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Geology has undergone a revolution in the past decade, becoming an interdisciplinary science that emphasizes the study of major Earth systems ? the solid Earth, the Earth’s surface, the hydrosphere, atmosphere and cryosphere (ice!), and the ancient and modern biosphere. Geology majors learn how these systems work and how they are connected. Geology majors integrate knowledge of Earth materials, the processes that have shaped them and the deep chronology of Earth history to understand global change through time.
The BA program includes a broad spectrum of courses that focus both on information about the Earth, and on how society makes decisions that affect the Earth system. As with the BS degree program, the BA in geology has a strong field component. Field trips are an essential part of many courses, and the department offers several stand-alone field trip courses to local, regional, national and international locations. Students with BA degrees may also opt for further study of geology/earth sciences at the graduate level, but depending upon what aspects of study they pursue, they may need to take additional courses in auxiliary sciences or mathematics.
The purpose of this degree is to enable students to acquire knowledge across a broad spectrum of the geological sciences, without the full requirements of auxiliary sciences required by the BS degree. In particular, it provides an opportunity for students who are inclined toward geology to obtain a solid grounding in geological sciences beyond the minor in geology.
This curriculum information is intended as a general information guide for students considering enrollment in this major. These online tools are designed to assist you, but are not a substitute for planning with an academic or faculty advisor.
If you are currently enrolled at UC, you can audit your degree online. If you are considering transferring to this major from another school use the course applicability system (CAS) to see how credits you have earned will apply to this major at UC. For course descriptions by college, click here.
To obtain a BA degree, students must:
a) fill out a program registration form in their first year or as soon as possible thereafter;
b) submit the degree/certificate checklist upon completion of course work.
A suggested course schedule is as follows:
| Course Name | Course Number | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| First Year | ||
|
Freshman Seminar Series I, II, III
OR Introductory Geology Lab I, II, III |
GEOL 171, 172, 173
|
9 |
| **Mathematics |
MATH 224-226-227 or |
9-15 |
| **First Year Chemistry, Biology or Physics lecture (or some combination of these or alternative science courses) |
CHEM 101-102-103 OR BIOL 101-102-103 OR PHYS 101-102-103 |
15 |
| *English Composition | ENGL 101-102 | 6 |
| Total | 51-57 cr hrs | |
| Second Year | ||
| Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology | GEOL 201 | 4 |
| Mineralogy | GEOL 202 | 4 |
| Geomorphic Processes | GEOL 203 | 4 |
| Structural Geology | GEOL 204 | 4 |
| Paleontology and Paleoenvironments | GEOL 205 | 4 |
| Sedimentary Geology and Earth History | GEOL 206 | 4 |
| **Physics/Biology option | see requirements below |
24 |
| *English Composition | ENGL 289 |
3 |
| *History | see checklist |
9 |
| Literature | see checklist |
6 |
| Free Electives | ||
| Total |
variable | |
| Third Year | ||
| Earth Surface Processes (field project) | GEOL 207 |
5 |
| Geology 500-level and above | see courses below |
6-9 |
| *Social/Behavioral Sciences | see checklist |
9 |
| *Humanities | see checklist |
9 |
| *Foreign Language | see checklist |
9-15 |
| Free electives |
variable | |
| Total |
variable | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Geology courses 500-level or above | see list below |
6-9 |
| ***Capstone (field course or equivalent) | see category A4 below |
6-9 |
| *Foreign Language (if necessary) | see checklist |
9 |
| *Social/Behavioral Sciences | see checklist |
6 |
| ****Free electives to bring total to 180 cr hrs |
variable | |
| Total | variable |
* Needed to fulfill A&S college requirements as outlined in the A&S checklist. Approved course lists are available at the A&S Office of Student Affairs and Advising (102 McMicken Hall) or on the A&S Web site (www.artsci.uc.edu).
**Allied sciences required of geology BA majors. A statistics series is acceptable as a math alternative
***Between the third and fourth year, geology majors are required to take a three-six week summer field course at another approved institution, including research stations and geological observatories, or students develop an independent research program approved by the department. About one-third of the cost is provided by geology scholarships.
****Geology majors are especially encouraged to take free electives in technical writing, Geographic Information Systems from the Department of Geography, and additional courses in material sciences, engineering, mathematics, biology or other physical sciences.
A. DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
The BA in geology requires 54 credit hours of courses in geology as well as five cognate courses in allied fields.
1) Introductory Courses: Students are required to take three introductory courses; it is strongly recommended that students intending to major in geology take either the lab series 111, 112, 113 or the freshman seminar series GEOL 171, 172, 173 to fulfill this requirement.
Students may substitute GEOL 101, 102, 103 OR GEOL 104, 105, 106 OR GEOL 161, 162, 163, with permission of the undergraduate advisor. It is recommended that students complete one full series rather than taking individual courses from among the three series (total of nine credits).
2) Required Geology Core Courses: Students are required to complete the following geology core courses*; each course will have a dedicated lab and will receive four credits except for GEOL 207, which is intended as a field- and lab-based research component of the series and will receive five credits (total 29 credits).
