Geology Programs

The B.S. program provides intensive training in geology and other sciences. B.S. majors may emphasize traditional geology, environmental geology (with a specialized track in hydrogeology), engineering geology, geophysics, or earth and space science licensure. The hydrogeology track, the engineering geology option, and the geophysics option combine basic training in geology with training in mathematics, engineering, physics, and geophysics. The environmental geology option combines training in geology with many different sciences.

Degree requirements may be altered to suit particular needs of a student upon petition to the undergraduate studies committee and in consultation with a geology faculty adviser. Special consideration is given to students with strong backgrounds in supporting sciences and students with superior records who decide to major in geology late in their programs.

First- and Second-Year Preparation

Students interested in geology, especially in the B.S. degree, should see a department adviser as soon as possible. They should enroll in mathematics, chemistry, and English in addition to Introduction to Geology and electives. Students should take GEOL 360 as soon as possible.

Advising

Developing a strong relationship with a faculty adviser helps students get the most out of their educational programs in the shortest time. Most courses for majors are offered in only one semester each year. Advisers can guide the student through complexities of the curriculum or into a specialized program.

Requirements for the B.S. Degree

Bachelor of Science majors may emphasize

• Traditional geology,
• Environmental geology (with a specialized track in hydrogeology),
• Engineering geology,
• Geophysics, or
• Earth and space science licensure.

General Geology Option

• Satisfaction of the College English requirement (6-9)
• COMS 130 Speaker-Audience Communication (3) or
  COMS 150 Personal Communication (3) (or exemption)
• 2 courses in the humanities (6-10)
• 2 courses in the social sciences (an introductory course in economics is recommended) (6-8)
• MATH 121 Calculus I (5) and MATH 122 Calculus II (5) (recommended) or
  MATH 115 Calculus I (3) and MATH 116 Calculus II (3) plus MATH 122 Calculus II (5)
• PHSX 211 General Physics I (4) and
  PHSX 212 General Physics II (4)
• CHEM 184 Foundations of Chemistry I (5) and
  CHEM 188 Foundations of Chemistry II (5)
• BIOL 150 Principles of Molecular and Cellular Biology (4) and
  BIOL 152 Principles of Organismal Biology (4)
• EECS 128 Foundations of Information Technology: _____ (3) or
  EECS 138 Introduction to Computing: _____ (3) or
  C&PE 121 Introduction to Computers in Engineering (3)

• GEOL 101 Introduction to Geology (3) and
  GEOL 103 Geology Fundamentals Laboratory (2)
• GEOL 311 Mineralogy and Structure of the Earth (3)
• GEOL 312 Mineral Structures and Equilibria Laboratory (1)
• GEOL 331 Sedimentology and Surface Processes (4)
• GEOL 360 Field Investigation (2)
• GEOL 512 Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology (3)
• GEOL 513 Petrology Laboratory (1)
• GEOL 521 Paleontology (3)
• GEOL 523 Paleontology Laboratory (1)
• GEOL 532 Stratigraphy (4)
• GEOL 560 Introductory Field Geology (3)
• GEOL 561 Field Geology (3)
• GEOL 562 Structural Geology (4)
• GEOL 572 Geophysics (3) or
  GEOL 573 Geodynamics and Plate Tectonics (3)
• At least 9 hours in geology courses numbered 500 or above (9)
  This can include 3 hours of GEOL 399, GEOL 105, GEOL 304, or GEOL 121 can also count if taken before the student has completed 60 hours. Electives may include an upper-division course in statistics (MATH 365 or BIOL 570).

Engineering Geology Option

• ENGL 101, ENGL 102, and ENGL 362 (9)
• COMS 130 Speaker-Audience Communication (3) or
  COMS 150 Personal Communication (3) (or exemption)
• 2 courses in the humanities (6-10)
• ECON 104 Introductory Economics (4)
• 1 additional course in the social sciences (3)
• MATH 121, MATH 122, MATH 220, and MATH 290 (15)
• CHEM 184 Foundations of Chemistry I (5) and
  CHEM 188 Foundations of Chemistry II (5)
• PHSX 211 General Physics I (4) and
  PHSX 212 General Physics II (4)
• CE 201 Statics (2)
• CE 300 Dynamics (3)
• CE 311 Strength of Materials (3)
• CE 330 Fluid Mechanics (4)
• CE 455 Hydrology (3)
• CE 487 Soil Mechanics (4)
• EECS 128 Foundations of Information Technology: _____ (3) or
  C&PE 121 Introduction to Computers in Engineering (3) or
  EECS 138 Introduction to Computing: _____ (3)

