DEPARTMENT OF GEOLOGICAL SCIENCES (GEO)

Professor Harold H. Stowell, Chairperson
Office: 202 Bevill Building

The department offers major programs leading to the bachelor of arts, bachelor of science, and bachelor of science in geology degrees. The bachelor of arts program in geology is recommended for students who wish to qualify for the Alabama Class B Secondary Professional Teaching Certificate in science (requirements are found in the College of Education section of this catalog). The bachelor of arts program is also suited for those who plan to pursue graduate degrees in law or business. The B.A. program in geology is not considered to be sufficient training for professional work in geology.

The bachelor of science degree program includes a rigorous curriculum in chemistry, physics, and mathematics. It is recommended for students who want to pursue graduate study in analytical areas of geology, such as geochemistry, geophysics, or petrology.

The bachelor of science in geology degree program is a broad-based curriculum designed for students who intend to seek employment with the B.S. degree alone or who intend to pursue a graduate degree.

Requirements for the major in geology (bachelor of arts). The major in geology (bachelor of arts) requires 30 hours in geology, including GEO 101, GEO 102, and a minimum of 22 additional hours, 12 of which must be at the 300 or 400 level. A minimum of 12 hours at the 300 or 400 level must be earned on this campus.

Requirements for the major in geology (bachelor of science). The major in geology (bachelor of science) requires 36 hours in geology, including GEO 101, GEO 102, GEO 210, GEO 215, GEO 314, GEO 365, GEO 367, GEO 495, and 6 hours of electives. A minimum of 12 hours at the 300 or 400 level must be earned on this campus. In addition, candidates for the bachelor of science degree are required to complete CH 101, CH 102, and CH 223; PH 105 and PH 106; and MATH 125, MATH 126, MATH 227, and MATH 238.

Requirements for the major in geology (bachelor of science in geology). The bachelor of science in geology degree requires 45 hours in geology including GEO 101, GEO 102, GEO 210, GEO 215, GEO 314, GEO 365, GEO 367, and GEO 495; two courses selected from GEO 355, GEO 369, and GEO 470; and 9 hours of geology electives. A minimum of 12 hours at the 300 or 400 level must be earned on this campus. In addition, candidates for the bachelor of science in geology degree are required to complete CH 101, CH 102, PH 101, PH 102, MATH 125, and MATH 126. No minor is required in this degree program.

Requirements for the marine science/geology double major. Requirements of the bachelor of science in geology degree program may be completed along with those of the interdisciplinary program in marine science (see p. 88) for a double major in marine science/geology.

Requirements for the minor in geology. The geology minor requires 18-21 hours in geology, including GEO 101, GEO 102, and at least 10 hours of electives including a minimum of 6 hours in 300- and 400-level courses. A minimum of 6 hours at the 300 or 400 level must be earned on this campus.

A Suggested Sequence of Courses for the Geology Major (B.A. Degree)
FRESHMAN YEAR
First Semester			Second Semester
Course	Hours		Course	Hours
GEO 101	4		GEO 102	4
EN 101	3		EN 102	3
MATH3	3		History1	3
Humanities1	3		Fine arts1	3
Elective	3		Elective	3
	------			------
	16			16
SOPHOMORE YEAR
First Semester			Second Semester
Course	Hours		Course	Hours
Geology elective	3		Geology elective	3-4
Foreign language or computer science	3-4		Foreign language or computer science	3-4
EN 225	3		Social and behavioral sciences1	3
Social and behavioral sciences1	3		EN 226 or EN 227	3
Elective	3		Elective	3
	------			------
	15-16			15-17
JUNIOR YEAR2
First Semester			Second Semester
Course	Hours		Course	Hours
Geology elective	3		Geology elective	3-4
Minor	3-6		Minor	6
History or social and behavioral sciences1	3		Electives	6
Computer science or elective	3
Elective	3
	------			------
	15-18			15-16
SENIOR YEAR2
First Semester			Second Semester
Course	Hours		Course	Hours
Geology electives	6-8		Geology elective	3-4
Minor	3		Minor	6
Electives	6-9		Electives	6-9
	------			------
	15-18			15-18
				Total: At least 128

¹A maximum of 6 hours in any one department may be applied to the humanities, literature, and fine arts (HU, L, FA) and history and social and behavioral sciences (HI, SB) requirements.

