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Geology Curriculum
The Geology Program offers both a Geology major and minor in addition to graduate courses.
Curriculum for the Geology Major
Click on the course title to view the course description in the Academic Bulletin. All links open in a new window.
| Geology Core Requirements | ||
| Class Number | Course Description | Sem. Hours |
| GY 111/111L | Physical Geology | 4 |
| GY 112/112L | Earth History | 4 |
| GY 301 | Geomorphology | 3 |
| GY 302 | Crystallography & Mineralogy | 4 |
| GY 303 | Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology | 4 |
| GY 304 | Stratigraphy (W) | 3 |
| GY 306 | Sedimentology (W) | 3 |
| GY 401 | Invertebrate Paleontology | 3 |
| GY 403 | Structural Geology | 4 |
| GY 480 | Field Geology | 6 |
| 6-8 Hours of Geology Electives | 6-8 | |
| Total Hours: | 44-46 | |
| Additional Requirements from Other Disciplines | ||
| Chemistry | ||
| CH 131 | General Chemistry I | 3 |
| CH 132 | General Chemistry II | 3 |
| Physics* | ||
| PH 114 | Non-Calculus Based General Physics I | 4 |
| PH 115 | Non-Calculus Based General Physics II ** | 4 |
| PH 201 | Calculus Based General Physics I | 4 |
| PH 202 | Calculus Based General Physics II ** | 4 |
| Mathematics*** | ||
| MA 125 | Calculus I | 4 |
| MA 126 | Calculus II | 4 |
(W) - Denotes a writing-intensive course.
* - The Geology degree requires a minimum of 8 hours of Physics (algebra/ trigonometry-based;
PH 114 and PH 115), or calculus-based ; PH 201 and PH 202).
** - Students can elect to substitute GY 305 for PH 115/PH 202.
*** - Students can elect to substitute GY 420 for MA 126.
Those intending on pursuing graduate study are encouraged to complete a full year
of calculus and physics at the University of South Alabama.
Additional Information for Geology Majors:
A program in composite sciences has been approved as an acceptable minor for Geology
majors, but it is recommended that the student seek a traditional minor. Students
seeking a minor in related sciences should be aware of the University requirement
that all students must complete 32 resident hours in 300/400 level courses.
A Certificate in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) can be obtained simultaneously
with a BS in Geology if the student elects to choose a GIS/GIT minor. Contact the Department of Earth Sciences for information concerning the GIS certification
program, the composite sciences minor, Geology elective courses, and Departmental
Honors opportunities in Geology. An overall GPA 2.0 is required for the major.
Recommended Course Sequence for Geology Majors:
| Academic Year 1 (Freshman) | |||
| Fall Semester | Spring Semester | ||
| Course | Hours | Course | Hours |
| CAS 100 | 2 | GY 112 | 3 |
| GY 111 | 3 | GY112L | 1 |
| GY 111L | 1 | CH132 | 4 |
| CH 131 | 4 | MA 125 | 4 |
| Social Science 1 | 3 | EH 102 | 3 |
| EH 101 | 3 | ||
| Total Hours: | 16 | Total Hours: | 15 |
| Academic Year 2 (Sophomore) | |||
| Fall Semester | Spring Semester | ||
| Course | Hours | Course | Hours |
| GY 301 | 3 | GY 303 | 4 |
| GY 302 | 4 | GY 304 | 3 |
| MA 126 or GY 420 | 4 | PH 114/201 | 5/4 |
| Humanities 1 | 3 | Social Science 2 | 3 |
| Total Hours: | 14 | Total Hours: | 14/15 |
| Academic Year 3 (Junior) | |||
| Fall Semester | Spring Semester | ||
| Course | Hours | Course | Hours |
| PH 115/202 or GY 305 | 5/4 | GY 402 | 3 |
| GY 401 | 3 | GY 403 | 4 |
| Humanities 2 | 3 | Humanities 3 | 3 |
| Foreign Lang. 1 | 3 | Foreign Lang. 2 | 3 |
| Minor 1 | 3/4 | CA 110 | 3 |
| Total Hours: | 16-18 | Total Hours: | 15 |
| Summer Semester | |||
| Course | Hours | ||
| GY 480 | 6 | ||
| Total Hours: | 6 | ||
| Academic Year 4 (Senior) | |||
| Fall Semester | Spring Semester | ||
| Course | Hours | Course | Hours |
| GY Elective 1 | 3/4 | GY Elective 2 | 3/4 |
| Minor 2 | 3/4 | Minor 5 | 3/4 |
| Minor 3 | 3/4 | Minor 6 | 3/4 |
| Minor 4 | 3/4 | Social Science 3 | 3 |
| Fine Art | 3 | Social Science 4 | 3 |
| Total Hours: | 15-19 | Total Hours: | 15-18 |
Major Hours: 44-46
Minor Hours: 8-24
Total hours 128 to 138 (Assumes student will pass placement tests for CH 131, MA 125
and CIS 150)
Geology Minor Curriculum
A student must take a minimum of 20 semester hours of Geology courses including:
- GY 111
- GY 111L
- GY 112
- GY 112L
A minimum of two courses from the following list is also required:
- GY 301 (Geomorphology)
- GY 302 (Crystallography and Mineralogy)
- GY 304 (Stratigraphy)
- GY 401 (Paleontology)
- GY 425 (Hydrology)
Any GY courses numbered 300 and higher may be used to satisfy the remainder of the 20 hour requirement.
Graduate Courses
Although the Department of Earth Sciences has no graduate degree program, courses are offered at the graduate level for students enrolled in Marine Sciences or Environmental Toxicology and others who need such course work. Current graduate courses (500-level) are listed below. Contact the Department for scheduling.
- GY 512 - Geomorphology
- GY 520 - Geostatistics
- GY 531 - Optical Mineralogy and Crystallography
- GY 533 - X-Ray Analytical Methods
- GY 543 - Applications in Remote Sensing
- GY 544 - Sedimentary Geology
- GY 571 - Micropaleontology 1: Planktonics
- GY 572 - Micropaleontology 2: Nannofossils
- GY 573 - Marine Paleoecology
- GY 575 - Hydrology
- GY 576 - Contaminant Hydrology
- GY 590 - Special Topics
- GY 592 - Seminar
- GY 594 - Directed Research
- MAS 603 - Geological Oceanography - Taught through the Department of Marine Sciences