2013-14 Catalogs

A minimum of 53 credits are required for the B.A. degree and a minimum of 67 credits are required for the B.S. degree (in addition to the University's Core curriculum requirements). The B.A. and B.S. degrees differ only in the chemistry, physics, and mathematics requirements as listed below. Majors planning on obtaining an advanced degree normally, but not necessarily, choose the B.S. Majors must achieve a 2.0 grade point average and grades of C- or better in all geosciences courses.

Geosciences Course Requirements for both B.A. and B.S. degrees:

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 Laboratory 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
     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.

Suggested Geosciences elective courses for students interested in earth materials and resources
     GEY 201 Paleogeography and Global Change
     GEY 240 X-ray Powder Diffraction Laboratory
     GEY 302 Sedimentation and Stratigraphy
     GEY 303 Igneous and Metamorphic Rock Origins
     GEY 410 Introduction to Geophysics

Suggested Geosciences elective courses for students interested in environmental geology
     GEY 205 Water Resources: Science and Issues
     GEY 207 Atmosphere: Science, Climate, and Change
     GEY 208 Environmental Geology
     GEY 310 Glacial and Pleistocene Geology
     GEY 420 Groundwater Flow and Quality

Suggested Geosciences elective courses for students interested in mapping technologies
     GEY 340 Digital Mapping
     GEY 360 Field Mapping in the Island Environment: Data Collection to GIS

Non-Geosciences course requirements for the B.A. degree
     CHY 113 Principles of Chemistry I
     CHY 114 Laboratory Techniques I
     PHY 111 Elements of Physics Laboratory I
     PHY 114 Introductory Physics Laboratory I
     MAT 140 Pre-Calculus Mathematics
     or MAT 152D Calculus A

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 121 General Physics I
     PHY 114 Introductory Physics Laboratory I
     PHY 123 General Physics II
     PHY 116 Introductory Physics Laboratory II
     MAT 152 Calculus A
     MAT 153 Calculus B

(Does not include the University's core curriculum requirements although some courses above do satisfy some of those requirements)