Earth and Environmental Sciences

B.S. in Geological Sciences

Minimum Requirements

Required Courses

  • MTH 161, 162, 163, or MTH 141-143, 163 (calculus AP credit is acceptable)
  • PHY 121 (113 for geobiology track) (physics AP credit is acceptable)
  • PHY 122 (114 for geobiology track) (physics AP credit is acceptable)/li>
  • CHM 131 (chemistry AP credit is acceptable)
  • CHM 132 (chemistry AP credit is acceptable)

Geology Core Courses

  • EES 101. Introduction to Geological Sciences
  • EES 201. Evolution of the Earth
  • EES 203. Sedimentology and Stratigraphy
  • EES 204. Mineralogy
  • EES 208. Structural Geology

Geology Track Required Courses

  • EES 206. Petrology and Geochemistry
  • EES 205. Geophysics
  • or

  • EES 207. Invertebrate Paleontology
  • EES 211. Earthquakes and Volcanic Hazards

Suggested Course Sequence for Geology Track

First Year

  • MTH 161
  • CHM 131
  • EES 101
  • Writing or Elective
  • MTH 162
  • PHY 121 or CHM 132
  • EES 201
  • Elective

Second Year

  • MTH 163
  • PHY 122 or Elective
  • EES 208
  • EES 207 or EES 205
  • CHM 132 or PHY 121
  • EES 204
  • Elective
  • Technical Elective

Third Year

  • PHY 122 or Elective
  • EES 203
  • EES 206
  • Technical Elective
  • EES 240
  • Elective
  • Elective
  • Technical Elective

Fourth Year

  • EES 391
  • Technical Elective
  • Elective
  • Elective
  • EES 393
  • Elective
  • Elective
  • Elective

Field Course

This requirement may be satisfied by participating in a 6-8 week summer field course in geology, or by undertaking supervised fieldwork (EES 299) with approval of the advisor.

Technical Electives

Four technical electives in EES should be chosen to create what the student and the faculty advisor(s) view as a coherent program that leads to an advanced understanding of the earth sciences. One 100-level EES course may be acceptable if it was taken in the first year. Technical electives should be courses distinct from required courses in the track.

Senior Thesis

In addition to the above courses, students are encouraged to undertake a research project culminating in a thesis written in the senior year (EES 393).

Geochemistry Track

Required Courses

  • EES 206. Petrology and Geochemistry
  • Two courses in geochemistry chosen from the following:
    • EES 217. Physical and Chemical Hydrology
    • EES 218. Chemistry of Global Change
    • EES 248. High Temperature Geochemistry

Field Course

This requirement may be satisfied by participating in a 6-8 week summer field course in geology, or by undertaking supervised fieldwork (EES 299) with approval of the advisor.

Technical Electives

Three technical electives in EES or CHM should be chosen to create what the student and the faculty advisor(s) view as a coherent program that leads to an advanced understanding of the earth sciences. One 100-level EES course may be acceptable if it was taken in the first year. Technical electives should be courses distinct from required courses in the track.

Senior Thesis

In addition to the above courses, students are encouraged to undertake a research project culminating in a thesis written in the senior year (EES 393).

Geobiology Track

Required Courses

  • BIO 110. Principles of Biology I (biology AP credit is acceptable)
  • BIO 111. Principles of Biology II
  • STT 212. Applied Statistics for the Biological and Physical Sciences I
  • EES 207. Invertebrate Paleontology

Field Course

This requirement may be satisfied by participating in a 6-8 week summer field course in geology, or by undertaking supervised fieldwork (EES 299) with approval of the advisor.

Technical Electives

Two technical electives in EES or BIO should be chosen to create what the student and the faculty advisor(s) view as a coherent program that leads to an advanced understanding of the earth sciences. One 100-level EES course may be acceptable if it was taken in the first year. Technical electives should be courses distinct from required courses in the track.

Senior Thesis

In addition to the above courses, students are encouraged to undertake a research project culminating in a thesis written in the senior year (EES 393).