B.S. Degree in Geology (Earth and Environmental Sciences Track)

The Geology - Earth and Environmental Sciences Track leads to a B. S. degree in Geology with special emphasis on course work that prepares the student for careers in fields outside of professional geosciences but for which knowledge of geology is foundational, including but are not limited to science education, science journalism, environmental law, and public policy. Background studies in fields connecting geology to related careers are provided by supporting course options in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, Astronomy, and Education.

For students pursuing careers in science education, further coursework in Education (including student teaching) will be required in order to obtain Maryland State Teaching Certification. Interested students are urged to consult with advisors in the College of Education. While this track may also prepare students for work as a geologists in government or industry or for graduate study, students seeking advanced degrees or career opportunities in geology are advised to pursue the Geology - Professional Track or Geophysics Track majors.

Depending on course options selected, the Earth and Environmental Sciences Track can be completed in between 71 and 75 credits. To receive a degree in Geology, students must earn a grade of C- or better in required geology courses, and a C- average or better in supporting courses in addition to completing GenEd and 120 credits overall. Courses required for the Professional Track B.S. in Earth and Environmental Sciences are listed below. Some courses require field trips for which students are expected to pay for room (if required) and board.

REQUIREMENTS EFFECTIVE AUGUST 2023

GenEd Program: Minimum 40 credits (for freshmen entering in Fall 2012 and after.)

Or CORE Program: 46 credits

Departmental Requirements: 58-62 credits

Supporting Requirements: 16 credits

Note: Completion of the degree requires completion of 120 credits

GEOLOGY COURSES:

  • One of the following:

  • GEOL110 - Introductory Geology Laboratory (1)
  • One of the following:

    • GEOL 123 - Causes and Consequences of Global Change (3) 1
    • GEOL 124 - Evolution of Life and Environment on Planet Earth (3)
    • GEOL 200 - Earth's Fury: Earthquakes, Volcanoes, and Tsunami (3)
    • GEOL 204 - Dinosaurs, Early Humans, Ancestors, and Evolution; The Fossil Record of Vanished Worlds of the Prehistoric Past (3)
    • GEOL 212 - Planetary Geology (3)

  • GEOL 102 - Historical Geology (4)
  • GEOL 322 - Mineralogy (4)
  • GEOL 340 - Geomorphology (4)
  • GEOL 341 - Structural Geology (4)
  • GEOL 342 - Stratigraphy and Sedimentation (4)

Total credits: 27

EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING IN EARTH SCIENCES:

  • One of the following:

    Total credits: 3 - 6 2

    EARTH SCIENCES CORE DISCIPLINES: Choose one course from each of the following groups.

    Analytic Methods in Earth Sciences:

    • GEOG 373 - Geographic Information Systems (3)
    • GEOL 351 - Statistics for Geoscientists (3)
    • GEOL 413 - Geoscientific Modeling (3)
    • GEOL 447 - Observational Geophysics (3)

    Environmental Geosciences:

    • GEOL 375 - Introduction to the Blue Ocean (3)
    • GEOL 423 - Optical Mineralogy (4)
    • GEOL 437 - Global Climate Change, Past and Present (3)3
    • GEOL 451 - Groundwater (3)
    • GEOL 452 - Watershed and Wetland Hydrology (3)
    • GEOL 453 - Ecosystem Restoration (3)

    Geophysics:

    Earth Materials:

    Geobiology:

    • GEOL 331 - Principles of Paleontology (4)
    • GEOL 391 - Biology of Extinct Animals (3)
    • GEOL 431 - Vertebrate Paleobiogy (4)
    • GEOL 435 - Environmental Geochemistry (3)
    • GEOL 436 - Biogeochemistry (3)
    • GEOL 437 - Global Climate Change, Past and Present (3)3

    Total credits: 16-18

    EARTH SCIENCES ELECTIVES:

    • Any two 3 - 4 credit 300 - 400 level GEOL course not taken to satisfy the above requirements or appropriate substitution with the approval of the department. If GEOL490 – Geologic Field Camp is taken as an Experiential Learning option, it additionally satisRes one Earth Sciences Elective requirement.

    Total credits: 6-8

    SUPPORTING COURSES

    Required Courses:

    • One of the following:
      • AOSC123 - Causes and Consequences of Global Change (3)1
      • AOSC200 - Weather and Climate (3)
      • ASTR120 - Introductory Astrophysics - Solar System (3)
      • TLPL101 - Inquiry Approach to Teaching STEM (Step 1) (1) and TLPL102 - Inquiry Teaching of STEM in Middle School
      • One of the following:
        • CHEM 131/2 - Chemistry I - Fundamentals of General Chemistry and laboratory (4)
        • CHEM 135/6 - Chemistry for Engineers and laboratory (4)
      • MATH 140 - Calculus I (4)
      • MATH 141 - Calculus II (4)
      • One of the following:
        • PHYS 161 - General Physics: Mechanics and Particle Dynamics (3) and PHYS 261 - General Physics: Mechanics, Vibrations, Waves, Heat (Laboratory) (1)
        • PHYS 171 - Introductory Physics: Mechanics and Relativity (3) and PHYS 261 - General Physics: Mechanics, Vibrations, Waves, Heat (Laboratory) (1)

    Total credits: 19

    OVERALL Total credits: 71-75

    Matriculated Geology majors are expected to take all courses on campus unless specific departmental permission is given.

    1: AOSC123 and GEOL123 cannot both be taken for credit.

    2: GEOL490 satisfies both the Experiential Learning in Earth Sciences requirement and one (of two) Earth Sciences Electives requirement.

    3: GEOL437 may not be used to satisfy both the Environmental Geosciences and Geobiology Earth Sciences Core Discipline concurrently.

    RESOURCES AND ANCILLARY PROGRAMS