Degree-Bachelor of Science in Geosciences (BSGS)

The Bachelor of Science in Geosciences (BSGS) serves as a professional degree for students planning careers as geologists, geophysicists, hydrologists, climate scientists, or teachers, as well as for those planning to pursue graduate work in geosciences or a profession such as law or business. Careers are available in the petroleum and related energy industries, resource evaluation, mineral exploration, geologic hazard monitoring, environmental control and reclamation, building foundation evaluation, groundwater contamination studies, soil testing, regional planning, watershed management, climate modeling, and college or secondary school teaching. Graduates may also work in state or federal agencies, in universities or museums, with consulting firms, or with service companies to the energy and mineral industries.

Degree requirements are divided into three categories: 

1. university-wide undergraduate degree requirements (the University core curriculum), 
2. prescribed work for the degree, and 
3. major requirements. Taken together, these courses constitute a degree major, a degree plan with a particular concentration or emphasis. Thus, students may develop intellectually challenging yet different plans of study according to their personal interests and goals.

Students seeking the Bachelor of Science in Geosciences degree must choose one of five majors: General Geology, Geophysics, Hydrology and Water Resources, Climate System Science, or Geosciences.

Component Notes

• Introduction to Earth and Planetary Science Component: A introductory exposure to geosciences in the 21st Century and foundational techniques required to study processes on Earth and other planets. 
• Experiential Learning Component: Courses that develop skills in observation, data gathering, and interpretation in the field and/or laboratory.
• Disciplinary Breadth Component: These courses that span all aspects of geosciences at a sophomore level and provide the foundation to pursue courses at the advanced level. All geoscience students regardless of major are required to take these courses that span from the interior planetary processes to the climate system.
• Quantitative Analysis Component: Courses that develop skills in the quantitative analysis of geosciences data and theories, including geostatistics, mathematics, numerical modeling, computer coding, and data analysis. The selection of courses includes courses where quantitative analysis of data and theories is the primary emphasis.
• Geospatial Skills Component: Courses that teach 3-D visualization and thinking skills and instruct in geospatial technologies and software.
• Immersion Learning Component: Intensive three week courses that require full time participation. Often, but not always, they occur off campus. Data acquisition and interpretation are a core component of these experiences.
• Disciplinary Fundamentals Component: Courses that survey the discipline at the advanced level, building upon introductory coursework, while also providing fundamental knowledge required for other advanced courses. Students will be guided through Areas of Study that are a suggested menu of courses for students interested in different aspects of Fundamentals appropriate for sub-disciplines and key topical subjects.

Major-General Geology

In the General Geology Major, we focus on understanding what rocks can tell us about the processes that control our complex planetary system. We teach the tools, critical thinking, and spatial reasoning skills that are needed to decipher Earth's history, and we explore the range of approaches, from field to experiment to computation to remote sensing. To achieve these goals, we emphasize experiential learning; a hallmark of the major is participation in immersion courses, where students spend extended periods of time on project work, in a field or lab setting. Our graduates are ready to generalize, apply, and communicate their knowledge in the private, public, and academic sector, setting them up to solve societally relevant problems within the geosciences and beyond.

Admissions

Information about admissions to this program is given in the school's Admissions section.

Total Hours Required: 126

Plan of Study

The Plan of Study is a suggested four-year course sequence to support academic planning and serves as a helpful guide. Currently enrolled students should meet with their academic advisor to tailor their course selections and timelines to their individual goals and circumstances.

Requirements

All requirements are listed below, starting with the most specialized moving to the most general. Additional requirements may follow the table, so be sure to read the entire page. Some required courses listed below may also satisfy General Education requirements, including Core Curriculum.

Additional Requirements and Policy

At least 18 hours of upper-division coursework in geological sciences must be completed in residence.

Degree-Bachelor of Science in Geosciences (BSGS)

A course in one prescribed work area may not also be used to fulfill the requirements of another prescribed work or major requirement.

A grade point average of at least 2.00 is required in geological sciences courses counted toward the major requirement.

Algebra courses at the level of Mathematics 301 or the equivalent may not be counted toward the total number of hours for the degree.

Course Grades: A grade of at least C- is required in each course used to fulfill any of the requirements for the degree. The official grade in a course is the last one made; however, if a student repeats a course and has two or more grades, all grades and all semester hours are used to calculate the University grade point average and to determine the student’s scholastic eligibility to remain in the University and the student's academic standing in the Jackson School of Geosciences.

Individual degree(s) or degree options may contain course residency requirements in addition to University requirements. BSGS majors must complete at least 36 semester hours of upper-division coursework in residence at the University.