Geosciences, Geology Concentration (Earth Science), B.S.

Geosciences
Mark Abolins, program coordinator
615-594-4210
Mark.Abolins@mtsu.edu

Warner Cribb
615-898-2379
Warner.Cribb@mtsu.edu

This Earth Science career pattern is designed for students who plan to become professional earth scientists or who wish to pursue graduate study in earth science.

Academic Map

Following is a printable, suggested four-year schedule of courses:

Geoscience, Geology (Earth Science), B.S., Academic Map

Degree Requirements

General Education (41 hours)

General Education requirements (shown in curricular listings below) include courses in Communication, History, Humanities and/or Fine Arts, Mathematics, Natural Sciences, and Social/Behavioral Sciences.

The following courses are required by the program and can satisfy the respective General Education requirement:

MATH 1530 (Math) required in major or MATH 1730 (Math) required in cognate

Major Requirements (42 hours)

GEOL 1030 - Introduction to Earth Science 3 credit hours AND
GEOL 1031 - Introduction to Earth Science Lab 1 credit hour
OR
GEOL 1040 - Physical Geology 4 credit hours AND
GEOL 1041 - Physical Geology Lab 0 credit hours
GEOL 1050 - Historical Geology 4 credit hours
GEOL 3000 - Mineralogy 5 credit hours
GEOL 3010 - Oceanography 3 credit hours
GEOL 3050 - Field Methods in Geology 3 credit hours
GEOL 4020 - Geomorphic Regions of the United States 4 credit hours
GEOL 4050 - Meteorology 3 credit hours
MATH 1530 - Applied Statistics 3 credit hours
Geoscience electives from any GEOL or PGEO course or any Geosciences mentor-approved math or science electives 13 credit hours

Math/Science Cognate (18 hours)

PLSO 3340 - Fundamentals of Soil Science 3 credit hours
PGEO 4530 - Geographic Information Systems 3 credit hours
MATH 1730 - Pre-Calculus 4 credit hours (3 credit hours may be counted in General Education)
Additional MATH/SCI electives to be approved by Geosciences mentor; 4 hours must be from General Education Natural Science 8 credit hours

Electives

To make 120 hours; approved by Geosciences mentor

Total hours in program: 120

Curriculum: Geoscience, Geology Concentration (Earth Science)

Curricular listings include General Education requirements in Communication, History, Humanities and/or Fine Arts, Mathematics, Natural Sciences, and Social/Behavioral Sciences categories.

Following is a suggested pattern of study for the first two years; however, consultation with the assigned advisor is necessary before registration.

Freshman

ENGL 1010 - Expository Writing 3 credit hours (Comm)
ENGL 1020 - Research and Argumentative Writing 3 credit hours (Comm)
GEOL 1050 - Historical Geology 4 credit hours
MATH 1530 - Applied Statistics 3 credit hours
Social/Behavioral Sciences 6 credit hours
MATH 3-4 credit hours (MATH 1730 required in cognate; 3 credit hours may be used for General Education)
GEOL 1030 - Introduction to Earth Science 3 credit hours AND
GEOL 1031 - Introduction to Earth Science Lab 1 credit hour
OR
GEOL 1040 - Physical Geology 4 credit hours AND
GEOL 1041 - Physical Geology Lab 0 credit hours
Choose 6 hours from:
HIST 2010 - Survey of United States History I 3 credit hours OR
HIST 2020 - Survey of United States History II 3 credit hours OR
HIST 2030 - Tennessee History 3 credit hours

Subtotal: 32-33 Hours

Sophomore

ENGL 2020 - Themes in Literature and Culture 3 credit hours (Hum/FA) OR
ENGL 2030 - The Experience of Literature 3 credit hours (Hum/FA) OR
HUM 2610 - Foreign Literature in Translation 3 credit hours (Hum/FA)
COMM 2200 - Fundamentals of Communication 3 credit hours (Comm)
PLSO 3340 - Fundamentals of Soil Science 3 credit hours
GEOL 3000 - Mineralogy 5 credit hours
GEOL 3010 - Oceanography 3 credit hours
General elective 3 credit hours
Geoscience elective 3 credit hours
GEOL 4020 - Geomorphic Regions of the United States 4 credit hours
GEOL 4050 - Meteorology 3 credit hours

Subtotal: 30 Hours

Junior

GEOL 3050 - Field Methods in Geology 3 credit hours
Humanities and/or Fine Arts 6 credit hours
Geoscience electives 6 credit hours
Math/Sci cognate electives 8 credit hours
General electives 8 credit hours

Subtotal: 31 Hours

Senior

PGEO 4530 - Geographic Information Systems 3 credit hours
Natural Sciences 8 credit hours
Geoscience elective 4 credit hours
General electives 11 credit hours