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**Review** Undergraduate Catalog 2025-2026

Earth Sciences B.S. – Geology Concentration

Program Overview

College of Natural and Health Sciences

Contact: Timothy Grover, Ph.D., Department Chair

Location: Ross Hall 3235

Telephone: 970-351-2647

Website: www.unco.edu/nhs/earth-atmospheric-sciences/

Advising Information:

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

To find your advisor, log into ursa.unco.edu; go to 'Student' tab and click 'View Student Information' link. If no advisor is listed, contact the major program for advisor information.

The program consists of three parts:

  1. Liberal Arts Curriculum (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 must be developed in consultation with and be approved by the student's academic advisor.
  • At least one half of the credits in ESCI, GEOL, and OCN courses must be numbered 300 or above. No more than 8 credits of ESCI, GEOL, and OCN courses numbered below 200 may be counted toward the major.
  • Written Communication, Mathematics, and Natural & Physical Sciences courses approved for the Liberal Arts Curriculum that are taken as part of this major may also be used to satisfy Liberal Arts Curriculum requirements.
  • A 2.0 grade point average in the courses taken as part of this major is required for graduation.
  • In accordance with University Policies, coursework earned more than 10 years prior to the date of matriculation to UNC may not be used to satisfy any major or minor requirements. Any exception to this policy is at the discretion of the academic program.

Degree Requirements — 120 Credits

Liberal Arts Curriculum — 31 credits

To complete the degree in 120 credits as outlined, the program recommends the below LAC courses that also count toward the 74-75 required major credits.

Any additional coursework completed outside of the recommended list below may extend the length of the program of study.

Written Communication — 6 credits

SCI 291 is recommended to fulfill the Intermediate Writing Course in the Written Communication requirement and will fulfill both LAC and major requirements.

See Written Communication courses

Note: SCI 291 has a prerequisite of ENG 122 or SAT Verbal with a minimum score of 630 or ACT English with a minimum score of 30 or SAT Reading Test with a minimum score of 34.

Mathematics — 3 credits

MATH 127 or MATH 131 are recommended to fulfill Mathematics requirement and will fulfill both LAC and major requirements.

Students considering graduate school are strongly encourage to complete MATH 131

See Mathematics courses

Arts & Humanities, History, Social & Behavioral Sciences, U.S. Multicultural Studies [MS], and International Studies [IS] — 15 credits

To complete the LAC in the minimum number of credits, be sure to choose at least one course with an IS designation and one course with an MS designation.

Select any courses to fulfill this requirement from the currently approved LAC course list.

See Arts & Humanities, History, and Social & Behavioral Sciences courses

Natural & Physical Sciences — 7 credits

GEOL 100, CHEM 111), CHEM 111L, PHYS 220 and PHYS 240 are recommended to fulfill Natural & Physical Sciences requirement and will fulfill both LAC and major requirements.

See Natural & Physical Sciences courses

See Liberal Arts Curriculum

2. Required Major — 74-75 credits

Take the following courses:

GEOL 100General GeologyLAS1LASL

4

or

GEOL 201Physical Geology

4

ESCI 330Earth Science Statistical Analysis

3

ESCI 349Earth Science Professional Seminar

1

GEOL 202Historical Geology

4

GEOL 320Mineralogy

4

GEOL 340Paleontology

4

or

OCN 302Geological and Biological Oceanography

4

GEOL 421Ig and Met Petrology

4

GEOL 450Sedimentology and Stratigraphy

4

GEOL 460Geomorphology

4

GEOL 470Structural Geology

4

GEOL 481Geologic Field Techniques

3

GEOG 210Introduction to GIS and GPS

3

CHEM 111Principles of Chemistry ILAS1

4

CHEM 111LPrinciples of Chemistry I LaboratoryLAS1LASL

1

ESCI 420Chemistry of the Earth System

4

or

CHEM 112Principles of Chemistry II

4

and

CHEM 112LPrinciples of Chemistry II Laboratory

1

ESCI 490Colloquium in Earth Sciences

1

MATH 127Elementary FunctionsLAX1

4

or

MATH 131Calculus ILAX1

4

PHYS 220Introductory Physics ILAS1LASL

5

or

PHYS 240General Physics ILAS1LASL

5

SCI 291Scientific WritingLAW2

3

ESCI 490: Take two times

Electives - 6 credits

300 level or higher ESCI or GEOL

3

Take 3 total credits from the following:

ESCI 491 and/or ESCI 492 Advisor approved field course or a field camp transferred in from another institution, or an advisor approved internship, 3 credits total from any combination of these options.

