Bachelor of Arts in Earth Science

The Bachelor of Arts degree in Earth Science is designed for students who seek more advanced knowledge of Geology than the Minor in Geology, but who have other academic interests that complement their interest in Geology. The degree is particularly useful when coupled with a minor or BA from an additional field. The B.A. in Geology can be of particular benefit to students with an interest in Education, Anthropology, Environmental Law, Architecture, Leisure Studies, Business, Political Science, Geography, Journalism and other liberal arts or science fields. Other employment opportunities include work as naturalists in parks and museums. The program requires biology, chemistry, mathematics, and physics. The Geology sequence includes courses in oceanography, minerals, rocks, fossils, and landforms, whereas that in geography includes courses in meteorology, climatology, soils, and conservation.  Download the Roadmap to the B.A. in Earth Science for the official reference to the degree program.

For additional information about our undergraduate program, please contact our undergraduate advisors, Dr. Carrie E. Schweitzer,  Dr. Alison J. Smith, Dr. David M. Singer and Dr. Neil A. Wells.

General Requirements

• At least 42 semester credits must be taken in upper division courses (30000-level and above). 
• At least 36 semester credits must be taken in Liberal Education Requirements courses, and these should be completed during the first 64 credits of enrollment. 
• At least 121 semester credits of approved coursework must be completed successfully.
• GEOL 21062 Environmental Geology may be substituted for GEOL 21080 Oceanography with Departmental permission.
• Does not requires completion of GEOL 41092, Summer Field Camp, although students are encouraged to attend.
• A 2.00 cumulative grade-point average both overall and in the major, is necessary to graduate. 

Required Courses

Course Number	Course Title	Credits
GEOL 11040	Earth Dynamics	3
GEOL 11041	Earth Dynamics Lab	1
GEOL 11042	Earth History	3
GEOL 11043	Earth History Lab	1
GEOL 21080	Oceanography	3
GEOL 23063	Earth Materials I	4
GEOL 31070	Earth Materials II	4
GEOL 32066	Geomorphology	4
GEOL 34061	Invertebrate Paleontology	4
	and 3 GEOL elective credits	3
GEOG 31062	Fundamentals of Meterolgy	3
GEOG 31064	Principles of Climatology	3
GEOG 41073	Conservation - Natural Resources	3
GEOG 41082	Geography of Soils	3
	and 3 upper division elective credits in Geology or Geography (GIS recommended)	3
CHEM 10060	General Chemistry I	4
CHEM 10062	General Chemistry I Lab	1
MATH 11010	Algebra for Calculus	3
MATH 11022	Trigonometry	2
PHY 24001	Astronomy	3
BSCI 10110 or  BSCI 30560	Biological DIversity (4) or  Invertebrate Zoology (4)	4
PHY 13001 and PHY 13021 or PHY 23101	General College Physics I  and General College Physics Lab (5) or  General  University Physics (5)	5
	Total	67