Requirements for the Geology Major / Minor

THE MAJOR
There is no set amount of coursework required before one declares a major. However, it is common for students to have completed the two 100 level geology courses before declaring. If you are interested in majoring in Geology, we urge you to talk with several of our department faculty and majors. Early discussions will help you construct an appropriate program.

Each major selects his or her own advisor from among the department faculty. A list of faculty and their research interests can be found on the department website under People.

Requirements for a major (see current College Catalogue for details) are:

Ten courses in Geology including:

Two and no more than two 100 level geology courses - Geology 101 (History of Life); 102 (Geology of national parks); 103 (Planet Earth); 104 (Global Climate Change); 105 (Geology of Natural Disasters); 131 (Earth Systems Science)
Geology 205 - Mineralogy
Geology 206 - Petrology
Geology 209 - Sedimentology and Stratigraphy
Geology 231 - Chemistry of Earth Systems
Geology 301 - Field Geology
Geology 302 - Structural Geology
One semester of Independent Research or an Internsip during Senior year.

In addition, Chemistry 141 is a required prerequisite for Geology 231.

Following is a preferred sequence for required courses for a Geology major. We recognize that some students will begin the major after their Freshman year, and may have to compress the schedule. Electives can be taken at any time assuming prerequisites have been met. Descriptions for all courses can be found on the website, and are available in the Course Catalog.

YEAR	FALL SEMESTER	SPRING SEMESTER
FRESHMAN	One 100 Level Geology Couse	One 100 Level Geology Course
SOPHOMORE	Chemistry 141 - Foundations of Chemistry Geology - 205 Mineralogy	Geology 231 - Chemistry of Earth Systems Geology 206 - Petrology
JUNIOR	Geology 209 - Sedimentology & Stratigraphy Geology 301 - Field Geology	Geology 302 - Structural Geology
SENIOR	Ind. Research or Internship	Elective

The department encourages its majors to take a Summer Field Geology course away from the campus. A number of good field courses are offered by other colleges and universities in the Appalachians or the Rocky Mountains. Current brochures for field courses are kept in the department reading room. Department faculty can assist you in the selection of one of these courses.

Your are encouraged to study abroad your Junior year, it is advisable that you plan ahead to insure completion of all required geology courses. Several of the uppler-leel geology courses, especially electives, are offered only in alternate years.

If you are considering continuing your eduction in a graduate program, most reputable graduate programs will have required that you have taken two semesters of physics and two semesters of calculus. Note that some programs may allow for a substitution of a semester of statistics for a semester of calculus.

Double Majors in Geology and another discipline are common. Recent double majors have combined Geology with Archaeology, Anthropology, Chemistry, Economics, English, Religion, Political Science, several of the foreign languages, and most commonly with Environmental Science. To complete both majors, planning is imperative.

Self-developed majors are also possible. These require development of a detailed and coherent plan. See College Catalogue and your advisor for guidance.

Teacher Certification in Earth and Space Science: By completing a minimum number of courses outside the department plus the professional semester in the Department of Education, students may be certified for secondary school teaching in Earth and Space Science. See any member of the Geology department or the Director of Teacher Educatoin in the Education department.

MINORS
Requirement for the minor is six courses in the department, including two 100 level geology courses. Consult any member of the department faculty for advice about the most appropriate courses for your interests.

NON-MAJORS
It is not unusual for students who are not majoring in Geology to take one or more of the upper-level courses after they have taken two 100 level geology courses. Energy Resources. Environmental Geology, Geomorphology, Oceanography. Paleontology, and Special Topics courses usually attract several non-majors. In some cases, these courses prove to be an integral part of a non-major's field of study. For example, a student interested in environmental law or the politics or economics of energy might find Environmental Geology and/or Energy Resources indispensable.

WRITING IN GEOLOGY COURSES
The department has adopted a standard writing format and students should purchase "Geowriting, a Guide to Writing, Editing, and Printing in Earth Science" (available in the College Bookstore) as soon as possible. You should also obtain a copy of "Information for Contributors to Publications of the Geological Society of America" that is available for free in the department office. Scientific writing is one of the most important skills our students learn. These two pamphlets will help you develop an effective approach to writing papers in the geosciences.

Internships and Senior Research