Bachelor of Arts in Geology

The Bachelor of Arts in Geology prepares students for entry-level employment within the wide-ranging fields of geology. The dominant fields of geological employment include:

  • Environmental geology
  • Construction
  • Petroleum geology
  • Water resources
  • Mining
  • Hydrogeology
  • Government regulations and compliance
  • Pipeline construction

The Bachelor of Arts in Geology degree program can be completed in eight semesters if students average sixteen hours of coursework per semester.

For more information, visit the Department of Physics, Astronomy, Geology, and Environmental Sciences.

The Bachelor of Arts degree requires the successful completion of a minimum of 72 s.h. of core and elective courses.

COURSE TITLE S.H.
FIRST YEAR REQUIREMENT -STUDENT SUCCESS
YSU 1500Success Seminar1-2
or SS 1500 Strong Start Success Seminar
or HONR 1500 Intro to Honors
General Education Requirements
ENGL 1550Writing 13
or ENGL 1549 Writing 1 with Support
ENGL 1551Writing 23
CMST 1545Communication Foundations3
Mathematics Requirement3
Arts and Humanities (6 s.h.)6
Natural Sciences (2 courses, 1 with lab) (6-7 s.h.)7
Social Science (6 s.h.)6
Social and Personal Awareness (6 s.h.)6
Foreign Language Requirement
FNLG 1550Elementary Foreign Language (or FNLG 1505)4
FNLG 2600Intermediate Foreign Language (or FNLG 1506)4
Major Requirements
GEOL 1505
1505L
Physical Geology
and Physical Geology Laboratory
4
ENST 2600
2600L
Foundations of Environmental Science
and Foundations of Environmental Science Laboratory
4
GEOL 2605Historical Geology4
GEOL 3700Mineralogy3
GEOL 3701Geomorphology3
GEOL 3718Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology3
GEOL 3704Structural Geology3
GEOL 3704LStructural Geology Laboratory1
GEOL 3750Geoscience Seminar1
GEOL 5802Sedimentology and Stratigraphy (Capstone course)3
MATH 1570Applied Calculus 14
Electives
Science Electives I:
Select a minimum of 21 s.h. from the following:21
Moon and Planets
General Biology 1: Molecules and Cells
and General Biology I: Molecules and Cells Laboratory
General Biology 2: Organisms and Ecology
and General Biology: Organisms and Ecology Laboratory
General Chemistry 1
and General Chemistry 1 Laboratory
General Chemistry 2
and General Chemistry 2 Laboratory
Weather
Applied Calculus 2
Fundamentals of Physics 1
and Fundamentals of Physics Laboratory 1
Introduction to Oceanography
Fundamentals of Physics 2
and Fundamentals of Physics Laboratory 2
Statistical Methods
Science Electives II:
Select a minimum of 20 s.h. from the following:20
Environmental Chemistry
and Environmental Chemistry Lab
Glacial Geology
Geology of Economic Mineral Deposits
Subsurface Investigations
Principles of Paleontology
GEOL 3716
Field Investigations in Geology
Water Quality Analysis
and Water Quality Analysis Lab
Environmental Research
Environmental Sampling Methods
Ground Water
Tectonics
Geophysical Well Log Analysis
Special Topics
GEOL 48XX Geology Field Camp (4 s.h. minimum)
Special Problems in Geology
Environmental Safety
Groundwater Resource Evaluation
Geology and the Environment 2
Environmental Geochemistry
Environmental Regulations
Total Prescribed Semester Hours: 108-111 s.h.
Total Semester Hours120-121
Plan of Study Grid
Year 1
FallS.H.
YSU 1500 Success Seminar 1
GEOL 1505
1505L
Physical Geology
and Physical Geology Laboratory
4
ENGL 1550
Writing 1
or Writing 1 with Support
3-4
CHEM 1515
1515L
General Chemistry 1
and General Chemistry 1 Laboratory
4
GER Arts and Humanities Elective 3
GEOL 3750 Geoscience Seminar 1
 Semester Hours16-17
Spring
GEOL 2605 Historical Geology 4
ENGL 1551 Writing 2 3
CHEM 1516
1516L
General Chemistry 2
and General Chemistry 2 Laboratory
4
GEOG 2626 World Geography 3
 Semester Hours14
Year 2
Fall
GEOL 3700 Mineralogy 4
MATH 1570 Applied Calculus 1 4
ENST 2600
2600L
Foundations of Environmental Science
and Foundations of Environmental Science Laboratory
4
GEOL 3750 Geoscience Seminar (Optional) 1
 Semester Hours13
Spring
GEOL 3718 Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology 4
Science Elective II 3-5
CMST 1545 Communication Foundations 3
Science Elective I 3-5
Science Elective I 3-5
 Semester Hours16
Year 3
Fall
GEOL 3701 Geomorphology 3
FNLG 1550 Elementary Foreign Language 4
GER Social Science Elective 3
GEOL/ENST 3700+ Science Elective II 3-4
GEOL 3750 Geoscience Seminar (Optional) 1
Science Elective I 3-5
 Semester Hours17
Spring
GEOL 3704
3704L
Structural Geology
and Structural Geology Laboratory
3
FNLG 2600 Intermediate Foreign Language 4
GER Arts and Humanities 3
GEOL/ENST Science Elective II 3-4
ENST 5810 Environmental Safety 3
 Semester Hours16
Year 4
Fall
GEOL 3750 Geoscience Seminar (Optional) 1
GER Social Personal Awareness 3
GEOL/ENST 3700+ Science Elective II 3-4
GEOL/ENST 3700+ Science Elective II 3-4
Elective Course 3
Elective Course 3
 Semester Hours16
Spring
GEOL 5802 Sedimentology and Stratigraphy (Capstone Course) 3
Science Elective I 3-5
GEOL/ENST 3700+ Science Elective II 3-4
PHIL 2631 Environmental Ethics (GER Social and Personal Awareness) 3
Elective Course 3
 Semester Hours15
 Total Semester Hours123-124

