Course Information Suite

Geology

http://www.geology.illinois.edu
Head of Department: Tom Johnson
Department Office: 208 Natural History Building, 1301 West Green, Urbana, (217) 333-3542

The Sciences and Letters Curriculum major in geology, administered by the Department of Geology, is designed for students who want a more flexible course of study than is provided by the Specialized Curriculum in Geology and Geophysics. It may be used by those wishing to obtain a more liberal education and/or background in geology for use in fields such as anthropology, business, mineral economics, regional planning, journalism, law, sales, or library and information science. It is not intended to prepare a student for graduate work in the geological sciences unless the student selects additional courses in mathematics, chemistry, and physics comparable to those required in the Specialized Geology and Geophysics Curriculum.

The Department of Geology also sponsors the Minor in Geology, the Earth and Environmental Sciences Concentration, and the Earth Science Teaching Concentration. The Earth Science Teaching Concentration is designed for students preparing to teach earth science at the secondary school level.

Students must select one concentration in the Sciences and Letters Curriculum or one concentration in the Specialized Curriculum.

Major in Sciences and Letters Curriculum

Select one concentration in consultation with an adviser.

Geology Concentration

E-mail: geology@illinois.edu

Degree title: Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts and Sciences

Minimum required major and supporting course work normally equates to 47-52 hours including at least 29 hours in Geology and 18 hours of supporting course work selected in consultation with an adviser

General education: Students must complete the Campus General Education requirements.

Minimum hours required for graduation: 120 hours

Departmental distinction: Students who maintain grade point averages of at least 3.5 in all geology courses and 3.0 in all other science and mathematics courses and who complete an acceptable senior thesis, including at least four hours of credit in GEOL 492 or 493, are recommended for graduation with distinction.

Hours Requirements
13-18 Core requirements, including:
  GEOL 107 - Physical Geology and
  GEOL 208 - History of the Earth System (preferred courses)1
  CHEM 102 - General Chemistry I, and
  CHEM 103 - General Chemistry Lab I
  Select one of the following:
 
MATH 220 - Calculus or MATH 221 - Calculus I
 
MATH 234 - Calculus for Business I
 
An introductory Statistics course, e.g., STAT 100, SOC 280, ECON 202, or a second semester of Calculus is recommended
32-35 Additional requirements beyond the core requirements:
 
CHEM 104 - General Chemistry II, and
 
CHEM 105 - General Chemistry Lab II
  Select one of the following:
 
PHYS 101 - College Physics, Mech & Heat or
 
PHYS 211 - University Physics: Mechanics
  GEOL 411 - Structural Geol and Tectonics
  GEOL 4172 - Geol Field Methods, Western US
  GEOL 432 - Mineralogy and Mineral Optics
  GEOL 436 - Petrology and Petrography
  GEOL 440 - Sedimentology and Stratigraphy
  Three to four hours of advanced Geology or cognate science elective
1. Students who decide to follow the curriculum after first taking GEOL 100 or 101 or 103 or 111 should enroll in GEOL 208. GEOL 101, GEOL 103, or GEOL 100 will be accepted as a substitute for GEOL 107, but students should be aware that these courses are not intended for science majors.

2. GEOL 417 is a summer field course taught off campus.

Twelve hours of 300- and 400-level courses in the major must be taken on this campus.

All foreign language requirements must be satisfied.

Earth and Environmental Science Concentration

Hours Requirements
13-18 Core requirements, including:
  GEOL 107 - Physical Geology and
  GEOL 208 - History of the Earth System (preferred courses)1
  CHEM 102 - General Chemistry I and
  CHEM 103 - General Chemistry Lab I
  Select one of the following:
 
MATH 220 - Calculus or MATH 221 - Calculus I
 
MATH 234 - Calculus for Business I
 
An introductory Statistics course, e.g., STAT 100, SOC 280, ECON 202, or a second semester of Calculus is recommended
27-31 Total hours beyond the core requirements
  Select one of the following:
 
ATMS 140 - Climate and Global Change, or
 
GEOL 118 - Natural Disasters
  Select one of the following:
 
GEOL 333 - Earth Materials and the Env, or
 
GEOL 432 - Mineralogy and Mineral Optics
  GEOL 380 - Environmental Geology
  Ten to twelve hours of additional advanced geology courses
  Six to eight hours Environmental Studies electives. (see Geology advisor for list of approved courses)
1. Students who decide to follow the curriculum after first taking GEOL 100 or 101 or 103 or 111 should enroll in GEOL 208. GEOL 101, GEOL 103, or GEOL 100 will be accepted as a substitute for GEOL 107, but students should be aware that these courses are not intended for science majors.

