Required Credit Hours: 36

(or more, depending on options)

Major Computing Requirement:

Fulfilled by completing the Research requirement outlined below.

Major Writing Requirement:

Fulfilled by completing the Research requirement outlined below.

Introductory Sequence:

One of the following options:

• GEOL 101 - The Dynamic Earth: Physical Geology Credits: (3) and GEOL 160 - Investigating the Earth: Introductory Geology Laboratory  Credits: (1)

• or

• GEOL 110 - Earth’s Environmental Systems: Physical Geography Credits: (3) and GEOL 160 - Investigating the Earth: Introductory Geology Laboratory  Credits: (1)

• or

• GEOL 150 - First-Year Seminar Credits: (4) and GEOL 160 - Investigating the Earth: Introductory Geology Laboratory  Credits: (1)

• OR

• GEOL 250 - Geologic Evolution of Virginia Credits: (4)

Core Courses:

A minimum of 18 credits of core courses including:

Research:

• GEOL 404 - Introduction to Geological Research Credits: (1)

• One of the following options:

   

• GEOL 491 - Senior Research Credits: (3) and GEOL 492 - Senior Research  Credits: (1)
• GEOL 495 - Honors Credits: (3) and GEOL 496 - Honors  Credits: (3)

Elective courses:

Nine credits to be taken from the following options.

• GEOL 212 - Global Climate Change Credits: (3)
• GEOL 305 - Environmental Geology Credits: (3)
• GEOL 314 - Watershed Dynamics Credits: (4)
• GEOL 427 - Surface Processes Seminar Credits: (1-3)
• GEOL 428 - Geochemistry Seminar Credits: (1-3)
• GEOL 429 - Hydrology Seminar Credits: (1-3)
• GEOL 437 - Special Topics Seminar Credits: (1-3)
• GIS 201 - Introduction to Geographic Information Systems and Spatial Analysis Credits: (3)

• Additional courses from Group A and B can also be used for elective credits.

Biology Requirement:

One of the following options:

• BIOL 204 - Introduction to Organisms, Ecology, Evolution Credits: (3)
• BIOL 318 - Conservation Biology Credits: (3)
• BIOL 417 - Population and Community Ecology Credits: (4)
• BIOL 426 - Aquatic Ecology Credits: (4)
• BIOL 427 - Wetland Ecosystems Credits: (4)
• BIOL 461 - Marine Ecology and Conservation Credits: (3)
• ENSP 440   - Restoration Ecology Credits: (3)

Additional Information:

Environmental Geology majors must take EITHER GEOL 314  or GEOL 315 , but not both.  Depending on the topic, GEOL 437  may be used to satisfy this requirement with permission of the chair.

Geology majors are required to choose two courses and associated laboratories from the following list of five choices:

• CHEM 103 - General Chemistry I Credits: (3) and
• CHEM 103L - General Chemistry Laboratory I Credits: (1)

• or

• CHEM 206 - Organic Chemistry I Credits: (3) and
• CHEM 206L - Organic Chemistry Laboratory I Credits: (1)

• or

• CHEM 208 - General Chemistry II and Introduction to Inorganic Chemistry Credits: (3) and
• CHEM 254 - General Chemistry Laboratory II Credits: (1)

• or

• PHYS 101 - General Physics I Credits: (3) and
• PHYS 101L - General Physics I Laboratory Credits: (1)

• or

• PHYS 102 - General Physics II Credits: (3) and
• PHYS 102L - General Physics II Laboratory Credits: (1)

• These courses are required but do not count towards the minimum 36 credits in geology.  Geology majors, especially those planning on pursuing advanced degrees, are strongly recommended to take one year of calculus, one year of chemistry, one year of physics, and a field camp.