Program Requirements
The Standard Geology Emphasis requires a minimum of 62 credits:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| GEOL 101 | Physical Geology (GT-SC2) | 3 |
| or GEOL 103 | Earth and Energy Systems | |
| GEOL 105 | Physical Geology Laboratory (GT-SC1) | 1 |
| GEOL 201 | Historical Geology (with laboratory) | 4 |
| GEOL 302 | Geoscience Writing | 2 |
| GEOL 310 | Stratigraphy and Sedimentation (with laboratory) | 4 |
| GEOL 315 | Earth Materials (with laboratory) | 4 |
| GEOL 320 | Geomorphology (with laboratory) | 4 |
| GEOL 345 | Structural Geology (with laboratory) | 4 |
| GEOL 450 | Field Geology | 4 |
| Two credits from the following: | 2 | |
| Geology Field Trip | ||
| Career Pathways in Geology | ||
| Advanced Field Geology | ||
| Geology Seminar | ||
| 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 111 | General Chemistry I (GT-SC2) | 3 |
| CHEM 112 | General Chemistry Laboratory I (GT-SC1) | 1 |
| CHEM 113 | General Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHEM 114 | General Chemistry Laboratory II | 1 |
| MATH 151 | Calculus I (GT-MA1) | 4 |
| MATH 251 | Calculus II | 4 |
| One of the following: | 3-4 | |
| Computer Science I | ||
| Introduction to Geographic Information Systems | ||
| Probability and Statistics (GT-MA1) | ||
| Calculus III | ||
| 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 Credits | 62-63 | |
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.
| Year One | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| 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 141 | Precalculus (GT-MA1) (or higher, depending on MATH placement) 1 | 4 |
| Gen Ed | General Education Courses | 3 |
| Credits | 16 | |
| 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 151 | Calculus I (GT-MA1) (or higher, depending on MATH placement) 1 | 4 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Year Two | ||
| Fall | ||
| CS 190 |
Computer Science I or Introduction to Geographic Information Systems or Probability and Statistics (GT-MA1) or Calculus III |
3 |
| GEOL 302 | Geoscience Writing | 2 |
| GEOL 310 | Stratigraphy and Sedimentation (with laboratory) | 4 |
| PHYS 185 | Laboratory Physics I (GT-SC1) | 1 |
| PHYS 170 or PHYS 190 |
Principles of Physics I (GT-SC2) or General Physics I (GT-SC2) |
3 |
| Elective | Elective | 3 |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| ENG 103 | Writing and Rhetoric II (GT-CO2) | 3 |
| GEOL 345 | Structural Geology (with laboratory) | 4 |
| PHYS 186 | Laboratory Physics II (GT-SC1) | 1 |
| PHYS 171 or PHYS 191 |
Principles of Physics II (GT-SC2) or General Physics II (GT-SC2) |
3 |
| Gen Ed | General Education Courses | 3 |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Year Three | ||
| Fall | ||
| GEOL 305 | Mineralogy (with laboratory) | 4 |
| GEOL 495 | Geology Seminar | 1 |
| Elective | Elective | 3 |
| Gen Ed | General Education Courses | 6 |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Spring | ||
| GEOL 311 | Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology (with laboratory) | 4 |
| GEOL 495 |
Geology Seminar or Career Pathways in Geology or Geology Field Trip |
1 |
| Gen Ed | General Education Courses | 6 |
| Credits | 11 | |
| Summer | ||
| GEOL 450 | Field Geology | 4 |
| GEOL 452 | Advanced Field Geology | 2 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Year Four | ||
| Fall | ||
| GEOL 320 | Geomorphology (with laboratory) | 4 |
| Elective | Electives | 12 |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| 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 |
| Elective | Electives | 9 |
| Credits | 12 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |
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Geology requires completion of mathematics through Calculus II. Additional mathematics courses may be required and would fill Elective courses as needed.