Request a Graduation Evaluation after completing 80-85 s.h. from the STEM Advising Center, 2325 Moser Hall, (330) 941-2512.

Plan of Study Grid
Year 1
FallS.H.
YSU 1500 Success Seminar 1
GEOL 1505
1505L
Physical Geology
and Physical Geology Laboratory
4
ENGL 1550
Writing 1
or Writing 1 with Support
3-4
CHEM 1515
1515L
General Chemistry 1
and General Chemistry 1 Laboratory
4
GER Arts and Humanities Elective 3
GEOL 3750 Geoscience Seminar 1
 Semester Hours16-17
Spring
GEOL 2605 Historical Geology 4
ENGL 1551 Writing 2 3
CHEM 1516
1516L
General Chemistry 2
and General Chemistry 2 Laboratory
4
GEOG 2626 World Geography 3
 Semester Hours14
Year 2
Fall
GEOL 3700 Mineralogy 4
MATH 1570 Applied Calculus 1 4
ENST 2600
2600L
Foundations of Environmental Science
and Foundations of Environmental Science Laboratory
4
GEOL 3750 Geoscience Seminar (Optional) 1
 Semester Hours13
Spring
GEOL 3718 Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology 4
Science Elective II 3-5
CMST 1545 Communication Foundations 3
Science Elective I 3-5
Science Elective I 3-5
 Semester Hours16
Year 3
Fall
GEOL 3701 Geomorphology 3
FNLG 1550 Elementary Foreign Language 4
GER Social Science Elective 3
GEOL/ENST 3700+ Science Elective II 3-4
GEOL 3750 Geoscience Seminar (Optional) 1
Science Elective I 3-5
 Semester Hours17
Spring
GEOL 3704
3704L
Structural Geology
and Structural Geology Laboratory
3
FNLG 2600 Intermediate Foreign Language 4
GER Arts and Humanities 3
GEOL/ENST Science Elective II 3-4
ENST 5810 Environmental Safety 1
 Semester Hours14
Year 4
Fall
GEOL 3750 Geoscience Seminar (Optional) 1
GER Social Personal Awareness 3
GEOL/ENST 3700+ Science Elective II 3-4
GEOL/ENST 3700+ Science Elective II 3-4
Elective Course 3
Elective Course 3
 Semester Hours16
Spring
GEOL 5802 Sedimentology and Stratigraphy (Capstone Course) 3
Science Elective I 3-5
GEOL/ENST 3700+ Science Elective II 3-4
PHIL 2631 Environmental Ethics (GER Social and Personal Awareness) 3
Elective Course 3
 Semester Hours15
 Total Semester Hours121-122

Request a Graduation Evaluation after completing 80-85 s.h. from the STEM Advising Center, 2325 Moser Hall, (330) 941-2512.