Geosciences, Teaching (BSGS)
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:
- university-wide undergraduate degree requirements (the University core curriculum),
- prescribed work for the degree, and
- 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-Geosciences Teaching Concentration
The Geosciences Major, Teaching concentration is designed to fulfill the course requirements for composite science teacher certification for middle school or secondary with geological sciences as the primary teaching field. This major prepares students for science teaching certification in the state of Texas.
Admissions
Information about admissions to this program is given in the school's Admissions section.
Licensure
The program is part of the innovative UTeach program at UT Austin, which prepares students for science teaching certification in the state of Texas. This program prepares students for composite science teacher certification for middle school or secondary with geological sciences as the primary teaching field in the state of Texas.
Total Hours Required: 126
Teaching, Senior Grades
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.
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 | Hours | |
| GEO 401 | Physical Geology | 4 |
| M 408C | Differential and Integral Calculus | 4 |
| CH 301 | Principles of Chemistry I | 3 |
| UTS 101 | Secondary Teacher Education Preparation: Step 1 | 1 |
| First-Year Signature Course (090) | 3 | |
| RHE 306 | Rhetoric and Writing | 3 |
| Hours | 18 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| GEO 405 | Life through Time | 4 |
| BIO 311C | Introductory Biology I | 3 |
| CH 302 | Principles of Chemistry II | 3 |
| UTS 110 | Secondary Teacher Education Preparation: STEP 2 | 1 |
| Humanities (040) | 3 | |
| American and Texas Government (070) | 3 | |
| Hours | 17 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Semester 1 | ||
| GEO 416E | Solid Earth Processes | 4 |
| GEO 416S | Earth and Planetary Processes Through Time | 4 |
| BIO 311D | Introductory Biology II | 3 |
| Science elective | 3 | |
| U.S. History (060) | 3 | |
| Hours | 17 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| GEO 420K | Introduction to Field and Stratigraphic Methods | 4 |
| HIS 329U or PHL 329U |
Perspectives on Science and Mathematics or Perspectives on Science and Mathematics |
3 |
| EDC 365C or UTS 350 |
Knowing and Learning in Math and Science or Knowing and Learning in Math and Science |
3 |
| Upper-division GEO course | 4 | |
| U.S. History (060) | 3 | |
| Hours | 17 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Semester 1 | ||
| PHY 303L | Engineering Physics II | 3 |
| PHY 105N | Laboratory For Physics 302L, 303L, and 317L | 1 |
| EDC 365D or UTS 355 |
Classroom Interactions or Classroom Interactions |
3 |
| Hours chosen from: | 3 | |
| Research Methods: UTeach | ||
| Research Methods: UTeach | ||
| Research Methods: UTeach | ||
| Upper-division GEO course | 4 | |
| Social and Behavioral Sciences (080) | 3 | |
| Hours | 17 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| EDC 365E or UTS 360 |
Project-Based Instruction or Project-Based Instruction |
3 |
| PHY 303K | Engineering Physics I | 3 |
| PHY 105M | Laboratory For Physics 302K, 303K, and 317K | 1 |
| American and Texas Government (070) | 3 | |
| Upper-division GEO course | 4 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 17 | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Semester 1 | ||
| MNS 307 | Introduction to Oceanography | 3 |
| Hours chosen from: | 3 | |
| Introduction to Astronomy with Celestial Observations | ||
| Introductory Astronomy | ||
| Physical Science: Methods of Astronomy | ||
| Visual and Performing Arts (050) | 3 | |
| Upper-division Science elective | 7 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| EDC 651S | Topics in Secondary School Teaching Practicum (any topic) | 6 |
| UTS 170 | Student Teaching Seminar | 1 |
| Hours | 7 | |
| Total Hours | 126 | |
Teaching, Middle Grades
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 | Hours | |
| GEO 401 | Physical Geology | 4 |
| M 408C | Differential and Integral Calculus | 4 |
| CH 301 | Principles of Chemistry I | 3 |
| UTS 101 | Secondary Teacher Education Preparation: Step 1 | 1 |
| First-Year Signature Course (090) | 3 | |
| RHE 306 | Rhetoric and Writing | 3 |
| Hours | 18 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| GEO 405 | Life through Time | 4 |
| BIO 311C | Introductory Biology I | 3 |
| CH 302 | Principles of Chemistry II | 3 |
| UTS 110 | Secondary Teacher Education Preparation: STEP 2 | 1 |
| Humanities (040) | 3 | |
| American and Texas Government (070) | 3 | |
| Hours | 17 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Semester 1 | ||
| GEO 416E | Solid Earth Processes | 4 |
| GEO 416S | Earth and Planetary Processes Through Time | 4 |
| BIO 311D | Introductory Biology II | 3 |
| EDP 350G | Adolescent Development | 3 |
| U.S. History (060) | 3 | |
| Hours | 17 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| GEO 420K | Introduction to Field and Stratigraphic Methods | 4 |
| EDC 365C or UTS 350 |
Knowing and Learning in Math and Science or Knowing and Learning in Math and Science |
3 |
| HIS 329U or PHL 329U |
Perspectives on Science and Mathematics or Perspectives on Science and Mathematics |
3 |
| Upper-division GEO course | 4 | |
| U.S. History (060) | 3 | |
| Hours | 17 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Semester 1 | ||
| EDC 365D or UTS 355 |
Classroom Interactions or Classroom Interactions |
3 |
| PHY 303L | Engineering Physics II | 3 |
| PHY 105N | Laboratory For Physics 302L, 303L, and 317L | 1 |