• GEOL 101 Introduction to Geology (3) and
  GEOL 103 Geology Fundamentals Laboratory (2) or
  GEOL 105 History of the Earth (3)
• GEOL 311 Mineralogy and Structure of the Earth (3)
• GEOL 312 Mineral Structures and Equilibria Laboratory (1)
• GEOL 331 Sedimentology and Surface Processes (4)
• GEOL 351 Environmental Geology (3)
• GEOL 360 Field Investigation (2)
• GEOL 512 Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology (3)
• GEOL 513 Petrology Laboratory (1)
• GEOL 541 Geomorphology (4)
• GEOL 560 Introductory Field Geology (3)
• GEOL 561 Field Geology (3)
• GEOL 562 Structural Geology (4)
• GEOL 572 Geophysics (3) or
  GEOL 573 Geodynamics and Plate Tectonics (3)
• 3 additional geology or civil engineering courses, at least 2 of which must be from the following: (8-12)
  GEOL 521 Paleontology (3)
  GEOL 532 Stratigraphy (4)
  GEOL 535 Petroleum and Subsurface Geology (4)
  GEOL 715 Geochemistry (3)
  GEOL 751 Physical and Transport Hydrogeology (4)
  CE 770 Concepts of Environmental Chemistry (2) and
  CE 771 Environmental Chemical Analysis (1)
  Electives may include an upper-division course in statistics (MATH 365 or BIOL 570).

Note: Total credit hours may exceed the university's minimum requirement for graduation.

Environmental Geology Option

• Satisfaction of the College English requirement (6-9)
• COMS 130 Speaker-Audience Communication (3) or
  COMS 150 Personal Communication (3) (or exemption)
• 2 courses in the humanities (6-10)
• 2 courses in the social sciences (an introductory course in economics is recommended) (6-8)
• MATH 121 Calculus I (5) and MATH 122 Calculus II (5) (recommended) or
  MATH 115 Calculus I (3) and MATH 116 Calculus II (3) plus MATH 122 Calculus II (5)
• PHSX 211 General Physics I (4) and PHSX 212 General Physics II (4) (recommended) or
  PHSX 114 College Physics I (4) and PHSX 115 College Physics II (4)
• CHEM 184 Foundations of Chemistry I (5) and
  CHEM 188 Foundations of Chemistry II (5)
• BIOL 150 Principles of Molecular and Cellular Biology (4) and
  BIOL 152 Principles of Organismal Biology (4)
• EECS 128 Foundations of Information Technology: _____ (3) or
  EECS 138 Introduction to Computing: _____ (3) or
  C&PE 121 Introduction to Computers in Engineering (3)

• GEOL 101 Introduction to Geology (3) and
  GEOL 103 Geology Fundamentals Laboratory (2)
• GEOL 311 Mineralogy and Structure of the Earth (3)
• GEOL 351 Environmental Geology (3)
• GEOL 360 Field Investigation (2)
• GEOL 521 Paleontology (3)
• GEOL 532 Stratigraphy (4)
• GEOL 541 Geomorphology (4)
• GEOL 552 Introduction to Hydrogeology (3)
• GEOL 560 Introductory Field Geology (3)
• GEOL 562 Structural Geology (4)
• GEOL 572 Geophysics (3)
• Additional courses to total at least 9 hours numbered 500 or above or other courses approved by adviser. Recommended: (9)
  GEOL 391 Special Studies in Geology: Water Resources (3)
  GEOL 535 Petroleum and Subsurface Geology (4)
  GEOL 715 Geochemistry (3)
  GEOL 751 Physical and Transport Hydrogeology (4)
  CE 770 Concepts of Environmental Chemistry (2) and
  CE 771 Environmental Chemical Analysis (1)
  GEOG 535 Soil Geography (5)
  GEOG 558 Intermediate Geographical Information Systems (4)
  GEOL 753 Chemical and Microbial Hydrogeology (4)
  BIOL 400 Fundamentals of Microbiology (3)
  C&PE 517 Reservoir Engineering I (4)

Environmental Hydrogeology Track

Besides the general program above, a specialized track in hydrogeology satisfies degree requirements. In addition to College, supporting science, and geology courses, the environmental hydrogeology track requires the following mathematics and civil engineering/physics courses:

• MATH 220 Applied Differential Equations (3) and
  MATH 290 Elementary Linear Algebra (2)
• CE 330 Fluid Mechanics (4) or
  PHSX 623 Physics of Fluids (3)

Technical Electives (9 hours). These normally are chosen from courses numbered 500 or above in geology, physics, mathematics, chemistry, engineering or computer science. Courses numbered below 500 must be approved by a geology adviser.

Geophysics Option

• ENGL 101, ENGL 102, and a third course as specified by the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (9)
• Courses in humanities and social sciences (12)
  (At least 3 hours must be taken in each area. View the principal course list. An introductory course in economics is recommended.)

