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2023-2024 Undergraduate & Graduate Catalog

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Bachelor of Science in Geology

Requirements

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

Degree Requirements

Students must complete the general education requirements as identified in the General Academic Regulations section of the Grand Valley State University Undergraduate and Graduate Catalog.

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 that include a summer field camp in geology (taught by another college or university) that is approved as GEO 493 (3 to 6 credits).

Emphases

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

B.S. in Geology Degree Requirements

AND one of the following (three credits):

PLUS the following (at least nine credits):

  • GEO electives: Three Geology courses at the 300- or 400-level.
    Geology Issues courses cannot count toward the geology major.

B.S. in Geology with an Environmental Emphasis Degree Requirements

AND choose one from:

PLUS the following (at least three credits):

  • GEO elective: One geology course at the 300- or 400-level.
    Geology Issues courses cannot count toward the geology major.
Cognate 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. Chemistry Courses (two)

b. Physics Courses (choose one of the following pairs)

EITHER

OR

c. Basic Mathematics Courses (two)

d. 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)

Group One

Group Two

OR Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

Choose one of the following

Suggested Order of Coursework for a Major in Geology

Year One

Fall Semester (15 credits)

Winter Semester (15 credits)

Year Two

Fall Semester (14 to 16 credits)

Winter Semester (13 to 17 credits)

B.S. in Geology

Year Three

Fall Semester (15 credits)

Winter Semester (14 credits)

Summer Field Course (3 to 6 credits)

Year Four

Fall Semester (13 credits)

Winter Semester (13 credits)

B.S. in Geology - Environmental Emphasis

Year Three

Fall Semester (16 credits):

Winter Semester (14 to 16 credits):

Summer Field Course (3 to 6 credits)

Year Four

Fall Semester (12 to15 credits)

Winter Semester (13 credits)

Geology Program Description

Click here for the program description.


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