Geology Comprehensive Major: Environmental Geology Emphasis

Program Requirements

The Environmental Geology Emphasis requires a minimum of 69 credits:

GEOL 101Physical Geology (GT-SC2)3
or GEOL 103 Earth and Energy Systems
GEOL 105Physical Geology Laboratory (GT-SC1)1
GEOL 201Historical Geology (with laboratory)4
GEOL 302Geoscience Writing2
GEOL 310Stratigraphy and Sedimentation (with laboratory)4
GEOL 315Earth Materials (with laboratory)4
GEOL 320Geomorphology (with laboratory)4
GEOL 345Structural Geology (with laboratory)4
GEOL 430Hydrogeology (with laboratory)3
GEOL 450Field Geology4
Select two of the following:6
Introduction to Engineering Geology
Introduction to Geophysics
Environmental Geochemistry
Select one of the following:3
Research in Volcanology and Petrology (with laboratory)
Research in Geomorphology (with laboratory)
Research in Structure and Tectonics (with laboratory)
Research in Basin Analysis (with laboratory)
Required Supporting Courses
CHEM 111General Chemistry I (GT-SC2)3
CHEM 112General Chemistry Laboratory I (GT-SC1)1
CHEM 113General Chemistry II3
CHEM 114General Chemistry Laboratory II1
GEOG 340Introduction to Geographic Information Systems3
MATH 151Calculus I (GT-MA1)4
MATH 251Calculus II4
Select one of the following pairs of courses:8
Principles of Physics I (GT-SC2)
and Laboratory Physics I (GT-SC1)
AND
Principles of Physics II (GT-SC2)
and Laboratory Physics II (GT-SC1)
OR
General Physics I (GT-SC2)
and Laboratory Physics I (GT-SC1)
AND
General Physics II (GT-SC2)
and Laboratory Physics II (GT-SC1)
Total Credits69

Capstone Course Requirement

GEOL 450 Field Geology

Graduation Requirements

Undergraduate programs require a minimum of 120 semester credits for graduation.  Of those 120 credits, 40 credits must be in upper-division courses (those marked 300 and above).  Fifteen of these 40 upper-division credits must be earned in courses that are part of the standard or comprehensive major program being pursued. 

Students are expected to review all graduation requirements, which can be found in the Western Undergraduate Catalog: Graduation Requirements

Plan of Study Grid
Year One
FallCredits
CHEM 111 General Chemistry I (GT-SC2) 3
CHEM 112 General Chemistry Laboratory I (GT-SC1) 1
GEOL 101 Physical Geology (GT-SC2) 3
GEOL 105 Physical Geology Laboratory (GT-SC1) 1
HWTR 100 First Year Seminar 1
MATH 140 College Algebra (GT-MA1) (or higher, depending on MATH placement) 1 3
Gen Ed General Education Courses 3
 Credits15
Spring
CHEM 113 General Chemistry II 3
CHEM 114 General Chemistry Laboratory II 1
ENG 102 Writing and Rhetoric I (GT-CO1) 3
GEOL 201 Historical Geology (with laboratory) 4
MATH 141 Precalculus (GT-MA1) (or higher, depending on MATH placement) 1 4
 Credits15
Year Two
Fall
GEOL 302 Geoscience Writing 2
GEOL 310 Stratigraphy and Sedimentation (with laboratory) 4
PHYS 170
Principles of Physics I (GT-SC2)
or General Physics I (GT-SC2)
3
PHYS 185 Laboratory Physics I (GT-SC1) 1
MATH 151 Calculus I (GT-MA1) 4
 Credits14
Spring
ENG 103 Writing and Rhetoric II (GT-CO2) 3
GEOL 315 Earth Materials (with laboratory) 4
PHYS 171
Principles of Physics II (GT-SC2)
or General Physics II (GT-SC2)
3
PHYS 186 Laboratory Physics II (GT-SC1) 1
MATH 251 Calculus II 4
 Credits15
Year Three
Fall
GEOL 320 Geomorphology (with laboratory) 4
GEOL 345 Structural Geology (with laboratory) 4
Elective Elective 3
Gen Ed General Education Courses 6
 Credits17
Spring
GEOG 340 Introduction to Geographic Information Systems 3
GEOL 362 Environmental Geochemistry 3
GEOL 495
Geology Seminar
or Career Pathways in Geology
1
Gen Ed General Education Courses 3
Elective Elective 3
 Credits13
Summer
GEOL 450 Field Geology 4
 Credits4
Year Four
Fall
GEOL 335
Introduction to Engineering Geology
or Introduction to Geophysics
3
GEOL 411
Research in Volcanology and Petrology (with laboratory)
or Research in Geomorphology (with laboratory)
or Research in Structure and Tectonics (with laboratory)
or Research in Basin Analysis (with laboratory)
3
Gen Ed General Education Courses 3
Elective Elective 6
 Credits15
Spring
GEOL 430 Hydrogeology (with laboratory) 3
Elective Electives 10
 Credits13
 Total Credits121
1

Geology requires completion of mathematics through Calculus II.  Additional mathematics courses may be required and would fill Elective courses as needed.