2024-2025 Undergraduate/Graduate Catalog

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Earth Science B.S.: Planetary Geology Specialization

The Planetary Geology Specialization is designed for students planning a career as a professional geologist with government agencies (e.g. NASA) or the remote sensing industry. In addition, students will be prepared for graduate-level studies in geology or related fields.

A minor is not required.

Major Requirements

44 credits in Astronomy/Earth Science courses and 24 credits of related requirements.

Earth Sciences Core (19 credits)

GSCI 121The Dynamic Earth

3
or
GSCI 131Environmental Geoscience

3
 
GSCI 125The Dynamic Earth Laboratory

1
or
GSCI 135Environmental Geoscience Laboratory

1
 
GSCI 141Earth and Life History

3
GSCI 145Earth and Life History Laboratory

1
GSCI 221Mineralogy

4
GSCI 223Stratigraphy and Sedimentology

4
GSCI 260Communicating the Geological Sciences

1
GSCI 290Field Methods in Geology

2

Planetary Geology Specialization (25 credits)

Required Courses (15 credits)

AST 208Planetary Astronomy

4
or
AST 209Stellar and Galactic Astronomy

4
AST 278The Night Sky

3
AST 378Comparative Planetology

3
GSCI 360Research Methods in the Geological Sciences

1
GSCI 424Geomorphology

4

Electives (6-8 credits)

selected from the following:

AST 418Stellar Astrophysics

3
AST 470Exoplanets and Astrobiology

3
AST 490Topics in Astronomy

1-3
AST 495Seminar in Astronomy

1
GSCI 321Structural Geology

4
GSCI 322Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology

4
GSCI 350Computer Methods in the Geological Sciences

3
GSCI 490Topics in Geological Sciences

3-4

or additional courses as approved by the student's advisor.

Capstone (2-4 credits)

2-4 credits of AST or ESCI 460 (Senior Project) or an approved external geology field camp

AST 460Independent Research in Astronomy

1-3
or
GSCI 460Senior Project

1-3

Related Requirements (24 credits)

CHEM 161General Chemistry

3
CHEM 162General Chemistry Laboratory

1
CHEM 201Foundations of Analytical Chemistry Laboratory

1
CHEM 260Foundations of Inorganic Chemistry

3
MATH 152Calculus I

4
MATH 221Calculus II

4
PHYS 125University Physics I

4
PHYS 126University Physics II

4

Total Credit Hours: 68