• EECS 138 Introduction to Computing: _____ (3) or
  demonstrate equivalent programming skills (0-3)
• CHEM 184 Foundations of Chemistry I (5) and
  CHEM 188 Foundations of Chemistry II (5)
• MATH 121 Calculus I (5) and
  MATH 122 Calculus II (5)
• MATH 223 Vector Calculus (3) and
  MATH 290 Elementary Linear Algebra (2)
• MATH 320 Elementary Differential Equations (3)

• PHSX 211 General Physics I (4) and
  PHSX 212 General Physics II (4)
• PHSX 313 General Physics III (3)
• PHSX 521 Mechanics I (3)
• PHSX 531 Electricity and Magnetism (3)

• GEOL 101 Introduction to Geology (3) and
  GEOL 103 Geology Fundamentals Laboratory (2)
• GEOL 311 Mineralogy and Structure of the Earth (3)
• GEOL 331 Sedimentology and Surface Processes (4)
• GEOL 360 Field Investigation (2)
• GEOL 512 Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology (3)
• GEOL 560 Introductory Field Geology (3)
• GEOL 562 Structural Geology (4)
• GEOL 572 Geophysics (3) or
  GEOL 573 Geodynamics and Plate Tectonics (3)
• 2 of these 4 courses in addition to geology courses above: (6)
  GEOL 572 Geophysics (3)
  GEOL 573 Geodynamics and Plate Tectonics (3)
  GEOL 575 Seismic Exploration (3)
  GEOL 577 Environmental Geophysics (3) (3)

Technical Electives (9 hours). These normally are chosen from courses numbered 500 or above in geology, physics, mathematics, chemistry, engineering, or computer science. Courses numbered below 500 must be approved by a geophysics adviser.

Electives. Additional credit hours of general electives are needed to meet the minimum total hours required for graduation.

Graduation Requirements. Students must earn a grade-point average of 2.0 in both physics and geology courses.

Earth and Space Science Licensure Option

This program fulfills the requirements for a Bachelor of Science degree in geology. The program also meets course requirements necessary to gain state licensure eligibility in earth and space science to become a secondary teacher in Kansas, but completion of the program does not guarantee the student’s licensure. This list is a guideline. Contact the geology department for further information about meeting degree and additional licensure requirements. You may also contact the UKanTeach Office for information about similar tracks resulting in eligibility for licensure in this and other science and mathematics fields.

These courses must be taken on a letter-grade basis.

• English: ENGL 101 Composition (3) and
  ENGL 102 Critical Reading and Writing (3) (or equivalent)
• Communication/Logic: COMS 130 Speaker-Audience Communication (3) or
  COMS 150 Personal Communication (3) (or exemption/examination)
• Humanities: 1 principal course and HIST 136 or HIST 137 (or equivalent approved by geology department) (6)
• Social Science: 2 courses, preferably from the principal course list (6)

A minimum grade of C is required in all courses counted toward the major.

• Mathematics:
  MATH 121 Calculus I (5) and MATH 122 Calculus II (5) or
  MATH 115 Calculus I (3) and MATH 116 Calculus II (3) and MATH 122 Calculus II (5)
• Physics:
  PHSX 211 General Physics I (4) and
• PHSX 212 General Physics II (4)
• Chemistry:
  CHEM 184 (or CHEM 185) Foundations of Chemistry I (5) and
  CHEM 188 (or CHEM 189) Foundations of Chemistry II (5)
• Biology:
  BIOL 150 (or BIOL 151 Honors) Principles of Molecular and Cellular Biology (4) and
  BIOL 152 (or BIOL 153 Honors) Principles of Organismal Biology (4)
• Geology Core Requirements (32 hours):
  GEOL 101 Introduction to Geology (3) and
  GEOL 103 Geology Fundamentals Laboratory (2)
• GEOL 311 Mineralogy and Structure of the Earth (3)
• GEOL 331 Sedimentology and Surface Processes (4)
• GEOL 360 Field investigation (2)
• GEOL 521 Paleontology (3) and
  GEOL 523 Paleontology Laboratory (1)
• GEOL 532 Stratigraphy (4)
• GEOL 552 Introduction to Hydrogeology (3)
• GEOL 560 Introductory Field Geology (3)
• GEOL 562 Structural Geology (4)
• Space Science Core Requirements (9 hours):
  ATMO 105 Introductory Meteorology (5)
  ASTR 191 Contemporary Astronomy (3)
  ASTR 196 Introductory Astronomy Laboratory (1)
• Earth and Space Electives: 4 hours in a geology course numbered 300 or above (4) or
  4 hours in astronomy courses numbered 300 or above. This can include 3 hours of ASTR 390 or GEOL 399, GEOL 105, GEOL 304, or GEOL 121 also can count if taken before the student has completed 60 hours (4)
• Research Methods: CHEM 598 Research Methods (3)
  (or equivalent course approved by geology in major field of study)

A minimum grade of C is required in all courses.

• Liberal Arts and Sciences:
  LA&S 290 Approaches to Teaching Science and Mathematics I (1) and
  LA&S 291 Approaches to Teaching Science and Mathematics II (1)
• Curriculum and Teaching (19 hours):
  C&T 448 Reading and Writing across the Curriculum (3) and
  16 hours of courses approved by UKanTeach in curriculum and teaching. These should include courses such as Classroom Interactions (3), Knowing and Learning (3), Project Based Instruction (3), Student Teaching (6), and Special Topics Seminar (1)