ESCI 491Geoscience Field Issues

1- 6

ESCI 492Earth Science Internship

1-15

3. University-Wide Credits — 14-15 credits*

Complete additional credits to achieve the minimum credits needed for any degree at UNC; for this program, that will typically be 14-15 credits.

*Note: Students who apply the recommended courses to both the liberal arts curriculum and the major requirements will have an increased number of university wide electives to apply to this degree. See your advisor for details.

MATH 131 is required for PHYS 240. Those students interested in going to graduate school after completion of their undergraduate program are strongly encouraged to take MATH 131, CHEM 111, CHEM 112, PHYS 240, and PHYS 241.

Four Year Plan

This four year plan is a recommended schedule to complete this bachelor's degree in 4 years. Courses are subject to availability. Students must consult with their major advisor to receive information on any additional graduation requirements and course sequence guidance.

Year 1 – 32 credits

Fall Semester

GEOL 100General GeologyLAS1LASL

4

ENG 122College CompositionLAW1

3

LAC Arts and HumanitiesLAA1LAA2LAA3LAA4

3

LAC HistoryLAH1

3

University-Wide Elective

3

Total Credit Hours:16

LAC Arts and Humanities: Choose U.S. Multicultural Studies (MS) or International Studies (IS) course.

Spring Semester

GEOL 202Historical Geology

4

GEOG 210Introduction to GIS and GPS

3

LAC Arts and HumanitiesLAA1LAA2LAA3LAA4

3

LAC Social and Behavioral SciencesLAB1LAB2LAB3

3

University-Wide Elective

3

Total Credit Hours:16

LAC Social and Behavior Sciences: Choose U.S. Multicultural Studies (MS) or International Studies (IS) course.

Year 2 – 30 credits

Fall Semester

CHEM 111Principles of Chemistry ILAS1

4

CHEM 111LPrinciples of Chemistry I LaboratoryLAS1LASL

1

MATH 131Calculus ILAX1

4

Major Elective

3

LAC Arts and Humanities, History, or Social and Behavioral SciencesLAA1LAA2LAA3LAA4LAB1LAB2LAB3LAH1

3

Total Credit Hours:15

Spring Semester

ESCI 420Chemistry of the Earth System

4

or

CHEM 112Principles of Chemistry II

4

and

CHEM 112LPrinciples of Chemistry II Laboratory

1

SCI 291Scientific WritingLAW2

3

ESCI 330Earth Science Statistical Analysis

3

ESCI 490Colloquium in Earth Sciences

1

University-Wide Elective

3

Total Credit Hours:15

Year 3 – 28 credits

Fall Semester

GEOL 320Mineralogy

4

GEOL 340Paleontology

4

ESCI 349Earth Science Professional Seminar

1

PHYS 220Introductory Physics ILAS1LASL

5

Total Credit Hours:14

Spring Semester

ESCI 490Colloquium in Earth Sciences

1

GEOL 421Ig and Met Petrology

4

GEOL 460Geomorphology

4

University-Wide Elective

5

Total Credit Hours:14

Year 4 – 30 credits

Fall Semester

GEOL 450Sedimentology and Stratigraphy

4

GEOL 470Structural Geology

4

Major Elective

3

University-Wide Elective

4

Total Credit Hours:15

Spring Semester

ESCI 491Geoscience Field Issues

1- 6

and/or

ESCI 492Earth Science Internship

1-15

GEOL 481Geologic Field Techniques

3

University-Wide Elective

3

University-Wide Elective

3

University-Wide Elective

3

Total Credit Hours:15

ESCI 491 and/or ESCI 492: Advisor approved field course, or a field camp transferred in from another institution, or an advisor approved internship, 3 credits total from any combination of these options.

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