BS in Geosciences
The B.S. in Geosciences requires a minimum of 71 credits in courses required for the major. Forty-one (41) of these credits are in Geosciences courses and the remainder are in Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics. The B.A. degree is similar, but requires fewer courses in Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics. The B.S. degree is a bit stronger preparation for some quantitative graduate programs and engineering-oriented consulting work.
Courses & Requirements
In addition to the following degree requirements, students must satisfy the USM general education requirements.
A minimum of 71 credits are required for the Geosciences B.S. degree. Majors must achieve a 2.0 grade point average and grades of C– or better in all Geosciences courses.
Geosciences Course Requirements for the B.S. :
All majors must complete at least one introductory lecture and lab, to be selected from among the following courses. Note that an additional introductory lecture course may be applied to the major as three elective credits.
Introductory lecture courses:
GEY 100 Volcanoes, Earthquakes, and Moving Plates
GEY 103 Floods, Glaciers, and Changing Climate
GEY 105 Ocean Planet
Introductory lab courses:
GEY 101 Lab Experiences in Geology
GEY 106 Ocean Planet Laboratory
All majors must complete four foundation courses as follows:
GEY 202 Landscape Evolution and Analysis
GEY 203 Mineralogy
GEY 204 Crustal Deformation
and
GEY 205 Water Resources: Science and Issues or
GEY 207 Atmosphere: Science, Climate, and Change
In addition to the above, 20 credits of Geosciences (GEY prefix) elective courses are required. Three credits of these may be at the 100 level, and the rest must be at the 200 level or higher. Students are encouraged to also explore relevant courses in other departments, depending on their interest. In particular, GIS courses are recommended for those interested in mapping or consulting, and some Chemistry and Environmental Science courses are relevant to environmental consulting and regulation.
Original research is regarded as a significant component of liberal education. The department encourages Undergraduate Research in Geology (GEY 498) as part of the degree program.
Non-Geosciences course requirements for the B.S. degree:
CHY 113 Principles of Chemistry I
CHY 114 Laboratory Techniques I
CHY 115 Principles of Chemistry II
CHY 116 Laboratory Techniques II
PHY 114 Introductory Physics Laboratory I
PHY 116 Introductory Physics Laboratory II
PHY 121 General Physics I
PHY 123 General Physics II
MAT 120 Introduction to Statistics
MAT 152 Calculus A
MAT 153 Calculus B
Take the introductory geosciences lecture/lab course as early as possible in your program.
Begin the Chemistry, Physics, and Math requirements as soon as you are able to, as these are prerequisite for some upper level geoscience courses.
After completing the introductory geosciences lecture/lab course, complete the four required geosciences courses GEY 202, 203, 204, and 205 or 207 as soon as they are offered.
Complete the 20 credits of GEY electives as you are able. Be sure to consult the projected sequence of upper-level course offerings to help you plan this part (see link below).
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