Earth Science Teaching Concentration

Completion of this concentration fulfills state certification requirements to teach both earth science and general science. In order to remain in good standing in this program and be recommended for certification, candidates are required to maintain UIUC, cumulative, content area, and professional education, grade-point averages of 2.5 (A= 4.0). Candidates should consult their advisor or the Council on Teacher Education for the list of courses used to compute these grade-point averages.

E-mail: geology@illinois.edu

Web address for department: www.geology.illinois.edu

Degree title: Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts and Sciences

Minimum required course work normally equates to 61-64 hours

General education: Students must complete the Campus General Education requirements. In addition, students must take one of the following speech performance courses: CMN 101, 113, 120, 321, or 323. Minimum hours required for graduation: 120 hours

Departmental distinction: The student must have a grade-point average of at least 3.5 in all geology courses as well as all courses in the Teacher Education Minor and a GPA of at least 3.0 in all other science and mathematics courses and must present evidence of exemplary teaching.

Prerequisites to transfer to the Teaching Concentration (must be completed or be in progress): EPSY 201; EPS 201 or 202; CHEM 102; CHEM 103; MATH 220, 221 or 234; GEOL 107; GEOL 208; and GEOL 333. In addition, the student is required to pass the State Basic Skills Test before application to the teaching minor.

In addition to the requirements for the concentration listed below, students must complete the Teacher Education Minor in Secondary School Teaching (37 hours). See the College of Education section for requirements of the minor - www.ed.uiuc.edu/CTE. Conferral of the degree of Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts and Sciences prior to completion of the minor requires approval by petition to the LAS Student Affairs Office. Ordinarily, all students will require 10 semesters to complete this program.

Hours Requirements
5-6 Select one group of courses:
 
ASTR 100 - Perspective in Astronomy
 
ASTR 113 - The Sky
  or
 
ASTR 100 - Perspective in Astronomy
 
ASTR 131 - The Solar System Lab
 
ASTR 132 - Stars and Galaxies Lab
  or
 
ASTR 121 - The Solar System
 
ASTR 122 - Stars and Galaxies
3 ATMS 100 - Introduction to Meteorology
4 IB 101 - Biological Sciences
4 Select one group of courses:
 
CHEM 102 - General Chemistry I
 
CHEM 103 - General Chemistry Lab I
  or
 
CHEM 202 - Accelerated Chemistry I
 
CHEM 203 - Accelerated Chemistry Lab I
4 GEOL 107 - Physical Geology
4 GEOL 208 - History of the Earth System (preferred course)1
3 GEOL 117 - The Oceans
3 GEOL 143 - History of Life
4 GEOL 333* - Earth Materials and the Envi
8 Advanced-hour course work in Geology
4-5 Select one:
 
MATH 220 - Calculus or MATH 221 - Calculus I
OR
 
MATH 234 - Calculus for Business I
10-12 Select one group of courses:
 
PHYS 101 - College Physics: Mech & Heat
 
PHYS 102 - College Physics: E&M & Modern
  or
 
PHYS 211 - University Physics: Mechanics
 
PHYS 212 - University Physics: Elec & Mag
 
PHYS 213 - Univ Physics: Thermal Physics
 
PHYS 214 - Univ Physics: Quantum Physics

1. Students who decide to follow the curriculum after first taking GEOL 100 or 101 or 103 or 111 should enroll in GEOL 208. GEOL 101, GEOL 103, or GEOL 100 will be accepted as a substitute for GEOL 107, but students should be aware that these courses are not intended for science majors.

*Students can substitute GEOL 333 Earth Materials and the Env with GEOL 432 Mineralogy and Mineral Optics.

Twelve hours of 300- and 400-level courses in the major must be taken on this campus.

All foreign language requirements must be satisfied.

 

Major in Specialized Curriculum in Geology and Geophysics

The curriculum in geology and geophysics is designed for students who plan to pursue graduate study in geology or geophysics or who wish to work professionally in the environmental field upon obtaining the bachelor's degree. It consists of geology, geophysics, and environmental geology concentrations, and offers more training in geology and related science than is required of students who make geology their major in the Sciences and Letters Curriculum.

Graduation requires a grade point average of at least 2.0 overall and a 2.0 average in all required science and technical courses (geology, physics, mathematics, chemistry, and technical requirements listed below). The Department of Geology will supply upon request a Guide for Geology Undergraduates giving more information about the curriculum.

