2013-14 Catalogs
BS in Geosciences
The B.S. in Geosciences requires a minimum of 67 credits in courses required for the major. Forty-one (41) of these credits are in Geosciences courses and the remainder in Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics. The B.A. degree is similar, but requires less courses in Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics.
Program Requirements
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
Course Sequence
Course | 1st yr. | 2nd yr. | 3rd yr. | 4th yr. |
GEY Intro Lecture (100 or 103 or 105) | x | |||
GEY Intro Lab (101 or 106) | x | |||
Math (152, 153) | x | x | ||
Physics (121, 114, 123, 116) | x | x | ||
Chemistry (113, 114, 115, 116) | x | x | ||
GEY 202, 203, 204, and 205 or 207 | x | x | x | |
GEY electives (20+ cr., 17 cr. are at 200+ level) | x | x | x |
(Does not include the University's core curriculum requirements although some courses above do satisfy some of those requirements)