Geology exists as a science to satisfy the needs of modern society for earth’s abundant natural resources and to ensure sustainable practices for future generations. The Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences offers two different geology degrees; the Bachelor of Arts and the Bachelor of Science. Both programs prepare graduates for employment, however the Bachelor of Science is considered the flagship degree as its more rigorous curriculum provides significant employment advantages and prepares graduates for admission to Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) programs. The dominant fields of employment include:
- Engineering geology
- Water resources
- Construction
- Hydrogeology
- Petroleum geology
- Environmental geology
- Geophysics
- Mining
- Government regulation and compliance work
- Employment related to the energy industry
The Bachelor of Arts and the Bachelor of Science degrees in Geology can be completed in eight semesters if students average 16 hours of coursework per semester.
For more information, visit the Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences
The Bachelor of Science in Applied Geology degree requires the successful completion of a minimum of 91 s.h. of core and elective courses. These courses include a Geology capstone experience of Geology Field Camp which is normally completed during summer following the junior year. Alternatively, students may opt for an internship (STEM 4890 STEM Internship) experience or a Senior Thesis research experience (GEOL 4830 Senior Thesis).
| COURSE | TITLE | S.H. |
|---|---|---|
| FIRST YEAR REQUIREMENT -STUDENT SUCCESS | ||
| YSU 1500 | Success Seminar | 1-2 |
| or SS 1500 | Strong Start Success Seminar | |
| or HONR 1500 | Intro to Honors | |
| General Education Requirements | ||
| ENGL 1550 | Writing 1 | 3-4 |
| or ENGL 1549 | Writing 1 with Support | |
| ENGL 1551 | Writing 2 | 3 |
| CMST 1545 | Communication Foundations | 3 |
| Mathematics Requirement (met with MATH in major) | ||
| Arts and Humanities (6 s.h.) | 6 | |
| Natural Sciences (2 courses, 1 with lab) (6-7 s.h.) Met with courses in the major | ||
| Social Science (6 s.h.) | 6 | |
| Social and Personal Awareness (6 s.h.) | 6 | |
| Major Requirements | ||
| GEOL 1505 | Physical Geology | 4 |
| ENST 2600 & 2600L | Foundations of Environmental Science and Foundations of Environmental Science Laboratory | 4 |
| GEOL 2605 | Historical Geology | 4 |
| GEOL 2600 | Geology in the Field | 1 |
| GEOG 2611 | Geospatial Foundations | 3 |
| GEOL 3711 | Mineralogy | 3 |
| GEOL 3717 | Petrology | 3 |
| GEOL 3705 | Structures and Landscapes | 4 |
| GEOL 3708 | Geological Field Methods | 2 |
| GEOL 3750 | Geoscience Seminar must be taken twice in fall terms for a total of 2 hours | 2 |
| GEOL 3755 | Geological Research Methods and Data Analysis | 3 |
| GEOL 5802 | Sedimentology and Stratigraphy | 3 |
| GEOG 3701 | Introduction to Geographic Information Science | 3 |
| Capstone Experience | ||
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
GEOL 48XX Field Camp (4 s.h. minimum) | ||
| STEM Internship (4 s.h. maximum) | ||
| Senior Thesis | ||
| Electives | ||
| Select a minimum 24 s.h. of Upper Division elective courses (at least 2 courses must be non GEOL): | 24 | |
| Environmental Chemistry and Environmental Chemistry Lab | ||
| Glacial Geology | ||
| Geology of Economic Mineral Deposits | ||
| Subsurface Investigations | ||
| Petroleum Geology of the Appalachian Basin | ||
| Principles of Paleontology | ||
GEOL 3716 | ||
| Water Quality Analysis and Water Quality Analysis Lab | ||
| Field Investigations in Geology | ||
| Environmental Research | ||
| Environmental Sampling Methods | ||
| Ground Water | ||
| Engineering Geology | ||
| GIS Applications to Geology | ||
| Tectonics | ||
| Geophysical Well Log Analysis | ||
| Special Topics | ||
| Special Problems in Geology | ||
| Introduction to Energy Resources | ||
| Groundwater Resource Evaluation | ||
| Environmental Safety | ||
| Advanced Geographic Information Science | ||
| Geology and the Environment 2 | ||
| Environmental Geochemistry | ||
| Environmental Regulations | ||
| Ancillary Science Courses | ||