E-mail: geology@illinois.edu

Web address for department: www.geology.illinois.edu

Degree title: Bachelor of Science in Geology

General education: Students must complete the Campus General Education requirements.

Minimum hours required for graduation: 126 hours

Departmental distinction: Students who maintain a grade point average of at least 3.5 in all geology courses and 3.0 in all other science and mathematics courses and who complete an acceptable senior thesis, including at least 4 hours credit in GEOL 492 or 493, are recommended for graduation with distinction.

Geology Concentration

Hours Requirements
8-9 Chemistry. Select one group of courses:
 
CHEM 102 - General Chemistry I and
 
CHEM 103 - General Chemistry Lab I, and
 
CHEM 104 - General Chemistry II, and
 
CHEM 105 - General Chemistry Lab II
  or
 
CHEM 202 - Accelerated Chemistry I, and
 
CHEM 203 - Accelerated Chemistry Lab I, and
 
CHEM 204 - Accelerated Chemistry II, and
 
CHEM 205 - Accelerated Chemistry Lab II
451 Geology:
 
GEOL 107 - Physical Geology
 
GEOL 2082 - History of the Earth System
 
GEOL 143 - History of Life
 
GEOL 411 - Structural Geol and Tectonics
 
GEOL 4173 - Geol Field Methods, Western US
 
GEOL 432 - Mineralogy and Mineral Optics
 
GEOL 436 - Petrology and Petrography
 
GEOL 440 - Sedimentology and Stratigraphy
 
Select one:
 
GEOL 450 - Physics of the Earth
 
or
 
GEOL 452 - Introduction to Geophysics
  GEOL 460 - Geochemistry
  6 additional hours 300- or 400-level geology
13-15 Mathematics:
 
MATH 220 - Calculus or MATH 221 - Calculus I
 
MATH 231 - Calculus II
 
Select one:
 
MATH 225 - Introductory Matrix Theory
 
or
 
MATH 415 - Applied Linear Algebra
  MATH 241 - Calculus III
8-10 Physics. Select one group of courses:
 
PHYS 211 - University Physics: Mechanics and
 
PHYS 212 - University Physics: Elec & Mag
  or
 
PHYS 101 - College Physics: Mech & Heat
 
PHYS 102 - College Physics: E&M & Modern
3 Additional Technical Requirements
  Choose at least 3 hours from the following:
 
IB 103 - Introduction to Plant Biology
 
IB 104 - Animal Biology
 
CS 101 - Intro Computing: Engrg & Sci
 
CS 125 - Intro to Computer Science
 
CPSC 440 - Applied Statistical Methods I
 
STAT 400 - Statistics and Probability I
 
MATH 285 - Intro Differential Equations
 
MATH 441 - Differential Equations
 
PHYS 213 - Univ Physics: Thermal Physics
 
PHYS 214 - Univ Physics: Quantum Physics

Geophysics Concentration

Hours Requirements
8-9 Select one group of courses:
 
CHEM 102 - General Chemistry I, and
 
CHEM 103 - General Chemistry Lab I, and
 
CHEM 104 - General Chemistry II, and
 
CHEM 105 - General Chemistry Lab II
  or
 
CHEM 202 - Accelerated Chemistry I, and
 
CHEM 203 - Accelerated Chemistry Lab I, and
 
CHEM 204 - Accelerated Chemistry II, and
 
CHEM 205 - Accelerated Chemistry Lab II
22 Geology:
 
GEOL 107 - Physical Geology
 
GEOL 2082 - History of the Earth System
 
GEOL 452 - Introduction to Geophysics
 
10 additional hours of 300 or 400 level geology
16-18 Mathematics:
 
MATH 220 - Calculus or MATH 221 - Calculus I
 
MATH 231 - Calculus II
 
MATH 241 - Calculus III
 
Select one:
 
MATH 225 - Introductory Matrix Theory
 
or
 
MATH 415 - Applied Linear Algebra
 
MATH 285 - Intro Differential Equations
15- 17 Physics:
 
PHYS 211 - University Physics: Mechanics
 
PHYS 212 - University Physics: Elec & Mag
 
PHYS 213 - Univ Physics: Thermal Physics
 
PHYS 214 - Univ Physics: Quantum Physics
 
Select one group of courses:
 
PHYS 325 - Classical Mechanics I
 
or
 
TAM 210 - Introduction to Statics and
 
TAM 212 - Introductory Dynamics
13 Additional Technical Requirements:
 
Select either:
 
CS 101 - Intro Computing: Engrg & Sci
 
or
 
CS 125 - Intro toComputer Science
 
Select one course from:
 
MSE 401 - Thermodynamics of Materials
 
PHYS 427 - Thermo & Statistical Physics
 
CHEM 444 - Physical Chemistry II
 
Six hours of other 300- or 400-level science, math, or engineering courses selected with adviser approval.

