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2014-2015 Undergraduate Catalog

Earth Sciences B.S. – Geology Emphasis

College of Natural and Health Sciences

Contact: William H. Hoyt, Ph.D., Department Chair

Location: Ross Hall 3235

Telephone: 970.351.2647

Website: esci.unco.edu   

Advising Information:

Students must consult with their assigned major advisor each semester prior to registering.

Assigned advisor is available through the Ursa login; ursa.unco.edu; under Student tab Academic Profile channel and is term specific. If no advisor is listed, contact the major program for advisor information.

The program consists of three parts:

  1. Liberal Arts Core (LAC) Credits
  2. Required Major Credits
  3. University-Wide Credits

Program Description:

The science of geology explores the physical makeup of the earth, the processes that shape it and the history of its development. This program provides a broad background in geology and emphasizes the study of geology in the field and in the laboratory.

Graduates of the geology program will be prepared for entry-level positions as geologists in the petroleum mining, and environmental industries, in local, state and federal governmental agencies and in a variety of engineering and geological consulting firms. The program also provides the background necessary for admission to graduate programs in geology and related fields.

Program Admission Requirements:

Academic Good Standing

Program Requirements:

  • The course of study for this major, including both required and elective courses, must total at least 60 credits and must be developed in consultation with and be approved by the student's academic advisor.
  • At least one half of the credits in AST, ESCI, GEOL, MET and OCN courses must be numbered 300 or above. No more than 8 credits of AST, ESCI, GEOL, MET and OCN courses numbered below 200 may be counted toward the major.
  • Science and mathematics courses approved for the Liberal Arts Core that are taken as part of this major may also be used to satisfy Liberal Arts Core requirements.
  • A 2.0 grade point average in the courses taken as part of this major is required for graduation. (Secondary Teaching Emphasis: a 2.5 GPA is required in all major courses.)

Degree Requirements — 120 Credits

Degree Requirements

1. Required Specified LAC — 28 credits

LAC area 1b. Intermediate Composition

SCI 291Scientific Writing

3

LAC area 2 — Mathematics

MATH 124College Algebra

4

MATH 131Calculus I

4

MATH 132Calculus II

4

STAT 150Introduction to Statistical Analysis

3

LAC area 6 — Physical and Life Sciences

CHEM 111Principles of Chemistry I

4

CHEM 111LPrinciples of Chemistry I Laboratory

1

PHYS 220Introductory Physics I

5

Remaining LAC — 18 credits

See “Liberal Arts Core”.

NOTE: Students need to select a course from Area 7 or 8 that also counts in Areas 3, 4, or 5.

2. Required Major — 64 credits

Take all of the following courses:

CHEM 112Principles of Chemistry II

4

CHEM 112LPrinciples of Chemistry II Laboratory

1

ESCI 492Earth Science Internship

1 - 15

GEOG 210Introduction to GIS and GPS

3

GEOL 201Physical Geology

4

GEOL 202Historical Geology

4

GEOL 320Mineralogy

4

GEOL 340Paleontology

4

GEOL 421Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology

4

GEOL 450Sedimentology and Stratigraphy

4

GEOL 460Geomorphology

3

GEOL 470Structural Geology

4

GEOL 481Geologic Field Techniques

2

PHYS 221Introductory Physics II

5

Geology electives — GEOL prefix course(s) that are numbered 300 or higher

12

ESCI 492: Take 6 credits, which could be a transferred in 6-credit geology field camp or approved internship

3. University-Wide Credits — 10 credits

Complete additional credits to achieve the minimum credits needed for this degree at UNC; for this degree, that will typically be 10 credits.