Undergraduate Program
Geological Sciences (BS)
Requirements
Writing Requirement
Two core classes or technical electives must be taken as writing courses (writing courses are indicated by a W).
Foundation Courses
MTH 161, 162, 165 (or MTH 163), or MTH 141–143, 165 (calculus AP credit is acceptable)
PHY 121 (113 for geobiology track) (physics AP credit is acceptable)
PHY 122 (114 for geobiology track) (physics AP credit is acceptable)
CHM 131 (chemistry AP credit is acceptable)
CHM 132 (chemistry AP credit is acceptable)
Geology Core Courses
EES 101: Introduction to Geological Sciences
EES 201: Evolution of the Earth
EES 203: Sedimentology and Stratigraphy
EES 204: Earth Materials
EES 208: Structural Geology
Tracks
Students can choose from one of the following tracks:
EES 206: Petrology and Geochemistry
Plus one of the following specialty areas:
- EES 248: Introduction to Geochemistry
- EES 205: Solid Earth Geophysics or EES 215: Environmental and Applied Geophysics
- EES 207: Principles of Paleontology
- EES 255: Planetary Science
Plus four technical electives in EES (chosen with help from a faculty advisor).*
*One 100-level EES course may be acceptable if it was taken in the first year. Technical electives should be courses distinct from required courses in the track. One non-EES course may be used for a technical elective with approval of a geology track faculty advisor, to enhance skills and knowledge in a supporting field.
EES 206: Petrology and Geochemistry
Plus two of the following:
- EES 212: A Climate Change Perspective to Chemical Oceanography
- EES 216: Environmental Geochemistry
- EES 218: Atmospheric Geochemistry
- EES 248: High Temperature Geochemistry
Plus three technical electives in EES or CHM (chosen with help from a faculty advisor).*
*One 100-level EES course may be acceptable if it was taken in the first year. Technical electives should be courses distinct from required courses in the track.
All of the following:
- BIO 110: Principles of Biology I (biology AP credit is acceptable)
- BIO 111: Principles of Biology II
- STT 212: Applied Statistics for the Biological and Physical Sciences I
- EES 207: Invertebrate Paleontology
Plus two technical electives in EES or BIO (chosen with help from a faculty advisor).*
*One 100-level EES course may be acceptable if it was taken in the first year. Technical electives should be courses distinct from required courses in the track.
Field Course
This requirement must be satisfied by participating in field studies with approval of the advisor. See the Field Requirement PDF for information on different ways to meet this requirement.
Senior Thesis
In addition to the above courses, students are encouraged to undertake a research project culminating in a thesis written in the senior year (EES 393).