Environmental Geology Concentration

Hours Requirements
8-9 Select one group of courses:
 
CHEM 102 - General Chemistry I, and
 
CHEM 103 - General Chemistry Lab I, and
 
CHEM 104 - General Chemistry II, and
 
CHEM 105 - General Chemistry Lab II
  or
 
CHEM 202 - Accelerated Chemistry I, and
 
CHEM 203 - Accelerated Chemistry Lab I, and
 
CHEM 204 - Accelerated Chemistry II, and
 
CHEM 205 - Accelerated Chemistry Lab II
23-24 Geology:
 
GEOL 1072 - Physical Geology
 
GEOL 2082 - History of the Earth System
 
GEOL 380 - Environmental Geology
 
GEOL 401 - Geomorphology
 
Select one:
 
GEOL 451 - Methods In Applied Geophysics
 
or
 
GEOL 452 - Introduction to Geophysics
 
GEOL 470 - Introduction to Hydrogeology
11-12 Mathematics:
 
MATH 220 - Calculus or MATH 221 - Calculus I
 
MATH 231 - Calculus II
 
MATH 241 - Calculus III
8-10 Physics. Select from:
 
PHYS 211 - University Physics: Mechanics
 
PHYS 212 - University Physics: Elec & Mag
  or
 
PHYS 101 - College Physics: Mech & Heat
 
PHYS 102 - College Physics: E&M & Modern
4 Statistics. Select from:
 
CPSC 440 - Applied Statistical Methods I
 
STAT 400 - Statistics and Probability I
24 Additional Technical Requirements:
  Select from the following courses. At least 9 hours must be geology courses and at least 9 hours must be non-geology courses.
 
CEE 330 - Environmental Engineering
 
CHEM 232 - Elementary Organic Chemistry I
 
CS 101 - Intro Computing, Engrg & Sci or
 
CS 125 - Intro to Computer Science
 
ENVS 431 - Environmental Toxicology
 
GEOG 477 - Introduction to Remote Sensing
 
GEOL 411 - Structural Geol and Tectonics
 
GEOL 4173 - Geol Field Methods, Western US
 
GEOL 432 - Mineralogy and Mineral Optics
 
GEOL 436 - Petrology and Petrography
 
GEOL 440 - Sedimentology and Stratigraphy
 
GEOL 460 - Geochemistry
 
MATH 225 - Introductory Matrix Theory
 
MATH 415 - Applied Linear Algebra
 
MATH 285 - Intro Differential Equations
 
MATH 441 - Differential Equations
 
MCB 100 - Introductory Microbiology
 
MCB 101 - Intro Microbiology Laboratory
 
PHYS 213 - Univ Physics: Thermal Physics
 
PHYS 214 - Univ Physics: Quantum Physics
 
STAT 420 - Methods of Applied Statistics
 
TAM 210 - Introduction to Statics
 
TAM 211 - Statics
1. Students transferring into the geology concentration from another science or engineering program may substitute up to 8 hours of 300-or 400-level science or engineering credits for 8 hours of 300-or 400-level geology courses with departmental approval.

2. Students who decide to follow the curriculum after first taking GEOL 100 or 101 or 103 or 111 should enroll in GEOL 208. GEOL 101, GEOL 103, or GEOL 100 will be accepted as a substitute for GEOL 107, but students should be aware that these courses are not intended for science majors.

3. GEOL 417 is a 6-hour summer field course taught off campus.

Minor in Geology

The geology minor is designed for students who desire a significant background in Geology to support study and practice of their major field. Selection of courses at the 300- or 400- level will depend on the major and interests of the student.

E-mail: geology@illinois.edu

Web address for department: www.geology.illinois.edu

Hours Requirements
8 GEOL 107 - Physical Geology
  GEOL 208 - History of the Earth System1
10-11 Select at least 10 hours of advanced geology courses from the following:
GEOL 333 - Earth Materials and the Env
GEOL 380 - Environmental Geology
400-level courses taught by the Department of Geology
18-19 Total hours
1. Students who decide to follow the curriculum after first taking GEOL 100 or 101 or 103 or 111 should enroll in GEOL 208. GEOL 101, GEOL 103, or GEOL 100 will be accepted as a substitute for GEOL 107, but students should be aware that these courses are not intended for science majors.