The options available in the undergraduate program in geological sciences are geology and geophysics and lead to the BA degree. Both options provide a strong basis for understanding the functioning of the Earth system. Students who are uncertain as to which option best suits their needs should contact a departmental advisor or faculty member. In each option, the undergraduate program emphasizes coursework in theoretical, laboratory and field-oriented aspects of the geological sciences. The nearby Rocky Mountains provide a natural laboratory for many of these courses.
Students interested in the geological sciences may also wish to consider the Baker Residential Academic Program. Students who do not wish to pursue a career in the geosciences, or who would like to combine a basic knowledge of geologic sciences with that of some other field, should consider using geological sciences as one subject in a distributed studies major or as a minor. Students who intend to pursue graduate study in the geological sciences are encouraged to consider developing an honors thesis as part of their undergraduate studies.
The two options available in the undergraduate major offer different focus areas of instruction. Both options offer excellent preparation for students interested in pursuing professional careers, or graduate study, in the geological sciences.
Each option emphasizes knowledge in:
- The ways in which Earth responds to internal and external forces; the physical, chemical and biological evolution of Earth; and the nature of the materials of which the Earth is made.
- The role of physics, chemistry, mathematics and biology in understanding geological processes.
- The history of discoveries and ideas that have contributed to our current knowledge of Earth and the planetary system.
Program Tracks
Geology Track
The geology option emphasizes processes that function both in the solid earth and at Earth's surface:
- The mineralogy and petrology of igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks.
- The processes of sedimentation and the applications of stratigraphy and paleobiology in the reconstruction of Earth history.
- The role of geophysics and geochemistry in understanding the nature of Earth and its history.
- The study of faults, folds and other rock structures and the tectonic processes that create those structures.
- The methods used in the field to map and interpret the diverse variety of rock types and structures.
- The function of the integrated Earth system including the atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere and geosphere.
- The fundamental controls on surface Earth processes including energy balance, hydrology, geomorphology, geochemistry and biogeochemistry.
- The role of humans in the Earth system.
Geophysics Track
The geophysics option emphasizes:
- Applications of fundamental mathematical formulations and physical principles to an understanding of the Earth.
- Methods utilized to map and characterize those portions of the planet that lie below the surface, from just beneath our feet down to the core.
Requirements
Required Courses and Credits
Students must complete the general requirements of the College of Arts and Sciences and the required courses listed below.
All required major courses and all required ancillary courses must be passed with a C- or better and cannot be taken pass/fail. Students must have a grade point average of at least 2.000 in the major in order to graduate.
Students in either the geology option or the geophysics option must take the following coursework in GEOL. For more information, view the Program Tracks section.
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| One of the following introductory GEOL courses | 3 | |
| GEOL 1010 | Exploring Earth | 3 |
| or GEOL 1012 | Exploring Earth for Scientists | |
| or GEOL 1020 | Dodos, Dinos, and Deinococcus: The History of a Habitable Planet | |
| or GEOL 1040 | Geology of Colorado | |
| or GEOL 1060 | Global Change: An Earth Science Perspective | |
| or GEOL 1150 | Water, Energy and Environment: An Introduction to Earth Resources | |
| or GEOL 1170 | Our Deadly Planet | |
| or GEOL 1180 | Our Microbial Planet | |
| GEOL 1030 | Introduction to Geology Laboratory 1 | 1 |
| GEOL 2001 | Planet Earth | 4 |
| GEOL 2005 | Introduction to Earth Materials | 4 |
| GEOL 2700 | Introduction to Field Geology | 2 |
| Total Credit Hours | 17 | |
Ancillary Coursework
Students in either the geology option or the geophysics option must take the following coursework from outside GEOL.
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select one of the following Calculus 1 & 2 sequences: | 8-10 | |
| Calculus 1 and Calculus 2 | ||
| Calculus 1 for Engineers and Calculus 2 for Engineers | ||
| Complete a calculus-based general physics sequence with lab: | 9 | |
| General Physics 1 | ||
| General Physics 2 | ||
| Experimental Physics 1 | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 17-19 | |
Additional information on required courses and other departmental requirements may be obtained from the departmental office. Students should contact the department for a list of current major requirements.
Transfer students must satisfactorily complete a minimum of 12 credit hours of advanced work (3000-level or above) in the Department of Geological Sciences in Boulder if they wish to obtain a degree in geology from CU Boulder. Before registering for the first time, or within the first week of the semester, such students must see a geological sciences department undergraduate advisor to have previous coursework in geology, math and allied sciences evaluated.
