists Credits: (3-0) 3
CSC 215 Programming Techniques Credits: (4-0) 4
MATH 382 Probability Theory and Statistics II Credits: (3-0) 3
Program Electives
GEOE 324/324L Engineering Geophysics I/Lab Credits: (2-1) 3
GEOE 412/512 Science and Engineering Field Applications Credits: 3 to 6
GEOE 482/482L/582/582L Applied Geomorphology/Lab Credits: (3-0) 3
GEOL 412/512 Science and Engineering Field Applications Credits: 3 to 6
GEOL 417/517 Geospatial Databases Credits: (3-0) 3
GEOL 419/519 Advanced Geospatial Analysis Credits: (3-0) 3
GEOL 420/520 Introduction to Remote Sensing Credits: (3-0) 3
GEOL 422/422L/522/522L Tectonics and Sedimentary Basin Analysis/Lab Credits: (2-1) 3
GEOL 444/544 Orogenic Systems Credits: (3-0) 3
GEOL 456/456L/556/556L Global Geophysics/Lab Credits: (2-1) 3