Program Overview
The Geology B.S. program at Kent State University provides a comprehensive education in Earth sciences, emphasizing coursework, hands-on experiences, and research opportunities. The program offers a strong foundation in geology, covering topics such as Earth materials, structural geology, and paleontology. Students can choose to specialize in Environmental Geology, which focuses on water resources, resource management, and energy resources. The program culminates in a summer field course in the Black Hills of South Dakota.
Program Outline
Degree Overview:
The Geology B.S. program blends rigorous coursework with hands-on experiences to equip you with the skills needed to study the earth's physical structure, natural resources and environmental systems. With access to cutting-edge technologies and experienced faculty, you will gain the knowledge and skills to launch a rewarding career in the geology field. The Bachelor of Science degree in Geology is designed for those interested in a professional career in the field. The curriculum focuses on minerals, rocks, landforms, fossils, structural geology, geochemistry and field mapping, among others. Supplemental courses include introductory chemistry, physics, biology and mathematics. Students are also encouraged to specialize in an applied or theoretical area of the science. The program features a capstone summer field course in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Geology students may apply early to the M.S. degree in Geology and double count 9 credit hours of graduate courses toward both degree programs. See the Combined Bachelor's/Master's Degree Program policy in the University Catalog for more information. The Geology major includes the following optional concentration: The Environmental Geology optional concentration provides students with specialized training for careers in the well-established and growing field of environmental geology, including water resources, resource management and energy resources. The concentration's curriculum focuses on hydrology, hydrogeology and environmental monitoring techniques.
Outline:
Major Requirements:
- BSCI 10002 LIFE ON PLANET EARTH (KBS) 3-4 or BSCI 10110 BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY (ELR) (KBS) (KLAB)
- CHEM 10060 GENERAL CHEMISTRY I (KBS) 4
- CHEM 10062 GENERAL CHEMISTRY I LABORATORY (KBS) (KLAB) 1
- ESCI 22000 DEGREE AND CAREER PATHS IN EARTH SCIENCES (ELR) 1
- ESCI 23063 EARTH MATERIALS I 4
- ESCI 31070 EARTH MATERIALS II (WIC) 14
- ESCI 31080 STRUCTURAL GEOLOGY 4
- ESCI 34061 PRINCIPLES OF PALEONTOLOGY 4
- ESCI 41092 SUMMER FIELD CAMP (ELR) 6
- ESCI 44070 SEDIMENTOLOGY AND STRATIGRAPHY 4
- PHY 13001 GENERAL COLLEGE PHYSICS I (KBS) 4
- PHY 13021 GENERAL COLLEGE PHYSICS LABORATORY I (KBS) (KLAB) 1
Earth Electives, choose from the following:
- ESCI 11040 & ESCI 11041 HOW THE EARTH WORKS (KBS) and HOW THE EARTH WORKS LABORATORY (KBS) (KLAB)
- ESCI 11042 & ESCI 11043 EARTH AND LIFE THROUGH TIME (KBS) and EARTH AND LIFE THROUGH TIME LABORATORY (KBS) (KLAB)
Major Elective, choose from the following:
- ESCI 11040 HOW THE EARTH WORKS (KBS)
- ESCI 11042 EARTH AND LIFE THROUGH TIME (KBS)
- ESCI 21062 ENVIRONMENTAL EARTH SCIENCE (KBS)
- ESCI 21080 ALL ABOUT THE OCEANS (KBS)
Additional Requirements (courses do not count in major GPA):
- UC 10001 FLASHES 101 1
- Foreign Language (see Foreign Language College Requirement below) 8
- Kent Core Composition 6
- Kent Core Humanities and Fine Arts (minimum one course from each) 9
- Kent Core Social Sciences (must be from two disciplines) 9
- Environmental Geology Concentration
- Earth Science (ESCI) Upper-Division Electives (30000 or 40000 level) 115-16
- Science Elective(s), choose from the following:
- CHEM 10061 & CHEM 10063 GENERAL CHEMISTRY II (KBS) and GENERAL CHEMISTRY II LABORATORY (KBS) (KLAB)
- GEOG 49070 GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SCIENCE
- PHY 13002 & PHY 13022 GENERAL COLLEGE PHYSICS II (KBS) and GENERAL COLLEGE PHYSICS LABORATORY II (KBS) (KLAB)
Additional Requirements (courses do not count in major GPA):
- General Elective 1
Environmental Geology Concentration Requirements
- CHEM 10061 GENERAL CHEMISTRY II (KBS) 4
- CHEM 10063 GENERAL CHEMISTRY II LABORATORY (KBS) (KLAB) 1
- ESCI 32066 GEOMORPHOLOGY 4
- ESCI 40380 BIOGEOCHEMISTRY 3 or ESCI 43040 PRINCIPLES OF GEOCHEMISTRY or ESCI 43042 ENVIRONMENTAL GEOCHEMISTRY
Environmental Geology Concentration Electives, choose from the following:
- ESCI 40380 BIOGEOCHEMISTRY
- ESCI 42030 REMOTE SENSING
- ESCI 42065 WATERSHED HYDROLOGY
- ESCI 42066 PHYSICAL HYDROGEOLOGY
- ESCI 43040 PRINCIPLES OF GEOCHEMISTRY
- ESCI 43042 ENVIRONMENTAL GEOCHEMISTRY
- ESCI 43043 ENVIRONMENTAL MINERALOGY
- ESCI 43044 ENVIRONMENTAL ISOTOPES
Graduation Requirements
- Minimum Major GPA 2.000
- Minimum Overall GPA 2.000
- Students pursuing the Bachelor of Science degree in the College of Arts and Sciences must complete 8 credit hours of foreign language.
- The following programs are exempt from this requirement: The Bachelor of Science in Cybercriminology and the Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Science.
- Minimum Elementary I and II of the same language
Roadmaps
- Geology Major (No Concentration)
- Environmental Geology Concentration
University Requirements
- Flashes 101 (UC 10001) 1 credit hour
- Diversity Domestic/Global (DIVD/DIVG) 2 courses
- Experiential Learning Requirement (ELR) varies
- Kent Core (see table below) 36-37 credit hours
- Writing-Intensive Course (WIC) 1 course
- Upper-Division Requirement 39 credit hours
- Total Credit Hour Requirement 120 credit hours
Kent Core Requirements
- Kent Core Composition (KCMP) 6
- Kent Core Mathematics and Critical Reasoning (KMCR) 3
- Kent Core Humanities and Fine Arts (KHUM/KFA) (min one course each) 9
- Kent Core Social Sciences (KSS) (must be from two disciplines) 6
- Kent Core Basic Sciences (KBS/KLAB) (must include one laboratory) 6-7
- Kent Core Additional (KADL) 6
Careers:
- Geological and hydrologic technicians
- Geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers
- Hydrologists
Other:
- The program features a capstone summer field course in the Black Hills of South Dakota.
- Geology students may apply early to the M.S. degree in Geology and double count 9 credit hours of graduate courses toward both degree programs.
