Geology Major

Geology majors explore Earth systems and the environment, from the planet's rocky surface and interior, to water in the hydrosphere, climate and the atmosphere, and the interplay between the biosphere and abiotic systems. Geology is the scientific study of  Earth materials (such as minerals, rocks, and fossils) and planet-scale processes. Geological knowledge is generated from field and laboratory observations, Earth-observing satellites, geophysical instruments, and numerical models. Geology coursework explains how past and present-day ecosystems and environments have been and continue to be shaped by plate tectonics, volcanism, mountain building, climate change, evolution, and human activity through time.

Major Requirements

The Geology major typically starts with any 100-level Introductory courses, which typically counts towards the major as one of the five (5) additional full-credit GEOL courses outlined below.

Introductory Courses:

• GEOL 102 - Sustainable Earth
• GEOL 105 - Megageology
• GEOL 110 - Geology Outdoors
• GEOL 135 - Oceanography and the Environment
• CORE S123 - Climate Change and Human History
• CORE S129 - Dangerous Earth: Science of Geologic Disasters
• CORE S176 - Natural Disasters: Science, Media and Movies

All majors must complete the following set of requirements:

All of the Following

• GEOL 190 - Evolution of Planet Earth and GEOL 190L (ideally taken before the end of sophomore year)
• GEOL 201 - Mineralogy and Geochemistry and GEOL 201L 
• GEOL 215 - Paleontology of Marine Life and GEOL 215L 
• GEOL 225 - Sedimentology and Surficial Processes and GEOL 225L 
• GEOL 235 - Tectonics and Earth Structure and GEOL 235L 

Electives

• Five (5) full-credit GEOL courses
  • one can be at any level
  • at least 2 must be at the 300 level as listed below
  • at least 2 must be at the 400 level as listed below

300-level Geology Electives

At least two courses from the following:

• GEOL 301 - Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology and GEOL 301L 
• GEOL 303 - Geochemistry
• GEOL 308 - Rivers: Resources, Politics, and Environmental Change
• GEOL 310 - Environmental Economic Geology
• GEOL 311 - Environmental Geophysics
• GEOL 315 - Conservation Paleobiology
• GEOL 320 - Techniques of Field Geology
• GEOL 325 - Evolution of Form and Function in Biomineralizing Marine Animals
• GEOL 333 - (Re)Designing STEM Education
• GEOL 335 - Hydrology and Geomorphology and GEOL 335L 
• GEOL 360 - Volcanology
• Students are encouraged to consider taking a summer field course, such as GEOL 320, as one of their elective courses, as field experience is expected of some graduate programs and employment opportunities in the geosciences.

400-level Geology Electives

At least two courses from the following:

• GEOL 415 - Paleoecology
• GEOL 418 - Tectonics Seminar
• GEOL 420 - Solid Earth Processes
• GEOL 441 - Senior Research Seminar
• GEOL 450 - Paleoclimatology
• GEOL 480 - Advanced Topics

Two Additional Courses

• Two full-credit courses in biology, chemistry, mathematics, or physics. 
  • GEOG 245 - Geographic Information Systems , may be taken in place of one of the required biology, chemistry, mathematics, or physics courses.  

Capstone Experience

The two required 400-level courses provide a capstone experience for the geology major, as all such courses involve a significant project that integrates hypothesis testing, data collection and/or analysis of existing data, literature review, and a final project that synthesizes this work. A senior thesis conducted with an Earth and Environmental Geosciences faculty member as an adviser through GEOL 441 may count as one of the required 400–level courses and is required for all geology honors candidates. Students can initiate a senior research project of interest by speaking directly to a faculty member about ideas for a research project or by consulting with a faculty member about a project that might arise from a summer internship, a summer employment experience, or be based on research initiated in a departmental course. GEOL 491 may not count towards the 400–level course requirement.

GPA Requirement

A GPA of 2.00 in the major is necessary for graduation. The ten full-credit GEOL courses that carry the highest grade are used to compute this average. (Non-GEOL courses are not factored into the major GPA.) A passing grade must be received in all courses counted toward the major, including the non-GEOL courses.

Honors and High Honors

All Geology majors are encouraged to consider the advantages and challenges of undertaking honors. A GPA of 3.20 or higher in the five core courses (GEOL 190, GEOL 201, GEOL 215, GEOL 225, and GEOL 235), plus the two required 400-level courses are required for a student to become eligible for honors. In addition, at least six full-credit courses in biology, chemistry, mathematics, or physics must be taken to become eligible for honors. GEOG 245 can be taken in place of one of these six courses.

Honors candidates must also complete a year-long senior thesis, which represents the culmination of a research project that typically begins during the summer before the senior year and continues during the fall and spring terms of the senior year. The written thesis must be completed and orally presented by the end of the spring semester. Following the defense, and with the recommendation of the thesis committee, the Earth and Environmental Geosciences faculty will vote to award honors. Awarding the distinction of honors is based primarily on the quality of the written thesis but will also include an overall assessment of the student's academic record. Students who may be eligible for honors will be notified in the spring of the junior year by their academic advise

Earth and Environmental Geosciences Department

For more information about the department, including faculty, transfer credit, awards, etc., please visit the Earth and Environmental Geosciences department catalog page.