Department of Geology
The department offers a major in Geology, a minor in Geology, and a minor in Earth Science. Also the department offers a geology track as part of the major in Environmental Science. The requirements for the majors and minors are outlined below. Additional degree requirements are available from the College Registrars Web Page or in the current College Catalogue.
The major consists of 36 semester hours in geology. Required courses listed below.
|
Course # |
Course Title | Sem. Hrs. |
| GY 110 or 112 | Physical Geology | 3 or 4 |
| GY 212 | Historical Geology | 4 |
| GY 301 | Mineralogy | 4 |
| GY 302 | Petrology | 4 |
| GY 310 | Regional Geology | 5 |
| GY 325 | Stratigraphy and Sedimentation | 4 |
| GY 330 | Structural Geology | 4 |
| GY 400 W | Senior Seminar | 3 |
| Geology Electives | 4-5 | |
| TOTAL | 36 | |
In addition the following courses from outside the geology department are required for the major:
|
Course # |
Course Title | Sem. Hrs. |
| MA 120 or MA 141 | Precalculus or Calculus I (MA 141 is strongly recommended, but not required) | 4 |
| CH 110W or CH 111W |
Foundations in Chemistry or Concepts in Chemistry |
4 |
| PH 101 or BI xxx | General Physics I or one biology course (not including BI 120 or BI 122) | 3-5 |
| TOTAL |
11-13 |
Finally a Senior Culminating Experience (SCE) is required
of all students at Mount Union College. In the Department of Geology
this requirement is met by satisfactory completion of four semesters of GY 400W plus achievement of a passing grade on a standardized
comprehensive test.
Additional Notes
Students are encouraged to undertake independent study by enrolling in GY 385 and/or GY 410.
Students planning graduate study should note that most geology departments require two courses each in chemistry, physics and calculus, and completion of a summer field course. Some graduate programs require a reading knowledge of a second language.
Certain requirements may be waived at the discretion of the department if the student presents acceptable alternatives.
The Environmental Science major requires students to complete four "core" courses in environmental science, four "breadth experience" courses, and to chose a group of courses from one of three "depth experience" (Geology, Chemistry, or Biology). The requirements for an environmental science major with a geology depth experience are outlined below. Additional information on the environmental science major, including optional depth experiences in biology and chemistry are available here.
Environmental Science "Core" Courses
|
Course # |
Course Title | Sem. Hrs. |
| EV 190 | Introduction to Environmental Science | 3 |
| EV 210 (GY 210) | Hydrology and Water Resources | 4 |
| EV 350 | Case Studies in Environmental Sciences | 3 |
| EV 400 | Environmental Practicum | 3 |
Environmental Science "Breadth" Experience
|
Course # |
Course Title | Sem. Hrs. |
| PL 290 | Environmental Ethics | 3 |
| EC 205 | Introduction to Economics | 3 |
| PS 207 | Environmental Law and Policy | 3 |
| MA 123 or 141 or 151 | Statistics or Calculus I or Calculus I for Life Sciences | 3-4 |
Environmental "Depth Experience" in Geology
|
Course # |
Course Title | Sem. Hrs. |
| GY 110 or 112 | Physical Geology | 3 or 4 |
| GY 212 | Historical Geology | 4 |
| GY 205 | Weather and Climate | 3 |
| GY 301 | Mineralogy | 4 |
| GY 325 | Stratigraphy and Sedimentation | 4 |
| Additional 3 Geology Electives at 300 level | 11-12 | |
| CH 110W or 111W | Foundations in Chemistry or Concepts in Chemistry | 4 |
| BI 203 | Ecology and Evolution | 4 |
| Total (Core+ Breadth Experience+ Depth Experience) | 52-55 |
Geology minor consists of 16 semester hours of coursework as outlined below.
| Course # | Course Title | Sem. Hrs. |
| GY 110 or 112 | Physical Geology | 3 or 4 |
| GY 212 | Historical Geology | 4 |
| Geology Electives
(GY 301, 310,320,325, and 330 are most suitable, but other GY courses can be selected) |
8-9 | |
| TOTAL | 16 |
The minor in Earth Science consists of 17 - 18 semester hours of coursework from biological, earth/space, physical, and environmental sciences.
| Course # | Course Title | Sem. Hrs. |
| GY 112 | Physical Geology | 4 |
| GY 212 | Historical Geology | 4 |
| PH 120 | Astronomy | 4 |
|
BI 120 or BI 122 or CH 100/101 or PH 110 |
Choose one of the following: Contemporary Biology, or Introductory Chemistry, or Concepts of Physics | 3-4 |
| Geology Elective (200 or higher) | 2-4 | |
| TOTAL | 17-18 |
Note the Earth Science minor is not available for students majoring in biology, chemistry, geology, or physics
Last updated 02/19/2008
Mount Union College Geology