Geology, BS

Bachelor of Science in Geology (337000BS)

More on the Geology major

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 (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.

Requirements

Summary

General Education Requirements36
College of Arts & Sciences Requirements8
Geology Core Requirements34
Geology Elective Requirements19
Geology Math Requirement8
Geology Chemistry Requirements 7
Geology Physics Requirements 8
Total Hours120

Recommended General Education Courses

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 Foundations12
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 Learning2
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 Hours36

College of Arts & Sciences Requirements

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 Proficiency8
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

College of Arts & Sciences Requirements

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 Proficiency8
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

GEOL:101Introductory Physical Geology4
GEOL:102Introductory Historical Geology4
GEOL:230Mineral Science4
GEOL:231Silicate Mineralogy and Petrology4
GEOL:324Sedimentation & Stratigraphy4
GEOL:350Structural Geology4
GEOL:360Paleobiology4
GEOL:453Geology Field Camp I3
GEOL:454Geology Field Camp II3
Total Hours34

Geology Elective Requirements

GEOL 3xx/4xxUpper Level Geology Electives 119
Total Hours19

Geology Math Requirement

MATH:221Analytic Geometry-Calculus I4
MATH:222Analytic Geometry-Calculus II4
Total Hours8

Geology Chemistry Requirement

CHEM:151Principles of Chemistry I3
CHEM:152Principles of Chemistry I Laboratory1
CHEM:153Principles of Chemistry II3
Total Hours7

Geology Physics Requirement

PHYS:291Elementary Classical Physics I4
PHYS:292Elementary Classical Physics II4
Total Hours8
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.

Plan of Study Grid
1st Year
Fall SemesterHours
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
 Hours17-18
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
 Hours15-16
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
Humanities in the Western Tradition from Ancient Times to 1500
or Humanities in the World since 1300
3
GEOL 3xx/4xxUpper Level Geology Electives 5 3
 Hours14
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/4xxUpper Level Geology Electives 5 3
 Hours16
3rd Year
Fall Semester
GEOL:350 Structural Geology 4
PHYS:291 Elementary Classical Physics I 4
GEOL 3xx/4xxUpper Level Geology Electives 5 3
Humanities Requirement 4 3
 Hours14
Spring Semester
GEOL:324 Sedimentation & Stratigraphy 4
GEOL:360 Paleobiology 4
PHYS:292 Elementary Classical Physics II 4
Social Science Requirement 4 3
 Hours15
Summer Semester
GEOL:453 Geology Field Camp I 3
GEOL:454 Geology Field Camp II 3
 Hours6
4th Year
Fall Semester
GEOL 3xx/4xxUpper Level Geology Electives 5 3
GEOL 3xx/4xxUpper Level Geology Electives 5 4
Domestic Diversity Requirement 3
Complex Issues Facing Society Requirement 6 3
 Hours13
Spring Semester
GEOL 3xx/4xxUpper Level Geology Electives 5 3
Global Diversity Requirement 3
Upper Level Electives 7 4
 Hours10
 Total Hours120-122
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

  1. By the end of your first 48 credit hours attempted, you must have completed your General Education English, Math, and Communications (Speech) requirements
  2. 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.