Major in Geology, Geology Concentration
Program Overview
The Geology concentration at Colorado State University provides a comprehensive education in geoscience with a focus on hands-on learning and field experiences. It prepares students for careers in energy, water, mining, government, consulting, and resource management, as well as for graduate studies in various geosciences subdisciplines. The program emphasizes a strong foundation in earth sciences, including geology, mineralogy, and petrology.
Program Outline
Degree Overview:
The Geology concentration at Colorado State University provides a comprehensive undergraduate education in geoscience. It emphasizes a hands-on and field-oriented approach, making it suitable for professional careers in various industries, including:
- Energy
- Water
- Mining and other resources
- Government agencies
- Consulting
- Resource management The program also prepares students for diverse careers outside of traditional geology, such as:
- Primary and secondary school teaching
- Science writing
- Environmental and resource law
- Resource and/or hazards specializations within construction, insurance, land use, securities, and other industries Furthermore, the Geology concentration provides a strong foundation for graduate education in various geosciences subdisciplines.
Outline:
The Geology concentration is structured across four years, with a detailed course schedule outlined for each semester. The program includes:
Freshman Year:
- Semester 1:
- CO 150 College Composition (GT-CO2)
- GEOL 150 Physical Geology for Scientists and Engineers
- MATH 124 Logarithmic and Exponential Functions (GT-MA1)
- MATH 125 Numerical Trigonometry (GT-MA1)
- MATH 126 Analytic Trigonometry (GT-MA1)
- Arts and Humanities
- Semester 2:
- CHEM 111 General Chemistry I (GT-SC2)
- CHEM 112 General Chemistry Lab I (GT-SC1)
- GEOL 154 Historical and Analytical Geology
- MATH 159 One Year Calculus IB (GT-MA1) or MATH 160 Calculus for Physical Scientists I (GT-MA1)
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Sophomore Year:
- Semester 3:
- CHEM 113 General Chemistry II
- CHEM 114 General Chemistry Lab II
- GEOL 232 Mineralogy
- GEOL 332 Optical Mineralogy
- Social and Behavioral Sciences
- Semester 4:
- GEOL 250 The Solid Earth
- GEOL 364 Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology
- MATH 161 Calculus for Physical Scientists II (GT-MA1)
- CO 300 Writing Arguments (GT-CO3) or CO 301B Writing in the Disciplines: Sciences (GT-CO3) or JTC 300 Strategic Writing and Communication (GT-CO3)
Junior Year:
- Semester 5:
- GEOL 344 Stratigraphy and Sedimentology
- PH 122 General Physics II (GT-SC1) or PH 142 Physics for Scientists and Engineers II (GT-SC1)
- MATH 340 Intro to Ordinary Differential Equations or STAT 301 Introduction to Applied Statistical Methods or STAT 315 Intro to Theory and Practice of Statistics
- Arts and Humanities
- Semester 6:
- GEOL 372 Structural Geology
- GEOL 376 Geologic Field Methods
- NR 319 Geospatial Applications in Natural Resources or NR 322 Intro.
- Historical Perspectives
Summer:
- Semester 7:
- GEOL 436 Geology Summer Field Course
Senior Year:
- Semester 8:
- GEOL 366 Sedimentary Petrology and Geochemistry
- Geology Electives
- Technical Elective (See Department List on Concentration Requirements tab)
- Semester 9:
- GEOL 454 Geomorphology
- Geology Elective
Teaching:
The context mentions that the Geology concentration emphasizes a hands-on and field-oriented approach.
Careers:
The program prepares students for a wide range of careers in various industries, including:
- Energy: Geologists are employed in the exploration and production of oil, natural gas, and other energy resources.
- Water: Geologists play a crucial role in understanding groundwater resources, managing water supplies, and mitigating water pollution.
- Mining and other resources: Geologists are involved in the exploration, extraction, and processing of minerals, metals, and other resources.
- Government agencies: Geologists work for federal, state, and local agencies to manage natural resources, conduct environmental assessments, and address geological hazards.
- Consulting: Geologists provide consulting services to various industries, including mining, energy, construction, and environmental consulting.
- Resource management: Geologists are involved in the sustainable management of natural resources, including land use planning, environmental impact assessment, and conservation efforts.
Other:
The context mentions that a maximum of two credits may be satisfied by non-regular courses (courses ending in -82 to -99) and GEOL 401, which may only count once.
