The Department of Geosciences offers two undergraduate programs: the Geology major, leading to a Bachelor of Science degree, and the Earth and Space Sciences major, leading to a Bachelor of Arts degree. Minimum course requirements for the B.S. program in Geology are detailed below. For requirements for the B.A. program in Earth and Space Sciences, see the entry in the alphabetical listing of Approved Majors, Minors, and Programs. Upon declaring the major, the student is assigned a faculty advisor who will assist in the selection of a course sequence leading to the degree. Students should consult frequently with their faculty advisors regarding their progress and regarding appropriate science courses. Because the position of the scientist in society is responsible and complex, the student is cautioned to pay careful attention to general education in the arts, humanities, and social sciences.
Geology
The science of geology is focused on evaluation of the physical and chemical characteristics of the Earth and other planets and the processes that have controlled evolution of these characteristics over time. The B.S. program has built-in flexibility to allow majors to choose from a variety of electives in environmental geoscience, planetary geoscience, geophysics and geochemistry. This allows students to develop a major that best reflects their interests and career goals, by allowing students to build upon the core curriculum by selecting 19 credits of upper-level science/mathematics electives from both within and outside of the Geosciences. The major aims to provide the student with maximum preparation to carry out graduate and professional work in each of these fields. Students graduating with a B.S. in Geology typically go on to graduate school or obtain professional employment with environmental consulting firms or various government organizations.
Requirements for the Major
The major in Geology leads to the Bachelor of Science degree. All courses offered for the major must be passed with a letter grade of C or higher.
Completion of the major requires 63 to 66 credits.
A. Required departmental courses
B. Required courses in the related sciences
C. Related science electives
A set of upper-division science courses, totaling 19 credits, that has been approved by the department.
D. Upper-Division Writing and Speaking Requirement
Before graduation all students in the Geology major must register concurrently for the 1-credit GEO 496 and GEO497 courses along with a 300-400 level GEO course. Completion of GEO 496 with an S and GEO 497 with a C or higher will satisfy the writing and speaking requirements.
Notes:
1. The following alternate beginning calculus sequences may be substituted for AMS 151, AMS 161 or MAT 131, MAT 132 in major requirements or prerequisites: MAT 125, MAT 126, MAT 127 or MAT 141, MAT 142 or MAT 171. Equivalency for MAT courses achieved by earning the appropriate score on a University mathematics placement examination will be accepted as fulfillment of the requirement without the necessity of substituting other credits. For detailed information about the various calculus sequences, see "Beginning Mathematics Courses" under the entry for the Department of Mathematics and the individual course descriptions.
Suggested Clusters of Science Electives:
Students with interest in Geology:
Students with interest in Environmental Geoscience:
Students with interest in Geological Oceanography:
Honors Program in Geology
Students in the Geology major who have maintained a grade point average of 3.50 in natural sciences and mathematics through the junior year may become candidates for Departmental honors in Geology by applying to the Department.
In addition to the academic program, the student must complete an honors thesis, which is evaluated by a committee composed of the student's advisor and two other science faculty members including one from outside of the Department. If the honors program is completed with distinction and the student has maintained a minimum 3.50 grade point average in all coursework in natural sciences and mathematics, honors are conferred.
Requirements for the Minor
For students majoring in other areas who are interested in obtaining a fundamental understanding of the earth sciences, a minor concentration in Geology is available. The Geology minor acquaints students with earth materials, the origin and evolution of life on earth, and physical processes that have shaped the earth through time.
All courses offered for the minor must be passed with a letter grade of C or higher. Completion of the minor requires 20 credits.
Geology
| FRESHMAN |
|---|
| FALL | Credits |
|---|---|
| First Year Seminar 101 | 1 |
| WRT 101 | 3 |
| CHE 131/133 | 5 |
| GEO 102 | 3 |
| GEO 112 | 1 |
|
SBC
|
3 |
| Total | 16 |
| SPRING | Credits |
|---|---|
| First Year Seminar 102 | 1 |
| WRT 102 | 3 |
| CHE 132/134 | 4(5) |
| AMS 151 | 3 |
| GEO 103 | 3 |
| GEO 113 | 1 |
| Total | 15(16) |
| SOPHOMORE |
|---|
| FALL | Credits |
|---|---|
| AMS 161 | 3 |
| PHY 131/PHY 133 | 4 |
| SBC | 3 |
| SBC | 3 |
| SBC | 3 |
| Total | 17 |
| SPRING | Credits |
|---|---|
| GEO 306/366 | 4 |
| PHY 132/PHY 134 | 3(4) |
| SBC | 3 |
| SBC | 3 |
| SBC | 3 |
| Total | 16(17) |
| JUNIOR |
|---|
| FALL | Credits |
|---|---|
| GEO 407/467 | 4 |
| Upper-division science elective | 3 |
| SBC | 3 |
| SBC | 3 |
| SBC | 3 |
| Total | 16 |
| SPRING | Credits |
|---|---|
| GEO 309/369 | 4 |
| GEO 403/463 | 4 |
| Upper-division Science Elective | 3 |
| Upper-division Science Elective | 3 |
| Total | 14 |
| SENIOR |
|---|
| FALL | Credits |
|---|---|
| GEO 310 | 3 |
| GEO 496 | 1 |
| GEO 497 | 1 |
| Upper-division Science Elective | 3 |
| Upper-division SBC | 3 |
| Upper-division SBC | 3 |
| Upper-division SBC | 3 |
| Total | 17 |
| SPRING | Credits |
|---|---|
| Upper-division Science Elective | 3 |
| Upper-division Science Elective | 3 |
| Upper-division Science Elective | 3 |
| Upper-division SBC | 3 |
| SBC | 3 |
| Total | 15 |
Major and Minor in Geology
Department of Geosciences, College of Arts and Sciences
Chairperson: Brian Phillips
Director of Undergraduate Studies: Hanna Nekvasil
Major Advisor: Gregory Henkes
Email: Gregory.Henkes@stonybrook.edu
Office: 255 Earth and Space Sciences
Phone: (631) 632-8200
Web address: http://www.geosciences.stonybrook.edu
Minors of particular interest to students majoring in Geology and Earth and Space Sciences: Environmental Studies (ENS), Marine Sciences (MAR), engineering minors