Department of Geosciences

Chair
Bryan Tapp

Professors
Janet A. Haggerty
Peter J. Michael
Kerry Sublette

Associate Professors
Dennis R. Kerr
Kumar Ramachandran
Bryan Tapp

Applied Associate Professor
Winton Cornell

Assistant Professors
Jingyi Chen
Junran Li

The Department of Geosciences offers Bachelor of Science (B.S.) and Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree programs in geosciences.

B.S. Degree Programs

The B.S. degree programs require three semesters of mathematics in calculus and/or statistics, one year of chemistry, and one year of calculus-based physics. In addition, support courses in the sciences are required. Courses may not be offered every year. A six-credit-hour course in field geology is required and must be taken at another university. Students graduating with a B.S. degree in geosciences usually enter a professional career in the geosciences or further their education at the graduate level before working professionally in the geosciences.

B.S. degree options include:

Bachelor of Science in Geosciences (B.S.G.S.)- Environmental Science Option
Bachelor of Science in Geosciences (B.S.G.S.) - Geology Option
Bachelor of Science in Geophysics (B.S.G.P.)

The goals of the Bachelor of Science programs in geosciences and geophysics are to provide students with critical content knowledge, and to develop their analytical skills.

Upon completion, students in the Bachelor of Science in Geosciences - Environmental Science Option degree program will:

Understand Earth systems, their impact on humans and the impact that human activity can have,
Develop skills to critically analyze environmental topics using quantitative methods, and
Synthesize interdisciplinary knowledge about environmental challenges.

Upon completion, students in the Bachelor of Science in Geosciences - Geology Option degree program will:

Understand Earth systems and the relationship of geosciences to society,
Learn to communicate effectively within their discipline, and
Develop the ability to think spatially and temporally to quantitatively solve problems.

Upon completion, students in the Bachelor of Science in Geophysics degree program will:

Acquire detailed content knowledge in geophysics,
Develop quantitative problem solving skills, and
Develop critical thinking skills.

Students are encouraged to take minors in associated technical fields. Minors in mathematics, chemistry, physics, petroleum engineering and computer sciences are among the many minors available. Students may also minor in areas of special interest. Students in geosciences must maintain a grade point average of at least 2.0 in geoscience, math, chemistry and physics classes, and an overall grade point average of at least 2.0 in order to graduate. Foundation courses in geosciences include MATH 2014 , CHEM 1013 , GEOL 1014 , and PHYS 2053 . Refer to the table for specific GPA requirements.

B.A. Degree Programs

The Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree programs are broadly based, classical liberal arts degrees that offer considerable flexibility to students interested in the earth sciences, but who do not necessarily want to work in the petroleum industry or related industries. The degree programs offer an excellent background in the sciences and in technology while still preserving the flexibility and strength of a liberal arts education. The B.A. programs offer the technical background needed to compete effectively in a changing job market in a range of career paths. If free electives are selected carefully, this major can provide the background necessary for entry into graduate-level studies in law, geology, environmental science, environmental policy, meteorology, or business. Students are encouraged to select a minor in allied fields of study to enhance their educational experience.

B.A. degree options include:

Bachelor of Arts with a Major in Earth and Environmental Sciences
Bachelor of Arts with a Major in Geology

The goals of the Bachelor of Arts programs in geosciences are to provide students with content knowledge and an understanding of interdisciplinary research and communication.

Upon completion, students in the Bachelor of Arts with a Major in Earth and Environmental Sciences degree program will:

Understand interactions of Earth’s four major spheres,
Develop critical thinking and communication skills, and
Synthesize interdisciplinary knowledge about current environmental challenges.

Upon completion, students in the Bachelor of Arts with a Major in Geology degree program will:

Develop an understanding of fundamental Earth processes,
Develop the ability to synthesize and analyze original data, and
Develop an appreciation for, and involvement in internationalization initiatives.

Many geology courses require field trips, and a nominal fee over and above tuition will be assessed to cover field trip expenses.

Teacher Certification

Students seeking secondary teacher certification in earth sciences must also complete requirements for a second major in education described under the School of Urban Education . In addition, teacher certification requires proficiency in a second language at the novice level. See Second Language Proficiency .

Research

Both the B.S. and the B.A. track have options for undergraduate research for students wishing to participate in mentored research opportunities, and for geoscience internships for students wishing to gain practical experience in the industrial applications of the geosciences.

Programs

Major

Combined

Geosciences, B.S.G.S./M.S.

Courses

Geography

Geology

Geophysics

Common Questions