Bachelor of Science in Geology

Geology

The geosciences (geology and earth science) curriculum is intended to enable you to achieve success as professionals. With a Bachelor of Science degree in geology or earth science, you may find employment in the energy and other resource industries, in earth system sciences (environmental, atmospheric and oceanographic sciences), in government agencies and in K-12 teaching.  

Hours

Bachelor of Science in Geology – 120 hours
Teacher Certification Minor in Geology – 21 hhours

Requirements

The Bachelor of Science in Geology will be awarded upon completion of the minimum following requirements:

  1. General Requirements: Core Curriculum, 42 semester hours
  2. Geology Courses: 42 semester hours. GEOL 1403/1404 (2 hours) GEOL 2471, GEOL 2377 + GEOL 4101 (LAB), GEOL 4301 Optical Mineralogy/Petrology, GEOL 3450, GEOL 3420, GEOL 4410, GEOL 4420, GEOL 4301 Geoscience Seminar, GEOL 4330 + GEOL 4101 (LAB), GEOL 3600
  3. Other Required Courses: 21 semester hours. CHEM 1411, 1412 - 8 semester hours; PHYS 1401, 1402 – 8 semester hours; PSYC 2317 or MATH 1342; MATH 2413/2414 (2 hours)
  4. Prescribed Electives: 15 semester hours. Electives from the 3000-4000 level sciences, math and engineering courses, a minimum of 9 hours must be Geology courses.

Recommended Program of Study

The following is a recommended program of study for completion of the degree plan in the minimum semester hours with the specified option. Additional requirements may be required for specialized areas, i.e. certain minor requirements, preparation for graduate school, certifications or licensures. Please see a program advisor or the department chair for details.

First Year

Fall Semester

Spring Semester

GEOL 1403

4

GEOL 1404

4

CHEM 1411

4

CHEM 1412

4

MATH 2413

4

MATH 2414

4

ENGL 1301

3

ENGL 1302

3

Total Hours

15

Total Hours

15 

Second Year

Fall Semester

Spring Semester

GEOL 2471

4

GEOL 4301 (Optical Min.)

3

GEOL 2377

3

PHYS 1402 or PHYS 2426

4

GEOL 4101 (LAB)

1

HIST 1302

3

HIST 1301

3

PSYC 2317 or MATH 1342

3

PHYS 1401 or PHYS 2425

3

Total Hours

15

Total Hours

13

Third Year

Fall Semester

Spring Semester

GEOL 3450

4

GEOL 3420

4

GEOL 4330

3

GEOL 4410

4

GEOL 4101 (LAB)

1

POLS 2302

3

POLS 2301

3

CULTURE / LANGUAGE / PHIL

3

CREATIVE ARTS

3

Total Hours

14

Total Hours

14

Summer

GEOL 3600

6


Fourth Year

Fall Semester

Spring Semester

GEOL 4420

4

GEOL 4301 Geoscience Seminar

3

ADV. ELECTIVE

7

SOCIAL / BEHAVIORAL

3

COMM

3

ADV. ELECTIVE

8

Total Hours

14

Total Hours

14

Total

120

Professional Geoscientist Emphasis

The State of Texas has legislated that any geologist practicing in the public domain, affected by engineering and environmental geology policies in the State of Texas, must be registered as a Professional Geoscientist (P.G.). Acquiring the P.G. license requires passing two exams: the Fundamentals of Geology (F.G.) and the Professional Geoscientist (P.G.) exams prepared and distributed by the Association of State Boards of Geologists (ASBOG). The license also requires at least five years of experience practicing geology in addition to passing the exams. If you wish to be licensed as a P.G., you are strongly encouraged to take the exam near graduation. If you are seeking the P.G., you are also strongly encouraged to take Hydrogeology and GIS/Remote Sensing in addition to required courses.

Geophysics Emphasis

If you are seeking a career in geophysics, you are encouraged to take calculus-based PHYS 2425 and 2426.  Upper division electives should also include at least 6 hours of geophysics-related courses.

Minor in Geology

The program requires 21 hours, a minimum of 9 of which must be in upper-division courses.

Minor in Geology (21 credit hours required, no grade less than “C”) Required lower division courses (12 hours):

GEOL 1403 Physical Geology, GEOL 1404 Historical Geology, GEOL 2471 Mineralogy-Petrology. Upper division courses (9 hours): GEOL 3410 Statistics and Data Processing, GEOL 3420 Structural Geology, GEOL 3450 Petrology, GEOL 4330 Geophysics, GEOL 4361 Geochemistry, GEOL 4371 Economic Resources with Lab (GEOL 4101), GEOL 4401 Advanced Physical Geology, GEOL 4410 Stratigraphy and Sedimentology, GEOL 4420 Paleontology, GEOL 4101 Applied Geoscience Seminar, GEOL 4301 Organized field trip, GEOL 3600 Field Camp.