Geology, BS

First Semester

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

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
• Program Elective Credits: 3 ²
• General Education Goal 3 or 4 Elective  Credits: 3 ¹

First Semester

• GEOL 212/212L Mineralogy and Crystallography/Lab Credits: (2-1) 3 ^{3, 4}
• GEOL 323 Search for Our Past Credits: (3-0) 3 ³
• GEOL 323L Search for Our Past Laboratory Credits: (0-1) 1 ³
• MATH 381 Introduction to Probability and Statistics Credits: (3-0) 3
• PHYS 211 University Physics I Credits: 3 to 4 ⁵
• PHYS 211L University Physics I Laboratory Credits: (0-1) 1

Second Semester

• GEOL 341/341L Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology/Lab Credits: (2-1) 3 ^{3, 4}
• GEOL 416/416L/516/516L Introduction to GIS/Lab Credits: (2-1) 3 ³
• General Education Goal 1 or 2 Elective Credits: 3 ¹
• General Education Goal 3 or Goal 4 Elective  Credits: 3 ¹

• 
  Select one course from the following:

• CSC 111/111L Introduction to Computer Programming/Lab Credits: (2-0) 2 ⁶
• CSC 150/150L Computer Science I/Lab Credits: (3-0) 3
• CSC 170/170L Programming for Engineers and Scientists Credits: (3-0) 3

First Semester

• GEOL 331/331L Stratigraphy and Sedimentation/Lab Credits: (2-1) 3 ^{3, 4}
• PHYS 213 University Physics II Credits: 3 to 4 ⁵
• PHYS 213L University Physics II Laboratory Credits: (0-1) 1
• Program Elective Credits: 3 ²
• General Education Goal 1 or 2 Elective Credits: 3 ¹
• General Education Goal 3 or Goal 4 Elective Credits: 3 ¹

Second Semester

• GEOL 322/322L Structural Geology/Lab Credits: (2-1) 3 ^{3, 4}
• GEOE 482/482L/582/582L Applied Geomorphology/Lab Credits: (3-0) 3
• Resource requirement or Program Elective(s)  Credits: 3 ^{2, 7}
• Advisor Approved Elective Credits: 3 ⁸
• General Education Goal 3 or Goal 4 Elective Credits: 3 ¹

Summer

• GEOL 410 Field Geology Credits: (0-6) 6 ^{3, 4}

First Semester

• GEOL 421/521 Aqueous Geochemistry Credits: (3-0) 3 ³
• GEOL 464 Senior Research I Credits: (0-1) 1 ³
• Resource requirement or Program Elective(s) Credits: 3 ^{2, 7}
• Geophysics requirement or Program Elective(s) Credits: 3 ^{2, 9, 10}
• Advisor Approved Elective Credits: 2-3 ⁸

Second Semester

• GEOL 461/461L Invertebrate Paleontology/Lab Credits: (2-1) 3 ³
• GEOL 465 Senior Research II Credits: (0-3) 3 ³
• Geophysics requirement or Program Elective(s) Credits: 3 ^{2, 9}
• Advisor Approved Elective Credits: 3 ⁸

Notes:

¹ Fulfills General Education requirement. Students should consult the “General Education Requirements ” section of this catalog for a complete listing of all general education requirements.

² Select 12 credits from courses with a GEOL or GEOE prefix. Six of the 12 credits must be taken at the 400-level.

³ A grade of “C” or higher is required in these courses for graduation with a Geology BS degree and for advancement into some subsequent required courses. Check prerequisite requirements on course descriptions.  

⁴ These courses (GEOL 212/212L , GEOL 322/322L , GEOL 341/341L , GEOL 410 ) form a critical sequence that must be taken in the order listed in the Curriculum Checklist. Work with your advisor to ensure your course plan follows what is needed to complete the sequence.

⁵ Three-credit version required for major.

⁶ One additional credit of Advisor Approved Electives is required if using CSC 111/111L .

⁷ Select one course from: GEOE 475/475L/575/575L , GEOL 351 , GEOL 451/451L , and GEOL 476/576 . If additional courses are taken, they may serve as a Program Electives.

⁸ Work with your advisor to select eight to nine credits from any discipline excluding basic introductory courses, such as: 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 , PHYS 113L  , or ENGL 0XX-level courses.

⁹ Students must take one of these two courses: GEOE 324/324L  ³ or GEOL 456/456L/556/556L  ^{3, 10}. If both are taken, the second may serve as a Program Elective (will not require a “C” or higher if used as Program Elective).

¹⁰ 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.