Geology, BS
Bachelor of Science in Geology (337000BS)
Geology is the study of Earth's materials, structures and processes and how they’ve changed through time. This knowledge may be applied to addressing problems associated with environmental contamination; investigating Earth’s history to understand the evolution of life and global climate change; understanding natural hazards such as earthquakes, volcanoes and landslides; and exploration for natural resources, including metals, petroleum and water. Geologists are employed by environmental consulting firms, government agencies, nonprofit organizations, natural resource companies and universities.
Core courses provide the fundamentals in:
- physical and historical geology
- mineralogy and petrography
- structural geology and plate tectonics
- sedimentology, paleontology and stratigraphy
Degree program can be tailored to a major field of interest by taking additional courses in the supporting sciences, mathematics and engineering fields.
Requirements for Admission
Admission to the College of Arts and Sciences. The student must maintain a minimum 2.00 grade point average.
The following information has official approval of The Department of Geosciences and The Buchtel College of Arts & Sciences, but is intended only as a supplemental guide. Official degree requirements are established at the time of transfer and admission to the degree-granting college. Students should refer to the Degree Progress Report (Stellic) which is definitive for graduation requirements. Completion of this degree within the identified time frame below is contingent upon many factors, including but not limited to: class availability, total number of required credits, work schedule, finances, family, course drops/withdrawals, successfully passing courses, prerequisites, among others. The transfer process is completed through an appointment with your academic advisor.
Requirements
Summary
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Requirements | 36 | |
| College of Arts & Sciences Requirements | 8 | |
| Geology Core Requirements | 34 | |
| Geology Elective Requirements | 19 | |
| Geology Math Requirement | 8 | |
| Geology Chemistry Requirements | 7 | |
| Geology Physics Requirements | 8 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
Recommended General Education Courses
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Students pursuing a bachelor’s degree must complete the following General Education coursework. Diversity courses may also fulfill major or Breadth of Knowledge requirements. Integrated and Applied Learning courses may also fulfill requirements in the major. | ||
| Students are not required to enroll in the specific courses listed below. However, to facilitate successful degree completion, the academic department strongly encourages completion of the following recommendations. | ||
| Academic Foundations | 12 | |
Mathematics, Statistics and Logic: 3 credit hours | ||
| Analytic Geometry-Calculus I | ||
| Analytic Geometry-Calculus II | ||
Speaking: 3 credit hours | ||
Writing: 6 credit hours | ||
| Breadth of Knowledge | 22 | |
Arts/Humanities: 9 credit hours | ||
Natural Sciences: 7 credit hours | ||
| Introductory Physical Geology | ||
| Introductory Historical Geology | ||
| Mineral Science | ||
| Principles of Chemistry I | ||
| Principles of Chemistry I Laboratory | ||
| Principles of Chemistry II | ||
| Elementary Classical Physics I | ||
| Elementary Classical Physics II | ||
Social Sciences: 6 credit hours | ||
| Diversity | ||
Domestic Diversity | ||
Global Diversity | ||
| Integrated and Applied Learning | 2 | |
Select one class from one of the following subcategories: | ||
Complex Issues Facing Society | ||
Capstone | ||
Review the General Education Requirements page for detailed course listings. | ||
| Total Hours | 36 | |
College of Arts & Sciences Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Degree requirements for this Bachelor of Science in Arts & Sciences include the demonstration of ability to use another language by completion of the first year of a foreign language. | ||
| 1 Year Language Proficiency | 8 | |
101 Beginning I | ||
102 Beginning II | ||
| Survey of Deaf Culture in America (American Sign Language option only) | ||
| Students must also complete a minimum of 40 credits (excluding workshops) consisting of either: | ||
Upper-level (300/400) courses both in and outside of the student’s major; | ||
or other courses outside the major department approved by the student’s major department chair (permission should be obtained prior to enrollment); these may not include workshops | ||
Geology Core Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| GEOL 101 | Introductory Physical Geology | 4 |
| GEOL 102 | Introductory Historical Geology | 4 |
| GEOL 230 | Mineral Science | 4 |
| GEOL 231 | Silicate Mineralogy and Petrology | 4 |
| GEOL 324 | Sedimentation & Stratigraphy | 4 |
| GEOL 350 | Structural Geology | 4 |
| GEOL 360 | Paleobiology | 4 |
| GEOL 453 | Geology Field Camp I | 3 |
| GEOL 454 | Geology Field Camp II | 3 |
| Total Hours | 34 | |
Geology Elective Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| GEOL 3xx/4xx | Upper Level Geology Electives 1 | 19 |
| Total Hours | 19 | |
Geology Math Requirement
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MATH 221 | Analytic Geometry-Calculus I | 4 |
| MATH 222 | Analytic Geometry-Calculus II | 4 |
| Total Hours | 8 | |
Geology Chemistry Requirement
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CHEM 151 | Principles of Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 152 | Principles of Chemistry I Laboratory | 1 |
| CHEM 153 | Principles of Chemistry II | 3 |
| Total Hours | 7 | |
Geology Physics Requirement
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| PHYS 291 | Elementary Classical Physics I | 4 |
| PHYS 292 | Elementary Classical Physics II | 4 |
| Total Hours | 8 | |
- 1
Upper Level Geology elective courses GEOL 421 Coastal Geology and GEOL 443 Rivers satisfy this requirement in addition to counting towards the Geology Upper Level Electives requirement.