| Hours chosen from: | 3 | |
| Research Methods: UTeach | ||
| Research Methods: UTeach | ||
| Research Methods: UTeach | ||
| Upper-division GEO course | 4 | |
| Social and Behavioral Sciences (080) | 3 | |
| Hours | 17 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| EDC 365E or UTS 360 |
Project-Based Instruction or Project-Based Instruction |
3 |
| EDC 339E | Secondary School Literacy across the Disciplines | 3 |
| PHY 303K | Engineering Physics I | 3 |
| PHY 105M | Laboratory For Physics 302K, 303K, and 317K | 1 |
| Upper-division GEO course | 4 | |
| American and Texas Government (070) | 3 | |
| Hours | 17 | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Semester 1 | ||
| MNS 307 | Introduction to Oceanography | 3 |
| Hours chosen from: | 3 | |
| Introduction to Astronomy with Celestial Observations | ||
| Introductory Astronomy | ||
| Physical Science: Methods of Astronomy | ||
| Upper-division Science elective | 7 | |
| Visual and Performing Arts (050) | 3 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| EDC 651S | Topics in Secondary School Teaching Practicum (any topic) | 6 |
| UTS 170 | Student Teaching Seminar | 1 |
| Hours | 7 | |
| Total Hours | 126 | |
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.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Concentration | ||
| Professional Development Sequence (a grade of at least C- is required for the hours below) | ||
| EDC 651S | Topics in Secondary School Teaching Practicum | 6 |
| EDC 365C | Knowing and Learning in Math and Science | 3 |
| or UTS 350 | Knowing and Learning in Math and Science | |
| EDC 365D | Classroom Interactions | 3 |
| or UTS 355 | Classroom Interactions | |
| EDC 365E | Project-Based Instruction | 3 |
| or UTS 360 | Project-Based Instruction | |
| UTS 101 | Secondary Teacher Education Preparation: Step 1 | 1 |
| UTS 110 | Secondary Teacher Education Preparation: STEP 2 | 1 |
| UTS 170 | Student Teaching Seminar | 1 |
| Supporting Courses (a grade of at least C- is required for the hours below) | ||
| Hours chosen from: | 3 | |
| Research Methods: UTeach (Topic 2: Research Methods: UTeach) | ||
| Research Methods: UTeach (Topic 1: Research Methods: UTeach) | ||
| Research Methods: UTeach (Topic 7: Research Methods: UTeach) | ||
| HIS 329U | Perspectives on Science and Mathematics | 3 |
| or PHL 329U | Perspectives on Science and Mathematics | |
| Choose a sequence below: | 3 | |
| Sequence 1: | ||
| Adolescent Development (required for middle grades certification) | ||
| Sequence 2: | ||
| Introduction to Psychology (required for middle grades certification) | ||
| Introduction to Child Psychology (required for middle grades certification) | ||
| EDC 339E | Secondary School Literacy across the Disciplines (required for middle grades certification) | 3 |
| Subtotal | 30 | |
| Major | ||
| M 408C | Differential and Integral Calculus | 4 |
| or M 408L | Integral Calculus | |
| Composite certification | ||
| BIO 311C | Introductory Biology I | 3 |
| BIO 311D | Introductory Biology II | 3 |
| CH 301 | Principles of Chemistry I | 3 |
| CH 302 | Principles of Chemistry II | 3 |
| Choose a sequence below: | 4 | |
| Sequence 1: | ||
| Engineering Physics I | ||
| Laboratory For Physics 302K, 303K, and 317K | ||
| Sequence 2: | ||
| Engineering Physics II | ||
| Laboratory For Physics 302L, 303L, and 317L | ||
| Enough additional approved coursework in biology, chemistry, or physics to provide the required 12 semester hours in a second field | ||
| Hours chosen from: | 3 | |
| Introduction to Astronomy with Celestial Observations | ||
| Introductory Astronomy | ||
| Physical Science: Methods of Astronomy | ||
| MNS 307 | Introduction to Oceanography | 3 |
| GEO 303 | Introduction to Geology | 3 |
OR | ||
| Physical Geology | ||
| GEO 405 | Life through Time | 4 |
| GEO 416E | Solid Earth Processes | 4 |
| GEO 416S | Earth and Planetary Processes Through Time | 4 |
| GEO 420K | Introduction to Field and Stratigraphic Methods | 4 |
| Enough upper-division coursework to total at least 28 semester hours in geological sciences | ||
| Subtotal | 45 | |
| Degree | ||
| Free electives: Additional coursework to reach total hours required. | 9 | |
| Subtotal | 9 | |
| General Education | ||
| Core Curriculum | 42 | |
| Foreign Language other than English, Beginning Proficiency | ||
| Subtotal | 42 | |
| College Requirements - Geosciences | ||
| General University Requirements | ||
| Total Hours | 126 | |
Additional Requirements and Policies
At least 12 hours in geological sciences must be completed in residence.
This program is designed to fulfill the course requirements for composite science teacher certification for middle school or secondary with geological sciences as the primary teaching field.
Students must meet the following requirements to graduate and be recommended for certification.
-
University grade point average of at least 2.50
-
Earned a grade of at least C- in each of the professional development courses and supporting courses as well as all coursework required for the geological sciences degree.
-
Successful passing of final teaching portfolio review, conducted by the UTeach-Natural Sciences program. Information about the portfolio review and additional certification requirements is available from the UTeach-Natural Sciences academic advisor.
-
Composite certification requires 24 semester hours of coursework in the primary field, 12 hours in a second field, and six hours each in two additional fields.
Students must adhere to the current certification requirements, even if they differ from those listed in the University catalog.
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.