Graduating in Four Years
Consult the Four-Year Guarantee Requirements for information on eligibility. The concept of "adequate progress" as it is used here refers only to maintaining eligibility for the four-year guarantee; it is not a requirement for the major. To maintain adequate progress in geology, students should meet all college requirements plus specific departmental requirements. These departmental requirements vary slightly between the two major options. Detailed information is available from the department office, but in general these requirements include:
- Declare a geology major and begin coursework in the major during the first semester freshman year.
- Meet with a departmental advisor prior to the second and fifth semesters and during the seventh semester.
- Complete at least 33 credit hours (geology option; 44 credit hours for geophysics option) required for the major by the end of the fourth semester.
- Complete at least 47 credit hours (geology option; 63 credit hours for geophysics option) required for the major by the end of the sixth semester.
- Complete the remaining requirements for the major by the end of the eighth semester.
Program Tracks
Geology Option
Students electing the geology option are required to take the following additional courses:
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 3 Courses | ||
| Select one of the following Solid Earth courses: 3 | 3-4 | |
| Introduction to Mineralogy | ||
| Petrology | ||
| Structural Geology | ||
| Introduction to Geochemistry | ||
| Principles of Geophysics | ||
| Sedimentology and Stratigraphy | ||
| Select one of the following Surface Processes courses: 3 | 3-4 | |
| Introduction to Hydrogeology | ||
| Introduction to Geochemistry | ||
| Paleobiology | ||
| Sedimentology and Stratigraphy | ||
| The Fluid Earth | ||
| Oceanography | ||
| Introduction to Biogeochemistry | ||
| Earth Surface Processes | ||
| Select one of the following Quantitative Geoscience courses: 3 | 3 | |
| Introduction to Mineralogy | ||
| Introduction to Hydrogeology | ||
| Principles of Geophysics | ||
| The Fluid Earth | ||
| Earth Surface Processes | ||
| Select two of the following advanced-field modules: | 4-5 | |
| Planetary Field Geology | ||
| Igneous and Metamorphic Field Geology | ||
| Structural Field Geology | ||
| Field Geophysics | ||
| Field Techniques in Hydrogeology | ||
| Environmental Field Geochemistry | ||
| Field Seminar in Geology and Tectonics | ||
| Field Analysis and Tectonics of Crystalline Rocks | ||
| Field Methods in Active Tectonics | ||
| Field Studies in Sedimentology | ||
| Field Based Special Topics in Geoscience | ||
| Field Geobiology | ||
| Environmental Sampling and Analysis | ||
| Upper-division electives | ||
| Sufficient additional upper-division coursework from following list to total 27 upper-division credits. (Of these 27, a minimum of 18 upper-division credits must be GEOL.) 1 | 14 | |
Any GEOL 3000- to 4000-level course (with exceptions, see footnote) 2 | ||
Or approved non-GEOL courses from following list: | ||
| Scientific Computing in Matlab | ||
| Formation & Dynamics of Planetary Systems | ||
| Planets and Their Atmospheres | ||
| Planets, Moons, and Rings | ||
| Space Science: Practice and Policy 1 | ||
| Atmospheric Dynamics | ||
| Policy Implications of Climate Controversies 1 | ||
| Physical Chemistry 1 | ||
| Water Chemistry | ||
| Mechanics and Dynamics of Glaciers | ||
| Evolutionary Biology | ||
| Animal Diversity: Invertebrates | ||
| Limnology | ||
| Landscape Ecology | ||
| Ecosystem Ecology | ||
| Biological Statistics | ||
| Plant Biodiversity and Evolution | ||
| International Economics and Policy 1 | ||
| Environmental Impact Assessment 1 | ||
| Introduction to Applied Ecology | ||
| Environmental Sampling and Analysis | ||
| Biometeorology | ||
| River Systems and Landforms | ||
| Glaciers and Permafrost | ||
| Snow Hydrology | ||
| Soils Geography | ||
| Microbial Diversity and the Biosphere | ||
| Museum Practicum in Geology | ||
| International Law | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 27-30 | |
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Additional Ancillary Coursework for Geology Option: | ||
| Complete a general chemistry sequence with labs: | ||
| CHEM 1113 | General Chemistry 1 | 4 |
| CHEM 1114 | Laboratory in General Chemistry 1 | 1 |
| CHEM 1133 | General Chemistry 2 | 4 |
| CHEM 1134 | Laboratory in General Chemistry 2 | 1 |
| Total Credit Hours | 10 | |
| 1 | A maximum of 3 of these credit hours may consist of a policy course from the following list: ASTR 4800, ATOC 4800, ECON 3403, ENVD 4023 and PSCI 3183. |
