Program: Geosciences, Geology Concentration (Geology), B.S. - Middle Tennessee State University

Apr 08, 2025

2021-22 Undergraduate Catalog

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

This Geology career pattern is designed for students who plan to become professional geologists or who wish to pursue graduate study in geology.

Academic Map

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

Geoscience, Geology (Geology Career Pattern), B.S., Academic Map

Degree Requirements

General Education	41 hours
Major Requirements	89-90 hours*
Major Core	53 hours
Cognate 1	18-19 hours*
Cognate 2	18 hours*
TOTAL	120-131 hours

*This program requires courses that can also fulfill requirements of the General Education curriculum. If courses for this program are also used to fulfill General Education requirements, the program of study may be completed in 120 hours.

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 required by the program meet General Education requirements:

MATH 1910 (Math)
CHEM 1110 /CHEM 1111 (Nat Sci)
PHYS 2010 /PHYS 2011 or PHYS 2110 /PHYS 2111 (Nat Sci)

Major Requirements (53 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 3050 - Field Methods in Geology 3 credit hours
GEOL 3160 - Geologic Literature and Report Writing 2 credit hours
GEOL 4000 - Petrology and Petrography 5 credit hours
GEOL 4020 - Geomorphology 4 credit hours
GEOL 4030 - Invertebrate Paleontology 5 credit hours
GEOL 4070 - Sedimentation and Stratigraphy 5 credit hours
GEOL 4080 - Structural Geology 5 credit hours
GEOL 4130 - Hydrogeology 5 credit hours
PGEO 4530 - Geographic Information Systems 3 credit hours
GEOL 3000-4000 level elective (Geosciences-mentor approved) 3 credit hours

Cognate 1 (18-19 hours)

CHEM 1110 - General Chemistry I 4 credit hours AND
CHEM 1111 - General Chemistry I Lab 0 credit hours (may be counted in General Education)
CHEM 1120 - General Chemistry II 4 credit hours AND
CHEM 1121 - General Chemistry II Lab 0 credit hours
MATH 1910 - Calculus I 4 credit hours (3 credit hours counted in General Education; 1 credit hour remaining)
MATH 1920 - Calculus II 4 credit hours OR
MATH 1530 - Applied Statistics 3 credit hours OR
MATH 2050 - Probability and Statistics 3 credit hours
MATH/SCI elective (Geosciences mentor-approved) 3 credit hours

Cognate 2 (18 hours)

PHYS 2010 - Non-Calculus-Based Physics I 0 credit hours AND
PHYS 2011 - Physics Problems Laboratory I 4 credit hours (may be counted in General Education)
OR
PHYS 2110 - Calculus-Based Physics I 0 credit hours AND
PHYS 2111 - Calculus-Based Physics Laboratory I 4 credit hours (may be counted in General Education)
BIOL 1110 - General Biology I 4 credit hours AND
BIOL 1111 - General Biology I Lab 0 credit hours
OR
PHYS 2020 - Non-Calculus-Based Physics II 0 credit hours AND
PHYS 2021 - Physics Problems Laboratory II 4 credit hours
OR
PHYS 2120 - Calculus-Based Physics II 0 credit hours AND
PHYS 2121 - Calculus-Based Physics Laboratory II 4 credit hours
GEOL or PGEO elective (Geosciences mentor approved) 3 credit hours
Geology Field Camp in Western U.S. (Geosciences chair approved) 4 credit hours
MATH/SCI elective (Geosciences mentor approved) 3 credit hours

Curriculum: Geoscience, Geology Concentration (Geology)

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.