BS in Geological Sciences
The Department of Earth and Climate Sciences has launched two new majors - Earth Science and Climate Science - and one new minor in Earth and Climate Sciences. Students matriculating in fall 2025 or later will follow these programs, while students in the Class of 2026 or Class of 2027 have the option (in consultation with their advisor) to declare one of the new majors or complete their degree in Environmental Geology/Geological Sciences or minor in Geology/Geosciences. Review information and FAQs about our majors.
The BS in Geological Sciences is intended for students who wish to pursue graduate study in geology or entry level employment in a variety of fields, including geotechnical, hydrogeologic, and non-profit companies. The courses are more prescribed, and are intended to provide a strong foundation in the science.
Program Requirements and Policies
- For the bachelor of science degree in Geological Sciences, a total of 13 courses are required.
- The Chemistry and Physics courses must be taken with labs.
- In addition to the course requirements below, the following are strongly recommended:
CHEM 2, PHY 2 or 12, MATH 21, MATH 34, research experience, and a six-week summer field camp.
Course Requirements - Class of 2024 and beyond
Students must complete the following 10 ECS courses:
- ECS 1: Introduction to the Dynamic Earth w/Lab
- ECS 4: Environmental Geology w/Lab (previously ECS 2)
- ECS 11: Mineralogy w/Lab
- ECS 12: Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology w/Lab
- ECS 22: Structural Geology
- ECS 32: Geomorphology or ECS 115: Quaternary and Glacial Geology
- ECS 38: Paleontology & Historical Geology or EOS 52: Paleoclimate
- Three additional ECS courses.
Students must also complete the following 3 courses:
- CHEM 1: Chemical Fundamentals w/Lab or CHEM 11: General Chemistry
- PHY 1: Introduction to Physics I w/Lab or PHY 11: General Physics I w/Lab
- MATH 32: Calculus I
Course Requirements - Classes of 2021, 2022, and 2023
Students intending to continue with Earth and ocean sciences after graduation should complete the following courses:
- ECS 1: Introduction to the Dynamic Earth w/Lab or ECS 4: Environmental Geology w/Lab (previously ECS 2)
- ECS 11: Mineralogy w/Lab
- ECS 22: Structural Geology
In addition, students must select a total of seven more courses from the following groups:
- Three courses from the following:
- ECS 12: Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology w/Lab
- ECS 13: Isotope Geochemistry
- ECS 32: Geomorphology
- ECS 42: Sedimentology
- ECS 52: Paleoclimate
- ECS 131: Groundwater or ECS 133: Field Methods in Hydrogeology
- Three additional ECS or approved related fields courses.
In addition, students must complete
- CHEM 1: Chemical Fundamentals w/Lab or CHEM 11: General Chemistry
- PHY 1: Introduction to Physics I w/Lab or PHY 11: General Physics I w/Lab
- One of the following courses: MATH 21 or 32, COMP 11, or BIO 132