GEOLOGY
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 geology and geophysics curriculum.
The Department of Geology also sponsors the minor in geology, the earth science teaching option, and a teacher education minor in earth science. The earth science teaching option is designed for students preparing to teach earth science at the secondary school level.
Students must select one option in the Sciences and Letters Curriculum or one option in the Specialized Curriculum.
MAJOR IN SCIENCES AND LETTERS CURRICULUM
Select one option in consultation with an adviser.
Geology OptionDegree title: Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts and Sciences
Minimum required major and supporting course work normally equates to 56-59 hours including at least 35 hours in Geology and 21 hours of supporting course work selected in consultation with an adviser
General education: The LAS General Education requirements (see page 130) are set up so that students automatically complete the Campus General Education requirements. The exceptions to this are the Campus Composition II and the Western Cultures requirements which must also be completed.
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 292 or 293, are recommended for graduation with distinction.
HOURS
REQUIREMENTS 35-36
Geology courses including: 5
MATH 120-Calculus and Analytic Geometry I or MATH 135-Calculus 8-9
Select from: or 4-5
Select from: or 4
Computer science, physics, mathematics or life science (beyond the minimum LAS General Education requirements) Twelve hours advanced level (300 and approved 200) courses in the major must be taken on this campus.
All foreign language requirements must be satisfied.
A Major Plan of Study Form must be completed and submitted to the LAS Student Affairs Office before the end of the fifth semester (60-75 hours). Please see your adviser.
1. Students who decide to follow the geology major after first taking GEOL 101 or 111 or 100 and 110 should enroll in GEOL 108; students who decide to follow the major after first taking GEOL 100 (without 110), 104, 105, or 143 should enroll in GEOL 107. The combination of GEOL 101 (or 111 or 100/110) and 102 will be accepted as a substitute for GEOL 107 and 108, but students should be aware these courses are not intended for science majors.
2. GEOL 317 is a summer field course taught off campus.
Earth Science Teaching OptionThis option is designed for students preparing to teach earth science as their primary area of specialization. Students in this major must also acquire teacher certification in any of the following fields: biology, chemistry, mathematics, or physics. A student must have at least 2.5 cumulative and University of Illinois grade point averages to remain in the curriculum. A student must also maintain at least a 2.0 average in all attempts at science and mathematics courses taken at the University of Illinois in order to remain in the teaching option.
Degree title: Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts and Sciences
Minimum required course work normally equates to 50 hours
General education: See the description of the general education requirements on page 134. Students may need additional hours in humanities to complete the 15-hour minimum required for certification.
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 292 or 293, are recommended for graduation with distinction.
Prerequisites to transfer to the Teaching Option: In addition to EDPSY 211 and EPS 201, CHEM 101, MATH 120 or 134 or 135, GEOL 107 and 108, and GEOL 233 must also be completed prior to transfer into the teaching option.
In addition to the requirements for the option listed below, students must complete the Teaching Education Minor in Secondary School Teaching (36 hours). See page 87 for requirements of the Minor. 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.
HOURS
REQUIREMENTS 4
CHEM 101-General Chemistry 5
MATH 120-Calculus and Analytic Geometry,I or MATH 134 or MATH 135 5
PHYCS 101-General Physics (Mechanics, Heat, and Sound) or PHYCS 111 4
GEOL 107-General Geology, I 4
GEOL 108-General Geology, II 4
GEOL 233-Earth Materials and the Environment 3
GEOL 320-Introduction to Paleontology 11
Advanced hour course work in Geology 3
ASTR 210-General Astronomy, or ASTR 121 and 122, or ASTR 300 3
ATMOS 100-Introduction to Meteorology or GEOG 102 4
BIOL 104-Animal Biology, or BIOL 107, or BIOL 120, or PLBIO 100 variable
Additional course work to obtain teacher certification in biology, chemistry, mathematics or physics Twelve hours of advanced level (300 and approved 200) courses in the major must be taken on this campus.
All foreign language requirements must be satisfied.
A Major Plan of Study Form must be completed and submitted to the LAS Student Affairs Office before the end of the fifth semester (60-75 hours). Please see your adviser.
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 options, 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 described on pages 154-155.
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.
Degree title: Bachelor of Science in Geology
General education: All campus general education requirements must be satisfied.
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 292 or 293, are recommended for graduation with distinction.
