Undergraduate Requirements: Geology Track
In addition to the core requirements, a GPS major with a Geology track must include:
- Either ACM 95ab or a full-year chemistry sequence, Ch 41abc or Ch 21abc
- Ge 106
- Ge 114
- Ge 115 ab
- Ge 120 ab
- Ge 112 or Ge 125
- Additional elective courses in Ge or ESE to bring the total number of units to 220, including the core classes.
1No class may be used to simultaneously satisfy more than one of these requirements.
2 For example, E 11, En/Wr 84.
3 If Ge120 b is not offered, a suitable 3-5 week field camp may be substituted.
| Typical Course Schedule | Units per term | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 2nd | 2rd |
| Second Year | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ma 2 & 3 | Sophomore Mathematics | 9 | 9 | |
| Ph 2 a & c | Sophomore Physics | 9 | 9 | |
| Ge 11 abc | Introduction to Earth and Planetary Science | 9 | 9 | 9 |
| Ge 106 | Introduction to Structural Geology | 9 | ||
| Ge 120 a | Field Geology Intro. | 9 | ||
| HSS electives | 9 | 9 | 9 | |
| Total units: | 36 | 36 | 36 |
| Summer | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ge 120b | Field Geology Camp | 15 |
| Third Year | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ACM 95 ab | Intro. Methods of Applied Math | 12 | 12 | |
| Ge 112 | Sedimentology and Stratigraphy | 12 | ||
| Ge 114 | Mineralogy | 12 | ||
| Ge 115 a | Petrology and Petrography | 9 | ||
| Ge 111 ab | Applied Geophysics | 6 | 9 | |
| HSS electives | 9 | 9 | 9 | |
| Total units: | 33 | 36 | 30 |
| Fourth Year | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Geology Electives | 9 | 9 | 9 | |
| Ge 115 b | Petrology and Petrography | 9 | ||
| HSS electives | 9 | 9 | 9 | |
| Scientific Writing | 3 | |||
| SEC 10 | Oral Presentation | 3 | ||
| Total units: | 18 | 27 | 24 |
1 Ge 120 ab is taught in alternate years. Some cohorts of students will take this course in their third year and the summer following.
For students beginning their junior year, it is possible to complete the requirements for the geology option within two years, but there are benefits from starting with Ge 11 abc in the sophomore year.
Passing grades must be earned in a total of 486 units, including courses listed above. Any student whose grade-point average in science and mathematics courses is less than 1.9 at the end of an academic year may be refused permission to register in the geological and planetary science options.