Degree: B.S.

Chairperson: Kenneth G. Miller (kgm@rci.rutgers.edu)

Offered in cooperation with the Department of Geological Sciences (Faculty of Arts and Sciences), this curriculum provides students with the principles that govern the processes that operate within and on the earth. It offers flexibility in the preparation for career objectives, which might include participation in the environmental/hydrogeology area, marine geology, quaternary geology, classical geology, or preparation for graduate studies.

Students planning professional careers in geology, including graduate study, should take additional courses in mathematics, physics, chemistry, or biology. A list of suggested courses is available in the department office. For more information, see the geological sciences listing in the Programs of Study for Liberal Arts Students section.

Degree Requirements for the Major

Students electing the geology option of the geological sciences major also must complete a minor or certificate program offered by the Cook College faculty.

Please see the Programs of Study Summary on page 272 for information regarding changes in degree requirements.

I. Interdisciplinary/Ethical Analysis (5 credits)

  11:015:101  Perspectives on Agriculture and the Environment (2)

  11:015:400  Junior/Senior Colloquium (3)

II. Introductory Life and Physical Sciences

A. Life Sciences

Specific courses that fulfill the life sciences requirement are listed under VIII B, Option requirements.

B. Physical Sciences (17 credits)

  01:160:161-162  General Chemistry (4,4)

  01:160:171  Introduction to Experimentation (1)

  01:750:203-204  General Physics (3,3)

  01:750:205-206  General Physics Laboratory (1,1)

III. The Arts (6 credits)

See suggested courses in the Degree Requirements chapter.

IV. Human Diversity (6 credits)

See suggested courses in the Degree Requirements chapter.

V. Economic and Political Systems (6 credits)

See suggested courses in the Degree Requirements chapter.

VI. Oral and Written Communication (6 credits)

See suggested courses in the Degree Requirements chapter.

VII. Experience-Based Education (3 credits)

  01:460:410  Field Geology (3)

VIII. Competence in the Geological Sciences (55-69 credits)

A. REQUIRED COURSES (23-24)

Quantitative Methods (8)

  01:640:1__ ,1__   CALC1 and CALC2 (4,4)

Computer Competence (3-4)

  01:198:221  Numerical Problems and Computer Programming (4) or 01:460:418 Geological Modeling (3)

Professional Ethics

Ethical considerations for professional geologists are addressed throughout the advanced courses.

Other Required Courses (12)

  01:460:101  Introductory Geology I: Physical (3)

  01:460:103  Introductory Geology Laboratory (1)

  01:460:307  Structural Geology (4)

  01:460:412  Introduction to Geophysics (4)

B. OPTIONS (32-45)

1. Environmental Geology (32)

  01:119:101-102  General Biology (4,4)

  01:160:209  Elementary Organic Chemistry (3)

  11:375:201  Biological Principles of Environmental Sciences (3)

  11:375:202  Chemical Principles of Environmental Sciences (3)

  11:375:203  Physical Principles of Environmental Sciences (3)

  01:460:330  Sedimentary Geology (4)

  01:460:331  Fundamentals of Mineralogy and Petrology (4)

  01:460:428  Hydrogeology (4)

2. Geology (45)

  01:119:103  Principles of Biology (4) or equivalent

  01:460:102  Introductory Geology II: Historical (3)

  01:460:301  Mineralogy (4)

  01:460:302  Petrology (4)

  01:460:303  Paleontology (4)

  01:460:340  Sedimentology (4)

  01:460:341  Stratigraphy (4)

A minor or certificate program offered by the Cook College faculty also must be completed (18).

IX. Unspecified Electives (10-24 credits)