| CHEM 1515 & 1515L | General Chemistry 1 and General Chemistry 1 Laboratory | 4 |
| CHEM 1516 & 1516L | General Chemistry 2 and General Chemistry 2 Laboratory | 4 |
| MATH 1570 | Applied Calculus 1 | 4 |
| or MATH 1571 | Calculus 1 | |
| STAT 3717 | Statistical Methods | 4 |
| or MATH 1572 | Calculus 2 | |
| PHYS 1501 & 1501L | Fundamentals of Physics 1 and Fundamentals of Physics Laboratory 1 | 5 |
| or PHYS 2610 | General Physics 1 | |
| PHYS 1502 & 1502L | Fundamentals of Physics 2 and Fundamentals of Physics Laboratory 2 | 4 |
| or PHYS 2611 | General Physics 2 | |
| Total Prescribed Semester Hours: 120-122 s.h. | ||
| Total Semester Hours | 120-122 | |
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | S.H. | |
| YSU 1500 or SS 1500 | Success Seminar or Strong Start Success Seminar | 1-2 |
| GEOL 1505 & 1505L | Physical Geology and Physical Geology Laboratory | 4 |
| ENGL 1550 or ENGL 1549 | Writing 1 or Writing 1 with Support | 3-4 |
| GEOL 2600 | Geology in the Field | 1 |
| CHEM 1515 & 1515L | General Chemistry 1 and General Chemistry 1 Laboratory | 4 |
| Semester Hours | 13-15 | |
| Spring | ||
| GEOL 2605 | Historical Geology | 4 |
| ENGL 1551 | Writing 2 | 3 |
| GEOG 2626 | World Geography | 3 |
| GEOG 2611 | Geospatial Foundations | 3 |
| CHEM 1516 & 1516L | General Chemistry 2 and General Chemistry 2 Laboratory | 4 |
| Semester Hours | 17 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Fall | ||
| GEOL 3711 | Mineralogy | 3 |
| GEOG 3701 | Introduction to Geographic Information Science | 3 |
| MATH 1570 | Applied Calculus 1 | 4 |
| PHIL 1565 | Critical Thinking | 3 |
| Upper Division Elective | 3 | |
| Semester Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| GEOL 3717 | Petrology | 3 |
| STAT 3717 | Statistical Methods | 4 |
| Upper Division Elective | 3 | |
| ENST 2600 & 2600L | Foundations of Environmental Science and Foundations of Environmental Science Laboratory | 4 |
| CMST 1545 | Communication Foundations | 3 |
| Semester Hours | 17 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Fall | ||
| GEOL 3708 | Geological Field Methods | 2 |
| GEOL 3755 | Geological Research Methods and Data Analysis | 3 |
| PHYS 1501 & 1501L | Fundamentals of Physics 1 and Fundamentals of Physics Laboratory 1 | 5 |
| GEOL 3750 | Geoscience Seminar | 1 |
| Upper Division Elective | 3 | |
| PHIL 2625 | Introduction to Professional Ethics | 3 |
| Semester Hours | 17 | |
| Spring | ||
| PHYS 1502 & 1502L | Fundamentals of Physics 2 and Fundamentals of Physics Laboratory 2 | 4 |
| GEOG 2650 | 3 | |
| Upper Division Elective | 3 | |
| ENST 5810 | Environmental Safety (Recommended Upper Division Elective) | 3 |
| Semester Hours | 13 | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Fall | ||
| GEOL 3750 | Geoscience Seminar | 1 |
| GER Social Personal Awareness | 3 | |
| Upper Division Elective | 3 | |
| Upper Division Elective | 3 | |
| Upper Division Elective | 4 | |
| Semester Hours | 14 | |
| Spring | ||
| GEOL 3750 | Geoscience Seminar | 1 |
| GEOL 5802 | Sedimentology and Stratigraphy | 3 |
| Upper Division Elective | 3 | |
| Upper Division Elective | 3 | |
| Spa Gen Ed Elective Course | 3 | |
| Semester Hours | 13 | |
| Total Semester Hours | 120-122 | |
| COURSE | TITLE | S.H. |
|---|---|---|
| Capstone Experience Options | ||
| GEOL 48XX | Geology Field Camp: Preferred (Summer Junior or Senior Year) | 4-6 |
| STEM 4890 | STEM Internship (Optional (Summer Junior or Senior Year)) | 4 |
| GEOL 4830 | Senior Thesis (Restricted) | 4 |
Learning Outcomes
The learning outcomes for the Bachelor of Science in Applied Geology are as follows:
- Communicate effectively using the language, concepts, and models of geology in written, visual, and numerical formats.
- Properly apply the scientific method to research a geologic problem and formulate conclusions.
- Demonstrate ability to apply appropriate field- and laboratory-based methods (of acquiring, quantitatively and qualitatively analyzing, and interpreting geologic data and information).
- Demonstrate understanding of plate tectonics regarding the petrologic, stratigraphic, and structural evolution of continents and oceans.