Four-Year Degree Plan
By Dr. Crider, January 2002. The material below was correct for the degree requirements in the 2001-2002 academic year.
Summary of Geology B.S. requirements
[prerequisites in brackets] (number of credits in parentheses)
The core:
- Geol 211: Phyiscal Geology [Math 114] (5)
- Geol 212: Historical Geology [211] (4)
- Geol 306: Mineralogy [211, Chem 121, Chem 122] (4)
- Geol 310: Geomorphology [211] (5)
- Geol 318: Structural Geology [211; Phys 114 or 121] (4)
- Geol 352: Geophysics [318, Phys 121] (4)
- Geol 407a: Petrology [306] (4)
- Geol 410a+b: Field Camp [318, 407a] (12)
- Geol 415: Stratigraphy & Sedimentation [212, 306, 310] (4)
- Geol 442/447/448: GIS/Remote Sensing/Geostat [advanced standing] (3)
- Chem 121, 122, 123: General Chemistry and lab [Math 114 or placement] (14)
- Math 124, 125: Calculus (10) [Math 115 or placement]
- Physics 121, 122, 131, 132: Intro Physics + lab (10)
Geology “classic” -- the core, plus:
- Geol 316: Paleontology [212] (4)
- Geol 406: Optical Mineralogy [306] (3)
- Geol 407b: Thin section petrography [407a] (1)
- Geol 420: Ig-met pet seminar [406, 407] (4)
- Math elective (3-5)
Environmental geology – the core, plus:
- Geol 314: Engineering geo [211, Phys 121] (3)
- Geol 473: Groundwater hydro [211, Phys 122] (4)
- Math elective (3-5)
- Envriro-Geo electives (9)
Geology & Geophysics – the core, plus:
- Geol 452: Applied Geophys [352] (5)
- Geol 453/456/457: Plate Tectonics/Orogeny/Paleomag [352+] (4-5)
- Geophysics elective (4)
- Math/Physics electives (8)
Summary of General University Requirements
- Communication and critical analysis: one course (about 3 credits)
- Mathematics: one course (fulfilled during Geology B.S.)
- Humanities: 20 credits from at least 3 departments
- Social Sciences: 17 credits from at least 3 departments
- Comparative, Gender & Multicultural Studies: 8 credits
- Natural Sciences: at least 3 courses (fulfilled by Geology B.S.)
Total required credits outside Geology B.S.: about 48.
How to complete a B.S. in Geology in 4 years (and 12-15 credits each quarter)
Year 1
- Take Geology 101 and become interested in majoring.
- Take the Math Placement Test, and, if necessary, take Math 114.
- Fulfill at least 36 credits toward GURs in Communication, Humanities, Social Sciences & Multicultural Studies.
- If possible, get a head start on Year 2.
Year 2: Build the foundation
- Take the following 3 Geol classes: 211, 212, 310
- Take the following 3 Chem classes: 121, 122, 123
- Take the following 3 Math classes: 115 (if necessary), 124, 125
- Declare your geology major at the start of Spring Quarter
Year 3: Choose a concentration
- All students: Take the following Geol classes, watching out for pre-requisites: 306, 318, 407a, 442/447/448
- All students: Take the following Physics classes, starting Fall Quarter: 121, 131, 122, 132
- Geo-con: Take these Geol classes: 316, 406, 407b
- Enviro-con: Take Geol 314, one enviro-geo elective, and your math elective
- Geophys: Take your math and physics electives
- Thesis option: Find and advisor and a research project. Fill out at thesis application.
- Try to squeeze in 5 credits toward GURs.
Year 3 summer
- Geophys: Take summer field camp (410)
- Thesis option: Take summer field camp, too. Do some field or lab work for your research project.
Year 4: Graduate!
- All students: Take Geol 352 and Geol 415
- Geo-con: Take Geol 420 and your Math elective. Take 410 Spring Quarter.
- Enviro-con: Take Geol 473 and two additional enviro-geo electives. Take 410 Spring Quarter
- Geophys: Take the following Geol classes: 453/456/457, 452, and a geophys elective.
- Thesis option: complete up to 6 credits of thesis research (490).
- Even Geophys Thesis option have 7 credits left to finish GURs.
Congratulations! You’ve made it.
Key strategies
- Complete Chemistry 121, 122 by end of Year 2.
- Complete Math 124 by end of Year 2.
- Don’t delay Physics 121 beyond Fall Quarter, Year 3.
What to do if you fall behind:
- Take Math, Physics, or Chemistry in the summer.
- Take Summer Field Camp instead of Spring.
- Take pre-fall 318 and/or 407a.