²Six hours in courses designated W must be included in the junior or senior year. A minimum of 33 hours in 300- and 400-level courses must be completed, including 12 hours in the major and 6 hours in the minor.

³MATH course number is determined by placement. MATH 110 or higher is required.

A Suggested Sequence of Courses for the Geology Major (B.S. Degree)
FRESHMAN YEAR
First Semester			Second Semester
Course	Hours		Course	Hours
GEO 101	4		GEO 102	4
CH 101	4		CH 102	4
EN 101	3		EN 102	3
MATH 125	4		MATH 126	4
	------			------
	15			15
SOPHOMORE YEAR
First Semester			Second Semester
Course	Hours		Course	Hours
GEO 210	4		GEO 314	4
GEO 215	2		MATH 238	3
EN 225	3		EN 226 or EN 227	3
CH 223	3		Minor	3
MATH 227	4		Social and behavioral sciences1	3
	------			------
	16			16
JUNIOR YEAR2
First Semester			Second Semester
Course	Hours		Course	Hours
GEO 365	3		GEO 367	4
Foreign language or computer science	3-4		Foreign language or computer science	3-4
PH 105	4		PH 106	4
Minor	3		Minor	3
Humanities1	3		Social and behavioral sciences1	3
	------			------
	16-17			17-18
SUMMER
Course	Hours
GEO 495	6
SENIOR YEAR
Geology elective	3		Geology elective	3
Minor	6		Minor	6
Computer science or elective	3		Electives	3
Fine arts1	3		History or social and behavioral sciences1	3
History1	3
	------			------
	18			15
				Total: At least 128

¹A maximum of 6 hours in any one department may be applied to the humanities, literature, and fine arts (HU, L, FA) and history and social and behavioral science (HI, SB) requirements.

²Six hours in courses designated W must be included in the junior or senior year. A minimum of 33 hours in 300- and 400-level courses must be completed, including 12 hours in the major.

A Suggested Sequence of Courses for the Bachelor of Science in Geology Degree
FRESHMAN YEAR
First Semester			Second Semester
5000 Course	Hours		Course	Hours
GEO 101	4		GEO 102	4
CH 101	4		CH 102	4
EN 101	3		EN 102	3
MATH 125	4		MATH 126	4
	------			------
	15			15
SOPHOMORE YEAR
First Semester			Second Semester
Course	Hours		Course	Hours
GEO 210	4		GEO 314	4
GEO 215	2		Humanities1	3
EN 225	3		PH 102	4
PH 101	4		Foreign language or computer science	3-4
Foreign language or computer science	3-4
	------			------
	16-17			14-15
JUNIOR YEAR2
First Semester			Second Semester
Course	Hours		Course	Hours
GEO 365	3		Geology elective	4
Geology elective	3		GEO 367	4
Social and behavioral sciences1	3		Elective(s)	3-6
EN 226 or EN 227	3		Social and behavioral sciences1	3
Elective(s)	3-6
	------			------
	15-18			14-17
SUMMER
Course	Hours
GEO 495	6
SENIOR YEAR2
Geology elective	3-4		Geology elective	3
Electives	9		Computer science or elective	3
History1	3		History or social and behavioral sciences1	3
			Fine arts1	3
			Elective(s)	3-6
	------			------
	15-16			15-18
				Total: At least 128

1A maximum of 6 hours in any one department may be applied to the humanities, literature, and fine arts (HU, L, FA) and history and social and behavioral sciences (HI, SB) requirements.

²Six hours in courses designated W must be included in the junior or senior year. A minimum of 33 hours in 300- and 400-level courses must be completed, including 12 hours in the major and 6 hours in the minor.

Honors in geology. Requirements for the bachelor of science or bachelor of science in geology degree with honors are (a) completion of the course requirements for the degree; (b) maintenance of a 3.3 grade point average for geology courses and a 3.0 average for all coursework; (c) grade of "Pass" in GEO 435 and GEO 436 Honors Seminars; (d) 6 hours of GEO 499 Honors Research (graded pass/fail) and presentation of the results in the Honors Seminar; (e) submission of an acceptable honors thesis based on research conducted under the supervision of a geology department faculty member; and (f) submission of a score on the Graduate Record Examination advanced geology portion. Geology majors are invited to apply for admission to the honors program after completing 13 hours of geology courses.

Graduate programs. The Department of Geological Sciences offers programs leading to the master of science and the doctor of philosophy degrees. The requirements for these degrees are stated in the University of Alabama graduate catalog.