Major & Minor Requirements

Note: This page is designed to assist students, faculty, and advisors by providing degree requirements and recommendations in an easy-to-use format. The course catalogue remains the official source of degree requirements -- please report any discrepancies with this page to the department chair.  

Major Requirements for Geology

A minimum of 11 courses in geology, including:

A minimum of 11 courses in geology, including:

• Physical Geology (111)
• Historical Geology (112)
• Mineralogy (212)
• Tectonics (214)
• Invertebrate Paleontology (217)
• Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology (319)
• Geomorphology (320)
• Sedimentology and Stratigraphy (324)
  
• A field class, such as Modern and Ancient Carbonate Systems of the Bahamas (255), Geology of a Region (329),  or an accredited summer field camp
• Geological Problems (485) and the 300-level specialty course offered by the student's 485 advisor.

Recommended Course Sequence

Notes:

• Supporting coursework in chemistry, physics, and mathematics is strongly recommended, including
  • Chemical Principles I and II (CHE 121-122) or Accelerated General Chemistry (CHE 161)
  • Calculus of a Single Variable (MAT 121)
  • Calculus of a Multiple Variables (MAT 122)
  • General Physics I and II (PHY 111-112) or Introductory Physics I and II (PHY 101-102)

Teaching Major Requirements

• GEO 111, 112, 212, 214, 217, and three additional Geology courses selected from the following: 222, 223, 320, or 329.
• Astronomy (PHY 221) or Energy and the Environment (PHY 228)
• Supporting work in the other sciences and mathematics is strongly recommended.

In addition to the foregoing requirements, prospective teachers must also apply for admission to the Teacher Education Program (preferably at the start of their sophomore year) and complete a second major in secondary education. Prospective teachers should request a current list of the specific teaching major course requirements from the Education Office.

Minor Requirements

A minimum of seven course credits in geology which include GEO 111, 112, 212, 214, 217, and two electives which must be at or above the 200 level; at least one of these must be at or above the 300 level. Supporting coursework in other sciences and mathematics is recommended.