| 2 | GEOL 3040, GEOL 3070, GEOL 3520, GEOL 3720 and GEOL 3950, cannot be used to fulfill the upper-division elective requirements within the major. |
| 3 | Note that some courses are listed in multiple major specific categories. Students can choose which category to apply the course to but, a given course can be applied to only one category. |
Geophysics Option
Students electing the geophysics option are required to take the following additional courses:
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Geophysics track courses | ||
| GEOL 3120 | Structural Geology | 4 |
| GEOL 3330 | Principles of Geophysics | 3 |
| GEOL 4714 | Field Geophysics | 2 |
| One Surface Processes course | 3-4 | |
| GEOL 3030 | Introduction to Hydrogeology | 3-4 |
| or GEOL 3320 | Introduction to Geochemistry | |
| or GEOL 3410 | Paleobiology | |
| or GEOL 3430 | Sedimentology and Stratigraphy | |
| or GEOL 3820 | The Fluid Earth | |
| or GEOL 4060 | Oceanography | |
| or GEOL 4070 | Paleoclimatology | |
| or GEOL 4160 | Introduction to Biogeochemistry | |
| or GEOL 4241 | Earth Surface Processes | |
| One additional Tier 3 approved GEOL course not used to satisfy Surface Processes course requirement. | 3-4 | |
| Select two of the following non-GEOL Geophysics Advanced Elective courses: 1 | 6 | |
| Methods in Applied Mathematics: Fourier Series and Boundary Value Problems | ||
| Partial Differential Equations | ||
| Classical Mechanics and Mathematical Methods 2 | ||
| Principles of Electricity and Magnetism 1 | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 24-27 | |
| 1 | The non-GEOL courses in this category count toward the credits in the Geology major and are factored into the Geology major GPA. |
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Additional Ancillary Coursework for the Geophysics Option: | ||
| CHEM 1113 | General Chemistry 1 | 4 |
| CHEM 1114 | Laboratory in General Chemistry 1 | 1 |
| APPM 2350 | Calculus 3 for Engineers | 4-5 |
| or MATH 2400 | Calculus 3 | |
| MATH 2130 & MATH 3430 | Introduction to Linear Algebra for Non-Mathematics Majors and Ordinary Differential Equations | 4-6 |
| or APPM 2360 | Introduction to Differential Equations with Linear Algebra | |
| PHYS 2130 | Introduction to Quantum Mechanics and Its Applications | 3 |
| PHYS 2210 | Classical Mechanics and Mathematical Methods 1 | 3 |
| One computing course | 3-4 | |
| Introduction to Computational Thinking | ||
| Computer Science 1: Starting Computing | ||
CSCI 1320 | ||
| Scientific Computing in Matlab | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 22-26 | |
Recommended Four-Year Plans of Study
Geology Track
Through the required coursework for either track of the major, students will fulfill all 12 credits of the Natural Sciences area of the Gen Ed Distribution Requirement including the Lab Requirement, as well as the QRMS area of the Gen Ed Skills area.
| Year One | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Credit Hours | |
| GEOL 1012 | Exploring Earth for Scientists (Preferred, or any other GEOL 1000-level except GEOL 1030) | 3 |
| GEOL 1030 | Introduction to Geology Laboratory 1 | 1 |
| CHEM 1113 & CHEM 1114 | General Chemistry 1 and Laboratory in General Chemistry 1 | 5 |
| Gen. Ed. Skills course (example: Lower-Division Written Communication) | 3 | |
| Gen. Ed. Distribution/Diversity course (example: Arts & Humanities/US Perspective) | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| GEOL 2005 | Introduction to Earth Materials | 4 |
| CHEM 1133 & CHEM 1134 | General Chemistry 2 and Laboratory in General Chemistry 2 | 5 |
| MATH 1300 or APPM 1350 | Calculus 1 or Calculus 1 for Engineers | 4-5 |
| Elective/MAPS | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 16-17 | |
| Year Two | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| GEOL 2001 | Planet Earth | 4 |
| GEOL 2700 | Introduction to Field Geology | 2 |
| MATH 2300 or APPM 1360 | Calculus 2 or Calculus 2 for Engineers | 4-5 |
| Gen. Ed. Distribution course (example: Arts & Humanities) | 3 | |
| Gen. Ed. Distribution/Diversity course (example: Social Sciences/Global Perspective) | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 16-17 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| GEOL Surface Processes course | 3-4 | |
| GEOL Solid Earth course | 3-4 | |
| PHYS 1110 | General Physics 1 | 4 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 16-18 | |
| Year Three | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| PHYS 1120 | General Physics 2 | 4 |
| PHYS 1140 | Experimental Physics 1 | 1 |
| Elective approved for GEOL major - Upper-division | 3-4 | |
