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2019-2020 Undergraduate & Graduate Catalog

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Bachelor of Science in Geology

Requirements for a Major in Geology

Completion of a B.S. in geology requires the following:

General Education Requirements

As identified in the General Academic Regulations section of the Grand Valley State University Undergraduate and Graduate Catalog.

Geology Core Courses

Requires 46 to 47 semester hours of geology courses with a minimum overall GPA of C (2.0).

Core geology courses: (33 semester hours)

Students must complete one of the following options that includes a summer field camp in geology (taught by another college or university) that is approved as GEO 493. Credits: 3 to 6

OR

Emphases

Requires 13 to 14 semester hours from either the geology B.S. or the geology B.S. environmental emphasis.

Geology B.S.

AND one of the following: (Credits 2 or 3)

Plus

  • GEO electives - Three Geology courses at the 300- or 400-level
    (Geology Issues courses cannot count toward the geology major.)
    At least 9 semester credits

Geology B.S. Environmental Emphasis

Choose one from:

Plus

  • GEO elective: One geology course at the 300- or 400-level
    (Geology Issues courses cannot count toward the geology major.)
    At least three semester credits.

Required Cognate Science Courses

Requires 31 to 33 semester hours of cognate science courses in chemistry, physics, mathematics, statistics, computer science, and/or geographic information systems as follows.

a. Two chemistry courses

b. Two physics courses

One of the following pairs:

EITHER

OR

c. Basic mathematics courses

d. Two additional mathematics, statistics, computer science or geographic information systems courses

Choose two courses from ONE of the following options:

EITHER Calculus

OR Statistics

OR Computer Science

Choose one course from each group of CIS courses:

Group One

Group Two

OR Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

AND one of the following:

Suggested Order of Coursework for a Major in Geology

First Year

Fall Semester Credits: 15

Winter Semester Credits: 15

Second Year

Fall Semester Credits: 14 to 16

Winter Semester Credits: 13 to 17

Geology B.S. Option

Third Year

Fall Semester Credits: 15

Winter Semester Credits: 14

Summer Field Course Credits: 3 to 6

Fourth Year

Fall Semester Credits: 13

Winter Semester Credits: 13

Geology B.S. - Environmental Emphasis Option

Third Year

Fall Semester Credits: 16

Winter Semester Credits: 14 to 16

Summer Field Course Credits: 3 to 6

Fourth Year

Fall Semester Credits: 12 to 15

Winter Semester Credits: 13

Geology Program Description

Click here for the program description.


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