Geology Option
HOURS
REQUIREMENTS 451
Geology: GEOL 1072, GEOL 1082, GEOL 311, GEOL 3173, GEOL 320, GEOL 332, GEOL 336, GEOL 340, GEOL 352, GEOL 360, and 6 additional hours 300 level geology 8-10
Physics: PHYCS 111 and 112 (or 101 and 102) 13-14
Mathematics: MATH 120 and 130, 225 (or 315), and 242 8-9
Chemistry: CHEM 101 and 102 (or 107, 108, 109, 110) 3
Additional Technical Requirements Choose at least 3 hours from the following: BIOL 104, BIOL 120 PLBIO 100 PHYCS 113, PHYCS 114, C S 101 or 125 MATH 280, MATH 285, or MATH 341 CPSC 340, or STAT 310 variable
Nontechnical Requirements:4, 5 Foreign language-four semesters of college study (or four years of high school study) in a single foreign language Composition I writing requirement (RHET 105, RHET 108, SPCOM 111 and 112, or equivalent) Composition II writing requirement Humanities/Arts to satisfy the campus general education requirements Social/Behavioral sciences to satisfy the campus general education requirements Cultural Studies to satisfy the campus general education requirement variable
Free Electives:4 The number of free elective hours must be sufficient to bring the total number of hours to 126. Free electives cannot include credit taken to satisfy the above requirements or credit in courses taken preparatory to the science and mathematics requirements.
Geophysics Option
HOURS
REQUIREMENTS 22
Geology: GEOL 1072, 1082, 350 and 10 additional hours of 300 level Geology 15-16
Physics: PHYCS 111, 112, 113, 114, and either PHYCS 225 or TAM 154 19-20
Mathematics: MATH 120 and 130; 242; 225 (or 315); 280 and 285 8-9
Chemistry: CHEM 101 and 102 (or 107, 108, 109, 110) 12
Additional Technical Requirements: 3 C S 101 (or C S 125) 3 Select one course from: MATSE 301, PHYCS 361, CHEM 342 6 Other 300-level science, math, or engineering courses selected with adviser approval. variable
Nontechnical Requirements:4,5 Foreign language-four semesters of college study (or four years of high school study) in a single foreign language Composition I writing requirement (RHET 105, RHET 108, SPCOM 111 and 112, or equivalent) Composition II writing requirement Humanities/Arts to satisfy the campus general education requirements Social/Behavioral sciences to satisfy the campus general education requirements Cultural Studies to satisfy the campus general education requirement variable
Free Electives:4 The number of free elective hours must be sufficient to bring the total number of hours to 126. Free electives cannot include credit taken to satisfy the above requirements or credit in courses taken preparatory to the science and mathematics requirements.
Environmental Geology Option
HOURS
REQUIREMENTS 23-24
GEOLOGY: GEOL 1072, GEOL 1082, GEOL 301, GEOL 351 (or GEOL 350), GEOL 355, GEOL 380 8-10
PHYSICS: PHYCS 111 and 112 (or 101 and 102) 11
MATHEMATICS: MATH 120 and 130, and 242 8-9
CHEMISTRY: CHEM 101 and 102 (or 107, 108, 109, 110) 4
STATISTICS: CPSC 340 or STAT 310 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. variable
Nontechnical Requirements:4,5 Foreign language-four semesters of college study (or four years of high school study) in a single foreign language Composition I writing requirement (RHET 105, RHET 108, SPCOM 111 and 112, or equivalent) Composition II writing requirement Humanities/Arts to satisfy the campus general education requirements Social/Behavioral sciences to satisfy the campus general education requirements Cultural Studies to satisfy the campus general education requirement variable
Free Electives:4 The number of free elective hours must be sufficient to bring the total number of hours to 126. Free electives cannot include credit taken to satisfy the above requirements or credit in courses taken preparatory to the science and mathematics requirements.
1. Students transferring into the geology option from another science or engineering program may substitute up to 8 hours of 300-level science or engineering credits for 8 hours of 300-level geology courses with departmental approval.
2. Students who decide to follow the curriculum in geology and geophysics after first taking GEOL 101 or 111 or 100 and 110 should enroll in GEOL 108; students who decide to follow the curriculum after first taking GEOL 100 (without 110), 104, 105, or 143 should enroll in GEOL 107. The combination of GEOL 101 and 102 will be accepted as a substitute for GEOL 107 and 108, but students should be aware these courses are not intended for science majors.
3. GEOL 317 is a 6-hour summer field course taught off campus.
4. Required hours will vary with each student. See academic adviser.
5. The requirements for the Campus General Education categories Natural Sciences and Technology and Quantitative Reasoning I are fulfilled through required course work in the curriculum.
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 level will depend on the major and interests of the student.
HOURS
REQUIREMENTS 8
GEOL 107-General Geology I and GEOL 108-General Geology II1 10-11
Geology 233, Geology 280, and 300 level courses taught by the Department of Geology 18
Total hours
1. Students who decide to follow the geology minor after first taking GEOL 101 or 100 should take Geology 108 and 110. Students entering after taking Geology 102 should take Geology 107. Students not taking the Geology 107 field trip are required to take Geology 110.