3) Upper Level Geology Courses: Students are required to take at least six courses (18 credits), preferably chosen from the following list; other 500-level geology courses are also acceptable. Courses in other A&S departments (such as GEOG 580, Introduction to GIS, GEOG 581, GIS of Environmental Applications, GEOG 576 Principles of Remote Sensing, and others) as well as courses in other colleges (in particular, the College of Engineering) may be used to satisfy this requirement. Students who choose courses outside of the Department of Geology to satisfy their BA degree requirements must receive prior approval from the director of undergraduate studies.
4) Capstone Course: Students are required to take at least six credits of capstone courses; these might include a six-credit summer geology field course, Bahamas field course, or an individualized project (see departmental options for capstone courses; six credits total).
B. Required cognate courses:
1) Mathematics: All students must take at least three quarters (at least nine credits) of mathematics from among the following sets of courses: MATH 147-148 (Elementary Probability & Statistics); MATH 224-226-227 (Finite Math & Calculus); MATH 250-251-252-253 (Calculus 0, I, II, III).
2) Chemistry/Physics/Biology: All students must complete at least three courses (at least nine credits) from among CHEMISTRY 101-102-103 & 111-112-113, PHYSICS 101-02-103 & 111-112-113, or BIOLOGY 101-102-103 & 111-112-113.
Total Credits
Introductory level courses 9
Core courses 29
Upper level geology courses 18
Capstone courses 6
Mathematics 9
Other cognate sciences 9
Total 80
Students in the McMicken College of Arts & Sciences enjoy many benefits afforded through study at a research-intensive institution ranked among the nation's top 25 public research universities. UC's urban, Tri-state location offers exciting opportunities for global education, research and service learning, while its student-centered focus includes an 11:1 faculty-student ratio, a nationally recognized Center for Exploratory Studies, and a highly successful First Year Experience program that teaches critical skills for first-year students and provides connections with important campus resources.
Field Study
The Department of Geology provides majors the special combination of emphasizing field study that is local, regional and international in scope, encouraging majors to pursue their own interests, and supporting independent student research projects all in a student-friendly atmosphere. Field- and lab-based courses and field trips are an essential part of the undergraduate program. Field trips are regularly taken to Alaska, Iceland and the Himalaya of northern India. Most majors attend summer field camp, and the department provides scholarships to help support their expenses. Students have recently attended camps in Alaska, Italy, Nevada, California and Hawaii. Working as assistants to department graduate students in their field and laboratory research is an additional opportunity for majors.
Capstone
Each senior is required to complete a "capstone experience" that involves: a) hands-on integration of knowledge, b) analytical and problem-solving aspects, c) written and oral documentation, d) demonstration of some aspect of social relevance. There is considerable flexibility in this requirement; geology students have two major options: a) field course/camp experience (recommended for most students); b) individualized training and research projects. Students should work with the undergraduate advisor to determine which option is the most appropriate.
I. Field Course Option: The primary means for completing the capstone experience will involve "traditional" geology field camps (minimum of six credits and typically four-six weeks mapping).
II. Individualized Study Option: Alternatively, students may propose an individualized program of rigorous study and research. This program must involve a field component (it might include, for example mapping a quadrangle under supervision of a faculty member, together with a report; it might also include a project that involves the collection and analysis of field samples).
Admission criteria for this program vary based on the relative strength of test scores, class rank and GPA. Please see the Freshman Class Profile for this major in the Quick Facts sidebar on this page for the range of academic credentials typically accepted into this program. Test scores in the lower range may be acceptable with higher class rank and/or GPA.Freshmen applying to this program should also have completed the following state of Ohio articulation requirements with no more than two units missing:
*McMicken College of Arts & Sciences does not allow units missing from these areas.
Applicants to A&S whose most recent enrollment was not in any of the UC colleges must apply to the Office of Admissions. Applicants in this category must submit transcripts for all secondary school and college-level work. A cumulative GPA of 2.0 for all college-level work is required for admission consideration. Admission to A&S is generally available for any off-campus applicants who have received the associate degree from an accredited college or university and whose cumulative GPA is 2.0 or higher.
Although mid-year off-campus transfer students are not able to participate in priority registration in the quarter prior to their enrollment, they are included in the summer registration period prior to their fall quarter enrollment.
Applicants to A&S whose most recent enrollment was as a degree student in one of UC’s other colleges can apply directly to the A&S college office. Admission to A&S is generally available for any on-campus students who have:
Further details on individual programs are available online or in the A&S Office of Undergraduate Affairs and Advising (102 McMicken Hall).
Additional information regarding transfer students is available in the McMicken College Bulletin.
In addition to meeting the university general education requirements, the requirements listed in the college bulletin are common to all potential graduates of the college, whether they are pursuing the bachelor of arts, bachelor of science, or bachelor of interdisciplinary studies degree.
UC operates on a quarter system, with 10-week grading periods beginning in late September, early January, late March and mid-June. While midyear admission is possible, the fall is generally the best time to enter the college, since many course sequences begin in that quarter. Applicants to Arts & Sciences who are enrolled or who were previously enrolled as degree students in A&S or in other UC colleges should apply for admission directly to A&S (in McMicken 102). All other applicants who wish to earn an undergraduate degree from A&S should apply through the Office of Admissions (3rd Floor, University Pavilion).
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Department
of Geology tel:
513-556-3732 fax: 513-556-6931 |