The following information has official approval of The Department of Geosciences and The Buchtel College of Arts & Sciences, but is intended only as a supplemental guide. Official degree requirements are established at the time of transfer and admission to the degree-granting college. Students should refer to the Degree Progress Report (DPR) which is definitive for graduation requirements. Completion of this degree within the identified time frame below is contingent upon many factors, including but not limited to: class availability, total number of required credits, work schedule, finances, family, course drops/withdrawals, successfully passing courses, prerequisites, among others. The transfer process is completed through an appointment with your academic advisor.Students are encouraged to visit The Department of Geosciences their freshman year to obtain preliminary information regarding the program requirements and to learn more about on-campus opportunities available to students.
Students are encouraged to visit The Department of Geosciences their freshman year to obtain preliminary information regarding the program requirements and to learn more about on-campus opportunities available to students.
Three year accelerated option: for first time students who have earned credits for at least the first year of courses. Credits can be earned through qualifying scores on appropriate Advanced Placement (AP) exams or through College Credit Plus Program (CCP) courses. Credits for qualifying AP scores or CCP courses are determined by the appropriate academic department. Departments may assign varied course credit, depending on the student’s score on an AP exam or grade in a CCP course. Students may also receive credit by examination or via placement tests, where appropriate.
| 1st Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Hours | |
| GEOL 101 | Introductory Physical Geology | 4 |
| MATH 221 | Analytic Geometry-Calculus I 1 | 4 |
| English Composition I Requirement 2 | 3 | |
| Speech/Oral Communication Requirement | 3 | |
| Select one of the following: | 3-4 | |
Beginning Language I 3 | ||
| American Sign Language I | ||
| Hours | 17-18 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| GEOL 102 | Introductory Historical Geology | 4 |
| MATH 222 | Analytic Geometry-Calculus II | 4 |
| English Composition II Requirement 2 | 3 | |
| Select Beginning Language II or Both SLPA courses: | 4-5 | |
Beginning Language II 3 | ||
| American Sign Language II | ||
| Survey of Deaf Culture in America | ||
| Hours | 15-16 | |
| 2nd Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| CHEM 151 | Principles of Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 152 | Principles of Chemistry I Laboratory | 1 |
| GEOL 230 | Mineral Science | 4 |
| HIST 210 or HIST 221 | Humanities in the Western Tradition from Ancient Times to 1500 or Humanities in the World since 1300 | 3 |
| GEOL 3xx/4xx | Upper Level Geology Electives 5 | 3 |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| CHEM 153 | Principles of Chemistry II | 3 |
| GEOL 231 | Silicate Mineralogy and Petrology | 4 |
| Humanities Requirement 4 | 3 | |
| Social Science Requirement 4 | 3 | |
| GEOL 3xx/4xx | Upper Level Geology Electives 5 | 3 |
| Hours | 16 | |
| 3rd Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| GEOL 350 | Structural Geology | 4 |
| PHYS 291 | Elementary Classical Physics I | 4 |
| GEOL 3xx/4xx | Upper Level Geology Electives 5 | 3 |
| Humanities Requirement 4 | 3 | |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| GEOL 324 | Sedimentation & Stratigraphy | 4 |
| GEOL 360 | Paleobiology | 4 |
| PHYS 292 | Elementary Classical Physics II | 4 |
| Social Science Requirement 4 | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Summer Semester | ||
| GEOL 453 | Geology Field Camp I | 3 |
| GEOL 454 | Geology Field Camp II | 3 |
| Hours | 6 | |
| 4th Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| GEOL 3xx/4xx | Upper Level Geology Electives 5 | 3 |
| GEOL 3xx/4xx | Upper Level Geology Electives 5 | 4 |
| Domestic Diversity Requirement | 3 | |
| Complex Issues Facing Society Requirement 6 | 3 | |
| Hours | 13 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| GEOL 3xx/4xx | Upper Level Geology Electives 5 | 3 |
| Global Diversity Requirement | 3 | |
| Upper Level Electives 7 | 4 | |
| Hours | 10 | |
| Total Hours | 120-122 | |
- 1
All Geology majors should take the Math Placement Test. The BS requirement is MATH 221 Analytic Geometry-Calculus I and MATH 222 Analytic Geometry-Calculus II
- 2
For English Composition I, ENGL 111 English Composition I or ENGL 113 African American Language and Culture I: College Composition are the recommended classes to the meet the General Education English requirement. For English Composition II, ENGL 112 English Composition II or ENGL 114 African American Language and Culture II: College Composition are the recommended classes to the meet the General Education English requirement. ENGL 222 Technical Report Writing fulfills the English Composition II requirement.
- 3
Demonstration of ability to use another language by completion of the first year of a foreign language or sign language is required. See your advisor for placement. Please note that both semesters must be completed in the SAME language and it’s recommended you begin your first language class as soon as possible.
- 4
We strongly recommend selecting Humanities and/or Social Science courses that fulfill both a Breadth of Knowledge requirement and Domestic or Global Diversity requirement. Please consult the General Education requirements to see which courses fulfill both requirements.
- 5
A total of 19 Geology electives at the 300/400 level is required. Please contact a Department of Geology advisor to discuss alternatives.
- 6
We strongly recommend taking GEOL 421 Coastal Geology or GEOL 443 Rivers to fulfill this requirement. These courses both count towards this requirement and the Geology Upper Level Electives requirement.
- 7
General electives can be any course not already required by your major and Upper Level (3xx/4xx) electives can be any course in or outside your major excluding General Education courses and workshops.
Alert
- By the end of your first 48 credit hours attempted, you must have completed your General Education English, Math, and Communications (Speech) requirements
- By the end of your first 48 credit hours attempted, you must have declared a major and transferred to (been accepted by) a degree granting college at The University of Akron.