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B.S. Geology, Requirements
B.S. Geology, Suggested Program
See also Basic Degree Information.

Chairman: John F. Casey

Departmental Requirements

The Bachelor of Science degree in both geology and geophysics, and the Bachelor of Arts degree in earth science, require that:

• no geoscience course with a grade below C- be used as a prerequisite for a more advanced geo science course.

• students with more than six hours below C- in geoscience courses not be allowed to enroll in sub sequent geoscience courses without written permission from the undergraduate advisor.

All undergraduate geology, geophysics and earth science majors are encouraged to meet with the undergraduate advisor prior to registration each semester. Prerequisites for all geosciences courses are strictly enforced.

Geology Major

Students who choose to major in geology must complete the following requirements in addition to the special requirements for the Bachelor of Science degree:

Requirements	Hours
Biology
High school biology or BIOL 1431; 1432	8
Chemistry
CHEM 1111, 1112, 1331, and 1332	8
Mathematics
MATH 1431, 1432, and 2433	12
Physics
PHYS 1321, 1112, and 1322	7
Electives
Twenty hours of approved electives, to include the NSM Capstone Requirement. Historical Geology, computer science, biology, and foreign language are highly recommended.	20
Geology
GEOL 1130, 1330, 3130, 3145, 3150, 3235, 3330, 3335, 3340, 3345, 3350, 3355, 3360, 3370, 3371, and 4330	39
Six semester hours of advanced Geology or Geophysics electives	6

Bachelor of Science in Geology Suggested Program

First Year

Fall Semester	Hours
ENGL 1303. Freshman Composition I1	3
CHEM 1331 and 1111. Fundamentals of Chemistry and Fundamentals of Chemistry Laboratory	4
GEOL 1330 and 1130. Physical Geology and Physical Geology Laboratory	4
MATH 1431. Calculus I 9	4
Total	15

Spring Semester	Hours
ENGL 1304. Freshman Composition II1	3
CHEM 1332 and 1112. Fundamentals of Chemistry and Fundamentals of Chemistry Laboratory	4
MATH 1432. Calculus II	4
Humanities Core Course	3
Total	14

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Second Year

Fall Semester	Hours
GEOL 3370. Mineralogy	3
MATH 2433. Calculus III	4
HIST 1376 or 1377. The United States to 1877 or equivalent	3
Approved Elective	3
Visual/Performing Arts Core Course	3
Total	16

Spring Semester	Hours
GEOL 3235. Introduction to Petrography	2
GEOL 3340. Geologic Field Methods	3
HIST 1378 or 1379. The United States since 1877 or equivalent	3
Social and Behavioral Core Course	3
PHYS 1321. University Physics I 1	3
Total	14

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Third Year

Fall Semester	Hours
GEOL 3371. Optical Mineralogy	3
GEOL 3350 and 3150. Principles of Stratigraphy and Principles of Stratigraphy Laboratory	4
PHYS 1322 . and 1112. University Physics II1 and Physics I Laboratory	4
Approved Electives	3
Total	14

Spring Semester	Hours
GEOL 3345 and 3145. Structural Geology and Structural Geology Laboratory	4
Geosciences Elective (3000 or 4000 level)	3
Social Sciences Writing Intensive Core Course	3
Approved Elective	5
Total	16

Summer Session	Hours
GEOL 3355 and 3360. Field Geology10	6
Total	6

---

Fourth Year

Fall Semester	Hours
GEOL 4330. Introduction to Geophysics	3
Geoscience Elective (3000 or 4000 level)	3
POLS 1336. U.S. and Texas Constitutions and Politics or equivalent	3
NSM Capstone Requirement	3
Approved Elective	3
Total	15

Spring Semester	Hours
GEOL 3330 and 3130. Principles of Paleobiology and Paleobiology Laboratory	4
GEOL 3335. Petrogenesis	3
POLS 1337. U.S. Government: Congress, President and Courts or equivalent	3
NSM Capstone Requirement	3
Total	13

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This suggested program is recommended for well-prepared, full-time, entering freshmen who are not working. Modifications to this sequence may be desirable for working, part-time, and transfer students. Geosciences courses are commonly offered on a one or two year cycle. Therefore it is the student's responsibility to become familiar with course scheduling and the prerequisites for courses and to consult with the undergraduate advisor regularly.

All students are responsible for the completion of 36 advanced semester hours required for a University of Houston degree.

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