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Geosciences Area (Geology Track) – Bachelor of Science

The track in geology is intended for students who desire rigorous, broad-based preparation in most of the subdisciplines within geology. This program is strongly recommended for students who wish to attend graduate school in a geoscience area.

Program Competencies

The student will be able to:

  1. Identify Earth materials (minerals, rocks, fossils, sediments, soils, etc.)
  2. Map and correlate bodies of rock, sediment and soil using surface and subsurface data.
  3. Articulate the physical processes that shape Earth's surface and interior.
  4. Apply knowledge of modern geologic processes to interpret the geologic record.
  5. Describe methods used to explore for and develop mineral/petroleum/water resources.
  6. Assess the suitability of sites for the construction of buildings, roads, dams, landfills, septic systems, waste lagoons, etc.
  7. Describe methods used to monitor, reclaim, and remediate sites impacted by mining, improper waste disposal, leaking underground storage tanks, etc.
  8. Recognize existing or potential geologic hazards.
  9. Describe the details of the inter-relationships between components (atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere, biosphere) of the Earth System.

Assessment

  1. Graduating seniors will be given discipline-specific exit exam(s).

  2. Alumni will be surveyed regarding employment, acceptance to graduate school, or for other employment outcomes.

  3. Student results in the capstone (either ESS 499C or ESS 499D) will be tracked to verify that integration of discipline skills is attained.

  4. Individual measures from classes will be recorded and tracked via WEAVE.

Program Requirements

General Education

General Education Courses(See GNED Course Listings)

Variable
MATH 152, 174 or 175(choose one)

3-4
Total Credit Hours:33

Refer to the General Education section for a complete listing of general education requirements for the University. Program requirements that are also general education requirements will count in both places (as applicable).

Area Requirements

Core Requirements

ESS 108Physical Geology

4
ESS 201Historical Geology

3
ESS 276Geologic Field Methods and Ground Truthing

3
ESS 325Earth Structure and Tectonics

4
ESS 330Geographic Information Systems (GIS) I

3
ESS 350Geomorphology

3
ESS 390Environmental and Hydrogeology

4
ESS 440Biogeochemical Cycles

3
BIOL 155Environmental Biology

3
CHEM 111Principles of Chemistry I

4
MATH 174, 175, or 275(choose one)

3-4
PHYS 201Elementary Physics I

4
PHYS 202Elementary Physics II

4
CS 170Introduction to Computer Science

4
ESS 499C or 499DGeosciences Senior Thesis

3
Total Credit Hours:52

Geology Track Requirements

ESS 315Sedimentation and Stratigraphy

4
ESS 331Geographic Information Systems (GIS) II

3
ESS 362Mineralogy

4
ESS 363Petrology

4
ESS 381Economic and Energy Geology

4
CHEM 112Principles of Chemistry II

4
ESS Electives

6
Total Credit Hours:29

Free Electives

Free Electives (chosen by student)

variable

Total Credit Hours: 120