| Gen. Ed. Distribution course (example: Social Sciences) | 3 | |
| Upper-division Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 14-15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| GEOL Quantitative Geoscience course | 3-4 | |
| GEOL 4000-level Field Geology course | 2-3 | |
| Gen. Ed. Skills course (example: Upper-division Written Communication) | 3 | |
| Gen. Ed. Distribution course (example: Arts & Humanities) | 3 | |
| Upper-division Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 14-16 | |
| Year Four | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| GEOL 4000-level Field Geology course | 2 | |
| Elective approved for GEOL major - Upper-division | 3-4 | |
| Gen. Ed. Distribution course (example: Social Sciences) | 3 | |
| Gen. Ed. Distribution course (example: Arts & Humanities) - Upper-division | 3 | |
| Upper-division Elevtive | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 14-15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| Elective approved for GEOL major - Upper-division | 3-4 | |
| Elective approved for GEOL major - Upper-division | 3-4 | |
| Elective approved for GEOL major - Upper-division | 3-4 | |
| Gen. Ed. Distribution course (example: Social Sciences) | 3 | |
| Upper-division Elective | 3-0 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 120-128 | |
Geophysics Track
Through the required coursework for either track of the major, students will fulfill all 12 credits of the Natural Sciences area of the Gen Ed Distribution Requirement including the Lab Requirement, as well as the QRMS area of the Gen Ed Skills area.
| Year One | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Credit Hours | |
| GEOL 1012 | Exploring Earth for Scientists (Preferred, or any other GEOL 1000-level except GEOL 1030) | 3 |
| GEOL 1030 | Introduction to Geology Laboratory 1 | 1 |
| MATH 1300 or APPM 1350 | Calculus 1 or Calculus 1 for Engineers | 4-5 |
| Gen. Ed. Skills course (example: Lower-Division Written Communication) | 3 | |
| Gen. Ed. Distribution/Diversity course (example: Arts & Humanities/US Perspective) | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 14-15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| GEOL 2001 | Planet Earth | 4 |
| MATH 2300 or APPM 1360 | Calculus 2 or Calculus 2 for Engineers | 5 |
| CHEM 1113 & CHEM 1114 | General Chemistry 1 and Laboratory in General Chemistry 1 | 5 |
| Elective/MAPS | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 17 | |
| Year Two | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| GEOL 2005 | Introduction to Earth Materials | 4 |
| CSCI 1200 or CSCI 1300 | Introduction to Computational Thinking or Computer Science 1: Starting Computing | 3-4 |
| PHYS 1110 | General Physics 1 | 4 |
| Gen. Ed. Distribution/Diversity course (example: Social Sciences/Global Perspective) | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 14-15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| GEOL 2700 | Introduction to Field Geology | 2 |
| GEOL 3330 | Principles of Geophysics | 3 |
| APPM 2350 or MATH 2400 | Calculus 3 for Engineers or Calculus 3 | 4-5 |
| PHYS 1120 | General Physics 2 | 4 |
| PHYS 1140 | Experimental Physics 1 | 1 |
| Credit Hours | 14-15 | |
| Year Three | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| GEOL 3120 | Structural Geology | 4 |
| GEOL 4714 | Field Geophysics | 2 |
| PHYS 2130 | Introduction to Quantum Mechanics and Its Applications | 3 |
| APPM 2360 | Introduction to Differential Equations with Linear Algebra | 4 |
| Gen. Ed. Distribution course (example: Social Sciences) - Upper-division | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| GEOL surface processes course | 3-4 | |
| Tier 3 approved GEOL course | 3-4 | |
| PHYS 2210 | Classical Mechanics and Mathematical Methods 1 | 3 |
| Gen. Ed. Skills course (example: Upper-division Written Communication) | 3 | |
| Gen. Ed. Distribution course (example: Arts & Humanities) - Upper-division | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15-17 | |
| Year Four | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| Geophysics Advanced Elective | 3 | |
| Geophysics Advanced Elective | 3 | |
| Gen. Ed. Distribution course (example: Social Sciences) | 3 | |
| Gen. Ed. Distribution course (example: Arts & Humanities) | 3 | |
| Gen. Ed. Distribution course - Upper-division | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| Geophysics Advanced Elective | 3 | |
| Gen. Ed. Distribution course (example: Social Sciences) | 3 | |
| Upper-division Elective | 3 | |
| Upper-division Elective | 3 | |
| Elective or Upper-division Elective (if needed) | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 120-125 | |