Major/Minor Requirements

Required for the geology major

Required core courses
- Geology 110: Introductory Geology
- Geology 210: History of Earth and Life
- Geology 240: Chemistry of the Earth: Low-Temperature Environments
- Geology 245: Mineralogical Analysis
- Geology 250: Chemistry of the Earth: High-Temperature Environments
- Geology 360: Physics of the Earth: Surface Processes
- Geology 370: Physics of the Earth: Subsurface Processes
- Geology 580: Junior Seminar
- Geology 620: Senior Capstone
Additional courses in geology
Two additional six-unit courses in geology, including two courses numbered 200 or higher
Courses in other sciences and mathematics
- Chemistry 116 (may be waived by placement exam)
- Mathematics 107 or 117 or 120 or 140 or 207
- Physics 141 or 151

Required for the geology minor

Required core courses
- Geology 110: Introductory Geology
- Geology 210: History of Earth and Life
- Any two of the following:
  - Geology 240: Chemistry of the Earth: Low-Temperature Environments
  - Geology 250: Chemistry of the Earth: High-Temperature Environments
  - Geology 360: Physics of the Earth: Surface Processes
  - Geology 370: Physics of the Earth: Subsurface Processes
Additional courses in geology
Two additional six-unit courses in geology numbered 200 or higher
C average in the minor

Required for the interdisciplinary major in the natural sciences in geology and a secondary discipline

Geology 110 and Geology 210
Physics 150 and 160 or, with the permission of the secondary department, Physics 120 and 130.
Either:
1. Biology 110 and 120 or Biology 110 and 140, or
2. Chemistry 115 and 116 or equivalent chosen to include the secondary interest
At least 10 six-unit courses in the sciences (biology, chemistry, geology, and physics) numbered 200 or above, with at least five in geology and at least three in the secondary discipline
Geology 580 and 620

Broad Field Science

Students who complete a major, a minimum of two courses in each of two other science disciplines, and at least one course in each of the remaining three disciplines (including space science) will be eligible for Broad Field certification.
Please refer to the Department of Education for more detailed information on teacher certification.

Senior Experience in Geology

The Senior Experience in Geology comprises two 3-unit courses (GEOL 580 and 620), the first taken in spring term of the junior year and the second in fall term of the senior year.
The junior seminar helps students begin to acquire an “insider's view” of the geosciences. In the first part of the course, students explore the philosophical and historical underpinnings of the discipline and develop strategies for finding and reading technical literature. Then, working with at least one member of the geology faculty, each student identifies a substantive research question and designs a plan by which to investigate that question.
In the senior capstone, students work with faculty mentors to carry out these research plans (sometimes building upon work that they conducted during summer study on campus, in the field, or through programs at other universities). By the end of the term, each student presents his or her research results and analyses to the department as a whole. Some students opt to continue their capstone research throughout their senior year as senior thesis or honors thesis projects.

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