BS in Geological Sciences

This degree program is no longer being offered. Students who declared this as their program of study prior to the summer of 2025 can continue in this major or change to one of the other majors offered by the department. New students will not be able to declare this major.

Requirements

Writing Requirement

Two core classes or technical electives must be taken as writing courses (writing courses are indicated by a W).

Prerequisite Courses

AP credit is acceptable upon approval

Chemistry:

  • CHEM 131: Chemical Concepts, Systems, and Practices l
  • CHEM 132: Chemical Concepts, Systems, and Practices ll

Mathematics:

  • MATH 161: Calculus lA
  • MATH 162: Calculus IIA
  • MATH 165: Linear Algebra with Differential Equations (or MATH 163)

Or the series of courses below:

  • MATH 141: Calculus l
  • MATH 142: Calculus II
  • MATH 143: Calculus III
  • MATH 165: Linear Algebra with Differential Equations

Physics:

  • PHYS 121: Mechanics (PHYS 113 for geobiology track)
  • PHYS 122: Electricity and Magnetism (PHYS 114 for geobiology track)

Geology Core Courses

EESC 101: Introduction to Earth Sciences
EESC 201: Evolution of the Earth
EESC 204: Earth Materials
EESC 208: Structural Geology
EESC 223: Earth Surface Processes: The Science of Scenery OR EESC 203: Sedimentology and Stratigraphy

Tracks

Students can choose from one of the following tracks:

Geology Track

EESC 206: Petrology

Plus one of the following specialty areas:

  • EESC 205: Solid Earth Geophysics or EESC 215: Seismology and Earth Structure
  • EESC 207: Principles of Paleontology
  • EESC 209: Introduction to Geochemistry
  • EESC 211: Nature’s Fury
  • EESC 229: Designing your Space Mission
  • EESC 253: Geodynamics
  • EESC 255: Planetary Science

Plus four technical electives in EESC (chosen with help from a faculty advisor).*

*One 100-level EESC 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-EESC course may be used for a technical elective with approval from a geology track faculty advisor, to enhance skills and knowledge in a supporting field.

Geochemistry Track

EESC 206: Petrology

Plus two of the following:

  • EESC 209: Introduction to Geochemistry
  • EESC 212: A Climate Change Perspective to Chemical Oceanography
  • EESC 216: Environmental Geochemistry
  • EESC 218: Atmospheric Geochemistry

Plus three technical electives in EESC or CHEM (chosen with help from a faculty advisor).*

*One 100-level EESC course may be acceptable if it was taken in the first year. Technical electives should be courses distinct from required courses in the track.

Geobiology Track

All of the following:

  • BIOL 110: Principles of Biology I
  • BIOL 111: Principles of Biology II
  • STAT 180: Introduction to Applied Statistical Methodology (previously STAT 212)
  • EESC 207: Principles of Paleontology

Plus two technical electives in EESC or BIOL (chosen with help from a faculty advisor).*

*One 100-level EESC 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, like geology field camp, 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 (EESC 393).